Bird Droppings July 7, 2026

Is it not an Emerson day?

Last night I was extremely tired after not getting much sleep the previous night, yard work, graduate schoolwork, and cooking supper for everyone. About fourteen years ago, while I was sitting and writing, my wife called me to see the sunset, which was gorgeous. Our granddaughter was in her arms, the nearly full moon was high in the sky, and, of course, I took a few photos. We went everywhere with our grandbaby. First, some shower gifts for our grandbaby to be in South Carolina, and then a local nursery and some outfits for both granddaughters. I needed to get some work done outside today, but it seems that every time I start, Charlie wants to show me something, talk, or read a book, and my granddaughters have first option, especially overwork. It was starting to get dark, and a front was coming in, with vivid oranges and reds in the sunset, a massive line across the west. I had gone from dawn to dusk and beyond yesterday, and now today somehow felt like I really hadn’t gotten much done.

 I had been outside earlier taking sunrise pictures as usual when I happened to find this memory from years back. So today: schoolwork, errands, moving some plants, and watering and reestablishing a few plants. I clipped a few dead pitcher plants from our bog garden. We have pitcher plants, or plants and Venus flytraps, I should say, and it is interesting to show novices the vast number of insects they trap.

On a different topic, it has been quite a few years since I began gathering Emerson quotes and writings. As I looked back on the day, I felt I had not gotten much done; I started adding it up after reading this quote. Actually I had talked to a graphic arts class during my planning period, started working on sports posters, taught my classes, done a good deal of paper work, went to the bank, post office and gas station, loaded my camera and such and went to a football game all the while talking to maybe a thousand people along the way. 

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is often a difficult proposition to simply put aside today at the point where you stop. But far too often we get encumbered with the now and focus to a point where we carry that focus over to the morrow and often stress and anxiety follow. This is sort of what I was doing, and I didn’t realize what all I had really gotten done.

“There is a tendency for things to right themselves.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it. The man who knows how will always have a job. The man who also knows why will always be his boss. As to methods, there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Somewhere along the line, a professor called me an existentialist so many years ago, and it took a moment, and as I thought, pondered as I do, perhaps I was to some extent. I have read more Emerson over the past few years than probably in my lifetime, finding bits and pieces that truly seem to make sense. So often in life, as Emerson states, it will work out, but as he also says, simply trying will not do it; having principles is the key.

“To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“All great masters are chiefly distinguished by the power of adding a second, a third, and perhaps a fourth step in a continuous line. Many a man had taken the first step. With every additional step you enhance the value of your first immensely.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have used this line from Emerson so many times before; so often we initiate yet do not continue after that first step.  The great one in life is the person who takes the second and third steps as they proceed.

“When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

I find this quote interesting as the fake beard falls away. So often I have met people whose facade is imitation, unreal, purely make-believe, and even fake. They strive so hard to be something they are not; high school students call them affectionately POSERS. They go through life posing as someone else. Thinking back a few months, as I walk through the halls, kids will point to someone and say they are a poser. It is all about trying to fit into a different group or style. As I watch and observe, so many times the school bully is that, to hide other flaws. It could be poor reading skills and/or poor self-esteem. As I sit here this evening, this last statement is most significant; it is often most difficult to make that initial decision. Yet, as time will be, once the decision is made, things seem to happen; the pressure is gone, and events fall into place. Today is a new day, an Independence Day, and with that, please keep all in harm’s way on your mind and in your heart, and always give thanks. Namaste.

My family and friends, I do not say this lightly,

Mitakuye Oyasin

(We are all related)

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