Pay It Forward - The Middle Way

[Mp]

Hello my fellow Treeleafer’s,

I have been thinking of new projects in where we can take our practice out into the community and help in a more direct way. I know a lot of you help in others ways such as volunteering, donations, etc and this is wonderful … but lets switch it up a bit.

The other day I was coming out of Tim Hortons with a handful of coffee for the construction crew at my house. I was more focused on not dropping the coffee as I was approaching the door and didn’t notice until it happened, but this kind man rushed up to hold the door open for me with a huge smile. I could see at that moment he truly wanted to help, to make a difference, even if it was to just hold the door. I know we do this a lot throughout our days being parents, friends, co-workers, and the like … but do we really see our engagement with the world or are we just going through the motions?

I thought about this for a moment and I know for myself sometimes even holding the door for someone is more of a habit, then really seeing and feeling the impact that it has on that person. Not only making a connection through my actions of help, but ensuring that I see them with my eyes, with my smile. Engagement to me is being in that moment, right there, with all my being.

I know we are all starting back into the grind of life - the holidays are done, kids back at school, work loads have piled up, and bills need to be paid … so my approach in this activity will be just small moments of your time throughout your day, at any given time, and with no money. All I would like to see is totally engagement in your activity of help and support. So if you hold the door for someone, hold the door! Look at them and let them know you see them, that you truly want to be there at that moment for them … and of course, smile! =)

Here are some ideas that might get you going or stir up some thoughts where you can make a difference. Please do share any ideas that you have or that you have done in the past.

• Hold the door open for the person behind you.
• Introduce yourself. Make new colleagues, classmates, etc. feel welcome.
• Clean out all your old clothes and donate them to someone in need. Your old is someone else’s new.
• Listen intently to people’s stories without trying to fix everything.
• Donate blood. One pint of blood can save up to three lives. Locate your nearest blood drive.
• Share your umbrella with a stranger on a rainy day.
• Check up on someone who looks lonely.
• Let someone with only a few items cut you in line at the grocery store.
• Replace what you’ve used. Eg: fill up the copier or printer with paper after you’re done using it or start a fresh batch of coffee.
• Give words of encouragement to someone about their dreams, no matter how big or small they are.
• Babysit for couples or single parents who don’t get out much so they can have some alone time.
• Help someone get active. There’s a co-worker or acquaintance in your life who wants to get healthy, but needs a helping hand. Offer to go walking or running together.
• The next time you see someone pulled over with a flat tire, or in need of assistance, stop and ask how you can help.
• Become a mentor or tutor to someone in need.
• Come to the rescue. If you realize someone is sick, bring them some hot tea, soup, etc.
• Be a courteous driver. Let people merge in front of you.
• Offer your seat to someone when there aren’t any left.
• Listen to someone’s pain and help them find a path through it.
• Hug a friend. Let them know how important they are.
• Bake cookies or brownies and share with a neighbor or colleagues.
• Send a nice email or handwritten card to someone you know, unexpectedly.
• Leave encouraging post-it notes in library books and other random places.
• Compliment someone who deserves it.
• Stand up for someone. Lend your voice. Often the powerless, the homeless, the neglected in our world need someone to speak up for them.
• Take the time to teach someone a skill you know.
• Teach others how to make a difference in this world by setting a good example every day.

So what do you think? How about we start next week off (Jan 26th) with a new approach, a new way of engaging our communities. I look forward to hearing your stories and sharing mine with you all.

Thank you all for taking the time and for being the wonderful Sangha that you are … I am truly grateful for you all. =)

When a drop of water falls in the ocean,
When a speck of dust falls on the ground,
At that moment the drop of water is no longer a drop of water,
It becomes the ocean,
And the speck of dust is no longer a speck of dust,
It becomes the entire earth.

- Kodo Sawaki

Gassho
Shingen


Also posted on: Global Day of Service website.

SatToday

[Kyotai]

Thank you Shingen. Lots to ponder here. I will certainly take you up on this.

Gassho, Kyotai
Sat today

[Geika]

Thanks, Shingen. Keeping it all in mind and will do.

