Sunshine stays longer,
Chasing away the shadows
Our true selves will shine.
I see…I write…I am.
pictures, poetry and thoughts on the human experience.
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Well meaning choices –
strength and damage both gifted,
time shows the intent.
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A capricious breeze –
never still, never static,
Fate pledges nothing.
I wrote this shortly before my father passed away. It has taken me some time to come back around and add this little piece to it, as I have wanted to give myself more space to think on the theme of life/Fate/existence as an ever-changing thing.
I personally have seem to have gone through more change in the past four years, than many people experience in a decade. The past 18 months in particular have included 2 moves, becoming an empty nester, two job changes/losses, going back to school and changing careers, and the death of my remaining parent. Oh, and a puppy! I have often found myself wishing that things would just settle down for awhile so that I can catch my breath. But that just really does not seem to be how the universe works, does it? Change is all around us. It is even right inside of us, as we are not 100% the same as we were yesterday. Not only physically, but the experiences of yesterday have changed how we view today’s world. Sometimes the change is dramatic, as in the death of a loved one. But many times it is small and seemingly insignificant as maybe a crick in the neck or a particularly good cup of coffee.
The fact is that change is eminent and necessary. How much stress do we create for ourselves by fighting this? Perhaps if we try to look for the day to day differences with a grateful and open mind, we can develop more flexibility in dealing with the inevitable changes that life will bring us.
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Releasing what was –
A fleeting reality,
existing no more.
I had the occasion recently to show someone my hometown. I had described it of course, told stories of growing up there, but had not had the chance to actually drive around and have him see it. So after we had been driving around and I was pointing out things, my companion chuckled and said that the town he was seeing did not fit the picture of I had painted at all. I stopped for a moment, and realized that he was right (he more often than not is). My hometown, the one that I experienced and have carried around in my memories for, well…let’s just say a long time, no longer existed outside of my head.
Since then I have toyed with that realization. How much of the things we carry around with us in our heads simply no longer exist? The hurts, the disappointments, all the negative things that we humans tend to lay in our little red wagons and pull behind us through life. Things happen, words spoken, actions taken and, for better or worse, it shapes us, you cannot erase what has happened. But how many needless, painful things do we carry with us that are just no longer a reality? Perhaps then we can lay some of the hurt to rest and live in this moment with a clearer vision.
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Carefully tended –
delicate blossom outgrows
its youthful garden.
Having recently become an empty nester, I’ve been contemplating how, ultimately, the sign that we have done our job as parents well is that our children move away. To raise a child who is strong and independent enough to venture out into the world and start growing in a garden of their own making is what we strive for. It is an emotional time, but can be an exciting transition to being able to focus on your own garden.
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Slow breath, in and out,
Years of imbalance leave marks
But not destruction.
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Expansion outward –
true self filled with light and warmth,
claiming your own space.
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Brillantly common –
a symbolic messenger
grabs our attention.
We flit through our days, busy with mundane chores. Perhaps we feel invisible or commonplace, just another person trying to get through a day. We lose sight of our uniqueness, the things that make us special…like a cardinal is unaware of it’s brillant coloring. Fluff your feathers and remember who you are!
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Life’s fluxuations –
both beneficial and harsh,
grow our uniqueness.
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Invisible push-
automatic resistance
before the release.
I learned a valuable lesson recently. Even when we desire and know that a change must happen, there is an inherent urge to resist. This resistance can take many forms and it’s important to recognize how you unconsciously fight change. Like the milkweed seed, we cling to where we are, even though we are meant to fly in a new direction. Learning to recognize your own tendencies to resist change and overcome them is something that can only make your life better.
I see...I write...I am. 