We all have choices. One is to be nasty or to be nice. I believe my existence will be judged primarily by the choices I make. T.S. Eliot said, “Let’s not be narrow, nasty, and negative.”

This is my idea of good advice.

There are loads of lovely people saying nice things. That, to me, is the true American Heart, not the people with funny hats hating other people for being different.

Here are just a few lovely messages I heard this week:

Yesterday, from Pat: “I could almost feel and smell the flowers – nothing better than a beautiful bunch of wildflowers. And the coolness that you can feel in the air with your pictures – they always make me smile and transport me to your fields with the animals. Takes me out of the city for just a brief time of reflection.

“Jon, I start my days with your flower pictures, which help me see the beauty in small things, and your words, which make me think and feel. Powerful stuff, thank you.” – Karla.

___

“Such beautiful Pastoral photos as always….normally I usually sigh…..and ooh and aah…….but today my first impulse (which I indulged, of course) was to laugh out loud…… I *felt* Zip’s aura very strongly today…… he truly MUST be involved in every aspect of your lives……and it just made me smile and made me happy. That *is*…..your aim with these photos……and it’s working! Thank you for that!”
Susan M

___

From Jill D: “Gorgeous photographs. Very atmospheric. Could practically breathe in the air just looking at them. Thanks!”

____

From Mary Hayes: “Jon, I appreciate your taking the time to post pictures when you are feeling a little under the weather. You are truly committed to doing good! May you be blessed as you follow your path of helping others.”

_____

From Anne Stadler: “Lovely, lovely, lovely…and you are right that every photo speaks for itself. Thank You!”

_______

Thanks, Pat, Karla, Susan M, Jill D, Anne, and Mary Hayes, for taking the trouble to look at my pictures and write me these lovely notes about them. In our tense and sometimes cruel time, messages like this are the best medicine and the most accurate reflection of the real American Spirit. The messages mean a lot, I read them, feel them, they make what I do worth doing.

It’s great to be nice, but essential to be treated nicely. The soul starves without it. The reason I take these photos every day is to give people out there a moment to breathe, be calmed by nature and flowers, and have some quiet. It works, and I am grateful for that. It’s also a reminder to keep taking pictures, which I thoroughly enjoy doing. I’m thinking it’s the best job I ever had.

Mary, thank you. I was sick that week, and I never once thought of skipping my flowers. I am slowly learning what they mean to people. Flowers attract friendly people like bees to pollen; it is beginning to rub off on me, I hope. – Jon