Gassho

Sat today

[Kyotai]

I might also recommend chemo Angels. It's an organization that pairs you with people going through chemo therapy around the world, whereby you write a personal letter each week to someone in need of support and encouragement. minimum cost is paper, envelopes and postage. Myself and some other Treeleafers are members

Gassho, Kyotai
Sat today

http://chemoangels.wix.com/chemo-angels-1/

[Meishin]

Having recently experienced the medical system as a patient, it is so wonderful when folks treat us as human beings rather than objects to be moved from Point A to Point B. It's nothing special, doesn't require anything other than going about the day noticing that there are sentient beings floating about. Thank you, Shingen, for this encouragement.

Gassho
Meishin
Sat today

[Mp]

I might also recommend chemo Angels. It's an organization that pairs you with people going through chemo therapy around the world, whereby you write a personal letter each week to someone in need of support and encouragement. minimum cost is paper, envelopes and postage. Myself and some other Treeleafers are members

Gassho, Kyotai
Sat today

http://chemoangels.wix.com/chemo-angels-1/

This is a wonderful idea Kyotai, thank you. =)

Gassho
Shingen

SatToday

[Shugen]

What a great idea!

Thank you Shingen

Gassho,

Shugen

#sattoday



Shugen

[Jika]

Good point, Meishin.
I'm on both sides too, so I'd suggest keeping eyes open. I've noticed the public and authorities can be biased: when I look like a "normal person", they come to aid. When I look like a drooling junk, nobody really cares.
Since then, I've taken to having a closer look at people sleeping in unusual places. I've even asked the police to rule out medical conditions, when they where dragging someone from a public building.
This is just a distinction we create. We all give help, we all receive help.

So, to make it short, I'd add "Check vital signs and safety and avoid clichees."

Gassho,
Danny
#sattoday

[Jundo]

Lovely. The big and small things all count, make life a little nicer for others.

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

[Jakugan]

A great idea Shingen. I will seriously give this some thought. Had a look at the chemo angels website link that Kyotai posted and am going to sign up.

Gassho,

Simon.

Sat today.

[Kyotai]

A great idea Shingen. I will seriously give this some thought. Had a look at the chemo angels website link that Kyotai posted and am going to sign up.

Gassho,

Simon.

Sat today.

That's great Simon

Any questions just PM.

Gassho, Kyotai
Sat today

[Stacy]

A little tune I've been keeping in my head and heart lately to remind me.




Gassho,
Stacy

#SatToday

[Kyonin]

In Derek, the Ricky Gervais show (which I love), they say: Kindness is magic.

And I couldn't agree more

Thank you for this, brother.

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

[KellyRok]

Hello all,

I'm all on board. These are great ideas Shingen!

As someone who is used to being the "new kid" since we move so much; sometimes it is difficult to manage things (child care and getting to and from school and activities) when one parent/or both are sick or hurt. I know that it is difficult to ask help of near strangers, but sometimes we do indeed need help. This reminder is near and dear to me.

Come to the rescue. If you realize someone is sick, bring them some hot tea, soup, etc

I'd like to add to it... If you know of a coworker or acquaintance that might be out of work for surgery or something more major - offer to help with their kids. Maybe it is taking their child to sports practice or afterschool activity. Maybe it is just taking their child for a few hours for them to rest. Recently one of the parents in my son's Karate class had surgery and was unable to drive. His spouse is a nurse and works shifts - they were worried that they wouldn't be able to get their son to Karate for weeks until the father had recovered. Both myself and another mom offered to help out and are switching off taking him to Karate.

It's these things that don't take much effort on our part that definitely mean the world to others when they cannot do these things for themselves.

I too, love Chemo Angels !

Gassho,
Kelly/Jinmei

sattoday

[Mp]

Thank you everyone for your ideas and support for this practice. =)



Gassho
Shingen

SatToday

[Jika]

How about we start next week off (Jan 26th) with a new approach, a new way of engaging our communities. I look forward to hearing your stories and sharing mine with you all.

Shingen, I beg your pardon.
Are we supposed to keep a kind of diary, to report what we did?
Or report unexpected, special events only?
ARE we to report back, and if so, when?

Thanks,
Gassho,
Danny
#sattoday

[Mp]

Shingen, I beg your pardon.
Are we supposed to keep a kind of diary, to report what we did?
Or report unexpected, special events only?
ARE we to report back, and if so, when?

