Every morning I stretch my imagination, a salt lamp lighting the darkness. It’s a thorough workout, beginning spread eagle on my writing room floor. A personal concoction, part yogic, part therapeutic, an homage to running thrown in for good measure. Breathing into the strain, lengthening, extending range of motion, experiencing a range of emotions.
Moving into meditation, expansive breath, active stillness, neck rolling, back rounding into a bowl. Lingering, releasing sound, soaring, tension leaving my face. Words appearing, at…..
Winter chills the earth, snow drifting, winds bitter, darkness crowding daylight, the weather willing us to slow down. Many of us refuse to listen, bravely fighting the elements. Some of our furry friends follow another path, seeking refuge in a temporary resting place, entering hibernation. Lowering their body temperature, slowing their heart rate, quieting their breath.
Mid-winter break.
Punxsutawney Phil emerges, eyes opening in the camera’s glare, nature’s fortune teller. Will our weather turn? His shadow predicting continued cold. And…..
One summer’s day, I visited Italian Lake, a tranquil setting nestled within the confines of Harrisburg, inhabited by geese and swans. A gaggle of geese assembled in some semblance of order. A pair of black swans swimming, separate from white swans. Birds with different feathers.
Seen from afar, our planet appears unified, at peace. Up close, our differences magnify. Divided neighborhoods, ruffled feathers, a key opening a gated community, a trash bag strewn with waste. Let’s create a place where…..
Dreams appear during our most active sleeping hours, eyes stirred to rapid movement. Real and unreal. Daydreams have their own world of reverie, lost in thought. Awake and unaware. And during our most profound moments, awareness awakens. Lucid, clear and luminous.
As we honor Martin Luther King, his dreams come to mind. Living his vision. Non-violent marches, impassioned speeches, a call to action. Striving for an ideal world, the search fraught with struggle, balancing the strengths of humanity against the…..
Technology continues to evolve at astounding speed. Virtual reality creates an alternate universe. Computer simulation promises to predict the future. Artificial intelligence designs decisions for us. We tell ourselves that we are the masters of this destiny. Alternative facts? Simulation can be defined as “counterfeit.”
The reality is that we have opened a door to a world of overstimulation, addicted to technology, friends with many, isolated from one another. Computers have established their own life force, a flower of creation,…..
Today’s world has become a service economy, our livelihoods dependent on how well we perform. Customer satisfaction demanding excellence, responsiveness. Attuned to fulfilling the needs of our customers. Service plans designed to deal with the unforeseen.
Service interruption. Memorial service.
An inner voice urgently whispers, there’s a shortness of breath. Compulsory and voluntary. Compelling, calling us to serve others. Armed forces serving the flag, emergency workers putting out a fire, an outstretched arm lifting a stranger. Wanting to share ourselves…..
With the onset of another year, it’s time to take stock of our lives. Things we want to keep doing, things we want to change. Work measured by goals achieved, family and friends by strength of relationship, community through involvement, leisure from enjoyment, spirituality emanating from a personal connection.
We’re all given one year with a daily currency. So much to do and only so much time, an acrobatic act. So let’s spend this time with firmness of resolve. Voices…..
You are cordially invited to join me in a shared writing adventure. A virtual writers group. Taking a few ideas from flash fiction, we’ll have an evocative prompt, 3 required words and a “limit” of 100 words. No other rules. “Belonging” was written this way. The other writers surprised me in their own way.
So this “want ad” seeks interested souls. No experience necessary. You can share what you write. Or not. Monthly to start. Maybe getting together in Harrisburg…..
It’s that time of the year when gift giving bubbles to the top of our to do list. Gifts for family and friends, co-workers and charities. What to give, how much to spend, making sure to not miss anyone. Thinking if you know someone, you should know what they want. A noble quest, the holy grail being the “perfect gift.”
So what do I want? I’ll exchange the material for the ethereal. I want to write what is most important. …..
A spiritual search is an unending balancing act. Different ideas challenge our beliefs, providing us with new perspectives. And as we make our way, we seek out others who accept us for who we are, who ask only that we accept them too. Finding our tribe.
Belonging is defined as “a close or intimate relationship (a sense of belonging).” Friends, loved ones and mentors who provide spiritual companionship, a safe haven. Confidants. Finishing someone’s sentence, sharing a tender moment, filling…..