Into the Fog

The sun peeked out from behind grayish clouds and for that moment, I felt giddy and adventurous. "Let's go to the boardwalk!" With that quick morning greeting, I was outside in a flash, aching for a chance to feel free with hair blowing in the air. I pulled out my sunglasses at the same time my husband rolled down the windows and off we went. The sun continued to brighten until we neared Long Beach - a hazy light was visible amidst the gray sky. 

By the time we arrived on the boardwalk, an intense fog hovered, reminding me of Carl Sandburg's poem, Fog. As we made our way to a railing overlooking the beach, the ocean was not visible at all. In the many years that I have lived here, I have not seen such haziness encapsulate the sea.  A man on a bicycle came rolling by laughing and calling out to bewildered beachgoers, "If we could see, we might be able to find the ocean."  Determined, I proceeded to capture what I could or could not see through my lens, even though there were stretches of nothingness beyond the beach. 

The word, nothingness, was circling back to me.  Before leaving the house, I engaged in the #SpiritChat Sunday morning Twitter convo.  Was Kumud Ajmani's opening question meant for this boardwalk encounter?  "On Celebrating Nothing(ness)" - what does the phrase evoke/inspire within you today?"  My response seemed fitting for a coming-into-the-fog scene.  "Nothingness is a state of calm, resting in the joy of living." 

No one at the beach seemed to be concerned about the fog and they were certainly enjoying the day. Surfers were fully dressed hoisting their surfboards above their heads. Youngsters were rollerblading, others bicycling. There were even children barefoot in the sand.  A few large trucks were making their way horizontally in the sand, trying to level it out. 

into the fog

they came on

silent footsteps-

waiting for sun

This joyous spring happening on Palm Sunday gave me the inspiration to finish my one line for the annual Kidlithosphere Progressive Poem. Today, was my day to add a found line from a song.  You can see the poem in progress at my site under the title 2019 Kidlithosphere Progress Poem Continues.  

It is Slice of Life Tuesday at Two Writing Teachers so I am ready to add this slice. 

March Musings 5: Slicing Our Lives

Above digital was created with a new photo editing tool, FotoJet.

Today, the sun is shining so brightly that I am ready to soak in the beauty of life. It is bitter cold outside. I decide that a walk would have to be very brisk so I choose to go to restorative yoga where I can soak in a feeling of warmth and serenity. This will be a compliment to the beautiful morning Twitter chat, Living and Giving with a Smile, I engaged in with my #Spiritchat friends. 

Come along with me to enjoy a virtual spa-like visit
as I provide a slice of my life.

The gym is crowded with others who have the same idea. I move slowly downstairs, imagining the fragrance of eucalyptus permeating the hall. Inside the studio, the instructor greets all who enter with a welcoming smile. First timers to restorative yoga are invited to the experience with gentle instructions on what to bring to the mat. The three Bs, bolsters, blankets, and blocks, are gathered and the class starts with a brief meditation. The instructor opens with thoughts on how life may be unsettling but here in the studio we are to let go and relax in the practice. A very short and gentle om follows. Then, we are led into three twenty minute poses that open different areas of the body. During quiet time when we hold the pose, we follow the breath's pattern to create a peaceful oasis on the mat. At times I am reminded not to be distracted by the mind's chatter and return to the breath. The perfect pace of the practice relaxes the body and the mind. One hour and fifteen minutes of indulgence in me time is a delightful gift to give myself on a cold Sunday. With a smile on my face, I leave the studio knowing that I will enjoy life a little bit more today. 

"A warm smile is the universal language of kindness."

-William Arthur Ward

This post is the 5th in a series titled March Musings  that I am offering to: DigiLit Sunday founded by Margaret Simon and March Slice of Life Challenge created by Two Writing Teachers.

Slicing my life this March is an opportunity to savor 

the small moments that have allowed me 

to notice and wonder more deeply.

Monday's Musings

Sunday mornings can be a lazy, contemplative time if I attend Mass the night before. Yesterday was like that. I spent the first hour of the morning engaged in an engaging conversation on the topic of Spiritual Lightness with one one of my favorite contemplative communities on Twitter, #SpiritChat. What exactly does that mean within the context of daily life? My Twitter colleagues and I pondered, personalized, and shared responses. I released this thought for others to respond to: "Writing is another remedy for restlessness. It can be a spiritual healer when heaviness comes in." 