Thanks,
Gassho,
Danny
#sattoday

Hello Danny,

No need to report back ... this thread(s) is to help with ideas and send support. However, I do encourage folks to undertake the practice at the given times, but I also understand we all have lives to life and if you can't, that is ok too. I also made this practice to hopefully flow along side every moment of our busy lives. =) If you would like to share ideas or what you have done or plan to do, that would be great. I trust you all and know you will support your community in the best you can. =)

Gassho
Shingen

SatToday

[Ishin]

Hello and thank you for this wonderful thread Shingen. I think it's great to share ideas that we can all learn from. I will have to say that my wife has been a tremendous teacher for me in this regard when it comes to the little things we can do. One incident I can recall is we were out somewhere and my wife saw a janitor working diligently to clean up a mess on the floor. Rather than just avoiding the mess, my wife engaged the janitor and said "Thank you so much for working so hard and for all the work you do to make this place look so good." I wish you could see the look on the person's face.

Gassho
Ishin

Sat Today

[Mp]

Rather than just avoiding the mess, my wife engaged the janitor and said "Thank you so much for working so hard and for all the work you do to make this place look so good." I wish you could see the look on the person's face.

Yes! When I read this Ishin it put a smile on my face. =)

Gassho
Shingen

SatToday

[Jika]

No, I was only asking because it would feel strange to make a list like "held door open".

One thing I did Monday was buy some thank you sweets for people who had offered emergeny care last week.
Usually you buy chocolates and you are done, but this time I also included rice crackers and nuts and dried fruit, thinking that processed chocolates are considered polite, but useless for people who avoid animal products or have wheat intolerance.
It looked a bit funny, but maybe someone was happy with my selection.

Gassho,
Danny
#sattoday

[Shoka]

• Help someone get active. There’s a co-worker or acquaintance in your life who wants to get healthy, but needs a helping hand. Offer to go walking or running together.
• Take the time to teach someone a skill you know.

I'm not sure if you want us to check and in say I did this, feels like bragging to be me. But recently I wanted to give something back at work. Being the New Year everyone was talking about resolutions and trying to find motivation, etc. So I volunteered to teach yoga classes at lunch twice a week. While I'm a certified teacher, so I could go to a studio and charge for the class. I find it important to share my knowledge with people as much as possible at completely affordable rates (in this case free).

I know a lot of people who want to go to the gym or to take yoga classes but are completely intimidated by the idea at the same time. By giving people a non-threatening way to start out I'm hoping that some of them might find the courage to start a home practice or even attend other classes after my session has ended. Sometimes I think helping people take that first step can be a wonderful gift.

Gassho,

Shoka

Sat Today

[Mp]

[/LIST]

I'm not sure if you want us to check and in say I did this, feels like bragging to be me. But recently I wanted to give something back at work. Being the New Year everyone was talking about resolutions and trying to find motivation, etc. So I volunteered to teach yoga classes at lunch twice a week. While I'm a certified teacher, so I could go to a studio and charge for the class. I find it important to share my knowledge with people as much as possible at completely affordable rates (in this case free).

I know a lot of people who want to go to the gym or to take yoga classes but are completely intimidated by the idea at the same time. By giving people a non-threatening way to start out I'm hoping that some of them might find the courage to start a home practice or even attend other classes after my session has ended. Sometimes I think helping people take that first step can be a wonderful gift.

Gassho,

Shoka

Sat Today

Hello Shoka,

First off, no ... there is no need to report back or check in, I trust you all. This is more about supporting each other in supporting others, a family affair if you will. =) If you feel you want to share your ideas with us, then please by all means, we would love to hear your thoughts.

I think your idea is wonderful. We have a local yoga studio that does the same thing (provides free yoga if you can't afford it) ... they also believe the benefit of yoga and the positive impact it has on the community as a whole.

You are correct in saying "Sometimes I think helping people take that first step can be a wonderful gift." =)

Gassho
Shingen

SatToday

[Meishin]

Hi,

Like Shoka I hesitated to write because it felt like bragging. But it's really just sharing ideas of opportunities for practice. Last weekend I did a volunteer photoshoot for a youth organization's father-daughter/son camp-out. During the shoot, I was overwhelmed with admiration for these guys. Giving a weekend to their children, sleeping out in freezing weather, and building many beautiful memories. There were something like 400 photos to sort through. Normally I would do what photographers do, process them well but most importantly with efficiency. In other words, getting the job done ASAP. But as I began to look at the images and recall the persons behind the pictures, the persons I'd briefly come to know, there was a new feeling, an intimate connection. I slowed down the work and spent much more time on each image than was necessary. This was a moment in time that would never be repeated for these families, a memory of just that moment.

