Postcard from Long Island's Sunkissed Shore

There's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away."          - Sarah Kay

For 45 years, the south shore of Long Island, New York became my family's go to happy place. My husband was a beach lover since a child. Sea air fresh like morning dew drew us to the ocean throughout the year but summer was a special season for sunkissed days of rest and renewal. I fell in love with the sea breeze, sound of the tide moving in a rhythmic pattern, and the ease of relaxing in sparkling sand. To capture the beauty of the ocean, I created the above digitized image of the Atlantic Ocean in Long Beach. A postcard was created after I captured the ocean waves rushing to shore. 

While in vacation in New York and Cap May, I felt the ocean wind luring me back to nature, I  watched the tide dance toward the shore. I paused to ask myself one question, "What opens my heart and mind to the mystic call of the sea?"

the ocean lures me

shimmering like royal jewels

in summer's sunshine

seagulls circulate

skyward landing at shore lines

watching ocean tides

sea treasures surface

rinsed by tidal water

families gather

seawaves swell with might

slow down with gentle noises

sea souvenirs surface

within the ocean

one finds the rhythm of life

rest and renewal

the ocean calls me

quiet presence free

draft ©CVarsalona, 2026

Dear Friends,

Sea waves and gushing sounds lulled me into quiet moments of deep thought. A new pathway unfolds as nature and hope nurtures my life. I realize now that my one word, restore, arrived at the beach along side me  I felt its presence. The summer of 2026 has become my turning point. Jeremiah 29:11 states,: "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you-oracle of the Lord-plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope." (Catholic New American Bible) With hope I shall move onward. - Carol

___________________________

The Poetry Sisters (Liz, Sara, Tanita,Tricia,Mary Lee)

invited #PoetryPals to write a haiku sonnet. While not ever writing one, I gave it a try using the four 3-line haiku plus a couplet of 5 syllables and 14 lines format. 

and Mona Voelkel, our host.

Mona found a wishing rock on Charlestown Beach and created a delightful poem. Join her blog to read more poetry from the Poetry Friday community.

Note: It was a busy week so my entrance is later than I wished. I will indulge in Poetry Friday reading this weekend.

This Spring Morning, I Pause and Reflect

Fellow Spiritual Journey Friends,

On this spring morning, I know it is the moment to "Make Time", to pause and reflect on my spiritual journey. There is one word that has guided me since the beginning of 2026. 

Digital Collage for Opening Blog

Since New Year 2026, I travel the spiritual journey path with thoughts on my one word, restore, and a song, Restore My Soul, that reminds me to find my way. 

Seasons of Restoration

one word floats

like snowflakes'

rhythmic flight

                                         WINTER FLIGHT 

chilled winds blow

earth freezes

tears hold grief

                                      BEREAVEMENT

awaken

from winter's

loneliness

                                  TRANSITION

spring's bounty

revives life

in chaos

                                          GRIEF COUNSELING BEGINS

despite rain

hope opens

new fountains

                                 MID-SPRING

music soothes

lifts grief's weight

sings with birds

                                        SPRINGTIME WISH

hope swirls while

gardens bloom

life brightens

                                        MAY REFRESMENT

grace, peace, and 

memories

opens paths

                              MAY DAYS

summer wish

make time to

reflect, pause

                                        SUMMER BREEZES APPEAR

lead me on

find new paths

summer smiles

                           ONWARD 

©CVarsalona, May 2026, tricube sequence

Click here to listen to the song "Garden of Grace".

For a year, I passed through seasons of change. I listened to earth's movements, managed the walk (even after I fractured my foot last October), broke down as tensions stormed through life, grieved, held on to faith, and prayed in silence, noting that changes needed to unfold.

Where am I now?

I am ready to mingle, not be frightened by grief, and continue my spiritual journey. There is more to come, I am sure but for now, I feel the power of faith while holding on to hope.

Spiritual Journey 2026

Logo: Margaret Simon and Photo: Molly Hogan

***********************************

For those who walk with me on the Spiritual Journey, I am thankful. Our small community is filled with faithful companions and friends who believe in the spirit of life. I send wishes for a wonderful weekend. - Carol, June 2026 Spiritual Journey Host

One Word: Restore

It is official! My one word, RESTORE, has opened my heart and soul as a guide on my 2026 spiritual journey. You can read more here about the steps I took to find my one word and invite my Mind and Body to engage in my under-construction plan.. 

