Do More of What Makes you Happy

Especially now. Especially because the whole world is on fire. Now is the time to make the most of it. Do more of what makes you happy. Make sure to laugh everyday. Make someone else laugh. Give your friend a hug. The nice thing about that is how you get a hug too. Be kind to yourself and others. We need more happiness in the world.

Sweet Emotion

Forget the angst. Give it the toss. And while you’re at it, throw out the plans you made, because maybe they’re not going to happen. Just feel some sweet emotion about what’s going on with you right now. In this moment. Your legs are strong. Let them guide your feet and take you out for a walk or a run. Smile at the passersby. Let your sweet emotions rub off on others. Look closely. Be sunshine.

Take a Hike

Take a hike, but not like “Get the hell out of here.” No, no. Really, go take a hike. Make it to a place you’ve never been before and let the trail guide your steps. Rocks in the way. Sure. Step aside or around them. Dips? Of course. Skip over them, or plow right through. Keep a good pace. This is a hike, not a walk in the park. Explore. Bring your heart rate up. Smell the great outdoors. Savor the feeling of being in nature and enjoy the view at the top of the hill.

Bring your Heart to Whatever you Do

Make every small thing into something mixed with your joyful heart, your loving heart. Are you patching something? Put your heart into it. Maybe that means making a patch in a heart shape. Who knows? Are you a teacher, grading papers? Do it with your head and your heart. Working in your garden? Tend to it with that inner glow of yours. Bring your heart and pour it in like water to let it nourish your plants.

Take Time for Yourself

A nice hot shower (or cold) can invigorate you and at the same time it can relax you. Why not take a nap? Or just lie down and read for a spell. If It suits you, get a manicure. Or a pedicure. Or both. Can’t afford it? Do a nice foot soak in epsom salts and put some of your favorite oil in the water with it. Breathe in the sweet smell.  And speaking of breath, take some deep ones. Start with breathing into your belly and move up to your collar bones. Hold it. Then breathe out slowly through your mouth. Listen to music. Let it take you away from the doldrums. Sing with the music. Who cares if you can’t sing.?Dance to the music. Who cares if you can’t dance.? Don’t listen to the news. Don’t watch the news. Stop scrolling. Live in your beautiful life moments. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Tell yourself what a badass you are. Just be.

I am fascinated with the moon in all its stages. For example, how it manifests high and low tides as if on cue, its incredible craters, the fact that men have been on the moon, and how many songs have been written about it. Looking at the moon makes me feel small, but not necessarily insignificant.

I read somewhere that the cow jumped over the moon.

The moon on its way down in the morning at Bahia de los Muertos

Taken one early morning while I was on a walk.

Some interesting things I learned from the internet:

How Craters Form

Craters on the Moon form from impacts by asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. The lack of atmosphere on the Moon means that when objects strike the surface, they don’t burn up or slow down, as they would on Earth. Instead, these impacts create depressions that can range from small, subtle indentations to huge, massive basins.

• Small craters form when smaller objects (like meteoroids) hit the surface at high speed.
• Larger craters form from much bigger impacts, which can lead to the formation of massive rings around the impact site.

https://science.nasa.gov/moon/lunar-craters/why-study-craters/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Craters and Lunar History

Each crater on the Moon serves as a time capsule. The size, depth, and structure of a crater can give scientists clues about the age of the Moon’s surface, the objects that impacted it, and the overall history of the solar system. For example, by studying crater density in different regions, scientists can estimate the relative ages of the lunar surface features.

The first moonwalk, also known as the Apollo 11 Moon landing, occurred on July 20, 1969. Astronauts Neil Armstrongand Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the lunar surface, while Michael Collins remained in orbit around the Moon in the Command Module.

Armstrong’s First Words Were Not “One Small Step” Initially

Neil Armstrong’s famous quote, “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind,” almost didn’t happen as planned. The transmission was slightly garbled, and Armstrong himself later said he intended to say, “That’s one small step for a man.” The “a” was barely audible in the broadcast.

Occasionally the moon is orange as it goes down in the morning over the ocean where I live. Does it turn orange where you live?

I bought a Nikon Coolpix P950 for my 79th birthday last October. It has a moon setting on it. That’s how I got these photos. Pretty cool, huh?

I zoned in on it and took up close photos of parts of the full moon.

I like how you can see more of the surface and the craters.

A song that was popular when I was in high school was “Blue Moon.” The song was written by Richard Rodgers (music) and Lorenz Hart (lyrics) in 1934, but it was recorded by The Marcels in the 60s. Their rendition was uptempo doo-wop and was fun to dance to. Didn’t Elvis Presley also make a recording of the song?

I never really thought of the moon really being blue, but this is another shot I took early morning at Bahia de los Muertos, (see the one in the beginning) and sure enough it’s blue .

Moon River was also popular when I was a kid.

From the internet: “Moon River” was composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Jonny Mercer  in 1961. It was famously introduced by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. While Hepburn’s version is iconic, Andy Williams recorded a hit version in 1961, made it his signature song, and performed it at the 1962 Academy Awards. 

Whether it’s silver or white or yellow, blue, or orange, the moon shines on all of us, no matter where we live. Just think, the moon here in Baja is the same moon that shines on you where you live.

There are many books about the moon. Go to the library and find out more if you like. I don’t think moon books are being banned.

Good Night Moon.

Moon with Palm Trees