Readings by the River

06/01/2026

I love this so much!

05/25/2026

It is sad that many people tolerate these insults because they don’t want to be alone. Being alone can bring clarity to situations that you can’t see while in the midst of them.

05/18/2026

This is such a lovely thought! And something there is true, even if you doubt it. 😉

05/14/2026

So many people are mired in worry. It is easy to just focus on the now. That’s when inspiration can strike.

04/29/2026

This is absolutely beautiful. And it explains the rampant division in our world today. Which world do you wish to live in? The one of fear or the one of trust?

04/25/2026

I find this quite interesting!

Not everything that feels good is actually good for you.

Some things don’t solve your emptiness… they just distract you from it.

What looks like pleasure can often be loneliness wearing a mask.
What feels like fun can quietly be an escape from what you don’t want to face.
What promises peace can simply numb you, not heal you.

Endless scrolling feels like rest, but your mind never truly slows down.
Quick comfort food feels satisfying, but it drains your energy over time.
Luxury can look like purpose, yet still leave a strange emptiness inside.

Habits like smoking or constant notifications don’t relax you—
they train your mind to depend, to react, to stay restless.

And social media? It can look like connection…
but often it’s just seeking validation in a room where no one really knows you.

The deeper truth is simple:
real peace isn’t loud, addictive, or instant.

It’s built slowly—through awareness, discipline, and honest living.

Don’t keep feeding your soul with things that only fill moments.
Feed it with what actually nourishes you.

Because what you consume… eventually becomes who you are.

04/25/2026

We had a group of 25 at our World Tai Chi and Qigong Day celebration, sending healing energy out to the world. 😊

04/23/2026

Simple and true.

No one wants to accept these truths...

04/12/2026

I just love this!

Think about it...

12/06/2025

I find this scale very interesting, and I can see deficits and excesses in myself. What do you think? Is it a good tool for reflection?

👀COMMENTARY: In times when virtue is obscure, here is a 2007 illustration by graphic designer Jim Lancet depicting Aristotle’s ethical framework from the Nicomachean Ethics called the "Golden Mean." The infographic below depicts the “golden mean” principle, where virtue is the balanced midpoint between two extremes of vice—one of deficiency and one of excess.

The virtuous action or character trait, relative to the individual and the circumstance, is the appropriate "balanced midpoint" that fits a specific situation, determined by practical reason and applies primarily to emotions and actions.

📜Mario Lotmore, Lynnwood Times