In all of Creation

In all of creation,
nothing has arisen, grown or been designed
without preparation by nature or humankind
A seed planted in soil rich or poor
a field harvested from stretching prairie
gold or silver mined from solid rock
timber sliced away from great forests
oil and fossil fuel siphoned from the earth

In all of creation,
humankind’s ideas and hands
have prepared and developed
a myriad of technologically developed
food processed, packaged and re-formed

In all of creation,
we have forgotten about
basic preparation of the food that we eat
fresh vegetables and fruit grown without sprays
breads and pastas made without corporate influence
dairy products and meats given without undue pressure on cattle, pigs and chickens

In all of creation,
preparing our lives to be well lived
requires passionate and responsible actions
initiative and enthusiasm
care and attention.

“The creation of a world view is the work of a generation 

rather than of an individual, but we each of us, 

for better or for worse, add our brick to the edifice.”

~ John Dos Passos

Collaborative Growth

Preparation and process
roll along together.
Preparation gathers the pieces,
process starts the flow.
Should our process stall and falter,
we prepare another layer deep;
while our process gathers energy
our preparations change and grow.

“We cannot accomplish all that we need 

to do without working together.”

~ Bill Richardson

Heads Up!

Set out briskly
Cool dewy morning air greeting me gently
Preparing to choose which path to take
Right or left under leafy trees 
~ or ~ 
Straight forward onto the path sloping upwards into the park

Deep green between trees so tall beckons but....
Stop! 
Hush..........
Breathe as slowly as the moist breeze in leaf and pine
Auburn heads up with fuzzy antlers
Brown eyes watch cautiously then....
young heads dip down to pull and chew fresh green grass
seeming to ignore my forward slow step for a closer shot.

“Walking is my main method of relaxation. I don’t

go over my lines or try to solve the world’s 

problems, I just enjoy the scenery and the wildlife.”

~ Kevin Whately

The Eyes Have It!

Rewind forty five years ~
Regina General Hospital
Cataract surgery meant
bed rest for two weeks in hospital
a small folded towel over the forehead
sand bags placed on either side of the head on the towel ends.
All complete with bedpans and helplessness.
But you were allowed to breathe - just not too rapidly.

Preparing for today’s cataract surgery 
(fortunately about a year away)
things have progressed.
The waiting list is waaaay longer than the surgery
Waiting list - about four months
Surgery - twenty minutes and a couple of days away from my day job!
Oh, and take a taxi to the doctors office……

“The world hates change, yet it is the

only thing that has brought progress.”

~ Charles Kettering

Preparing an Outcome

Cloudy and Cool in Beacon Hill Park

Visions of what could be,
outcomes need preparation to become reality.
Getting ready can be half the fun gathering
bits and bobs; words and deeds, maps and blueprints
ordered in strings or squares or circles
Preparation done with friends, family and community 
weave unplanned fun and laughter into the outcome.
Preparations done singley open the door
to thoughtful creativity of ideas and focus
weaving the melody of solitude into the outcome.
Outcome ~ Visions lovingly prepared.

“The results you achieve will be in direct 

proportion to the effort you apply.”

~ Denis Waitley

Added Dimensions

Preparing to age. Not to get old, because we all do, but to age. My preference would be not to be decrepit, incapacitated or unable to be active. My preference would be exactly the opposite of decrepit, incapacitated or unable to be active.

There was a woman at the pool today, who comes outside of Aquafit classes when the water is quiet. She walks crooked of back and of leg. Her blue eyes look a little tired, but always smiling; her gray hair tousled and her gait slow. She has a four-wheeled walker to get around. There are some days when she just uses a cane. Today, parking her walker at poolside by the stairs, with her navy bathing suit on, she eases herself into the pool for a gentle swim. Today, the water was lovely and warm. Cool enough to ease her joints, warm enough to ease her muscles. When she is in the buoyant water, the tired slips off of her face into the water sparkled by the sun streaming through the high windows.

Preparing to embrace life as we age sounds much better. I will only be 67 this year, still working, still driving, still independently active. The epilepsy that I have carried for most of my life is stable - for today. Will it stay that way? Daily self care has an added dimension now that I really know I am part of that ‘gray wave’ that is advancing upon society.

“Become a student of change. 

It is the only thing that will remain constant.”

~ Anthony D’Angelo

Author's note: 

August 17, 2024

Ten years later, and I will only be 77 this year! I retired at age 71, I no longer drive (another story completely but ultimately my choice) and the epilepsy that I still carry is still stable - for today. 

Open Curiosity

Lessons learned in school

Curiosity 

piqued and opened wide

Paints, crayons gathered

with paper, pencil, or pen.

Preparations handle the grunt work while creativity blossoms and blooms.

“Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.”

~ William Arthur Ward