Bottom line I don't know if the finished photos will be "better" for the additional time or not. Sometimes it's a case of first look, best look. That doesn't matter. It was what Shingen said, doing it with an awareness that transcends learned behavior. Performing the action that way changed the whole game. It was no long "I am doing this volunteer thing." It was now "this thing is doing all of us." So Meishin takes away at least as much as Meishin gave, probably more. I am deeply grateful.

This stuff really works.

Gassho
Meishin
Sat today

[Matt]

Shingen, what you describe seems to me to be a realization of the precepts, what it means to be a true bodhisattva. I will do my best to practice this. Very inspiring.

Gassho,
Matt
#SatToday

[Myosha]

Hello,

This as useless as zazen.

Why stop?^^


Gassho,
Myosha sat today

[Joyo]

Hello Shingen, these are all great suggestions and it sure does help when you post a thread like this....encouraging us all to be more mindful of where kindness is needed in our lives.

One thing that has been weighing on my heart lately has to do with one of the schools that I work at. One of the families does not have the money to send proper lunches for their children. The kids have been coming to school with processed junk food only The school has taken over and is now responsible for feeding these children lunch. I am going to buy some packaged, healthy food and anonymously donate it to help these kids out. This got me thinking, how many other schools are feeding children during the day? I know I've seen it a lot. And, sadly, the choices of food that the schools make are not always the healthiest either. Any way we can be mindful to help children receive nutritious lunches that actually fill them up is a good thing.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today

[Mp]

Hello Shingen, these are all great suggestions and it sure does help when you post a thread like this....encouraging us all to be more mindful of where kindness is needed in our lives.

One thing that has been weighing on my heart lately has to do with one of the schools that I work at. One of the families does not have the money to send proper lunches for their children. The kids have been coming to school with processed junk food only The school has taken over and is now responsible for feeding these children lunch. I am going to buy some packaged, healthy food and anonymously donate it to help these kids out. This got me thinking, how many other schools are feeding children during the day? I know I've seen it a lot. And, sadly, the choices of food that the schools make are not always the healthiest either. Any way we can be mindful to help children receive nutritious lunches that actually fill them up is a good thing.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today

Thank you for this Joyo. Have you ever thought about going around to the local farmers or grocery stores and seeing if they would donate basic healthy foods? Things like rice, pasta (sauce), veggies, etc ... This may not be a constant action, but you might be able to contribute even if it is in a small way.

I know it seems like the problems of this world can be overwhelming and we don't know where to start. When I get stuck or overwhelmed I think of this quote from Kodo Sawaki ...

When a drop of water falls in the ocean,
When a speck of dust falls on the ground,
At that moment the drop of water is no longer a drop of water,
It becomes the ocean,
And the speck of dust is no longer a speck of dust,
It becomes the entire earth.

– Kodo Sawaki

So each and every action, whether big or small has an impact. =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Joyo]

Thank you, Shingen. That is a good suggestion and something I will definitely think about.

Yes, the problems and suffering in the world have weighed very heavy on me today. I did not sleep well last night, and I have felt a huge burden today. So thank you for this teaching from Kodo Sawaki. It really does help.

Gassho,
Joyo
just sat

[Joyo]

My kids are going to a birthday party tomorrow and the family has had many struggles including the loss of a baby girl and finding out that her twin brother has a very rare and serious disease. Thanks to the reminders here, I had the idea to send them some food as they have 4 children and are extremely busy and overwhelmed. Thank you Shingen, and Treeleaf for reminding us to reach out and help. It's so easy to get caught up in our own lives and problems and forget about others, I feel we all benefit from these simple reminders to be mindful of where help is needed.

GAssho,
Joyo
sattoday

[Mp]

It's so easy to get caught up in our own lives and problems and forget about others, I feel we all benefit from these simple reminders to be mindful of where help is needed.

