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I was in a CVS store and after getting a few items I got in line behind one man who was already in the process of being checked out. I was feeling lucky that there was not a big line as I was in a hurry to get to my next destination. The man before me was in his 80's and had many coupons that he was juggling along with his cane and wallet. There was a long conversation between him and the clerk as the clerk explained some of his coupons were obsolete and some just did not match what he wanted to purchase. The clerk was slow and gentle and so kind explaining to this customer who was very confused but also was obviously very hard of hearing as well. At one point the clerk even left his post so as to bring back a couple rolls of toilet paper that the man wanted but forgot. And then the elderly man decided he wanted two more rolls of toilet paper! Again, off the clerk went with a smile . Although I was in line only about 15 minutes, the line behind me grew quickly to 10 people. There was much rumbling behind me because unlike me, they could not hear and see the extraordinary care and kindness of this clerk to a confused elderly man. I forgot my need for getting out quickly and just settled back and watched in amazement and fascination as this extraordinary clerk focused on the needs of this one elderly man as if there were no other people in the line. As a final touch, the elderly man paid with cash, most of it in change as he painstakingly and slowly counted it out, over and over! When the transaction was finally over, the clerk had another employee carry the elderly man's toilet paper and a few other items out to the car. I was deeply touched and told the clerk how he had transformed my day by his kindness and concern for this elderly man. I now try to go to CVS when I know Doug is working. It turns out that this is his second job.

The first time I had breast cancer was when I was 48. It was invasive and had spread to my lymph nodes . I had no idea of the outcome. Up until then I had a very tough and independent approach to life and challenges. I was always the care giver and helped anyone in need. What I discovered when I had cancer, that accepting help from others brought them joy. Accepting help was not a sign of weakness but came from acceptance. Being soft can be a sign of true strength. Being vulnerable is admitting being human and connects me to those around me in a deep and meaningful way.

Waiting in line a a now favorite time for me. I watch the interaction of the clerk with the customer before me and sometimes am rewarded with compassionate and thoughtful exchange. I witnessed such a moment while watching a clerk help a partially deaf and very old gentleman count out at an extremely slow pace all the change he could find in all his pockets. The clerk helped him count the money and treated him as he would have treated his elderly and feeble father - with kindness, respect and compassion. It made my day!

I live in the woods on a small farm that is sanctuary to our adopted and rescued dogs, horses, cats, ducks, chickens and rooster. I am use to hearing animals communicate with each other and me. One day I was working on a slope putting in native bushes and all of a sudden there was silence. At first I thought our resident red tailed hawk was scouting the area for his latest dinner. That was not the case. I listened more carefully and instead of a sound, I felt a presence. It was louder than a sound and yet no sound at all. I turned around and 3 feet away from me was standing a beautiful 3-4 year old doe deer. I sat and admired her and spent the next 30 -60 minutes with her. Her silent presence was loud enough for me to feel if not hear.

For years I was a garden and landscape designer. During that time I also was sending money to different organizations to keep bears from drowning due to climate change, keep the rain forests in S.A. from being cut down and saving wild horses from the BLM roundups in the wild west of our country (plus many, many other organizations trying to save a piece of the world). Daily I was bothered to see nothing was changing for the better no matter how much, or little I continued to send to these organizations. It was affecting my thoughts in the day and even my sleep. One restless night I had one of those moments, a new thought! I could change my landscape business into one based on environmental sound techniques and use only native plants that would then support native wildlife. It dawned on me that I could not change environments far away, but I could start on my own property and every property that I was hired to landscape. That thought of j12 years ago changed my life and all my thinking and actions. Although my actions are but a drop in the bucket, I now have a mission in life and am at the service of nature.

My husband and I live on a few acres that allows us to rescue many animals - dogs, horses, chickens, ducks, roosters and cats. They keep us grounded and become our constant teachers and loving companions. This past week, Tessie one of our 4 dogs, had to be put down due to a spreading cancer. She was 14 and a rescue from the South. Whenever one of out animals dies or is put down, the intense grief I experience opens me to being more in the moment and much more compassionate with all beings, including myself.