Little Exercise ~ A Poem by Elizabeth Bishop

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Finding Peace in the Chaos: Lessons from Elizabeth Bishop’s “Little Exercise”

What if the storms in your life weren’t enemies to fight, but restless visitors seeking a place to sleep?

Little Exercise

Elizabeth Bishop

Think of the storm roaming the sky uneasily
like a dog looking for a place to sleep in,
listen to it growling.

Think how they must look now, the mangrove keys
lying out there unresponsive to the lightning
in dark, coarse-fibred families,

where occasionally a heron may undo his head,
shake up his feathers, make an uncertain comment
when the surrounding water shines.

Think of the boulevard and the little palm trees
all stuck in rows, suddenly revealed
as fistfuls of limp fish-skeletons.

It is raining there. The boulevard
and its broken sidewalks with weeds in every crack,
are relieved to be wet, the sea to be freshened.

Now the storm goes away again in a series
of small, badly lit battle-scenes,
each in “Another part of the field.”

Think of someone sleeping in the bottom of a row-boat
tied to a mangrove root or the pile of a bridge;
think of him as uninjured, barely disturbed.

Source

Finding Stillness in the Storm: Elizabeth Bishop’s “Little Exercise”

Elizabeth Bishop’s “Little Exercise” invites us to witness a tropical storm not as a catastrophe, but as a restless creature seeking rest. Through her precise imagery, the storm “growls” like an uneasy dog, and the rigid boulevards of modern life are stripped of their artifice—revealing palm trees as “limp fish-skeletons” and cracked sidewalks thirsty for relief.

In contemporary society, we are often overwhelmed by the “badly lit battle-scenes” of global crises and digital noise. We live in a world of rigid rows and “broken sidewalks.” However, Bishop offers a profound shift in perspective. The poem concludes not with destruction, but with a figure sleeping in a rowboat, “uninjured, barely disturbed.”

This applies to our modern hustle by suggesting that we do not always need to fight the storm. Sometimes, the most radical act of resilience is to remain “unresponsive” to the lightning—to find a way to stay tethered and calm while the world around us shifts and “freshens.” It is an exercise in mental detachment and finding internal equilibrium amidst external chaos.

As you read this poem, ask yourself:

In the “badly lit battle-scenes” of your daily life, are you the lightning, or are you the one sleeping peacefully in the boat?

Why Your Quiet Courage is the Antidote to a Loud World

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When the “decent majority” remains silent, hate wins by default.

“The one thing … that is truly ugly is the climate of hate and intimidation, created by a noisy few, which makes the decent majority reluctant to air in public their views on anything controversial. … Where all pretend to be thinking alike, it’s likely that no one is thinking at all.” — Edward Abbey

Have you ever sat in a room, heard something deeply unkind, and felt your heart race—only to keep your mouth shut because you didn’t want to “make a scene”?

You aren’t alone. We live in an era where, as Edward Abbey pointed out, a “noisy few” often create a climate of intimidation. This pressure creates a dangerous illusion: that everyone thinks the same, or worse, that the loudest voice is the only one that matters. But when we all pretend to think alike just to keep the peace, we stop thinking altogether.

Being a difference maker isn’t always about grand gestures; often, it’s about the quiet bravery of being honest.

When the “decent majority” remains silent, hate wins by default. To be a force for good, you must reclaim your right to be authentic. Your unique perspective is the bridge someone else might be looking for to escape their own isolation. True unity doesn’t come from forced agreement; it comes from the courageous exchange of ideas held in a spirit of respect.

Don’t let the noise drown out your signal. The world doesn’t need more echoes; it needs your voice.

3 Ways to Improve Your Life Today

  1. Audit Your Silence: Notice where you are holding back your values to please “the noisy few.” Start speaking up in small ways to build your “integrity muscle.”
  2. Practice Active Listening: To break the cycle of intimidation, truly listen to others. This creates a safe space that encourages the “decent majority” around you to speak up too.
  3. Seek Nuance Over Trends: Don’t settle for “groupthink.” Read widely and form your own opinions to ensure your contributions to the world are thoughtful and authentic.

