Author Archives: russtowne

About russtowne

I'm awed by the beauty of nature and the power of love and gratitude. Some of my favorite sensory experiences include waves crashing on rocky shores, waterways in ancient redwood and fern-filled forests, and rain. My wife and I have been married since 1979. We have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren. I manage a wealth management firm that I founded in 2003. My Beloved is a Special Education teacher for Kindergartners and First Graders. I'm a published author of approximately 60 books in a variety of genres for grownups and children.

To Infinity and Beyond to Lend a Hand

Posted on May 20, 2013 by russtowne

(Source: A friend found this at http://buff.ly/10FHdqv. I haven’t checked out that site.) The photo made me smile. To infinity and beyond. It’s a great blessing to have friends who will go the distance to lend a helping hand. Love, … Continue reading →

Posted in Friendship, Heroes, Photos That Touched Me | Tagged Buzz Lightyear, Friend, Friendship, helping hand, lend a hand, to infinity and beyond, Toy Story | 14 Comments

The End Of An Era

Posted on May 20, 2013 by russtowne

I’m always appreciative and grateful when someone says something kind about this blog or honors it with an award, and I’ve just reached a decision that I’ve long considered and kept putting off until now. I no longer plan to … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards: Sharing The Love, Gratitude | Tagged appreciation, appreciative, award, awards, blog, blogging awards, gratitude | 6 Comments

To A Friend Who Is Going Through Tough Times

Posted on May 19, 2013 by russtowne

A friend who is going through tough times recently wrote something along the lines that she needed to get out into nature. Dear friend: I wrote the lyric for the song linked above, and Kevin Harris wrote the music. I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Believe, Dealing with Pain & Grief, Dreams, Feelings/Emotions, Friendship, Goodness, Loneliness, Loss, My Beliefs, Nature, Pain & Grief, Poetry I Wrote, Songs I've Written or Co-Written | Tagged believe, cares, dreams, Friend, Friendship, gifts, goodness, greatness, grieving, Kevin Harris, loss, lyric, music, poem, poetry, song, symphony | 17 Comments

Precious Gems

Posted on May 18, 2013 by russtowne

(Source: I Stop For Suffering shared Tao & Zen’s photo) The Cosmos is filled with precious gems. I want to offer a handful of them to you this morning. Each moment you are alive is a gem, shining through and … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Awareness, Gratitude, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Observations, Quotes I Love, Wisdom | Tagged breathe gently, cherish, distress, Earth, embrace life, embrace your heritage, enjoy, Happiness, heritage, I Stop For Suffering, in your arms, living, miracles, Our true Heritage, photo, photograph, precious gems, quote, stream, Tao, Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen | 5 Comments

The Value Of A Moment

Posted on May 18, 2013 by russtowne

(Source: Forever Awezome) I attempt to remind myself that EVERY moment is precious, as once it is gone so is a part of my life that I’ll never get back. I’m working on creating a lifetime of memory-making moments. Thank … Continue reading →

Posted in Awareness, Children, Connection/Connecting, Joy & Happiness, Making Memories, Observations, Photos That Touched Me, Quotes I Love, Time | Tagged children, Forever Awezome, Life, lifetime, making memories, Memories, moments, photo, photography, quote, time, value | 6 Comments

Haircuts For A Hug

Posted on May 18, 2013 by russtowne

(Source: Forever Awezome) This story made me smile and gave my heart a warm hug. Anthony Cymerys is an 82-year old barber who gives haircuts to the homeless every Wednesday. Outdoors. He uses a car battery to power his clippers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Generosity, Goodness, Ingenuity, Kindness, Making the World a Better Place, Photos That Touched Me, Stories That Touched Me | Tagged Anthony Cymerys, barber, Forever Awezome, haricuts, homeless, kindness, photo, photograph, story | 13 Comments

All Around Us

Posted on May 17, 2013 by russtowne

(Source: Karen Robiscue-Fan Page shared The Natural Parent Magazine’s Photo) Or someone. I believe such things and people are all around us every day if we take the time with an open mind and eyes and look closely enough to … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Attittude, Awareness, Beauty, My Beliefs, Observations, Photos That Touched Me, Quotes I Love | Tagged animals, beauty, Carl Sagan, drop of water, flowers, Karen Robiscue-Fan page, Love, nature, people, photo, quote, snow flake, snowflake, The Natural Parent Maagaine | 4 Comments

It’s True For Women Too!

Posted on May 17, 2013 by russtowne

(Source: I Stop For Suffering shared The Art of Learning’s photo) I believe this is true. Love, Russ

Posted in Compassion, Kindness, Life, My Beliefs, Observations, Photos That Touched Me, Quotes I Love | Tagged I Stop For Suffering, kind, kindness, Love, man, photo, photograph, quote, The Art Of Learning, true, William Wordsworth, woman | 8 Comments

Falling In Mutual Weirdness

Posted on May 17, 2013 by russtowne

(John Edwards Photo) Genius! Love, Russ

Posted in Humor, Love, Observations, Quotes I Love, Relationship Lessons Learned | Tagged Dr. Seuss, genius, John Edwards, Love, photo, quote, weird, weirdness | 13 Comments

Hearing the Whispers

Posted on May 15, 2013 by russtowne

A reader recently mentioned something along the lines that knowing who we are is one of the toughest jobs a person can undertake. I agree. I think it is far easier to do so when one removes the distractions, such … Continue reading →