Writing can be seen as a cathartic act, a cleansing of the soul, a release of emotions. It is the act by which we can interact with our thoughts and allow our voice to emerge. Sometimes prompts can be the trigger to awaken feelings and allow words to swirl around until they solidify into nuggets of writing. One such prompt today adds flavor to my Monday's musings. Heidi Mordhorst's Forward...MarCH Poetry Challenge asks writers to explore the word inch. 

The first step in the process of creating a poem based on CH prompt word is to read what Heidi and other writers have created. Next, is to think deeply how this word, inch, could fit into my Winter Whisperings Gallery of artistic expressions that I am designing.  A photo I took of one my vintage treasures passed on to me by my mother catches my interest. I reflect in the quiet of the early morning and let thoughts of the years my mother spent with my family float in my being. Inch by inch, words solidified and an expression of love unfolded below.

You inch your way into my heart
with movable eyes and memories.
Inch by inch, I scan your petite frame,
reminisce about your history, 
and recall when you were lovingly
given to me once upon a year.

Each winter, you grace my home.
With 20th century charm, 
you find a way to bring back a time 
when a mother passed on a treasure
to her child for her children's pleasure.

The hearts you wear emote feelings
of love once released upon a tender,
heart-filled moment on a winter's day.
Your tiny hearts fill the room with a
lifetime of thoughts as you inch 
your way back into a drawer
to rest in memories. 
2015 Carol Varsalona. All Rights Reserved

Whether it be a memory, a new thought, or a vivid emotion, writing can provide an avenue to explore life in a positive framework. Let today's thoughts swirl around so that you can create one lasting image to bring a sense of peace, calm, and lightness to your day for within our psyche lay a multitude of memories and joys that need awakening.  

To hear the words of the bloggers of the March Slice of Life Story Challenge, move over to Two Writing Teachers. It is hard to believe that we are already on Day 16 of the writing challenge. At this halfway mark, an appropriate quote was offered today: "Never, never, never give up." -Winston Churchill

May you enjoy this beautiful March morning. The sun is shining brightly as winter transitions into spring. 

Celebrating Possibilities Through One Little Word: Openness

It is interesting how one little word (OLW) can change your outlook on life. In January when the bloggers asked which word would guide your path I decided upon openness. Being resolute in purpose to shift, reflect, and redesign a course of action, this OLW became my portal to a year of possibilities. Today, I not only honor the journey of life and learning that I have traveled this year but focus on my most recent week of celebrations.

As 2014's weeks unfolded, doors opened to noticings, wonderings, and possibilities. I became acutely aware of my surroundings and opportunities offered in positive and negative spaces. One simple word became a beacon, guiding my footing as surely as the fuzzy caterpillar that intersected my summer path years ago. For a brief moment, I stopped to muse on the caterpillar crossing that tickled my finger as a child.  Life's movements were noted in the here and now back then.  My adult eyes now see nature's simplicities differently. Perhaps, the caterpillar's parade was a prelude to its metamorphosis. If questioned would it have said the following? Step lightly! Observe your surroundings! Avoid distractors! Celebrate the destination! 

Months have passed since the word openness became my guide to possibilities. Some weeks seemed more celebratory than others but this past week marked a momentous occasion-38 years of marriage. To celebrate, a jaunt to New York City was in order. 

Anticipating what the "city" has to offer is always an exciting prospect. Driving into Manhattan on a clear day provides a panoramic view of a skyline that is breathtaking no matter how many times seen. Warm sunshine, teeming crowds, clomping hoof beats, shoes pounding, and honks beeping in syncopated motion are sights and sounds illustrating the pulsating beats of a city alive with possibilities. From Restaurant Row, to Broadway, through Times Square, and off to Fifth Avenue by way of Bryant Park and the NYC Library, I marveled as though this was the first traveling of an eager tourist. I took in the offerings, savoring each as a delectable bite of perfection. When the day came to a close, exhaustion and sore feet could not take away the splendor of what New York City has to offer.

It is fitting that this blog post is filled with the word celebrations. Four times in the course of two days have I engaged in positive offerings: a birthday outing to a movie with friends, a pop-up of Ruth Ayres' Celebrate This Week site, a Sunday morning "Spiritchat" Twitter chat on "Celebrating Community with Combustion," and a relaxing yoga session in which I was able to reflect in stillness. These events plus my 38th anniversary outing have opened my heart to the importance of celebrations. For their spontaneity and simplicity, I am grateful.

