Sitting down to meditate this morning. So grateful for all the things that I have been given. The Tibetan rug made in Dharamsala by refugees. The stained glass window removed from my childhood home as it was being torn down and given to me by my parents. The handcrafted quilt given to me by Gracie. The home rebuilt from a dilapidated building with my children, Paul, Sierra and Matthias in what I thought would be the hardest of times but turned out to be the best of times. Just outside, the wooden rowing shell that I have gone many miles in, And beyond that the tree swing which Matthias made for his younger brother Taiming. So many things that have captured the love in my life and hold it for me to cherish every day. Real value is simple and measured in meaningful ways not in money, power or strength. True strength is in patience, presence and persistence with things that really matter