Rest, Recovery, Reflection

This becomes more and more important as the ripeness of life takes hold.  KAS

Mountains do not Rise Without Earthquakes

We are living through an earthquake of unknown proportions.  Will our Democracy be strong enough to conquer the darkness?  Will it be the mountain to rise through this earthquake?  I gather all the energy within and without and join it with yours to make it so.  Onward!  KAS

How To Play Chess?

Wish I did!  In the process of learning!  KAS

Don't Sink from Outside Forces

Right up front, I confess to being highly susceptible to being weighed down by what is outside.  However, upon further reflection, I don't believe it's about keeping it all outside in order to maintain a healthy balance.  I personally think what's outside matters to what's inside.  What's called for is a balancing act.  Maintaining a hopeful and positive attitude which is my particular challenge.  KAS

Collect My Tatters

Pondering Pool

The "perfect" tatters.  Think about your definition of perfect; because it is yours to define.  Don't let some arbitrary image and societal conditioning do it for you.  YOU are perfect.  Just as you are.  With all your perfect tatters.  KAS

Your Magnificent Life

Your magnificent story

Why would you wish
to change the canvas

of your beautiful face
as you age?
Why would you want
to rid yourself
of the unique terrain
you have so deservedly
come to inhabit,
the visible and faithful
testament that you
have lived?
Why would you
not want people to
recognize the multitude
of seasons that
considered you
a worthy dance partner ..
the droughts and harvests,
the winds and storms
that have shaped
your brow,
supplied you with
an enviable furrow,
that have deepened
and softened the gaze
of your sorrowing
and courageous eyes
with tears that shine
in the dark?
Why would you not
want to be that old
gnarly tree that
children can swing from
as you creak?

Why would you want
to betray your own
magnificent story ..
all the things you’ve done,
all the ways you’ve fallen
and gotten back up,
all the ways you’ve said
yes or no to love ..
why would you want
to let someone cut “you"
away and inject you
with the “not you" and
then pay for it?
Why would you want
to not become fully
yourself and be
recognizable to your
ancestors who walked
before you
when you die?
Why?

© Poetess (Rachelle Lamb)
Photo: Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen

Credit

Dangerous to Be Too Nice Sometimes

Sometimes you have to be firm and say NO to things that ARE NOT RIGHT.  Now is one of those times.  KAS

Semicolon=The Author Is You

Keep Going!  We can do this!  KAS

Raise Children to make world less cruel

I believe there's a balance called for as children do need preparation for navigating terrain when others appear cruel and heartless.  To teach them to be the thermometer rather than the thermostat.  That is a lesson I would greatly have appreciated early on.

Love hasn't forgotten you

I'm not a fan of being addressed as a child however, it does sometimes feel like love has forgotten us even though it is the strongest force there is.  Let's tap into it as adults and use it to its full potential because it is so greatly needed.   KAS

Feel all the things!

We need your light!  Shine like only you can!  KAS

Sisters

My sisters, whether they're related by blood or marriage or heart bring more to my life than I can begin to count.  I march with them this weekend and always.  KAS

Kindness like Snow

I will turn my thoughts to kindness when I find them going astray.  Not that I'm a huge fan of snow, but there is a spectacular beauty to the way it covers the landscape bathing all things with its softness.  KAS  Image by Sacredbee

Tacos

What a charming and helpful distillation of an entire book!  KAS

Way of Zen

Reading the first line makes me anxious!  I guess that's the point.  Ha!  My DNA is programmed for getting things done.  Quickly.  So I can move on to the next thing.  Quickly. 
This is a large order for this well-trained people pleaser.  (Where does that impulse originate?) 
Let's just say, I'm practicing slow "slowly"--thought by thought, one tiny step at a time.  It does feel quite luxurious! KAS

Souls instead of Bodies

It seems unfair that when a person is visually appealing, they have an advantage. Our brains do it automatically. We're like automatons following some primal instinct leading many to go to extreme measures to achieve some arbitrary notion of what it means to be beautiful.  We end up with a steady line of look-alikes. True beauty is often hidden behind an ordinary or even unappealing exterior.  Learning to see and appreciate the uniqueness and diversity of a human body and the personality beneath the surface seems a worthwhile practice in changing the thinking about and responding to others.  KAS

Saunter Reverently

I adore this!  And, on the days when I have the luxury of a saunter, it is divine.  Sinking down into the experience of the unadorned forest with its voluptuous space and ancient resonance is something of a worship service in the cathedral of the woods.  A wholehearted saunter can heal a multitude of ailments.  KAS

