Peaceful

Nice guys finish last  ~

stepping aside for someone, 

finishing when it’s time

always kind 

bringing smiles or maybe tears

to soften The Race 

planned for us all ~

by just being nice.

“Don’t mistake niceness for weakness.”

~ Jennifer Granholm, 

Former Governor of Michigan

On a Morning Walk - Down Cook Street Morning

On a bright sunny day

I walked

Cold air reddened my cheeks

‘You goin’ for a walk?’

Shorts, backpack and a smile

‘Meeting my walking group.’

She emptied a silver planter.

‘Good morning.’

She smiled and nodded back.

The little guy sat outside a Starbucks.

Folded his arms and scrunched up his little legs.

His mom smiled at me and said ‘He thinks he likes coffee.’

I looked for the man who sat under a tree.

His spot was empty save for his little seat of cardboard

I hope he was able to get to his mom’s funeral.

Passing shops, medical office, optometry still quiet

Quick window shopping only this morning

Passersby chatting as they walked

A worksite still and waiting for workmen

Shovels stored neatly against a dirt wall

Bits of styrofoam and wood strewn on the ground.

If I had had a GPS on this peaceful morning

It’s computer speak would say: ‘You have reached 

your destination.’ ~ to begin my Monday walk with friends.

“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.”

~ Maya Angelou

On and Afternoon Walk - Right or Left

An open Saturday.

Only one appointment downtown just to get my hair done. Other plans? Experience the annual Gingerbread Show on my way home. Walk past the koi pond, walk down Humbolt St. under trees still divesting themselves of their gold ~ just taking my time ~ Good idea right? Home to……..oh yes, soup. Not just broth but making black bean soup with some of the broth. So when I left Arq Hair Salon I turned right instead of left. Several blocks later I was in Chinatown for a few fresh ingredients for my Black Bean Soup. All I needed ~ jalapeño peppers, a lime and a head of garlic. The Chinese market was packed with shelves sagging with cans and jars of pickled vegetables, dried noodles, boxes of teas and items I was completely unfamiliar with. Outside in boxes, baskets and on shelves were a multitude of Asian vegetables - daikon radish, green onions, bok choy were only a few that I recognized. I did get my jalapeños, garlic and lime and returned home.

The rest of the evening has been a peaceful one. There is nothing like cooking ~ tonight I finished the chicken broth, created the black bean soup and made (and ate) red wine poached salmon (first time) with asparagus. And I used rosemary from the front yard. There was much ‘quality control’ done throughout the whole process.

“The smells of slow cooking spread around the house and impart 

a unique warmth match only by the flavour of the food.”

~ Yotam Ottolenghi

Changing Scenery

This stream of consciousness story was written in a timed writing exercise (10 minutes) at this months Writing group. We were to write from a picture painted by our host’s relative. Unfortunately I neglected to get a photo of it, so have taken this one from my own photo library. I have done a bit of editing - grammar does get thrown out when it’s a timed exercise! My consciousness stream borrowed from an incident told me about a week before this was written in early June.

Changing Scenery

’The scene was idyllic. My thoughts not so much. I knew if I just convinced myself to follow the path before me I would lose myself in the gentle scenery. It had been a rough day. No, not a rough day. It had been a rough week. My home had been invaded by workers. My dishwasher had sprung a leak and when the repairman came to assess the damage, he discovered a slow leak that had finally burst one of the hoses. How long it had been leaking he couldn’t tell. I had to move out of my house while they replaced my entire kitchen floor. The only thing available was a squalid little motel on the other side of town. It just made my heart break. But, I’m tough. I took a deep breath and turned away from my home and the motel. On my way to the motel, I passed an RV lot with big RENT ME signs plastered against the fences surrounding the lot. I wheeled in and rented the first one that I was shown. I had to take my car home but returned by taxi. And now here I was in this peaceful and idyllic spot, away from the city, on time off from my job and away from my kitchen mess. The deep breath I took as I settled in the campsite was cool and smelled of summer leaves. The rough edges of my week were softened. I shut off my cell phone and put it away’……………(timer rang!)

“A change of scenery can help everything.”

