• flowers,  Plants,  quotes

    Follow Them

    “The things that excite you are not random. They are connected to your purpose. Follow them.”

    Susan Roderick

    It’s Saturday morning. Arrived at the natural area shortly after sunrise. Birds were singing and in my imagination they were asking me why I was late. Then I wondered, maybe we’re never too late for those few moments when we are immersed in nature. So my answer was, I’m here now.

    I wrote almost nothing in my journal over the past two days, a total of 8 lines in those two days. That is so not like me. Also aware of some feeling of depression, also not like me. Even my meditations has been a struggle. Seem to grab the commentary of my thoughts and run with them more than usual. And yet, there is a tug within me to enter into more times of quiet meditations,and so I did.

    On a positive note I was given a gift that brought a smile and lifted my spirits when I returned form the natural area this morning. I watched two women get out of their cars at a coffee shop and share a long heartfelt hug. Both were brimming with smiles as they walked towards me. I told them how wonderful it was to see them hug and the emotions it seemed to have. I was told it had been a year and a half since their last shared hug. I’m hoping experiences like that will be the new normal. Those missing hugs are things that excite many of us.

    Thanks for listening. 😍

  • coffee shops,  lifestyles

    Wondering

    Morning Lattes
    Morning Lattes

     

    Having the oil changed in the car so, walked over to a coffee shop. Journaling and soaking up sunshine while I wait. Wondering how many people in coffee shops really work on their laptops.

  • fountain pens,  journal,  writing/reading

    The Lookout

    I mentioned in a comment that I have a pen case for my fountain pens. This pen case is made by Nock Co. and is called a Lookout. It’s made of 1000D Nylon with DWR coating. I’ve had this one for 3 or 4 years. It keeps my pens safe from damage and not as easy to misplace as a single pen. I checked out their website and they no longer carry this color.

  • coffee shops,  Food,  lifestyles

    Two Scones

    profile in mirror
    shows obvious girth increase 
    two scones too many

    ms

    Shout out to my barista, Jack, for this image. After they make these scones and have cooled down, they wrap them, place them at the counter, temping everyone who enters. Obviously practicing good marketing. Anyway the word for my #haikuchallenge today was “obvious.” So, while trying to be creative this morning I came up with the above haiku and then the idea for the image. Jack helped by putting two scones on the plate and I took the image. No, I did not eat either but made my Irish oats with raisins when I got home. 😁

  • coffee life,  fountain pens,  journal,  lifestyles,  poems,  poetic journal,  poetry,  writing/reading

    Today’s Gifts

    Morning journaling time

    I start my day with quiet time
    before planning the tasks ahead
    and now a mocha at a favorite shop.

    Always have my camera, my journal,
    my fountain pens and now-a-days
    the needed reading glasses.

    I write to start the day slowly
    not rushing blindly forward or the
    day cannot be lived to its fullest.

    I write to find words that help
    lead me one step at a time for
    words that become today’s gifts.

    ms
  • journal,  writing/reading

    Use Words Wisely

    Words. So powerful. They can crush a heart, or heal it. They can shame a soul, or liberate it. They can shatter dreams, or energize them. They can obstruct connection, or invite it. They can create defenses, or melt them. We have to use words wisely.

    Jeff Brown

    After years of journaling I’ve come to understand the shortcomings of words to express much of what we think and experience of life. There are thousands of books written in prose and poetry in our attempt to express thoughts, ideas, concepts, feelings, or define a single word. For thousands of years man has attempted to put into words what and who God is. Some feel they have found the answer. I don’t have that same feeling. It’s a mystery!

    Since my teenage years, and maybe earlier than that, I have asked those deep questions: how was I created and why? How did it all start and why and by whom? Who is God? Is there a God? If there is a God why would God create then punish what is created? All questions I believe we cannot define or comprehend. Nor can words define the fragrance of a rose. Words fall short.

    My journaling is a collection of letters and prayers addressing questions to my deeper self, that essence of who I really am. For me the name, definition or comprehension of the word god is not as important as experiencing the reality of something Divine through nature, my journals, my meditation, all experiences in life.

    Meister Eckhart says, “God is above all a reality to be experienced from within.” I’m well aware of the inadequacy of my words to express my experiences or fully articulate the questions. What is important is asking of questions. So, through this blog and my journaling I’m learning to use words wisely.