This morning, on the way home from dropping W off at work, I glanced left and took in the magnificent morning as the bright sunlight brought the prairie grasses back to light and life. We had a hard freeze last night and much of the world was covered in a heavy frost. It was 19 F or -7 C, depending on your scale, whichever you choose – it was cold.

The prairie grasses were frosted and golden in the light. The sun had been up above the horizon for less than an hour and it was low on the horizon and the entire prairie was brightly lit and slowly warming.
By now, a few hours later, most of the morning’s frost is gone and the prairie grass is no longer coated with frost. It’ll be a while, several months with the arrival of spring, before the grass completely returns to life and the cycle continues.

That is the beauty of a new year, it’s a moment to pause and reflect on what was good about the past year and what I can change, what I can make better, but more importantly what I cannot change and what I must accept and move forward. Because, for me life is not about what has happened, but will happen. Like the prairie grass, I am resilient.
“The past is the cause of the present, and the present will be the cause of the future.” Abraham Lincoln
It’s warmer outside – freezing 32 F or 0 C – as I noted before. The temperature is relative, Earth and I are resilient. Today is gonna be a great day, it’s gonna be a great year, day one of three hundred sixty-five. I am gonna make each and every one count. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, I am resilient.
How resilient are you?
Today’s post is inspired by this week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Resilient. This week, share a photo of something that says “resilient” to you. It could be a local landmark that has survived through the decades (or centuries), or a portrait of a person you know who never gives up. You could snap an image of a bed of perennials that never fail to bloom in season, or of a ritual or tradition that you (or people in your community) have successfully preserved. Show us something that has endured. I look forward to your posts this week, and in future challenges in 2017 — Happy New Year!
Yup, in the deep freeze here in NYC too. 17 degrees right now and it snowed yesterday. Not too bad here in Manhattan but the burbs got about a foot of snow. Stay warm out there!
Phil! Happy New Year! The snow melted Christmas day and the temperatures have been up and down – Sunday was well below freezing and yesterday it snowed and then it warmer breezes brought rain and sleet… January in Chicago – you never know what you are gonna get! School is back and the kids come back after a LONG 18 day break – I AM RESILIENT! Have a wonderful week.
It will be almost 60 here in NYC tomorrow. In January!
Interesting that as many people hated Lincoln then as hate either Clinton or Obama or Trump today. It will be interesting to see what history has to say about any of them. Here’s to resiliency – more is better!!
Thank you. You are correct, Lincoln did not receive a single vote in the South – mainly because he was not on the ballot, but he would not have won a single southern state even if he had been. The job of being the president, or any leader, is not easy… Lincoln was a progressive for his time period, but his main goal was to keep the Union together. When I look at the past couple of decades I see a rebirth (of sorts) of sectionalism – where parts of the country are divided again….we are a resilient nation, but we are a relatively young country with a democracy which requires us to be engaged and willing to compromise – two traits we are lacking today. I am hoping and praying for resilience and common sense to prevail. Peace.
We have a prairie preserve nearby, Prairie State Park, which we love, with bison and elk. And yes!! Resilience is a hallmark of health! Happy New Year!! Have a wonderful semester.
Thank you – I am looking forward to the New Year, especially after winter break. It has been a time to rest, restore, and rejuvenate…. I am sad I cannot point to more concrete accomplishments such as a clean desk, a balanced checkbook, or graded papers – but I am ready to get back – resilience is important. It is gonna be a great semester.
Beautiful take on the photo challenge! Nature is so resilient…and I hope we can be too. Happy New Year, Clay!
Thank you – it’s my hope and plan to be as resilient as nature this year… so often I worry about the past and let the present get away. The future suffers – Abe was right. I am resilient.
I suppose we all try to be resilient when we have to be – when others need us to be, for instance. But that prairie grass beats us all in bouncing back whatever the climate throws at it. Keep on that resilience of yours!
The prairie was once a farm, after it was a prairie… the land has been resilient. If only we could be as resilient to change. 2017 is gonna be a great year – for both of us and for both of our families – have Faith. Peace.