LOVE

FEBRUARY - the month of Love

"'Tis love that makes the world go round, and you have me in a spin!"

This is the poem in my new Valentine's Day cards - fun, short and sweet, but my point is that LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND. In these days we have to consciously focus on love in our lives, in our communities, and in the world. Only if we choose this focus, and let the power of love become us, and thus bring it to those around us, can we make the purpose of our lives driven through love.

As a sideline, you who know me, know that I always want to know the background and the "why" of things, so I looked into the history of Valentine's Day. Way too much to put in my blog, but fascinating - so if you are interested in finding out how far back the traditions go, who was St. Valentine, and why did he become a saint, and how this tradition evolved over centuries of time, go here - www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/history_of_valentine.htm.

2011 is the YEAR OF THE RABBIT - so each month I am going to share with you the beautiful images from the Wells Fargo calendar. Here is the February image - our little rabbit leaping over hurdles and obstacles in his life - a reminder that we can all do the same.

Year of the Rabbit - Wells Fargo Calendar

Think about your life - and the impact of love. When we feel and know that we are loved, we can leap over tall buildings, take on amazing tasks, accomplish wonderful things, and be the loving/amazing person we really are to those around us. The secret is - that LOVE is all around - and all we have to do is begin to see it/feel it/know it and then act on it. So here's my original poem for February -

LOVE

Hold love in your heart - always.

Let your eyes see the world through love.

See love all around, even in darkness.

Trust in love, be in love.

Know that you are loved.

For love is the ephemeral glue that binds our humanity.

It is what brings the greatest joy, the possiblity of healing,

the ability to share and give, to survive, to be compassionate,

to be strong and to be tender, and to see into the heart of others.

Know that your greatest self is the self of love.

Love to live, live to love!

- Channing (February, 2011)

Love to all!

Channing

I love all of you, and look forward to seeing many of you in my classes, or hearing from you - my email is chaninca@aol.com. Let me know your thoughts on LOVE, wonderful stories and experiences of Love in your life. I would love to hear from you.

Love,

Channing

The Year of the Rabbit

Reach for the Stars

It's a new year.

A new opportunity to succeed,

accomplish new things and fulfill your ambitions, whatever they may be. Of course, sometimes you'll find an obstacle blocks your path. Or the path takes an unexpected turn. That's when you look upward and see how to leap from whereyou are to where you want to go. Determination can get you there. And get you further than you ever thought possible. Welcome to the year of the rabbit. (From the 2011 Wells Fargo Calendar)

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I hope you are off and running into your new year, and beginning to see why I love calendars which can inspire each day and each month throughout. And poetry - oh the joy of words so sweetly expressed. I just have to share this poem about WINTER with you, for praising each day of this season.

WINTER

- by Greta Crosby

- photo by Channing Miller

Let us not wish away the winter. It is a season to itself, not simply a way to spring.

When trees rest, growing no leaves, gathering no light, they let in sky and trace themselves delicately against dawns and sunsets.

The clarity and brilliance of the winter sky delight. The loom of fog softens edges, lulls the eyes and ears of the quiet, awakens by risk the unquiet. A low dark sky can snow, emblem of individuality, liberality, and aggregate power. Snow invites to contemplation and to sport.

Winter is a table set with ice and starlight.

Winter dark tends to warm light: fire and candle, winter cold to hugs and huddles, winter want to gifts and sharing, winter danger to visions, plans and common endeavoring - and zest of narrow escapes, winter tedium to merry-making.

Let us therefore praise winter, rich in beauty, challenge, and pregnant negativities.

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So bundle up, take a walk, notice the light, the trees, the sky. Feel the air - and how envigorating this season is. Let it envigorate you!

Send me your winter thoughts or a winter poem. Let me know what calendars you have chosen for your home in 2011. For now you can email me - chaninca@aol.com, although I plan to add interactive features soon. My blog is for sharing with you, and for you to be inspired to share with me (if you feel so moved!).

Cheers,

Channing