Beautiful Silence

The snow is falling steadily today

beautiful

just beautiful

but

when it comes to snow

vision is not primary

such silence

everything hushed so profoundly

I hear each snowflake

fall through the sky

a descant

coming down to earth

landing as a tiny secret

indistinguishable to the eye

 from all the rest

beautiful

just beautiful

 

Reading Without Guilt (Mostly)

 Today was cold, with a bitter wind blowing. When I first woke up and sat on the couch with my tea and meditations, the snow that hit the window just over my shoulder took the form of pellets. Needless to say, I did not feel drawn to hurry outside for my daily constitutional.

Winter hits pretty hard when it comes here to Vermont. It can catch me off guard, lulling me in with sunny autumn days when I can hang my laundry outside and let it dry in the soft breezes.

I took my walk, but later than usual. Hung the laundry inside near the wood stove, made some soup with the Thanksgiving leftovers, and then, settled in by the fire to read. My book caught me up in its world as darkness fell.

What little guilt I had for reading my day away was absolved by reminding myself “it’s for book club. I have to finish it by Thursday!”

But then I wondered why guilt comes up, at all? With so many wonderful books to read, why do I chastise myself for taking the time to actually sit down and read some of them? Maybe, just maybe, it is my responsibility to read more books, to make it worth the while of all those hope filled authors who spent days agonizing over plot and character and turns of phrase.

I like this thought. Maybe this is a part of my charge as a retired person, one small way to make good use of my time.

Thanksgiving

I am grateful for the little things that make life so meaningful:

Nourishment for body, mind and spirit

Family gatherings

Friends around the table

Conversations that draw me in

Sunshine after clouds

Earthy scents of fresh air

Flowing streams and ocean waves

Deep breaths that calm

Smiles of welcome

A full heart

 

Tiny Doses of Gratitude

 

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and because of this, thoughts of gratitude are in the air. 

So often, we think that gratitude has to be related to something BIG. We assume that the bigger the better, the bigger, the more gratitude generated. But I just listened to a program on the radio on which the professor spoke of research that has proven gratitude is especially valuable when we feel it for many little things throughout our day.

It is better to look for and notice small things you are grateful for as you go about your daily life. Weaving appreciation through your day is more effective in terms of actually helping us become more grateful, more positive, than setting aside a special time to reflect on what you are grateful for once a day.

The whole idea is to build your gratitude muscle, as you might any other muscle. 

The picture I posted above is of my favorite vacation place. When I am there, I definitely feel gratitude for all I see and experience. But what that story reminded me, is to recognize what I am grateful for in my ordinary life. To remember that there is extraordinary value in appreciating the simple pleasures of my home and my life here. 

Tiny doses of gratitude can add up to big changes in attitude.

Fostering Community

 Fostering community

building bridges

offering help

being of service

reaching out

seeking out

ways to contribute

This community

my home

where roots stretched into the soil

more than 30 years ago

still draws my heart

requires something

of me

whether hands or heart

changes with circumstances

All I know

is that I choose 

to respond

to be a part of things

here

After Anxiety

Looking back on the past few weeks

I see that anxiety

held me tight

all the "what ifs"

were negative

taking me down

But here's the thing -

everything went smoothly

plane trip

family reunion

close quarters

wedding

When I got home

had time to reflect

and none of those "what ifs"

became real

Instead

new possibilities 

edged them out

inspiring hope

maybe,

just maybe

normalcy is possible

even in the midst of chaos

I do not have to own

broader-perspective chaos

I do not have to 

let it in

I can just let it fester

on the hot sidewalk

of compassion

watch it shrivel up

and disappear

Anxiety 

does not define me

Chaos

cannot claim me

if I choose

to remain steady

to breathe deeply

to hope for better

Out The Door

 Leaving

is harder than staying put

but opens the door

(literally!)

to all kinds of adventures

Today the doors

that open for us

lead to North Carolina

and Caitlin and Paul

and Ellie too!

for their wedding

Such joy

may it carry us 

past the thresholds

and into all that is possible

and "Yes!"