Indeterminate

It’s been a day off
No determination involved
Just a good book, a cup of coffee and a slice of toast

An outing downtown
submitting to the 

talent and ministrations of 

my great hairdresser, Robin
Buy another book, browse to make sure nothing was missed and pick up pizza for supper

Home again to another good book, some TV, a cup of tea and hot pizza.
It’s been a great day off.
No determination involved.

“A day of rest yields a hundred days of progress.”

~ A.D.Posey

Rain

Icy drizzle runs

red, green and gold ~

a determined street shine.

“A drop of rain can revive the earth, be the drop.”

~ Nisan Ahmado

Hide and Seek

,,

Determination hides in a pocket,
behind a smile or a frown,
shows in word or deed
when life is slowing down

Determination hides in a corner,
behind a wink or a nod,
shows in speech or plans
when life plays tricks that are odd.

“Secrets are truths that show what 
we’ve been through - what we’ve survived.”

~ Danika Dark, Five Weeks

Choice is Relative

Addiction is definitely not a choice

Active drug abuse, alcohol abuse 
Or any form of abuse looks filled with choices.
Choices with only one goal but many possible ends

Choices that are unhealthy and dangerous
Why?
Addiction is not a choice.

Recovery is filled with choices
Choices that feel blind and filled with shame
Choices that start and stop
   Start and stop
       Start and stop

Determination to recover and find balance
Has an invisible quality of courage
  Slipped on each morning
    Cold and unfamiliar

Determination to recover and find solid ground
Has an invisible quality of joy
  To greet each day
     With hope and belief in living again.

“We can’t calm waves, but we can steer the ship.”

~ Hayley Long, Downside Up

Stay in the Moment

Running out of time

Makes no sense

Determination needs attention

to the edge of the next minute

because time never runs out….

“Time is an illusion.”

~ Albert Einstein

Author's note: Edited January 27, 2024

Hibernation Averted

Each winter I have steeled my self to never give in
to slowly slipping mood
  to sadness coming with darkness
to the hibernation so very tempting

Never give up

the energies of spring and summer 
  that beg me to go outside
to see growth and blossoms

The darkness puts me to sleep
and yet there is still life and living to be experienced
   No snow angels here! - no gooshy mud puddles either
unless I go to the park and find squishey, slippery grass 

Takes me back to my childhood
and ditches full of water that run deep.
  Never give up those childhood memories, 
the ones that were fun, even if they did have a lesson attached

Never give up on that child
that child spirit still living within
  that child still determined to find fun and play
until playtime brings sleepy eyes and a pillow.

Never give up on all the children
that were one with those memories
   the sisters and brothers now as adult as yourself.
They too have their memories and live beside them.

Never give up on each day
whether sunny or gray, rainy or windy.
   In each day there is joy to be found.
Today it is the feeling of wet wind on my face.

“For in every adult there dwells the child that was, 

and in every child there lies the adult that will be.”

~ John Connolly, The Book of Lost Things

Author's note: Edited January 27, 2024

Opportunity Abounds

Beside a path

Opportunity
a big word
for each breath
    each step
 each morning

Opportunity to advance
a growing idea 
from an experience
   a lesson
an outcome

Opportunity to advance self
into a new life
from traumas or tragedies
   achievements that went sour
plans sidelined away from a goal

Opportunities
abound in a world of determination
with each breath
   on each journey
at day's end.

“Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.”

~ Emily Dickinson, The Complete Poems

Birthday Friendships

Birthdays come and go
Leaves scatter in wind, rain and sun determined to bud again every spring

“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.”

~ William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice