Happy 90th Birthday, Thich Nhat Hahn!!!

Janice and John celebrating Thich Nhat Hahns Birthday this morning. Thich is 90 years old. Cupcakes made by our dear friend Mary Jo. Namaste.

Sometime in 1992, I was walking through a bookstore in Westport, Connecticut. It was a very interesting and challenging time in my life and I was searching for some guidance.

The book that caught my eye was Peace Is Every Step written by Thich Nhat Hahn. I bought the book and remember reading it throughout the night in my little cottage apartment where I was living at the time.

Thich’s words spoke to me in such a profound way:

Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. Every breath we take, every step we take, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. The question is whether or not we are in touch with it. We need only to be awake, alive in this present moment.

Over the past 24 years, I have filled my journals with notes of other works and books that Thich has shared with the world. And one of the highlights of my life was when my wife Janice (whom I married 7,834 days ago today) and I got the chance to meet him at George Washington University. We will forever cherish that moment.

Much has transpired in my journey since then–joys and sadness. However, through the teachings of Thich, I have been encouraged to be awake and present. To be fully engaged and attentive to this very moment.

For that I am truly grateful!

Happy 90th birthday, Thich!

John (who is here now)

PS. My gift to you, my friends, is to visit Thich at plumvillage.com