Drawing a Blank ~ 1

Words stirred in my mind
rousing sluggishly, as though disturbed from deep slumber.

Word by word by word
Drawn slowly onto the page where all had been blank.

Purpose behind the need for writing out of my thoughts ~
no profound meaning, zero spin to stories and undeveloped change for status quo.

Blank mind, blank page and ready pen
Brilliant ideas lost in the maelstrom of chatter and talk.

“all of us have a place in history. Mine is in the clouds.”

~ Richard Brautigan

Slender Preparations

‘You have to be ready.’
‘He’s not ready yet.’
‘Ready? She’s not there yet.’

Readiness takes preparation
A mind set - an intention.
Preparation becomes it’s own purpose without a label attached.

Preparation takes time, energy and commitment.
Time vanishes when addiction is active.
Energy drains away in active addiction.
Intention for breaking free of active addiction - flicked aside by internal cravings.

A slender opportunity presents in detox facilities and hospitals
Slender by the standards of time and space.
Opportunity to become prepared - nourishment, rest and renewal.
Intention supported - but only for the next step - outside of the slender space

Preparation for sobriety is building up of all strengths
Physically - the slender piece but sometimes the most difficult
Mentally - possibly a much longer piece starting in the moment and stretching back in time.
Emotionally - roller coaster of emotional responses threatens to invite substance cravings.
Spiritually - a development of personal core beliefs to develop and maintain mindfullness.

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of 

preparation, hard work and learning from failure.”

~ Colin Powell

The Magic of Life Forces

The Magic of Life Forces

In the aftermath of the human celebration of Earth Day, deep in the forest, life teemed within and beneath tall trees and flowing ferns. Water dripped from the tips of branches and fronds, while an invisible mist from the plant life cooled the air, moistened all around. Deep under the soil, beetles and bugs, ants and grubs, tunneled to and fro sustaining short lives and reproducing more colonies of their kind. Squirrels scampered and flew tree to tree, gathering food for their families. Songbirds nested and sung, or if an eagle, nested and perched regal and silent in the tall old trees. Above the forest, life giving oxygen floated from trees and plants to drifting clouds to be shared with all living beings.

Disappearing in the overgrowth, narrow trails made by larger animals, including humankind, could be seen with the elf’s sharp eyes. She was Nythriale - a guardian of the forest. She welcomed humankind as long as there was no mischief of cutting, hauling and clearing. Her own kind lived deeper in the forest, each community protecting the land, trees and mountains from destruction. Another of the elfen kind lived and guarded on the grand wide stretch where open sky domed, gulleys and hills rolled and rivers flowed through the lands.

Today was a good day. The air was peaceful and gentle. The sun was warm at the trees tops, but coolness slid down it’s rays as it reached the forest floor. The only sounds were of birds singing and squirrels chittering, save for the occasional crash of an elder tree falling. When the grand elders laid down, the forest floor welcomed and thanked them for their sacrifice. Bringing their slowly draining energy, they provided shelter and foods to the forest residents. Then, very slowly, the elders became part of the forest floor to continue nurturing their home with the last of their earthly forms.

Nythriale smiled.

“Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.”

~ John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

Earth Day 2015

To the earth and waters below, to the sky above I give thanks ~
The earth below our feet supports and sustains much of life.
The sky carries gauzy water laden clouds and space for flight.
The many rivers  lakes and oceans are home to all manner of sea life and travel.
The air we breath and the wind in the trees and across the land expands our lungs and courses through our blood

To disrespect and ignore all these things is to disrespect and ignore our very selves, the animals of the field, the lives in the sea and the birds of the sky.
Keeping each circle of life clean, nourished and cared for - not a demand, but good sense.

Mother Earth asks little of us 
when we walk rudely and clumsily on her back, 
when we strip her forests, 
mine her earth and 
pour waste in her waters ~
her patience is growing very thin.

Caring for each step we take, large or small, is only logical, wise and a great kindness.

“Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and 

the last fish has been caught will we realize that we cannot eat money.”

~ Cree Indian Proverb

Pink Snow

Tree trunks and young branches bowed and waved as the wind hurried past.
Deep pink petals floated and flew onto lawns, sidewalks and flowerbeds.
Flowering plum trees stripped of their fancy and lawns were no longer green.
Wild spring winds turn the world upside down to resign natural beauty. 

“There are no facts, only interpretations.”

~ Friedrich Nietzsche

A Second Opinion

As my pupils dilated out to the rims of my iris letting light stream in unchecked, everything around me blurred - light was sharp and cruel.
Glossy magazines with headlines and stories ~ just so much Drs. Office decoration.

Leaving the office into a bright blue sky morning pained me.
Not a sharp stabbing pain in my eyes, but in my heart
I absolutely love the sun on my face.
To avoid the stark glare, I had to turn my face away from the sky and the sun, 
cowering in bits of shade that buildings, bus stops and trees afforded ~ and that was with my deeply tinted sunglasses on. 

My ‘inner child’ wanted to pout, stamp her little feet and say ‘it’s not fair!’

My ‘inner grown-up’ mused on all the things our eyes show us and are so taken for granted ~
Being able hold a book but not read and trace the shapes of story through a myriad of words.
Being able to feel the warmth of the sun but not see the wide blue sky, streaming, mountainous or puffs of clouds and soaring birds.
Being able to hear sounds of a street busker but not see the musician bent over and strumming her guitar while she sings.
Being able to hold yarn and a crochet hook but not see the colour of the yarn, the shape of the stitches making an afghan, scarf or slippers.

My ‘inner child’ hushed and my ‘inner grown-up’ was grateful for my 'specs', for physician’s that remove cataracts and for the beauty of our world.

“Of all the senses, sight must be the most delightful.”

~ Helen Keller

This Tree

What is it about this tree?
A photo taken just because each time I passed, this tree seemed to, just barely, nod to me.

In front of the gnarled branches of

old oaks in the Garry Oak Meadow, 
this tree stands straight and tall.

Leaves have yet to make an appearance
Even in full leaf, this tree throws little shade.
Flowers never seem to decorate this tree

Yet a complement to the spreading meadow is this tree’s graceful elegance.

“Of the infinite variety of fruits which spring from the bosom of the earth, 

the trees of the wood are the greatest in dignity.”

~ Susan Fenimore Cooper