Enjoy the Sun, Count your Blessings

[Jon Freise]

I was going to write more analysis today about the Iran war and the state of the oil and gas markets.  But instead, I would like to encourage you to enjoy the nice weather and tend to your inner self and outer relationships.

We are entering into a period that is likely to be unstable for the rest of our lives.  There will be periods more and less uncertain, but we will likely not have another 80 years of relative peace that we just passed through.

And for this challenging time it is important to fortify one's spirit.  Take in the blessings when they come.

Appreciate the hot water and hot food when you have it.  The olive oil from across the world or country.  Chocolate or coffee!  Sunshine.  Air without choking smoke.  Mostly clean water to drink.  All blessings.

I am enjoying "The Book of Awakening" a kind of thought of the day book by cancer survivor Mark Nepo for helping me appreciate the life I have rather than spending my time pining for a life I do not have.

There are a lot of good spiritual programs going on that you might want to tap into.  Here are a few I have heard about:

Coming Home to Ourselves: Embodied Identity Practice
March 23, 2026

https://penumbratheatre.org/event/coming-home-to-ourselves-embodied-identity-practice/

The Twin Cities Work that Reconnects (Johanna Macy style spiritual resilience and healing)

https://www.tcworkthatreconnects.com/wtr-events

The National Work that Reconnects network

https://workthatreconnects.org/

Has a number of events every month.  Almost all the talks are interesting.

Get Outside!

Our North Star Chapter of the Sierra Club has a lot of opportunities to get outside with other nature lovers.

https://www.sierraclub.org/minnesota/outings

May you all have health, happiness and peace.

-Jon