Small steps are just big steps in little shoes. =) Media and hype can sometimes get the best of us and make us feel that in order to help and benefit others, we need to do big and amazing things. This to me is not true ... the little acts matter just as much, if not more then the big actions. But also it is not about big or small, it is about what lies on our hearts that truly matters =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sattoday

[Byokan]

Small steps are just big steps in little shoes. =) Media and hype can sometimes get the best of us and make us feel that in order to help and benefit others, we need to do big and amazing things. This to me is not true ... the little acts matter just as much, if not more then the big actions. But also it is not about big or small, it is about what lies on our hearts that truly matters =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sattoday

Gassho
Lisa
sat today

[Joyo]

Thank you Shingen I have to admit, that was hard to do!! This family is friends with my parents and they are all very intolerant of my Buddhist practice. It took a lot of swallowing my pride to buy them food and give it to them. But it is all good practice, and this certainly was.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today

[Shoka]

I have a couple small acts that really show kindness. There are from some people who work in service industries:

* Put down your phone when ordering or checking out (I don't know about elsewhere but this has gotten really bad in my neck of the woods)
* Make eye contact and actually answer when someone says, "How is your day?" and ask it back while actually waiting for an answer
* If you are waiting in line or checking out and have a minute have a conversation while you are being rung up, you will probably be the only person all day to actually show that you are grateful for their work.
* If someone has really been helpful take a moment to let their supervisor know, in person or later on the phone. It's rare that they get anything but complaints.

Gassho,

Shoka
Sat Today

[Cumminjd]

This may be my favorite thread in my time hear at Treeleaf. May we all go that extra step and bring light to someone else's day. They might just need it.

Gassho
James
Sattoday

[Kyotai]

Wonderful Shoka, thank you

Gassho, Kyotai
Sat today

[Geika]

Shoka, what you wrote is really true! At my job, I make sandwiches and sometimes it's a little out of control with the phones and the impersonal behavior!

Gassho

Sat today

[Mp]

I have a couple small acts that really show kindness. There are from some people who work in service industries:

* Put down your phone when ordering or checking out (I don't know about elsewhere but this has gotten really bad in my neck of the woods)
* Make eye contact and actually answer when someone says, "How is your day?" and ask it back while actually waiting for an answer
* If you are waiting in line or checking out and have a minute have a conversation while you are being rung up, you will probably be the only person all day to actually show that you are grateful for their work.
* If someone has really been helpful take a moment to let their supervisor know, in person or later on the phone. It's rare that they get anything but complaints.

Wonderful ideas Shoka ... thank you! =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sattoday

[Byokan]

Shoka,

I love your ideas, thank you! Those small kindnesses can make all the difference.

Gassho
Lisa
sat today

[Kyotai]

Last week I had an opportunity to talk to someone who is going through a terrible situation. A family member is sick and does not have much time left. Each day for this person is pretty much hell. I took 20 minutes out of my day to listen. They talked about faith in God and how that was helping. I listened and encouraged. That's all it took.

I now have a new chemo patient through chemo angels and sent some magazines and snacks they like along with a letter a week. This is particularly good practice because often patients will not write back. I make a little effort and hope it's helpful.

Gassho, Kyotai
Sat today

[Mp]

Last week I had an opportunity to talk to someone who is going through a terrible situation. A family member is sick and does not have much time left. Each day for this person is pretty much hell. I took 20 minutes out of my day to listen. They talked about faith in God and how that was helping. I listened and encouraged. That's all it took.

I now have a new chemo patient through chemo angels and sent some magazines and snacks they like along with a letter a week. This is particularly good practice because often patients will not write back. I make a little effort and hope it's helpful.

Gassho, Kyotai
Sat today

You got it my friend ... this is the true expression of this practice. Thank you for sharing Kyotai. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sattoday

[Jika]

I want to thank a sangha friend, who has been there for me and who is always giving more than receiving.

She was my Ango buddie and has been a great help ever since.

Now we are a very exclusive book club, of which one side (me) does not have a clue, needs help with the text and is always late.

The other side is waiting patiently for me to finish reading a chapter, waiting patiently for me to send my notes.

Nindo, it was a very fortunate day we met.
We seem to be speaking the same language

Thank you very much.
Deep bows,
Danny
#sattoday

[Kyotai]

Gassho, Kyotai
sat today

[Kyosei]

Shingen, thank you SO MUCH for this thread. I took the liberty to share the ideas you've posted here, on my page on facebook. Hope it is ok to you.

And again, thank you. Such great practical ideas to extent charity on all beings.

Gassho

[Mp]

Shingen, thank you SO MUCH for this thread. I took the liberty to share the ideas you've posted here, on my page on facebook. Hope it is ok to you.

And again, thank you. Such great practical ideas to extent charity on all beings.