Thoughts Matter

This may be a bit late but still worthwhile.  However, I would start with "change my thoughts" which "changes my words" etc, etc. I am giving extra thoughts to the words I use.  Onward! KAS

Giving Until It Hurts-Not a Virtue

   Over the years, I've come to recognize that moment I've moved from balance and alignment to where pleasing others tipped the scale.  Learning to think about the motivation behind what I'm doing divorced from what others think is strange and foreign territory.  An exciting journey toward becoming myself.  KAS

Scattering Seeds

Be The Reason Someone Believes in Good

I have encountered this goodness--these people of decency.  I am so grateful for their existence. They are everywhere.  Hidden behind the nasty rhetoric and the marketplace noise.  They aren't famous, or notorious, or even noticed, but they are there, in the glory of their character and in the beauty of their goodness.  In their quiet way, they are fighting for this world with every ounce of their being. May their numbers increase until all people everywhere are treated with dignity and our planet is restored to health.  KAS

Another Morning-Another Walk

Avoiding Conflict starts a War Inside

Brene Brown speaks to this.  She discusses the temporary discomfort of confronting conflict with a loved one or business associate weighed against the lasting pain of keeping silent and carrying the conflict within yourself where it can morph into all sorts of unpleasantness.  As someone who often avoids conflict and goes to silent resentment, I can attest to this.  It requires courage for sure.  Instead of going into defensive mode, you adopt an attitude of curiosity.  It's not easy but it's worth the effort.  KAS


Here's one of the quotes from Brown. 

“People often silence themselves, or "agree to disagree" without fully exploring the actual nature of the disagreement, for the sake of protecting a relationship and maintaining connection. But when we avoid certain conversations, and never fully learn how the other person feels about all of the issues, we sometimes end up making assumptions that not only perpetuate but deepen misunderstandings, and that can generate resentment.” 
― Brené Brown, Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone

Align

These days when we have so many reasons to stay vigilant and work to protect our democracy, our freedom, and our values in addition to the necessary tasks of providing for ourselves and our families, it is easy to become overwhelmed.  Using our thoughts to navigate this tension can be helpful.  I find myself observing places where I am overreacting to small stresses while shutting down and turning away from large ones.  It calls for juggling and balancing. I find that keeping it small is helpful.  What small step can I take today to move toward the change I seek?  Rest, recovery and reflection are essential but so are courage and commitment and caring.  This poem speaks eloquently of this.  Onward with love. KAS

Good People

May good people restore dignity and sanity and humanity to our world and may they do so very soon.  KAS

Starving for Wisdom

There are times I think wisdom is unattainable for any mere mortal. Some lofty enterprise reserved for gods and thieves and geniuses.  Who can truly know the ways of eternity?  However, there are times when it seems simple, requiring nothing more than common sense and human decency.  KAS

Rooted

Can I stay strongly rooted and centered in my own ground with well defined yet permeable boundaries; open to new things yet defended and protected against harmful forces? KAS

Planting Flowers

This raises the question for me.  In addition to planting flowers, I want to see truth matter and true justice for all.  I know how to plant seeds for flowers.  How do I plant seeds for truth to matter and for real justice for all?  That is my reflection going forward.  KAS

Deep Roots Weather the Storm

  Our planet, our earth, is in the midst of a storm of unprecedented magnitude as is our democracy.  Are our roots deep enough and strong enough to weather it?  It is my sincerest and deepest hope that they are; that WE are!  We must stick together and WORK for what is right and good.  We must continue to seek true justice and liberty for ALL.  Onward!  KAS

Learn the Value of Every Drop

My immediate interpretation was about the value of clean water and the idea there are those in the world who do not have it at the ready, running out of their kitchen or bathroom faucet.  (They may not have a kitchen or a bathroom.)  From there I thought about carrying my own weight in other areas.  Taking responsibility for my choices rather than giving deference to others.  Realizing that making money is not the only means of carrying one's weight although it's a strong one in our world.  Then it occurred to me that carrying water also applies to carrying those who may need assistance as a society.  So I leave this with you for your own interpretation.  KAS

What I realize as I get older

A little silliness is always fun.  And the irony is amusing although I'm a little sensitive about having to write things down. Another story for another day.  KAS

Become Music Again

I hope this makes your heart sing as it does mine.  KAS

Dust if you Must

This prompts me to think of balance as I do enjoy clean and orderly surroundings.  However, the message is one that makes good sense.  It speaks to the wonders of the natural world where there is dust and disarray and what appears to be disorder yet when you observe and learn about it, you discover there is a beautiful order to it.  Happy 2019!  May it be a year of justice and wholeheartedness for all.  KAS