Another beautiful day with blue skies and lots of bird songs. Got hot, too. Hate to complain of the heat this early in the season. Sun ran me out of both swings and into a chair that was in the shade. Had to move Penelope’s pen in the shade, too. She’s been after the fat chipmunk who eats under the bird feeders. He loves to take a short cut across the porch. Sneaks by Penelope when she’s napping. P almost got her yesterday but her leash jerked her back. I think they both enjoy the chase. Had another new visitor today on a suet basket, a red-bellied woodpecker. It was a male with his red cap and zebra striped back. Females wear a gray cap. Never seen a female before. Didn’t do much pondering today. I washed the pollen off the porch. Filled the bird feeders and watered the wilting pansies. They didn’t like the heat today. Got my monthly groceries put up.

Haven’t thought about what to ponder today. Maybe should write on the big question, “What is the meaning of life?” This just popped up in my thoughts when I sat down to start composing my blog. Maybe I should add a word, “What is the meaning of our life?” I’m sure Chief would answer that we should be good stewards of God’s earth. He believed in taking care of the earth and its resources. He’d recycle everything saying he didn’t want his grandchildren to live in a polluted world.

I had never seen a piece of trash in the ocean till two years ago in Hilton Head. I saw plastic canned drink rings, a cigarette package and some candy wrappers and random trash floating near the beach. That really depressed me thinking how easy it would be to just throw the trash away instead of chunking it in the ocean. I’ve never even thrown a piece of trash out a car window much less thrown some trash in the ocean. Don’t understand that behavior. Every minute of the day a garbage truck size load of throw away plastic is dumped in the ocean, 17.6 billions pounds every year. That’s depressing and it’s killing our oceans. Where does all the plastic come from? Researched that and found that 81% of all ocean plastic comes from rivers in Asia that empty into the ocean. That big island of trash, The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, that floats around in the ocean is twice the size of Texas. Wonder what happens when the earth’s ocean are covered in trash.

Just as being good stewards of the earth we have to be good stewards of each other. I think the impact we have on the lives of others plays a part in our life’s purpose. I don’t think we are here to just exist. Everyone has a need for affection and compassion. Everyone needs someone to listen. Everyone deserves a sincere smile and kindness on their journey through life.

Maybe happiness is the purpose of life. Maybe it’s being successful, maybe it’s family, maybe it’s making connections with others and enjoying our friendships. Life’s purpose is the reason we all get up every day. Let’s make every day meaningful.