Off

This Week's Bingo: Off. Bingo's going on break this week. Explore the archives. What is your favorite? Mine? Grumpy.

Grateful

Today's Bingo: Grateful. On the worst days, the good is still there like a single rose in the midst of thorny hedges. What are you grateful for? The layers of clouds and changing colors of the sky. Flowers on trees (really, watch any flower blooming on a tree. Gray bark is suddenly brandished with elegant, completely unexpected brightness--even though you know trees bloom each spring). You, in the mirror, even on your worst day, are a miracle.

Territory

Today's Bingo: Territory. It's mine; no, it's not; yes, it's mine. You fought with your brother over toys, your parents over the car, and now it's with your spouse about chores and your colleagues about projects. Start over: It's all ours. With that attitude, everything is an opportunity to build a relationship stronger.

Expert

Today's Bingo: Expert. She learned to dance when she was eight. Her grandfather was the best in her village, and once a runner-up in the national competition. She never competed, but for decades all the young men of town come for lessons with her. She is an expert at doing what she loves.

Relative

Today's Bingo: Relative. "How old is the universe?" The student asked. "It depends on your point of view." The Master replied. "How do you know?" The student wondered. "When you are sad, time stops. When you are in love, time disappears. The wise enjoy the accelerations."

Run

Today's Bingo: Run. (Hear Chariots of Fire playing in the background). You were made to run. To chase the wind and find the pure endorphin high of your body, in motion, flowing over rock and sand and pavement. You were not made to run around, chasing your tail, disconnected from right now. Today, be the wind.

Pilgrim

Today's Bingo: Pilgrim. It's a health plan. They started Thanksgiving (sort of). A pilgrim is anyone who goes on a spiritual journey. Pilgrims go away for their discovery. They have to walk ancient paths that someone else has deemed sacred (and that's very good). What can you discover today without leaving your chair?

Sage

Today's Bingo: Sage. Fried on top of shepherd's pie. An old guru with wise words. A color for your wall that brings balance. An old wise man ripped sage, gathered on his walk in the mountains, and tossed it into the night's stew. The young student asked expectantly, "What is the value of the herb?" The wise man replied, "It tastes good!"

Build

Today's Bingo: Build. The child asked his grandfather, "What is a meaningful life?" The Grandfather was busy repairing the chimney on his house. "I don't know," the Grandfather said. "But Grandpa, you have to know." The child insisted. "You're old." The Grandfather smiled and realized he did know. He said to his Grandson, "Help me fix this chimney."

Start

Today's Bingo: Start. You've never done it before? No problem: Start today. Eat fruit, walk, enjoy the best cup of coffee you've ever had (instead of six). Sit in one place for five minutes with nothing to do (it will be uncomfortable--until you notice the bird fly past your window, then the cloud that looks like a bunny, and the perfect tree that's always been there). Finding yourself all over again starts with one moment of awareness.

Freedom

Today's Bingo: Freedom. The dogs had been fighting all day: biting each other, growling, and it didn't look like they were having fun. Then their owner fed them, and they were best friends, as if nothing had happened. Freedom is dinner (and a short memory).

Good

Today's Bingo: Good. You are good. Doesn't matter what you've done, or will do. You have been paid for by a precious world that starts new. Every moment: rebirth. All you have to do is pause long enough to let the pain and stress pass, and your true nature will rise.

Bud

Today's Bingo: Bud. “Mommy, why do the flowers take so long to come out?” “Pretty things take time.” “But I’m already pretty mommy.” "And you're more beautiful every day!"

Curtain

Today's Bingo: Curtain. The seven year old was playing the goat in the school play. He had thrown up that morning with nerves. He had not eaten his lunch. When the teacher said, "Curtain, curtain, everybody ready?" to all her little animals, he thought to himself, "Yes!"

Pop

Today's Bingo: Pop. Dad. The sound the plastic wrapping makes when you step on it or squeeze the bubbles happily between your fingers. Singular of a sweet corn cereal. Fizz, Fizz, oh what a. In the interior of the country, you don't ask for soda: You drink pop.

Peeps

Today's Bingo: Peeps. The sweetest treat that comes once a year: Peeps. You either love them or hate them (and of course you can get other kinds of Peeps throughout the year, but those aren't really peeps, just colored sugar coated marshmellows--like a tomato that's not from summer looks like a tomato, but tastes like sawdust). But like so many of the best things, they are seasonal. They are precious because they are rare and temporary. Is today any different?

Clay

Photo by Emily Van Nort

Today's Bingo: Clay. Gray. Sticky. An uncarved mess. Until it meets you. You are the potter. You channel your life into its shape. Your imagination, with your hands, a spade, and a wheel, are like the first hands, bringing all things into being. You can create in every moment, if you recognize every moment is hungry, in fact, yearning for creation.

Peak

Today's Bingo: Peak. The mountain climber reached the summit just as the sun crested the horizon. It was like looking over the edge of the earth. The climb back down was the most dangerous; and all she noticed, the only thing she cared about, was the light sparkling on her jacket.

Yellow

Today's Bingo: Yellow. The tips of daffodils rising from cold earth. Tennis balls. That Cold Play song from like 10 years ago. That submarine tune from like...oh who's counting. The legal pad where you will write a few great ideas. A slice of lemon in tart and sweet ade. Even yellow weeds are beautiful!