Hi, Mary - thanks for your insightful and enjoyable comments:)

"Farm Strong" as Cameron Tucker might say:)  See reference at Modern Family on IMDB:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3183992/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1.  Farmers are among the most risk-taking and realistic folks I know.   I especially miss how my current urban life gives me less time to simply and mindfully enjoy a day.  I remember long, lazy days, afternoons, and nights where we did literally nothing, but gaze at nature and observe the weather.  Makes me wish for a long, soaking rain right now:).

Love the quotes you have shared, especially Rahm Emanuels's very positive approach to crisis.   He speaks to a reality that many of us do not push ourselves to and past our limits until we have to, due to some crisis.   Most of the time, the inertia of daily life gets in the way.

When we do experience a crisis, the emphasis too often is on returning to stability or the status quo, althought that is never truly possible.  Every little ripple in the Force changes our universe, sometimes in ways we only later recognize or understand.

As always, appreciate your thoughtful and thought-provoking observations, Mary:)

John