May 5th, 2010 Word for Today: Yin-Yang

"Yin - Yang"

In Chinese culture, Yin and Yang represent the two opposite principles in nature. Yin characterizes the feminine or negative nature of things and yang stands for the masculine or positive side.


The meaning of Yin-Yang ... This Simbol(Yin-Yang) represents the ancient Chinese understanding of how things work. The outer circle represents "everything", while the black and white shapes within the circle represent the interaction of two energies, called "yin" (black) and "yang" (white), which cause everything to happen.


(The above two definitions are from Reference.com.)

I thought about my today, the country's today and there were so many opposites.  Since every day actually does contain many opposites, it seemed Yin-Yang had to be the word for today as well as any other day.

What AM I talking about?  The floods around Nashville today and the beautiful, quiet save the birds singing and creek flowing, day it is here in East Tennessee. 

Remember the line and a famous book, "It was the best of times...the worst of times...." ?  Well, I think all time is like that.  Somewhere it's a terrible day or even a tragic day while somewhere it's nothing if not perfect.

Today I am content.  My household chores are caught up and I have time to blog and think.  The sun is shinning, temperatures and humidity couldn't be more perfect, birds are happy, creek's not too high or too low, my family are all OK for now. 

Today some have lost all their worldly posessions in a flood, some have lost friends and family in the flood, rain may return in a few days and the world is somber, cheerless and terrible.

"Yin - Yang" is the word.

(All photos by Janet Toney, please request permission before 'borrowing' any photograph.)

Today's May 3rd, 2010 and the Word for Today is: Somnolent

"Somnolent"

We dodged the bullet.  The storm passed us by quickly and the rain was gentle.  We are relieved.  However, the day of driving, shopping and visiting on Saturday, plus the stress of Saturday night and all day yesterday, have made me sleepy, or somnolent.

Our temperature yesterday topped out at 90.  And, or course, it was humid.  We decided to open the windows and turn on the fans. Thankfully, it was comfortable by bed time.

The night, with our windows open, so we could hear the rain and the creek, was, strangely relaxing instead of worrisome.  We slept well. 

This morning the air is so fresh.  The creek is up and running faster due to heavier rains in North Carolina where it originates.  This means it's also noisier, which is another soothing sound, which isn't logical, but it is true.   The birds have been singing melodious and sweet since very early.  But, a larger bird, likely a hawk of some kind was "singing" loudly, and noisily.  I think that bird was my husband's alarm clock, since he was up early moving around so that he woke me up, kinda.  Getting myself moving was difficult, but, easier after the aroma of brewing coffee reached me. 

So far I've managed to eat breakfast, take my shower, drink nearly the entire pot of coffee and work on this blog post.  Trouble is, I'm still somnolent.

The word for today is definitely "Somnolent."

Wake up people!


It's a great day,
even if you are somnolent!

(All photos by Janet Toney, please request permission before 'borrowing' any photograph.)