“You must be completely awake in the present to enjoy the tea.
Only in the awareness of the present, can your hands feel the pleasant warmth of the cup.
Only in the present, can you savor the aroma, taste the sweetness, appreciate the delicacy.
If you are ruminating about the past, or worrying about the
future, you will completely miss the experience of enjoying the cup of
tea.
You will look down at the cup, and the tea will be gone.
Life is like that.
If you are not fully present, you will look around and it will be gone.
You will have missed the feel, the aroma, the delicacy and beauty of life.
It will seem to be speeding past you. The past is finished.
Learn from it and let it go.
The future is not even here yet. Plan for it, but do not waste your time worrying…

In the Midwest, fall usually means a change in weather, dark cloudy days, and an end to warm sunshine.  One way of making the most out of the changing seasons is to check out your local farmer’s market.

This morning while most people were sleeping in, we grabbed some coffee and headed for the local market where we had our pick of colorful autumn squashes and veggies.

I was reminded that all seasons change and that each season offers something new to enjoy.  Today was a fun, colorful, and tasty trip to the local farmer’s market and tonight will we will have a feast of lion’s mane mushrooms!

Passing through Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, a busy hub full of florescent lighting and stressed out people, I found a green sustainable garden growing among all the chaos and environmental pollutants.

The Rotunda Tower Garden won the Design and Construction Award for its indoor aeroponic garden that grows edible plants and herbs.  The plants are then used in the restaurants within the airport.  The material used to build the tower are made from local recyclable structural steel, glass partitions, security doors, electrical panels and furniture.

This live green environmentally friendly garden was a fresh and tasty stopover, providing me with a healthy sense of relief that even in urban USA, a plot of sustainable garden can still be found.