This morning when I went outside to walk the dog, I found a day filled with clouds and sunshine in a bright blue sky. Unexpectedly my heart filled with gratitude. I don’t think the emotion was due totally to it being a beautiful day but to the realization that I was safe and my heart wasn’t aching with grief over the loss of a loved one.
Such response is likely related to the Paris tragedy caused by people whose intent I cannot begin to understand. Hate is not an emotion to which I can relate, especially when it results in such unnecessary violence. I had to stop and think for a minute about my unexpected emotions which led to wondering why it is we find it so hard to love when it should be so much easier than hate and result in much better outcomes.
I have no answers to the problems that exist in the world and in our relationships with each other, but as I explored my own feelings I made a commitment to loving as best I can and to live without fear of being hurt. I am only one, but if enough of us adopt similar behavior, it will, hopefully, diffuse some of the power those with evil intent have over us.
And to think, all these feelings started with walking the dog.
Lulu's Musings 
Gratitude always soothes my worried spirit.
The rain has stopped and the sun has broken through, the air is crisp, it is the day that was hoped for this morning. It is now a perfect day for a walk, or a bit of work in the garden. It is the kind of day that gives me the space to be alone with my thoughts that continually turn to Paris; what makes a human being hate that completely, I just can’t make sense of this.
Thank you, Charlie. I think we are on the same page.