Gassho

You are more then welcome Marcos ... thank you for passing it forward! =)

Gassho
Shingen

SatToday

[Anshu Bryson]

I have adopted a practice that Yugen started at his karate dojo. I teach karate for free here in Jakarta; to spread some 'engagement' out exponentially, I require my students engage in some sort of community assistance endeavour in lieu of payment for classes. For the junior students, this might mean helping a neighbour sweep their yard or bring in groceries; for the adults, it will be something a little more substantial. I started this with the kids, but the adults felt a little guilty that the kids were pulling their weight, so insisted that I roll the program out to them as well. Now, instead of me providing a community service alone, I have a platoon of students out there helping in their communities. This way, my small contribution gets payed forward to a bunch of folk I don't even know!

Thanks Yugen!!!

Gassho,
Anshu

​sat today

[Yugen]

Anshu,

Nine bows and much respect to you and your students. I'm a big believer in paying it forward and I admire you for doing this.

Occasionally we schedule a service activity together. Early next month we are spending an afternoon at a local farm helping clean and prepare for planting. I've begun to hatch an idea for a community garden plot we maintain to grow vegetables for folks in need. The farm we re volunteering at makes a small plot available for this purpose. Farmer zen!

Deep bows
Yugen


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mp]

Anshu,

What an amazing example of paying it forward, deep bows to you and your students for providing this care to your community. =)

Gassho
Shingen

SatToday

[broahes]

Thank you for this thread Shingen, and all that have contributed to it.

I thought about this for a moment and I know for myself sometimes even holding the door for someone is more of a habit, then really seeing and feeling the impact that it has on that person. Not only making a connection through my actions of help, but ensuring that I see them with my eyes, with my smile. Engagement to me is being in that moment, right there, with all my being.

How true this is my friend. Where I grew up, we are taught to hold the door for others, and upon reflection, I realize that it is indeed a habit. Often I find that I do not make eye contact when doing this.. As you said. Habit. A lifeless machine. I look forward to trying to make this habit a better habit and really engage. This is a great list!

I do a lot of volunteer work within my community, much of it centered around environmental issues. It has made me aware of how some of it is done with no thought honestly of others. It is done out of selfishness a lot of times.. And over the years I have honestly held anger towards the community for there being so much to clean up. Almost as if to say.. ."how dare you".. or feeling as if no one cares but me. You have reminded me in reflecting on this thread what service actually is.. Filling me with gratitude once again. So much to reflect on in that.

Thank you again.

Gassho,
Brooks sat today.

[Kyonin]

The other day an old lady passed by my house. You could tell she was very poor. She knocked the door and asked if she could take some flowers from a flower pot I have at the entrance. She wanted to get the seeds because she wanted to plant the flowers so she could sell them.

She left my house with some money, seeds for flowers, chilies, tomatoes. She looked happy.

---

A few weeks ago a friend came to me looking for help. Her marriage was about to end because an ugly fight she had with her husband. I listened to both. I tried to do my best to help and make them see their egos were clashing.

They will go in a second honey moon on Friday. They look happy.

---

A kid whom I have been teaching English for 4 years, just passed her exam for the university. She'll major in English literature. She looks happy.

---

I have been designing ads for an animal rescue organization. Quite a few dogs and cats have found a home. They also look happy.

---

And all I do is sit and listen. Sometimes I look happy. And then I sit again.

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

[Byokan]

The other day an old lady passed by my house. You could tell she was very poor. She knocked the door and asked if she could take some flowers from a flower pot I have at the entrance. She wanted to get the seeds because she wanted to plant the flowers so she could sell them.

She left my house with some money, seeds for flowers, chilies, tomatoes. She looked happy.

---

A few weeks ago a friend came to me looking for help. Her marriage was about to end because an ugly fight she had with her husband. I listened to both. I tried to do my best to help and make them see their egos were clashing.

They will go in a second honey moon on Friday. They look happy.

---

A kid whom I have been teaching English for 4 years, just passed her exam for the university. She'll major in English literature. She looks happy.

---

I have been designing ads for an animal rescue organization. Quite a few dogs and cats have found a home. They also look happy.

---

And all I do is sit and listen. Sometimes I look happy. And then I sit again.

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

Ah, Kyonin.
I think you sit and listen good.
Reading this made me look happy.

Gassho
Lisa
sat today