the practice of yes

Alexsi, Anna and Eero's 15 month old son, practicing "yes" in a pool somewhere in Helsinki.

For those of us without Alexsi's "yes", I read this thoughtful comment today:

Practice generosity. Generosity is an antidote to fear. Real generosity (the kind that is not self-centered or self-serving) requires that we open our hearts and allow ourselves to be curious, vulnerable and accepting. This means saying yes to all facets of life, even the difficult ones. The generosity of acceptance feels like doing less, but it brings us more. It is amazingly regenerative. Experiment with the practice of generosity. Give your attention, your caring and your curiosity to those you live with and work with, without expecting anything in return. Say yes to yourself and to others. Notice and write about your acts of generosity as well as the generosity of others. You will find your fear diminishing. by Marc Lesser

i thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any--lifted from the no
of all nothing--human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

~ e.e. cummings