sending you restorative, mindful moments as we usher in the autumnal season.
breathe and…
keep your peepers open!
#sacredsunday #blogpost #blogger #wearewomenwriting #photographer #photo #photograph #photography#outdoorphotograph #autumn #fall #nest #inspiration #mindful #mindfulness #restorative #breathe
As cities around the country began to lift corona restrictions, I continued to feel uncomfortable about meeting anyone to do anything for an extended period, even masked at a social distance. Since March, the only interactions I had had with people were those at any given market or CVS or with passers-by and neighbors during my AM walks. I deeply missed outings with my friends, interacting with participants at my workshops, one-on-ones with clients and the isolation that comes with living alone hovered, overwhelmed me at the least expected moments. Writing, working on a series of collage images, and getting creative in the kitchen lifted my spirits; my living space descended into a frazzled mess that I embraced.
Gradually I began to venture out -- a hair appointment early in the morning, the first appointment of the day for a pedicure, a doctors appointment and the dentist (an appointment I had rescheduled a couple of times before my teeth demanded that we resume our routine visits!). Yet, something, perhaps a distrust of the constantly changing and sometimes contradictory information we receive about the virus, was keeping me from accepting invitations from my friends to meet and sit outdoors to share a meal or even just a quick cup of tea.
One day, I couldn’t find a packet of photographs that I knew I had placed on my work table.A few days later, a journal from a project I started three years ago was not where I thought it was. I had had enough! A little bit at a time, I began to organize the mess that had collected and housed a sadness from the many days of being by myself. When a friend called to make a lunch date; I immediately accepted.
Two days before I drove tomeet her at Hillwood Gardens, my favorite place in DC, I tossed the final bag of heavy into the trash, turned and took a few more baby steps into my next.
Stay safe to keep youand others well and...
keep your peepers open!
ps - I did indeed find the packet of pictures and the journal!
#sunday #sacredsunday #blogpost #blogging #blogger #photographer #photo #photograph #photography#outdoorphotography #ablossomaday #coronavirus #covid19 #pandemic #inspiration #positivity #socialdistancing #wearamask #babysteps
I recently saw a writing prompt that asked, “This year, what are you grateful for?” I had actually written something on gratitude a few years ago; I revised it just slightly to read…
the first breath I am gifted each morning
signaling a new day of my life has begun.
the music of morning whispering in my ears,
lifting me on to my path for the day regardless
of the uncertainty outside my door.
the thoughts waking up in my meditative mind
that eventually find their way to paper.
the pulse of abundant creativity rushing through my soul,
allowing a new, more relevant voice to emerge.
the benevolence, love and genuine concern for others
that lives in my spirit no matter what is going on in the world.
As we continue to navigate strange and dark waters, add some gratitude to your compass. Now more than ever…
keep your peepers open!
#sunday #sacredsunday #blogpost #blogging #blogger #wearewomenwriting #blackwomenwriting #photographer #photo #lily #photograph #floral #photography#outdoorphotograph #BLM #enoughisenough #justiceforall #equityforall #socialconscious #goodtrouble #covid19 #pandemic #inspiration #mindful #gratitude #mindfulness#creativity #positivity #wearyourmask #socialdistance #vote
I was 10 during the riots of ’68. We lived just one town over from Plainfield, NJ, close enough to hear the unrest, the sounds of gunfire, to see the sky lit up from blazing fires. I wedged myself between my bed and the wall each night, wondering when and if rage would cross the bridge, descend into the park and arrive at our cul-de-sac of seven homes, all but one occupied by Black families. Fearful that our homes would be destroyed, not knowing if a bullet might come through the window, night would sometimes turn into a day when sleep depravation silenced my anxiety. Though our block went untouched and life moved on, a part of me never got back in my bed.
In the words of John Lewis, find some “good trouble” to get into; stay safe, stay informed and…
keep your peepers open!
https://solsticelitmag.org/blog/souls-of-black-folks/
#sunday #sacredsunday #blogpost #blogging #blogger #wearewomenwriting #blackwomenwriting #photographer #photo #photograph #equityforall #photography#outdoorphotograph #GeorgeFloyd #icantbreathe #BLM #enoughisenough #justice #equity #socialconscious #goodtrouble #johnlewis
There's a lovely garden path that I frequent and as I approached, I asked the angels to help me. When I emerged from that magical stretch, my body was invigorated. I ended up walking almost 12,000 steps and just under 5 miles that morning, grateful for the spirits who answered my prayer, giving my body the boost and adjustment it needed so I could get back home.
