Friend, your joy brings my laughter

Do you not see
That you and I 
Are as the branches of one tree?
With your rejoicing 
Comes my laughter;
With your sadness
Start my tears
Love,
Could life be otherwise 
With you and me?
- Tsu Yeh
Tsin dynasty, AD 265‑316

. . .

Friend, your joy brings my laughter
Your sadness, my tears
We’ve travelled different paths together
Men of many weaknesses and foibles
Men of good heart
We both know failure
Both success.
Our life paths crossed and uncrossed
Rain, cold, wind, wolves howling, moose bellowing
Laughter, campfires, northern lakes.

(Some of the best times in my life,
Except you once got us lost, miles off course
Paddling through a driving rainstorm).

Here’s a mockup of the two pages in the journal I’m working on,
Meditations on the Beauty and Mystery of Life, A Gratitude Journal

If you are not subscribed to either or both Heron Dance Art Studio Substacks, you can do that here:

  • Creativity as a Way of Life: The use of journaling as a tool in creative work; an exploration of the inner work underlying creative work.

  • A Pause for Beauty: a gratitude art journal celebrating the beauty and mystery of the natural world, and the gift of life.

    . . .

If you appreciate this work and can afford to support it, please do. October 1 it will become a paid Substack:

  • $5 a month

  • $50 a year

  • $150 Founding Membership includes two upcoming books

  • Meditations on the Beauty and Mystery of Life, A Gratitude Journal

  • Using An Art Journal to Probe Deep.

    . . .

    The cost of subscribing to both of my Substacks,
    A Pause for Beauty and Creativity as a Way of Life
    is twice that indicated above.

You can make a one-time or recurring contribution here.
Any contributions received prior to October 1 will be credited against a subscription.

And thank you.

Recent Projects And Random Thoughts

  • The new art journal, Nurturing The Song Within, explores the inner work that underlies creative work, and creating a unique life.

If you are not subscribed to either or both Heron Dance Art Studio Substacks, you can do that here:

Below, two sample pages from my recent art journal, and the related diary/planner
Nurturing The Song Within