Achieve success, but without vanity;

Achieve success, but without aggression;

Achieve success, but without arrogance;

Achieve success, but without gain;

Achieve success, but without force.

- Lao Tzu

Lotus Flower

The lotus holds a special place to those on the spiritual path. Their beauty is breath taking.  So on these cold winter days I thought it would be nice to gaze on one.  Pictures were taken in my garden several years ago. 

A Healthy Drink

We all want to make wise choices in out diet.  Most of us like a bit of a jump start in the morning.  So we turn to coffee or tea.  But what about later in the day? Do you switch to something decaffeinated so that you will not have a hard time sleeping?  (A good plan BTW).  What if I told you there is a tree out there that is naturally decaffeinate and healthy.  A herbal tea that has been around for thousands of years. It tastes great, is good for the heart, loaded with anti-oxidants, supports the immune system, is anti-inflammatory, supports the liver. There is... it is called Tulsi or Holy Basil tea. It is available at health food stores.  I think if you try it once you will make it your beverage of choice like I have. Read more about its benefits in this article. 

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to all!!!   We of the Jasmine Dragons welcome the year of the water dragon!  

An old farmer's advice

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.    

Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.      

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.  

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.    

Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled. 

Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.   

Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.  

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.   

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.  

You cannot unsay a cruel word.  

Every path has a few puddles.  

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty. 

The best sermons are lived, not preached. 

Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway. 

Don't judge folks by their relatives.  

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. 

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.  

Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none. 

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.  

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.   

 Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got. 

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'. 

Always drink upstream from the herd.    

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.    

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.    

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.