A Winter Pause

As winter moves on, it finds a cozy corner to snuggle while temperatures in Virginia move from extremely cold to a high of 46 degrees, making it feel like spring (until the wind starts blowing). I pause each day either bundled up in layers, splashing under the pounding rainstorms, scraping beautifully etched snow drops off my car, or pretending that spring is coming. I sit by the fireplace wrapped in a throw and find a couple of minutes to ponder why I feel the need to perpetually move.

Finding Winter Pause Moments

time

moves incessantly

warranting a pause

intentionally meant for slowdown

moments

©CVarsalona, January 2024

quietude

indulges in

stillness as dusk

offers reflective paused moments

calmness

©CVarsalona, January 2024

winter

trees swirl

shooting into sky

as sentinels of serenity

pause

 ©CVarsalona, January 2024

With my one word, pause, I am intentionally searching for quiet moments to bring the gift of the slowdown.

Photos are from Long Island before I moved and Northern Virginia.

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Time is creeping onward to the midnight opening of Poetry Friday. I am ready to pause and enjoy the Poetry Friday Roundup with Tracey Kiff-Judson's blog. Click here to read interesting information on the game of Monopoly. 

Poetry Friday

Spiritual Journey-One Word 2024

This morning a quiet sensation flowed through the chilled wind. Winter announced its arrival with freezing temperatures and icy crystals that decorated my car windows. I felt the push-pull of Nature reminding me to to breathe in winter's frosty breath and feel replenished. As I swept crystals off the car windows, stillness surrounded the grayish morning. Awed by the magic of the winter scene, I listened to the sounds of quietude, finding peace within. 

move slowly on

winter's frosty path-step back

just be and pause

witness small moments

reflect, renew, replenish

breathe in stillness

pause intentionally

breathe in earth's quiet stillness

with verve

©CVarsalona, 2024

Happily, I went to yoga where I heard a mantra that sparked a plan. "A New Year, a New You!" This solidified my intent to find one little word that would enhance last year's guiding word, Be.  

Have you thought about pausing to witness quiet moments? It is the mindful, intentional pause that allows us to focus on, and be engaged in the moment not the hustle and bustle of life's to-dos. I have spent years as an educator and educational leader studying the art of mindfulness. Today, while scurrying to yoga class, I solidified my intent to find one little word that would enhance last year's guiding word, Be. I decided to cultivate mindfulness with an intentional pause each day. 

inhale

one word

stillness announces

my hope-filled wish

pause

©CVarsalona, 2024

While researching how to practice the pause, I found a quote from Eckhart Tolle: "In today’s rush we all think too much, seek too much, want too much, and forget about the joy of just Being." My one word, "Be", guided me last year. Adding an intentional pause this year will strengthen my spiritual walk. I hope you will join me as I pause, reflect, and renew my spirit throughout 2024. May the magic of winter also encourage you to pause and witness quiet moments?

🌲🌲🌲

I  look forward to joining the Spiritual Journey community hosted by teacher/author/poet Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche.

Here, I will find poetic goodness and spiritual enrichment flowing. 

 Logo designed by Margaret Simon

Reflection at the Muddy Pond

Not every day sparkles in sunshine but every day should be one of gratitude!

The Muddy Pond down the street from my house is a place of peace.

The land is bare now but in its starkness beauty can be found.

As Maya Angelou said, "Be present in all things and thankful for all things."

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Time moves on quickly as I write this Slice of Life and send it toTwo Writing Teachers. May December be filled with end-of-year reflections.