[Note on my recovery:
I was in the hospital, with pancreatitis, for 17 days. Hence, my absence from posting. I had two surgeries. During the first week in the hospital, the pain was so excruciating that i could not sleep for a full week. I am mostly pain-free now and am doing much better. As i am still in recovery, i am not sure if i will post each and every week, but i might.]
We, as humans, are spellbound and obsessed with patterns. We, via thought/thinking, constantly go from one series of patterns to the next, mostly all day long. Even at night, we dream sequentially in (and “as”) patterns. These patterns are sequential and symbolic. Really, they are virtual re-cogitations that are projections from the brain. We even recognize things via patterns… looking through (and “as”) a screen of fragmentations.
We can often go beyond this limited framework by perceiving and existing holistically. Please do not be fooled by organizations or individuals that give you methods and practices for going beyond the fragmented patterns. Such methods and practices, in themselves, take time (are sequential), and do not truly lead to what is beyond the limitation; they are an extension of the limitation. Time does not generally lead to the timeless. However, one can go beyond the quagmire without taking time (and without robotically practicing things to do it). Holistic perception involves seeing beyond separation; it is of compassion and deep awareness.
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
God Bless and Prayers ❤️💯🙏
Thank you much, M.T.! Good to hear from you! 😉
To a speedy recovery!!
Thanks, Jim! It’s going to take time, but the worst (thank goodness) is over. 👍
so good to see you back. We missed you!
Thank you for your warm, kind words, Lou! Means a lot! 😊
Good to hear you’re recovery is going well Tom. Onwards and upwards. I love the contrasting strong colours in your photograph.
Onwards and upwards… i sure hope so! Thanks about the photograph! 😊
Welcome back. And thanks for sharing your wisdom. The times I’ve had deep insights have been alone, following no protocols … sudden response to nature, surroundings … Jazz
Yes, insight/wholeness cannot be manufactured, concocted, or brought about through desire. Thanks, Jazz. 😉
Wishing you a quick and full recovery!
Thank you, Nesfelicio. It’s going to take some good time, but the terrible part is over. 👍
Welcome back and continue get better.
Thank you very much, Ken! It’s going to take time, but I am improving very well so far. 👍
Good to read your thoughts again. Wish you a full recovery and peace.
Thanks, Richard! Too many of us take our health for granted. 😉
That doesn’t sound like any fun at at all. Wishing you well again.
Thank you, Marlene. Yes, it was far from fun. It was pure hell. 😒
very beautifull 👌
Thanks, Neeraj! 😊
I’m so glad to hear about your speedy recovery, Tom. I was following your posts, and I hope your health is much better. Happy day Tom!! 🙂
Thank you, Marcela! I am way better than I was previously! But i am still recovering slowly. 😉
Glad you are coming along.
Thank you, Sandy! It’s been a real nightmare. 😒
Wow, glad you’re recovering!
Thanks, Michael! Yes, i am very glad too. The amount of pain that i went through was what no one should have to experience. 😒
Tom, I am glad to see you are back here and feeling better, although still recovering slowly. At least the cold and windy weather is not conducive to be out and about and photographing beautiful, vibrant flowers like these and better for curling up on the couch for a nap. Take care and heal up!
Thanks, Linda! I’m trying to stay warm and cozy. 😊 I am exercising indoors on a Schwinn indoor bicycle. My upper legs are still numb and, hopefully, exercising will help. They say it could take months for the numbness to go away.
Your posting on the Edmund Fitzgerald got me thinking about when i went sailing (once) with a friend of mine on Lake Michigan. He owned a very expensive sailboat. But the winds got bad and, my, it was truly terrifying. I did not enjoy it and i never went sailing again. When you are out in the middle of nowhere (in a vast ocean of water) and the weather gets crazy… it is nightmarish!
That’s good Tom – bike riding is good exercise. I used my bike this Summer when I didn’t walk due to the heat and wildfire smoke and will use it in Winter as well, as it’s safer than risking a fall on the ice. We already had three days of bitter cold, some ice and snow, from Sunday through Tuesday and I understand more is on the way the tail end of Thanksgiving weekend. I hope they’re wrong.
I did not know that numbness in the extremities was a result of pancreatitis as well. My neighbor had it awhile ago and all I remember is that he couldn’t bend over or lift anything for a long time and he lived with his mom, who was prone to falling (weakness from advanced COPD) and he could not help get her on her feet again.
That episode of being on the open water, nowhere near land, with windy conditions would terrify me too Tom. I don’t know how to swim, but even if I did, the chances of the boat overturning would be very real and scary.
I’ve been lifting laundry baskets (with laundry) from time to time… and that is cutting it close.
Well, please take it easy Tom and I hope you have someone lined up for the snow removal this year. I don’t know if you did it yourself before, but I remember you said you just got a carport, so thank goodness for that, so you have minimal snow to brush off when you have to go out.