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Friday, January 9, 2026

On my Way to a Peace Walk, I stepped in a Cow Pie

 No, it was worse than a cow pie, you can easily wash them off. Cows are vegetarian, what I stepped in was toxic.

Violence, a fatal shooting in Minneapolis, MN, two people injured by gunfire in Portland OR. All by I.C.E. agents.

What they are doing is not to provide safety in America,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said, “What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust." 

Bombing Venezuela, Escalation in Mexico, Lust after Iceland--that man wants to control the world. Why oh why oh, are we as the citizens of the United States of America standing for this? Oh he wants to distract us from the Epstein Files. Oh he's desperate to escape jail. Oh, he has abolished our safeguards. Duh.

 

Moving right along:

  

I had a day of peaceful dreaming that we could go tripping through the tulips, aka walking along together in peace, like the Walk for Peace Buddhists Monks are doing. Like a stray dog in India who volunteered his services to a group of monks who were making a 100-mile walk for Peace in India, and are now walking for peace in America.

Aloka (meaning enlightened), the peace dog, is accompanying his group taking a 2,300-mile trek from Texas to Washington, D.C. a walk for peace.

Some are calling him “The mindfulness dog.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTDaAk_DFdw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Mindfulness is almost a meditation. It’s a frame of mind where you are relaxed with intent. It seems almost contradictory, but think about it: a walk, a calmness, a focus—I am peaceful. I intend that this peacefulness extends outward to all living things. And think about all the life that lives in the soil beneath our feet, the fungi mycelium,  microbes, worms—many necessary for the breakdown of vegetation into compost for plants, our life-source. Plants, our maker of food, our homes, our oxygen.  (And even ones in Penthouse apartments must eat and breathe.)

I don’t know about the asphalt the monks are walking on; it would be like walking on emery boards, especially for the one monk who is walking with no shoes. And I am amazed that they remain peaceful and focused while walking along a highway, amid the noise and chaos.

And the dog, Aloka (meaning enlightened one), is trotting right along with them. Aloka volunteered for the journey. It began in India when he was a street dog and joined a group of monks taking a 100-mile walk for peace.

 


 

Now he is in the US marching with the Buddhist Monks for Peace from Texas to Washington D.C., a 2,300-mile trek. They figure it will take 120 days.

 


I felt inspired. What can we do to uplift, not break down? How can we be mindful in our lives, living in harmony and calmness? How can we slip out of dissatisfaction, the minutia of life, the fear mongering, the violence that is erupting in our country, and ignore the fanning of it to keep us stirred up? How can we say, “Enough?”

Yesterday, it was such a simple thing — my Grandson and I went to Starbucks for a Chai coffee for him and an iced mocha for me. The pharmacy was right there, so I asked if he would mind if I stopped. My Rx was free (surprise); however, I had my credit card out of my wallet, for I expected to pay.

I walked to the truck with my card and the bag in one hand to open the door, but when I got inside, the card was missing. I looked down, retraced my steps—no card.

I tried to search the truck—you know, that gap between the seats where everything likes to nap —but with a dog, a kid, and a winter jacket taking up the front seat, I could hardly see anything. I asked a man leaving the pharmacy if he had seen me drop a card. He hadn’t, but when we got into his car on the passenger side of my truck, he stooped down and found the plastic card had blown, scooted, slid, from the driver’s side ¾ way under the truck. (We had a gale that day.)

Hallelujah! Card found.

He told me his story about having his driver’s license stuck to another card and not being able to find it.

A human connection.

I will continue to dream, I will continue to follow the Buddhist Monks' March for Peace, and their loyal companion, Aloka. I will continue to believe that the people of the world want peace and happiness. And that the crazy ones will wake up or lose their power.  No amount of power, money, sex, force, attention, or “Likes” will keep them from dying. Maybe because they know that, they want to wreak as much havoc as they can before they leave. Spoiled bullies!

Martin Luther King Jr led a group of people to the gates of the promised land, then left. Now, opening the gates and entering is up to us.

Are we up to the task?

Race fights continue. Those who look different from us are suspect. The controllers tell us, “Those who aren’t white, rich, of our faith, belief system, don’t belong.” and if you oppose me, I will shoot you. I never thought we would see this in America.

Our old Reptilian brain responds: “Get rid of foreigners, fear strangers. They will take our goods. Grab the resources; there isn’t enough to go around. Survive. Mine, mine, mine.”

From Texas, they came, to Washington they go. They walk, a quiet, small group of monks and one dog. Because they believe in a better way.

Connect with me. 

Together, we can come up with a plan, something good.

Let’s do it.

Give me an “I’m in.”

 

“I’m waiting.”

 

                                                                      Sweetpea

 

 

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Our Present Political Climate is Hurting Gentle Hearts

 
And gentle hearts are responding.
 

 

My heart grew five sizes today when I watched the Instagram of the Buddhist Monks, accompanied by their faithful dog Aloka, marching for peace.

Their trek will take them from Texas to Washington, DC, 2,300 miles.

I had seen glimpses of the march but didn’t know its extent—until today.  What a commitment, 2,300 miles!

And Aloka, their dog, is marching right along with them.

Aloka was once a street dog in India until one day he joined a 100-mile march with a group of monks, now, he is the most loved and notable dog in America and is tenderly monitored on the trek by Veterinarians.

 


 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/882075867650100  Aloka

 

I am so tempted to say, “Meanwhile, back home…” but I’m not going there. The commitment of those monks shows how much we need someone to show us the way, and it shows, too, that love can be contagious, just as hate can. Look at all the people who are supporting their walk. Look at the kind hearts of the bystanders. Look at the ones who are giving gifts and make sure Aloka gets proper rest.

This march comes at a perfect time when it seems that a malaise has settled over us—maybe it’s just me—when  you feel you aren’t making a difference, you worry, and you are waiting for positive change, it pops up once, then quickly gets overshadowed by some dire act that pushes us back down.

And we are allowing it to happen.

There is a saying in India that when time grows dark and dire, I will send a comforter…I have been looking for one. Today I found one—loving hearts, peacefully walking with intention and purpose, accompanied by Aloka—the name means enlightened—their faithful dog.  

Thank you.

Your generosity❤️❤️ compassion, love❤️determination and endurance sparks a fire in our souls. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️


“When the power of love overcomes the love of power will we know peace.”—Jimi  Hendrix

 https://www.instagram.com/alokathepeacedog/reel/DTOK7ySlEEi/


 

P.S. Two monks were injured when a truck crashed into their support vehicle which in turn hit two monks. One lost a leg. Still, the rest of the troupe marches on.


 



 

 For more pictures please go to josnewsletter.com/