Looking Back to Look Forward

It's summer, my yearly mid-point check to self-reflect by looking back on the first half of the year in order to move forward. Six months ago, I carefully chose my one word, hope, to be my faithful guide on my life journey. The goal for the year is to become a more mindful person who fully savors "life living" moments and not just races through life. 

How did I do so far?
✓ I am learning to take time to notice and wonder more. 
✓ I am leaning on my word hope to get me through the challenging moments.
✓ I am learning that calm has a more lasting effect than speed. Yoga helps me to be in the moment and calm down from any outside forces.

What do I need to do?
✓ Take my on the mat yoga practice to my off the mat life.
✓ Let go of the little annoyances in life to remain happy.
✓ Read scripture more often to be guided toward peace.

In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. - Isaiah 30:15

Hope floated in this year.

 

Where have I found hope?

✓ In quiet moments where I can see the ordinary transform itself into a thing of beauty

✓ In my gardens where nature transformed the landscape this spring into summer

 created with FotoJet.com

✓ In my grandbaby's smile 

Commitment for the 2nd Half of 2018:
✓ I look forward to continuing my journey of self-reflection, discovery, and transformational change.

Today is Spiritual Journey first Thursday. Doraine Bennett is hosting the link-up this month at her blog site, Dori Reads. This month's topic is "Looking Back/Looking Forward Here at the Middle of the Year." In closing, Doraine writes, "Give thanks and reaffirm your commitment to continue." That I shall do.

March Musings 2: Connection

The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention...A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.                            -Rachel Naomi Remen

I chose the word listen as my one word a couple of years ago. It served me well but I must admit that I need to revisit this word often. Doraine Bennett, today's host of Spiritual Journey first Thursday, chose the word connection. I pause to savor a simple practice of reflection on these words, plus Leigh Anne Eck's OLW, rise and my 2017 OLW, joy.

I connect to the stillness of midday quiet.

As one heart searching for balance,

I visualize meandering down an uneven trail,

listening to the silence of hushed pathways.

Wisdom echoes through the stillness.
Stories rise from undisturbed corners.
Speechless sounds are muffled as

I savor the time to reflect alone. 

The mind recognizes the breath from within,
filling the the room with a spirit of peace.
©CVarsalona, 2017 

Yesterday, I opened the door to new journeys for the month of March: Two Writing Teachers' March Slice of Life Story Challenge and the season of Lent. The Lenten journey asks us to listen, to connect with those whose hearts need mending, and to share the spirit of energetic giving. If I can stitch a quilt of comfort to share each day, then perhaps the road to making connections with life, faith, and others may not be as uneven as I think. 

Joy is the reward.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

You can visit Spiritual Journey first Thursday at Doraine Bennett's site. 

This post is the second in a series titled March Musings for Two Writing Teachers' March Slice of Life Challenge. 

Performance Poetry

Poetry is an art that is more than a written experience. Its flow can be expressed gracefully in dance, artfully in drawings and paintings, visually in photographic series, and powerfully in oral performances. In performance poetry, poets present their unique voices and styles as they engage in poetic presentations on stage in front of live audiences. There is a rhythm and exuberance in their performances as exhibited through intonations, gestures, and overall delivery. 

Taylor Mali, a slam poet, uses his voice to project rhythmic thoughts on the topic of teachers. Brod Bagert brings his humor to his performance poetry that is often written for children. I have heard both poets present on stage at the NCTE and ILA Conferences and have been enthralled by the way they capture their audiences. 

What drew me to the topic of performance poetry was a postcard from Tanzania sent to me from Margaret Simon as a response to the 2016 Poem Swap package I sent her. 

After I received the postcard, I wondered about the Tanzania Experience so I engaged in an internet search. Subsequently, I found a wonderful performance poet, Zuhura Zu Senge'enge, on Facebook under the page, Tanzania Poetry. Zuhura, called the African Lioness, launched her CD last month with a performance that you can hear below. She dedicated her poem "to all the women around the world...for your contribution in building and shaping the world."  

Zuhura, Taylor, and Mali use their talents to project their voices out into the world through the power of poetry. If the giraffe in Margaret's poet could speak poetically, what might he say about his homeland to visitors?

My Tanzania,

of expansive plains,

home to my animal friends,

I stretch my neck

gazing  across 

lush landscapes to 

connect with your world.

Let your eyes

meet mine.

Remember me.

I search the plains for you.

                                                                                                                                                     ©CV, 2016

Now, I would like to draw your attention to Poetry Friday with its hostess of the week, Doraine Bennett, opening her site for Round-up offerings here.