An old poem I wrote. It just turned up, voila!
The day is young, and there is time to change, a chance to do something different. When no amount of pain seems to motivate, it must be hope that comes from nowhere, grace, that saves. Pride and suffering have their own elegance, hard, and dark, unlike the full roundness of humility, which overflows with tolerance. Change, a fleeting chance to choose one act or word, or silence, and let healing truth be revealed.
I took this photo at House on the Rock in March of 2008. The weather was quite cold, like today. I remember being struck by the beautiful shapes and colors of the glass. It’s amazing to think of the process of collection and arrangement that took place to achieve this presentation. I see a theme of color and a recurrence of shapes. The former seems more a matter of taste, sort of natural palette of spring colors, but I can’t help feeling that the shapes, although somewhat a show of preference, are at least partially dictated by function. I have to admit that the evenly spaced rows and columns of the shelving really makes the whole display stand out. The contrast of the dark angles of the wood nicely frame the effervescent curves and varying hues of the light playing on the glass. It’s reminiscent of looking at a grove of trees through a multi-paned window, with the blue sky showing between various types and shapes of leaves. Guess I’m just waxing equinoxical. Wish it would warm up a bit! Sending love and hugs…
Julia
A week ago I went to a free class at the public library called Spring Cleaning for the Mind. It’s presented by a local foundation specializing in ontological learning.
The Iowa City Learning Foundation
“Ontological Learning
Ontology is a study of being and an inquiry into the nature of human existence. Learning about our Way of Being in the world is ontological learning.”
We identified thinking patterns and/or beliefs that we felt needed to cleared away from our way of being. One thing I’ve noticed that has been clogging up my way of being for a while now is a sense of having a heavy weight pressing down upon me. I sometimes have the impression that the weight of the world is on me.
So that ‘s the clutter I’m clearing. We then identified a thought to replace the clutter once we opened up a space for something new or cleaned the window/mirror for a different view, or adjusted our perspective for a fresh angle. My new thought is:
My spirit is uplifted!
We were then instructed to use our whole body to express the new thought pattern. So, I leapt in the air, flung my head back, and threw my arms open wide as I verbalized my new thought. In reality I’ve had the potential for this expression within me for a long time. I’ve drawn this expression many times over the years, when I’m feeling particularly happy, or even joyous.
Here is one example I call Blossoming.
You may recall my blog entry from 2011/01/19, in which I included a drawing that very much expresses uplifted spirit. That entry was the last day I smoked. It has now been 83 days that I have been smoke free (not counting today, since the day is not done yet). I have no point to make. It’s Friday. I’m wearing red in honor of soldiers.
My life is good.
Out into the cold wind and rain I go.
Peace be with you,
Julia
In this limbo of winter/spring I bravely wore skimpy sandals and a sleeveless shirt today, although I did also wear a jacket and scarf, and yet they were the color of fruit or flower petals. I feel the ebb and flow of cold wind and warm sun within my cell structure as much as on my skin. The harsh wind drives me into the silent cave of my internal being. The enticing sun beckons me outside, to the birds chattering in the trees, to take in the world around me.
It is the same with life; ebb and flow do the social and solitary experiences. Awareness shifts from impression to expression. I feel the world impinge its existence on me, as waves on the beach. And I take the initiative to draw a figure in the sand. I circumscribe the clouds with my fantasy of flight. I imagine myself happy, joyous and free. At times, I also wrap myself in a comforter of home, friendship, and rest. I am born anew each moment from an immanent seed waiting to creep into the sun from out of its weathered husk.
I’ve made it through this much of the day without being pranked on April Fool’s Day. I do, however, have a confession that could sound a little like a an April Fool blog entry. Today I wore my pajamas to work. It was unintentional. My intention was to roll out of bed, brew some coffee and drop my car off at the shop for an oil change, walk home (half a mile – no biggie), shower, get dressed in my usual office job attire, walk back, get my car, and go to work. But, there was a nice chatty lady in the waiting area, and the service tech said it wouldn’t take long, and it was looking like it could rain any second, so I stayed and waited for my car. It took a little longer that initially expected because I decided to have them rotate the tires, since it needed to be done, and I was already there. So, I buzzed over to work (6 or 7 minute drive) with the intention of making sure things were squared away, checking in with my boss then going back home for a quick shower and change of clothes. Turns out she was the only one there, and she assured me that my sweats were perfectly acceptable. I also had on a cap, due to bed hair, and grungy tennis shoes, which I never wear to work. So I have experienced a first in my professional life. I’m wearing the same thing at work that I slept in last night. That is no joke. And, since I was wearing my tennies, a coworker and I went for a walk out on a trail behind our building. Now it’s time to go home. I think I’ll shower and change before I go out again. I’m starting to itch. 🙂
Happy Friday!
Love,
Julia
Timeless Love Connection 