Thank you to Ruth Ayres for starting a link up to celebrate the week's highlights. 

You can view the Celebrate This Week's offerings here.

Poetry Alive During National Poetry Month

For aficionados of poetry, Twitter has been lighting up with blogs, sites, workshops, and conversations to celebrate National Poetry Month.  On Sunday, the #spiritchat community hosted a lively conversation, The Spirit of a Poet. One quote by @MitzvahCircle resonated with me, "The spirit of a poet uses words to dance, dream, and create." I believe that a poet is a unique writer who gives from the heart. While posing thoughts that flow and dance across a page, the poet invites the reader to pause, linger over the words, and make a connection. 

In order to hone my own writing, I have frequented several sites that are engaging in poetry writing activities. One of those sites is Poetrepository where author/teacher Mary Lee Hahn has been taking readers on a tour of what she has titled Our Wonderful World. With her keen sense of wondering and a class of young poets to provide feedback, Hahn journeys the world to provide a bird's eye view of human-made and natural wonders. 

Interestingly, she provides links to other writers who have joined her inquisitive path to reveal their perspectives on various wonders. Some writers have contributed many thoughts while I previously provided one poem on the Coliseum using Notegraphy for Day 3 of the journey. Intrigued by Day 16's wonder, the Panama Canal, I decided to compose a second poem. This time I researched the history of this natural wonder and lifted a series of single words from my various readings to present a poem from the viewpoint of the 100 year old canal. I hope the canal's strong voice came forth as it spoke from its heart.

Since writers always appreciate feedback that will improve their craft, I willingly will accept comments. 

In addition, I would like to invite those who have not forwarded me their original poem and accompanying photo on an April Awakening to participate in this literary event that I am hosting at the end of National Poetry Month. You can view the first edition of the poetry collection showcased in March at REFLECT WITH ME: Bringing Together a Community of Writers to Celebrate Life and Learning.

May the spirit of the poet fill your heart and let your thoughts flow in any medium you choose.

The Stillness Within

In a world that welcomes multi-tasking, there is little time to pause and feel the stillness within. With January approaching its close, most people have engaged in the traditional ritual of stepping back and reflecting while penning resolutions or nerdlutions. Some sought new paths while others began a journey inside themselves. But how many took the time to enjoy the overlooked opportunities of the first month of the year? January, while providing a short respite after the hurried holidays, is a time to pause, reflect, and renew.  Its thirty-one days are devoted to the creation, following through, and sometimes abandoning of resolutions. Hidden deep inside its long, cold winter days, change can occur. With a reflective stance and the ability to pause, you can linger a while in the present, finding the stillness within.

"Pausing is a gift," as thoughtfully said by Jackie Yun, a tweeter, who responded to one of my thoughts this morning on #spiritchat. Pausing is an investment in living that provides time to search for stillness and capture thoughts that will be tucked away and savored. We often live one task after another, with calendars becoming the schedulers of life. What would happen if we paused each day to look inward to find balance? This morning before the twitter chats and yoga practice, I took the opportunity to pause and turn my attention to finding an inspiring quote to chart my day. When Kumud Ajami, one of the "spiritchat" moderators, posted a link to a Ted Talk with Pico Iyer, I took the opportunity to listen to this speaker. I was well rewarded and like a squirrel gathering her nuts, I collected two nuggets for reflection:

"Movement is only as good as the sense of stillness that you can bring to it, to put it into perspective."  

"It is only by stopping movement that you can see where to go." 

I pondered those thoughts, linking them to my one little word for 2014, openness.  Then, in the stillness of the room, I paused to write. As I looked inside at a journey I created, movement intersected reflection. Doors opened and insight walked through, clothed in stillness.

January is coming to a close but my attempt to be resolute in spirit will not. Stopping the shifting tasks to savor the moment will be my next step and pausing will be my guide as I find stillness within. Will I succeed? As we say in yoga, it is yoga practice, not yoga perfect. My goal is not perfection so if I forget to pause, I have my family to remind me. 

May your end of January days lead you on a journey to pause and savor the moment.