The digital graphic below is my opening piece  a faithful walker on the spiritual journey to revive my heart and renew my life.

one

word floats

like snowflakes

dancing to earth

in rhythmic motion

swaying with every

sound of chilling, blowing winds  

seeking winter's blanket of white      

quietude evolves, nature pauses, 

one word, restore, offers a deeper rest 

© CVarsalona, January 2026 

This month, the Poetry Sisters gathered to create the first monthly challenge for 2026. Poetry Friday poets were invited to write a tricube. Below you will find my tricube series of 3 stanzas of three lines each.

2026 One Word

one word flies

with weathered wings

should you choose

time moves on

2026 comes

word appears 

"restore" sparks

energy 

guiding light

© CVarsalona, January 2026

***

Arctic Blast

Arctic Storm

blasts through states

with iced snow

winter roars

whirls and twirls

share its blast

cold winds

tip the scale

no snowmen

© CVarsalona, January 2026

*****

Visit the Poetry Sisters and enjoy reading their tricube poems. Poetry Pals are invited to join in. 

Mary Lee @ Another Year of Reading, Laura @ Laura Purdie Salas,

Liz @ Liz Garton Scanlon, Sara @ Read Write Believe, 

Tanita @ {fiction, instead of lies}, Tricia @ The Miss Rumphius Effect 

*****

It's time to join the Poetry Friday Roundup at the Poem Farm with our host, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater. She offers us a triolet poem with two outstanding thoughts: 1. One can be one's best self in many different ways. 2. True goodness will not always be celebrated.

*****

May everyone feeling the chilling winds of the Arctic Blast be restored by thoughts of an early spring.  

Under Construction

Dear Mind and Body,

I decided that this month, you will be part of an under-construction plan of action. That may seem strange, but I will explain why the logo above is my opening thought. After several weeks of deliberating on my one word for 2026, I chose restore. Of course, I need you, Mind and Body, to challenge myself. I would like to see life differently than just gray skies and feeling forlorn. Did you know that an Arctic Blast has spread across the USA? Today, temperatures are dipping lower than before. Layers of clothing and acceptance are needed. 

I am not ready to shoo away the gray sky of winter, but I am willing to stop feeling like the morning routine is regimented and boring. I need to take a fresh approach to start each day. Last night, I ended the evening by reviewing one of the mounds of paperwork that sits on my desk, table, and bed. All of this is a start to a new year that is not about renewing life but restoring it. I invite you both, Mind and Body, to help me restore my heart and soul with positive intentions, stillness, and less anxiety.

💝It is time now for me to settle in

and be comforted by words that flow.💝

"Heart's Reset"

at day's end,

I sit in silence

surrounded by darkness

my one word, restore,

will guide me to

re-store

my broken heart 💔

to a growing heart 💗

draft  ©CVarsalona, 2026  

💝After a stressful week, I sit here at my computer listening to the music video, Restore My Soul.

The lyrics bring comfort,

especially these words: 

Restore my soul, revive my heart.

Renew my life in every part.💝

A Golden Shovel poem evolved from listening to the song many times. The strike lines for my poem are above.

Time to Restore

2026 is time to restore

what is in my

grieving soul

and kindly revive

what makes me strong - my

mind will open my heart

my faith will renew

me and my 

family's life

there is love within

nature's every

beating part

Amen! 

 draft  ©CVarsalona, 2026 

Thank you for listening.

 Carol

💝

Even though it is late, I am offering my blog post, Under Construction, for the Poetry Friday Roundup, hosted by a dear friend, Jan Annino at Bookseed Studio. Jan is sharing her thoughts on one of the honored leaders of the 20th century, Martin Luther King. Jan's statement on MLK is strong. "This weekend, especially, I wonder where a leader is, who can remind us and begin to renew us, with the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." Let's band together to lift up prayers as Martin would for peace and justice. 

