Our son, and one of his best friends came by yesterday. It’s been years since we’ve seen this particular friend who is now married Visiting with them and his new wife over tea brought up a lot of memories.

I reflect on our history together in the quiet pulse of morning. Their visit feels like a gift that has taken years to open. These young men remember our years of making a family around them to shield them as they developed.

What do you reflect on in the quiet pulse of morning? What gifts might you open that have taken years to develop? Ki to Happiness appreciates the gift the morning practice opens.

Bank crises, political upheaval, lousy weather all can combine to diminish one’s inherent joy. Doom scrolling, lethargy and reactive discontent easily can deepen the sense of futility of any positive efforts. Throw in a stubbed toe or a head cold and misery can unconsciously take hold.

I bundled up against the cold wind and rain and cut the blooming long legged daffodils to grace our altar. I organized my notes on my manuscript, in preparation of the next revision, whether or not it ever gets published. I trimmed my cat’s claws as I chose contentment, one of the most challenging and simple spiritual practices common to all the great paths.

What stops you from contentment? What will help you strengthen your practice of choosing contentment instead? Ki to Happiness gazes upon the daffodils and reflects on their long dark winter spent underground as they reveal their inherent beauty.

Celebrating small miracles, I wanted to share that my 74-year-old husband sat with me yesterday as I showed him something on his cell phone. He resisted having a cell phone until his stroke. He has found benefit in having one, at first for his medical communication and gradually other purposes.

I showed him how to download a particular app which will enable him to report undesirable unhoused encampments at our near park. This will help keep our neighborhood and business safer while I am away. While it may not seem like much to some, for us, it is miraculous to be able to sit together, and work on these issues in harmony.

What small miracles are happening in your life? Who would you like to sit together with in harmony as you work together for common purposes? Ki to Happiness shares the small miracles to encourage yours.

After teaching my 530 class, I started setting up for my 7 PM with the familiar students arriving in the spring evening. As I put away a few props from the first class, I turned to greet a new person, joining us for the first time. She seems so familiar, and yet out of context from where I usually see her, across the street at our grocery store.

I shop there a little bit every day, and over our eight months of living and working here I’ve gotten to know several of the regular staff members. One of the managers indicated that a small group of four of the morning crew wanted to come to class. I never imagined of all the many staff members that this particular woman would enter our class as if in a dream, becoming reality.

When have you awakened to find your dreams have become real? How open are you to accept the reality if it’s not exactly as you dreamt? Ki to Happiness awakens to reality which surpasses dreams.

In my kitchen, cleaning up after us, I had a moment of pure joy. I put away my tea set which I used through the winter and brought out my cherry blossom set for Spring. I wiped down the counters after doing the dishes and looked around.

Everything in order, I took a breath. I remembered my grandma saying, “we should all be happy we have a pot to piss in..” She was right, and I am happy to have that and my tea sets and a clean counter…

What does it take for you to be happy with what you have? When’s the last time you experienced domestic bliss? Ki to Happiness remembers Grandma.

Today’s new moon occurs just as we’ve shifted into Spring. Our intentions today will effect not only the next month, but all season long. It’s important that we stay conscious of planting the seeds we want to grow in our physical and metaphoric gardens.

As we throw off our overcoats, we grab our rain jackets. Letting go of heavy protection, we are vulnerable. Our invulnerability lives within us as we align with our Higher Power.

What would you like to grow this spring? What seeds can you plant today to set that intention? Ki to Happiness intends to grow invulnerable to the fluctuations of the outer world.

This afternoon, when the sun shifts into the sign of Aries, Spring begins. With equal day and night forces, light and dark are balanced. We welcome it with balanced breath, one legged balances and arm balances.

In doing so, we align ourselves with the natural forces. With equanimity, we channel receptive energy, and take action on its guidance accordingly. Setting intentions for a fertile season ahead with our new moon listening, we have reason to be hopeful.

What do you need to balance in your life? How can you make use of today’s energies to bring about that balance? Ki to Happiness releases winter to make room for Spring.

This season of cold darkness brought us many blessings. Hibernating in our new home and studio with our cats has gifted us with new roots in this location. As we left our winter coats behind and walked out into the sunshine together, Bob and I reflected on how far we’ve come since last winter.

I climbed a tree in our nearby park and laid back on a broad limb in the late afternoon sun. We shared a bit of refreshment on our deck, remembering teaching classes on the railing here last summer before our son installed our barres. We waved at our neighbors and pet their dogs as they walk by, in appreciation of our new neighborhood.

What blessings have you received during this long winter? What rituals of Spring bring you most delight? Ki to Happiness thanks winter and tends to her spring bulbs.

While serving my Irish soda bread and shamrock shakes to our students after the morning class, I looked out the window. I saw the tree limbs on the parking strip across the street where the city moved them to open the sidewalk after a winter storm knocked down the tree. Inspiration motivated me to set them in place to block the unhoused drug users from one of their usual hang outs.

Acting on one inspiration, another impulse guided me to plant summer bulbs near our neighboring creek. On the warmest day since October, I felt the sun on my back as I followed inspiration and acted on its guidance. Regardless of the outcome as to whether the bulbs bloom or former hang out stays safe and clear for our classes, I’m grateful for my Higher Self nudging me to act.

How are you inspired to act? What stops you from following through? Ki to Happiness acts on Inspiration and detaches from the outcome with love.

As this St. Patrick’s Day begins, I hear from my mom. We greet each other in our traditional ways. She embodies my first Wild Irish Rose, and her shenanigans inspired me to be on the look out for others.

I heard from several others already before 6 AM, Women friends from around the world all of Irish descent remind me of our common heritage. We are all lucky to have come from those who went before us and evolve the gifts we’ve inherited.

How do you observe St. Patrick’s Day? Are there wild Irish roses in your life? Ki to Happiness’ Irish eyes are smiling.