Habits creep in
Like stalkers at night
We awake and find them amongst us
So goes the way of the news
Read for interest to be informed
Look for more complete details
Shock value captivates attention
Research
Then repeat
And repeat
Peace disrupted
Habit revealed
I long to return to consuming news
On a “need to know” basis
Question
How to be informed yet not addicted?
(I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on this topic)
… the mountain casts a spell over people who live near it. When one leaves the area, the spell causes that person to never really leave, but at least continue to return.
Maybe…
Maybe not…
We left the area about six weeks ago, then returned to retrieve a vehicle we’d left behind. Our conversations revealed we each felt happy to be back in town, driving the streets, seeing a few friends, enjoying the sights and having food from several favorite places.
Let there be no mistake. We know our new home, the region where we live, the town we’re part of is exactly where we are supposed to be and we’re thrilled to begin this new adventure in our life journey.
We’ve returned to locations from our past homes because of the people, but never experienced the feeling of simple happiness by just being in the area. Perhaps there is a spell on us from the mountain, or maybe it’s because we each experienced so much personal growth and deepened our spiritual lives here; made many friendships and memories. We changed living here. We’re not the same people we were when we moved here. We smile, knowing we’ll be back again.
Have you ever felt like living somewhere changed who you are?
House sold
Packed up
Moved out
Stored everything
Offer accepted
Details negotiated
Dates set
Time and space between
Where do my feet call home?
A contemporary loft apartment
Fulfills my in-between state
The hum of city life surrounds me
Free night-time music from a nearby establishment fills the air
The beach is merely two blocks away
And visible from the roof-top balcony
Here my brain processes recent activity
Spinning, spinning the thoughts whirl
Decisions made
Arrangements scheduled
Brain stopped swirling
Palm trees sway against the blue skies
The ocean calls
Walks on the beach
Marine layer rolls in, enveloping all in mist
Tension releases
Comfort comes as the time to relocate draws near
The ground is shifting beneath my feet
My calendar marks the passing of time
Changes in weather confirm this passage
Details require my attention
My mind wanders
Change is happening
One foot planted here and the other not yet settled in an unknown location
In this straddled state, I feel unbalanced and perceive time stopped
Not possible! Not true!
I saw you today
You became family
Geography will physically separate us
My heart was saddened
Public message to say good bye
Share how God calls and why we respond
Can I look in your eyes and keep the tears from my own
While living here, I’ve changed
No mistake that I was here
I will follow the voice that calls
For me to do anything less is unworthy of His calling
The faith we share has bound are hearts together
Location and time cannot undo this bond
We are part of one another’s journey
When we meet again
We’ll share the stories of life
Live well, my friends
To this you’ve been called
Dedicated to my mother…
Words on paper
absorbed in mind
create images
Brings to life
other places and times
Roots and wings intermingle
Twisting and growing together
Each trying to be dominant
The one who planted words and dreams
had deep roots and has left the earth
Yet she birthed the one with wings
Did she know what she planted
Do any of us
She marveled as she watched
the wings grow and develop
Did know she was thanked
…what sparks yours?
I’ve written earlier how Covid-19 has helped me establish some better writing habits, and it has. Yet the last two weeks provided some interesting self-learning opportunities for me. We traveled to California (via car), to spend time with family. This hasn’t been a trip for sight-seeing, but has allowed us to connect with some family members while staying in one location. A location different from our house. Everyone here has their normal activities, as do we.
Yet the environment differs vastly from home. The sights, the temperatures, the plants—I’ve found all these differences sparked additional creativity for me.
In the past, I’ve found traveling ignites creativity, or time appreciating natural beauty, or enjoying another’s art creations. Just spending quiet, uninterrupted time in a different environment from home provided an unexpected burst.
This gift of creative energy was a surprise, a very pleasant surprise.
A daughter commented that she’s heard other writers say that’s the reason they enjoy going to a retreat. I’d always thought one went on a writing retreat to remove one’s self from their routine and have more time. So like me to consider “time” as the limiting commodity. …and so, incorrect! I’ve enjoyed this “writing retreat” to work on multiple projects.
What fuels your creativity?
Pause.
Projects.
We are at home. Like many of you, really at home.
Perhaps for the first time in ages.
At our house that has meant projects.
House projects for my hubby.
Mostly writing for me.
This last week, I took on a project to remake an old family dresser.
The chest is sturdy, but made from an era when all wood furniture was dark.
Dark has become so foreboding.
It was time for a change.
I had a plan, however when I started sanding the finish from the old piece of furniture, the wood spoke something different to me.
Plan abandoned.
I kept on working.
As I was doing the finish coat, I found my mind wandering to memories of my father.
He was the one who introduced me to wood and with great supervision, would allow me to work with him in the basement.
Those thoughts bought a smile to mind.
For those of you who know me, there aren’t many times I speak of my dad.
My memories aren’t very pleasant.
In the last few years, I’ve been learning about how we can remake our memories.
Instead of replaying in your mind the same sad stories, stop those thoughts and replace them with more pleasant memories.
I’ve been working on that memory project for a few years.
It doesn’t change any realities, but it changes what my first thoughts are when thinking about my father.
This weekend wrapped up a remaking project and contributed to an ongoing remaking project.
It’s never too late to work on remaking…
In the midst of the current pandemic, we’ve found ourselves with more time at home. There has been a task at my house I’ve been saying “if I just had some uninterrupted time at home, I would get that done.”
So, due to the pandemic, I have time at home. I’ve found tackling the task difficult to do. Not because the task is so hard, I just lacked enthusiasm to start and stick with the project to completion.
It took me over a week to complete the project once I began. What’s interesting to me, is that I realize it was not a question time. The question proved to be motivation.
For whatever reason, I made cleaning my office/art room into something so daunting that I was avoiding even beginning.
I can say it is complete. I’ve been waiting to start a project in the room until I completed the clean-up. Now I’m able to begin creating something I want to do. Why am I not filled with a sense of satisfaction for cleaning up my work space?
Do you have a project or task that you’ve been putting off and can’t seem to do it?
And why?
I stand in the wind facing east.
The sea roars as the consistent waves roll in, one after the other.
The sky is huge with layer after layer of clouds cloaking the evening sun.
I feel small against the vastness of these forces of nature.
Yet, I look into the heavens and know that I’m loved beyond comprehension.
The words from Psalm 8 filled my mind this day.
Psalm 8 from the NIV Bible
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
I have questions today.
Please leave a comment in response to any of the questions. Happy New Year!
Do you read my blog because you too are a writer, or just interested in what I write about?
Either is good; I’m just curious.
If you write, do you have writing goals?
How to you track your goals and evaluate your progress?
Does this motivate you?
I use writing goals. It’s a process I’ve refined over the years. It started with generic lists for big projects that I seldom looked at and by the year’s end; I found I accomplished little. Not very satisfying!
My process evolved and suspect will continue to evolve.
It’s important for me to break down a project into tasks; this level of detail ensures things don’t fall through the cracks and provides a more accurate view of the work and time involved to accomplish the project. Making that simple change to my goals has allowed me to be more realistic in what I can accomplish.
As I contemplated 2019’s goals in creating my goals for 2020, I realized how frequently you, my followers have been part of the process. Thank you for taking time to read my posts, for choosing to “like them” or make comments. Those efforts encourage me, as a writer.
My hope for you is that as you reflect on 2019, you enjoy good memories.
I look forward to 2020 and hope my writing will bring a smile to your face,
or provide something for you to contemplate.
