Inquisitive Child

Have you ever been so intrigued that you delved into the whys of mysteries? As a child, I was always asking questions and searching for answers. One day during a summer stay at my Nonnie's house, I found a large box that was bigger than me. It looked like a junk box, so I wondered what was inside. The next day, I tiptoed into my uncle's room to take a peek, but the box was too tall for me to see what was inside. I decided to bend into the box anyway. I rummaged through papers and lots of junk. What follows is written in a tricube poem.

Inquisitive Child

many thoughts

from childhood

break open

mystery

of the box

uncle had

big and tall

unknown things

intrigued me

I indulged

in what could

be inside

rummaging

through paper

found a gem

tiny box

golden bright

was it junk

it looked real

thrown away

but why I

asked myself

while gazing

at the ring

showed Nonnie

scolded by

my uncle

why did he

throw away

a real ring

sadly I

let go but

wished for it

©CVarsalona, 2026

This memory from the past came by chance. I have been a member of Laura Shovan's February Daily Poetry Project for years. This marks the 14th year of Laura's birthday month, which is celebrated on Facebook. "For several years, in order to practice writing and repair the world (the Jewish concept of tikkun olam) during my birthday month, my blog hosted a community poet project." (Laura Shovan)

This year, 2026, the theme is mistory. One thought from Laura resonated with me. "Why does the unexplained or unknown fascinate us?" My experience as a pre-teen "Nancy Drew", led me to be a curious adult and a seeker of knowledge.

Teacher/poet/photographer, Molly Hogan, is our host of Poetry Friday. I thank her for the lovely winter ice logo above and poems created after Wendell Berry's mentor poem, Like Snow,. You will enjoy both of her short poems and those of her Inkling community. Click the link above.

Blogger's Note:

It is the beginning of another Arctic Blast of bitter cold temperatures but I am sitting in my chair bundled up to elevate my fractured ankle. Even though, I fell asleep before posting my blog, I woke after the stroke of midnight to find my computer sitting on my lap..

Embracing Positivity

Each month, the host of the Spiritual Journey Thursday community invites others to walk along life's path. When the invitation sent by Bob Hamera, aka arjeha, arrived in my email, I realized that the prompt, attitude, would be an appropriate one for me. Bob asked the Spiritual Journey community to take a look at our attitude and how it affects not only ourselves but also others.

 

As the community knows, I am walking a tightrope since the sudden passing of my husband in April. Each day, I wake praying to find a new avenue that will restore my soul, revive my heart, and renew my life. Unfortunately, at the end of most days, I find myself standing in a vast ocean of unpredictable, swishing waves, realizing that my emotions are scattered across the sea's waters. Another image appears, a remembrance of days at the ocean, watching the tide ebbing and flowing at a rapid pace. My feet sink into the sand, and my body falls into the cold water, unable to rise with balance. . .

After reading Bob's invitation, I realized that a new attitude is exactly what I needed. By chance, I found an interesting quote on the Purposely. podcast, "Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it." As in the Bible (Phillippians 2:5), Apostle Paul advocates for a new attitude: "Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus." Paul is speaking about having a humble and selfless mindset like Jesus. These thoughts may have been hiding all along, since I believe in a positive mindset. Now, I am ready once again to spark the fire that filled my heart with positivity. This is a necessity. I need to walk the spiritual journey with hope and faith and not waddle in the darker side of life that interferes with a positive attitude. With a strong mindset, faith, and hope, my goal will be to minimize the grief and anxiety I often feel. 

I am grateful for our Spiritual Journey host and community of faithful writers, and am eager to read each blog post. You can join us here if interested.

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. 

Finding My 2026 One Little Word

Dear Lord,

It is late at night, and I still wonder why it is taking me so long to find my 2026 One Little Word. I usually find my guiding word before the end of December. Other times, the word finds me. You know that this past year was a series of ups and downs, so I need assurance that one of the six words surrounding me (space, healing, restore, peace, quietude, forward) will be a positive guide for 2026. The following poem has undergone numerous revisions. God, can you please help me choose a word to kick off this new year? 

Searching for My 2026 One Word 

winter white snowfalls

mask earth's terrain

silent thoughts call

from nature's domain

in this sacred pause

nothing agitates

sweet stillness because

it is time to wait

soft clouds slip away

swaying in sky's glow,

and without delay,

prepares a grand show

one little word nears,

restore, stands with pride

ready to lead and guide

I offer it loud cheers

draft ©cvarsalona, 2026 

God, I think I understand now. Restore is an effective, actionable guiding word. With your intervention, my OLW will inspire me to make meritable choices daily. The task of restoring my mind, body, and heart is challenging but essential. I turn to Psalm 51:12. "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." 

Now that I am starting bereavement therapy, I feel hopeful beyond tears to continue my spiritual journey. As a faithful traveler who believes, I can successfully restore my joy of living. With your help, I will be able to rise from the chaos of loss. Thank you for listening and supporting my spiritual journey. You know that it is difficult for me to enjoy winter with a fractured ankle and grey skies, but I am trying.

_Carol

winter blues chaser

wanted to restore sunshine

gift of warmth

©CVarsalona, January 2026

Spiritual Journey 2026

Logo: Margaret Simonn

Photo:: Molly Hogan

This week's host of Spiritual Journey is Margaret Simon, who offers a beautiful original poem that floats with peace and her OLW.

AND

This week's host of the Poetry Friday Roundup is Ruth Hersey. She is sharing a poem, "Soulful Warming" by J. Drew L:anham.

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.

Reflection and Remembrance

At this time of year when the weather is chilly and winter settles in, I reminisce about life. 

Five years have passed since we moved to our newly-built home in Virginia. For the past twelve years I have chosen one word, to help me guide my journey. Now, I stand at the precipice of life, wondering how to move forward without grief nudging every day. 

In January 2025, I chose the word, renew, to guide me. I believed that this one word would move me from what faded to newness. Then in mid-February, an explosive event turned everything around. Some of you may know the story. My husband entered the hospital to later found out that he had a rare form of cancer. An incurable tumor was lodged in his pancreas and metastasized to the liver. Within less than a month, my husband passed into the eternal silence. Just before Christmas during a restless night of sleep, I heard my husband's voice calling my name. The poem below is my remembrance of that night.

Life moves on with the drop of the NYC Times Square Ball. Minutes change from 2025 to 2026  and so I will move forward.

While I am late for the Poetry Friday Roundup with our host Catherine Flynn, I add my blog post. Catherine offers an inspirational quote and an original poem on January.

"And now we welcome the new year. 

Full of things that have never been."

Rainer Maria Rilke

Move Darkness into Light

The solstice came with light instead of darkness. For me, it shifted time and perspective in a positive way. As more light slowly continued a sense of momentary peace arrived. I accepted the invitation to slow down, release some stress, and hope that my 2025 one word, renew, would move beyond darkness.

Moving Darkness into Light

shadows stream

splitting serenity until

the solstice arrives

winter shadows slew away

as light awakens

peace evolves

if only for a moment

©cvarsalona, 2025

I am still debating which one word to choose for 2026 since 2025 brought many deep bumps on my daily travels. Yet, I managed to move forward and will continue to do so.

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for the meeting place that leads writers to reflect and share thoughts.