~ Drew Pomeranz

Fitting

Hornby Island, May 2008

Effectively finding peace of mind ~

A gentle journey knowing no end

Peace of mind, from a depth of wisdom, flows from

  what we do every day, 

    what we have achieved, 

      what we believe to be true

        what gives us meaning

Peace of mind slips into spirit and soul as the right key in a lock.

“Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it.”

~  Brian Tracy

Ultimate Downsizing

Exciting passages into this next

  Stage

    Chapter

       Phase of life

had seemed very distant ~

the search pointless until I 

 put my mind at ease

  allowed my heart to slow

   encouraged my soul to blossom.

The search became full of purpose

  wandering through childhood lessons

     remembering exciting times in my youth

       watching, from a great distance, my joy in simple things

learning that there is always more

   always purpose within each day with

     creation of my wants from the needs I have gathered

       acceptance of the peace that follows in this most ultimate of downsizing.

“Begin challenging your own assumptions. 

Your assumptions are your windows on the world. 

Scrub them off every once in a while or the light won’t come in.”

~ Alan Alda, Things I Overheard while Talking to Myself

Out of the Mist

Driving home from an eye appointment this morning I thought I was calm.

City living comes with the expectations that there will only be noisy traffic, focussed cyclists, wandering pedestrians, 

jack hammers and shovels wielded by city workers,

traffic lights blinking red and green ~

An ambulance, lights flashing and sirens blaring

annoying cars not pulling over to let it scream its way to the emergency

But my eyes were lifted to mist covered mountains at the end of the city street to draw me past all the busyness of the city to calm waters and peaceful sky.

“In the madness, you have to find calm.”

~ Lupita Nyong’o

A Peaceful Resistance Movement

Opponents were unevenly matched in this game of wits against instinct.

An invading virus clung desperately inside an unwelcoming host as

gallons of water, tea, coffee and fruit juice washed through captured territory loosening the hold of virus on human.

Alas for the virus, the antioxidant power of dark chocolate was unleashed from an armory hidden in a cupboard drawer. 

http://www.allchocolate.com/health/nutrition/antioxidants.aspx

A brief spurt of exercise pulled in another set of armaments 

to attack the viral flank ~ too much would have weakened the host.   

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc

Non-violence was the order of the day ~ a peaceful resistance movement. 

Score

Virus still ahead by a nose

Host gaining ground on the inside.

“Sickness comes on horseback but departs on foot.”

~ Dutch Proverb

Only the Gingerbread House was Standing

Boxing Day ~ the day after Christmas

An uncertain and mixed history ~

boxes for collecting alms

boxes for giving to those less fortunate

The Feast of Saint Stephens

Bank Holidays in some countries

Statutory holidays in others

Shopping day for many

But for myself, my sons and my grand-dogs.......

Another gray and cold day in Vancouver,

riding the Sky Train 

an unsuccessful attempt at movie going 

a venture outside into teeming Boxing Day 

shopping crowds

movie goers.

Grand-dogs treated to a strenuous outing 

at the park after we returned home

while I napped after a lovely day.

Later watched movies in the living room with my sons

with my newest grandpup sleeping on my lap.

All the while a little light grazing 

on leftovers from yesterday’s feast

rounded out a very peaceful day.

“Be pleasant until ten o’clock in the morning 

and the rest of the day will take care of itself.”

~ Elbert Hubbard

The Art of Centering

Irritation.  

Frantic running.

Handle bars of life.

Keep me in my center, 

away from all the strife?

I shouldn’t ever feel the things old mind tapes always play.

But if I don’t how can I find 

my center in this day?!

Slow is irritating.

Fast, a frantic marathon.

To get things in a scheduled life all perfect and all done

‘The hurrider I go ahead, the behinder' I do go

Then when I do, I stand so still

All I can say is NO.

I can’t do this, I can’t do that.

I really have no time.

Yet keeping in my center, the rhythm is all mine.

Slow or maybe quickly,  

I find there's been no need 

To get things done by Thursday

or even by next week.

It’s only in the journey and

peaceful daily steps I seek

that my ‘hurrider’ slows down

and ‘behinder’ catches up.

“Anytime you sense you are getting overrun by 

outside influences and losing your feeling, put 

your attention inside your body.  Relax........let

 your breath sink low...breathe in your abdomen...”

- Anne Kent Rush