Positively Reaching and Connecting

While gearing up for #NYEDChat's conversation on Positive People Do More, my writing colleague Kevin Hodgson, sent me poem based on the invitation to the chat that I tweeted. I then, retweeted Kevin's text to honor the work fellow poets and writers are engaging in during National Poetry Month. 

We search the gap

between the difficulties

of the world

and the silent negativity

of the complaints;

We nestle our way forward

and work around way into the warmth

of the positive.

I'll light the fire, with words if I have to,

these poems make fine kindling,

and you bring the sustenance of ideas

we can share together.
Kevin Hodgson, 2016 

Intrigued by the line lifting remix technique, I composed a poem based on one line of Kevin's poem.

Following the lead of poet Amy Ludwig VanDerwater who created Wallow in Wonder for her 2016 National Poetry Month project to celebrate learning and writing from learning, I searched Wonderopolis for an article on positivity. I found Wonder of the Day #991, Do You Have a Positive Attitude?  Below is a blackout poem that I created from the information in the article.

My fellow Wonderopolis Wonder Lead Ambassador, Paul W. Hankins, has also been writing poetry alongside Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, based on Wonders of the Day. His series can be accessed here. 

To reach out and connect with #EduFriends and connected colleagues across the globe, NYEDChat will open its doors on May 2, 2016 for a chat on positivity that will surely be a meeting of the minds. 

Join the NYEDChat Moderating Team(Bill Brennan, Victoria Day, Blanca Duarte, Dan McCabe, Lisa Meade, Starr Sackstein, Dennis Schug, Tony Sinanis, Carol Varsalona) and our Positivity Champions (Bobby Dodd, Sean Gaillard, Reed Gillespie, Phil Griffin, Neil Gupta, Jon Harper, Jennifer Hogan, Eoin Lenihan, Craig Vroom, Jennifer Williams) for an epic conversation.

In the meantime, stay positive. According to the Mayo Clinic, looking at life's challenges in a positive way has its long-lasting rewards. Here are some benefits: 

• lower levels of distress 
• greater resistance to colds 
• better coping skills

You may enjoy listening to Luke Britnell's catchy tune, Think Positive. 

Discover Life's Possibilities

Recently, the #DareToBe community explored the topic, Dream Big. During the threaded conversation, I stated, "We can discover a myriad of possibilities that await us in life." While this is true, the add on is if we have faith and hold positive intentions we can walk along a path of discovery leading to a more balanced, hopeful life. 

In the early morning rush, travelers move 

cautiously along pre-determined routes.

With focused thought, they cross onto

stilled avenues of pavement where branches

tipped with snow-glazed wonder gracefully bend.

It is here, where rubber meets the road, that

travelers greet the stillness of morning,

pushing beyond nights' dreams to enter

the open space of endless possibilities.

Belief in the impossible is what dreams are made of. Dreams open pathways to discover a world yet to be, an evolving one that opens doors when doors may close. It is in the routine of life that we dive into another space that leads us to self-fulfillment and a deeper look at where we are going.

As winter transitions to spring

daily routes covered with salt,

give way to patches of cleared pavements.

Travelers listen to the rhythm of the road,

as they direct their attention to the day's beat.

Routine guides the breaking dawn and 

hope drives the ascending dream. 

Snow frozen embarkments swept

to the shoulder leave clear spaces 
 as people travel to their destinations.

Holding on to dreams is not easy in the light of challenges that come our way but if we do, we will discover possibilities as we transverse the byways of life. We can become designers of our journey with faith as our guide, but we must be observant and respectable of others as we frame out thoughtful days.

Driver's eyes look forward while turning 

here and there to avoid slips and slides.

Some cars fly by disregarding

common rules of the road

meant to protect travelers.

Some drivers stretch for devices,

others honk hones.

The cacophony of sounds grows

louder as cars enter and pass,

but the highway calls for consistent,

continued travel onward despite

conditions or distracting moments.

Each day, we awake to the routines of life. Within the limits of normal daily life there are moments that break the routine. When these occur, it is time to dive into our faith that guides us and leads us onward.

The road beckons travelers on to follow

their route toward a clear end, 

but life is uncertain and changeable.

What starts out as a routine drive

may end unexpectedly so allow

detours to lead to new adventures,

roadblocks to patient pondering,

and weather changes to a resolve

that nature has its determinants.

We move on but there are times 

we falter in our pursuit of dreams. 

Within the long stretch toward your 

desired route, be open to a Voice

that leads you on this journey of life

so that you dream a dream

each and every day.

With eyes focused on goals,

make each mile an open path

to positive change

for dreams are the pillows 

of our sleep upon which 

we build tomorrows.

Embrace the adventure called life. 

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13

Walk in God's strength along the highway of life for His "word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path." (Psalm 119:105)  Discover life's possibilities that can turn into probabilities with persistent travel.

Concluding Poem

So let me pitch an inviting plea 

to find the road to positivity

and discover what falls along your way

that allows one new discovery each and every day.

This combined prose, poetry, and audio piece is written in response to three challenges:

1. Day 12 of the Slice of Life Story Challenge found at Two Writing Teachers. 
2. Spiritual Journey Thursday, a faith-based community of bloggers guided by Holly Mueller. We  are celebrating each other's one little words for 2015. This week, Jaana's OLW, discover, is the topic. (All of the bloggers' OLWs are underlined in the poem I created.)
3. Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe has a 20 poem Forward...MarCH Challenge for this month. Today's word is pitch.