Choosing One Word for 2026

This week, I am confounded by stress and the inability to choose one word to guide my spiritual journey, As the cold weather continues, I find cuddling by the fireplace a comforting way to de-stress. Yet, when I start writing, I seem to have a page of scratched off lines. I am five days into the new year, and I continue to search for one word to appear and set me on a new path of discovery. 

There are six words that keep popping up. They are contenders for my one word that will guide me on my 2026  journey. Space is needed, especially now since there are Christmas boxes strewn all over. Healing is a goal for this year. The word, restore, yields positivity and makes life smoother. Peace rises from the state of stillness and quietude sits in silence breaking unrest. Then, there is forward that would help me move onward. These words are strong, important, and meaningful. One shall be my cornerstone and yet, I am still not ready to make my choice.

Since 2014 to 2025 I have chosen one word that has served as my yearly guiding star.

Which one of the six words will I chose to be my 2026 guiding star?

This week the Spiritual Journey group of writers will unveil their one word. Stop by my blog on late Wednesday or early Thursday to read which word I will choose.

Join me at the Two Writing Teachers site with educators from around the globe.

Compassion Moves Hearts

October is the month that shares the beauty of falling leaves, changing colors, and the crispness of the landscape. We move through the newly fallen leaves slowly, watching and listening to the sounds of the woods. The woods share this pleasure with many walkers in my community. Besides nature's healing, the Bible offers stories of healing by the hands of Jesus. One in particular reminds me of Jesus' hands healing the lepers. A teacher at Catholic High School shared stories of the leper colony in her home state of Hawaii. The stories were sad, but they defined the meaning of compassion: "a deep awareness and empathy for the suffering of others, with a strong desire to alleviate pain." I researched many definitions of the word compassion. The one I shared helps me understand why renew is an important one word for me. In the silent pause of morning, I consider how I can help others move their cross forward. My one word, renew, surfaces at a time when life across the continents is troublesome. 

Some compassionate people come forward to ignite new lights. Others who are self-indulgent waffle.

I thank our Spiritual Journey Thursday host, Kim Johnson, for offering the awe-inspiring word, compassion, for our prompt today. I am still trying to not let grief drown me in mourning over my husband's sudden passing. 

Overwhelmed By the Unforeseen 

grief robs our beings

sends sorrow to our souls

leaves us restless in need of compassion

we pause in the wake of compassion

understanding others' needs to strengthen their beings

with cause, we stand to strengthen our souls

October's landscape will play a part for overwhelmed souls 

 while nature spreads her compassion 

with sweeping arms around human beings

human beings whose souls are scarred need comfort and compassion

draft ©CVarsalona, 2025, tritina poem

May we all fill our hearts and others with compassion to bring moments of true peace into the world.

Thank you to my author friend, Matt Forrest Esenwine, for hosting Poetry Friday this week. Due to many to do lists, I am combining Spiritual Journey with Poetry Friday. because the topic of compassion needs addressing in this mixed up world.

My 2025 One Little Word

A new pathway opens for my 2025 Spiritual Journey. It is guided by a new one little word. My former collection of OLWs will not be forgotten or discarded. They are the foundation that I have walked on since 2014. While reflecting on my stepping stones below, I open my heart to the possibilities for 20225 with a new guiding word.

My collection of one words strengthens my spiritual journey each year. In December, I eagerly awaited a new word, a connector that creates newness. Little did I know that my word had been waiting for me since 2014. In that blog post, I wrote the following about my one word openness. "A connector on my journey, the enticer to find possibilities in life by shifting, reflecting, redirecting, redesigning, and renewing my course of action."

I intentionally paused life since May 2024 due to a medical issue. I am ready for RENEW to restore what has faded and create newness in my life. I hope 2025 will provide a fresh start and a positive change to restore, revitalize, and make life feel fresh again. Psalm 51:10 holds the essence of my one word. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit  within me."  After last year's interruption, I confidently return to my spiritual path.

Logo created by Margaret Simon

Please join me at Margaret Simon's Spiritual Journey 2025 post to read what others in the community have chosen for their new word.

I am celebrating the start of Poetry Friday 2025 with our host and keeper-of-the- calendar, Mary Lee Hahn. She is full of wisdom today, a positive way to start poetic writing in 2025. Happy New Year to all!