Writer’s Prompt: Shadows of Revenge: A Gritty Noir Tale of Betrayal

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Some debts aren’t paid in cash; they’re paid in cold iron and broken promises.

Writer’s Prompt

The neon sign outside sputtered in a rhythmic, dying buzz, casting a sickly violet hue over Jude’s hands. In his grip, the heavy iron poker felt like an extension of his own resentment.

Al Stenis was exactly where he always ended up: lounging in a velvet armchair that he hadn’t paid for, smelling of expensive gin and Alicia’s perfume. He didn’t even look up when Jude entered. That was Al’s greatest sin—the effortless assumption that he was the protagonist and Jude was merely background noise.

“She’s sleeping, Jude,” Al said, his voice a smooth silk ribbon. “Don’t wake her. It’s been a long night for people who actually live life instead of brooding over it.”

Jude thought of the dartboard in his basement, the wood splintered where Al’s eyes should be. He thought of the decade spent in Al’s shadow, and the three months since Alicia had stopped answering his calls. The “big pay-off” he’d promised himself wasn’t about money. It was about silence.

Jude stepped into the light. The iron poker scraped against the floorboards—a low, predatory growl. Al finally looked up, his smug grin faltering as he saw the look in Jude’s eyes. It wasn’t anger. It was a cold, empty vacuum.

“Jude, let’s be reasonable,” Al stammered, reaching for the glass on the side table.

Jude raised the iron. The shadow it threw against the wall looked like a giant’s claw.

“Reason left the building when you took her, Al. Now, it’s just us.”

Jude lunged. The glass shattered. A muffled scream erupted from the bedroom down the hall.

The Final Chapter is Yours…

The iron is mid-swing, and Alicia is at the door. Does Jude follow through and seal his fate, or does the sudden sight of the woman he loves turn the weapon into a heavy burden of regret? How does this grudge end?

Podcast: Beyond the Summit: Sir Edmund Hillary’s Greatest Lesson on Evolution

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What do you do after you’ve already won? After standing at the highest point on Earth at age 33, Sir Edmund Hillary faced a challenge more daunting than Everest: the “Arrival Fallacy.” In the series finale of our journey with the legendary explorer, Dr. Ray Calabrese explores the Lesson of Learning and Evolving.

Discover how Hillary transitioned from a world-famous climber to a “Global Citizen” and humanitarian. We dive into his daring expedition to the South Pole on farm tractors, his achievement as the first person to reach the Three Poles, and his deep devotion to the Sherpa people through the Himalayan Trust. This episode is a roadmap for anyone who feels they’ve reached a peak and is asking, “What’s next?”

Key Takeaways in This Episode:

  • The Trap of the Peak Moment: Why resting on your laurels is a “cage” and how to remain a beginner.
  • Success to Significance: The shift from physical limits to a legacy of contribution and service.
  • The Three Poles Philosophy: How curiosity and lifelong learning keep the spirit young, even at 65.
  • Evolving the Soul: Why your greatest achievement isn’t a trophy, but the expansion of your heart.

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Light for the Journey: The Brave Art of Letting Go to Find Something Better

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You can’t cross the ocean if you’re too afraid to leave the harbor.

“One doesn’t discover new lands without consenting to lose sight, for a very long time, of the shore.” ~Andre Gide

The Courage to Cast Off

André Gide’s wisdom reminds us that growth and safety are rarely roommates. We often claim we want “new lands”—a career pivot, a deeper relationship, or a total lifestyle shift—yet we keep one hand firmly gripped on the dock. We want the prize without the journey through the fog.

To discover something new, you must accept the discomfort of the unknown. Losing sight of the shore isn’t a sign that you’re lost; it’s a sign that you’re finally moving. That middle space, where the old life is gone and the new one hasn’t yet appeared on the horizon, is where your character is forged. It requires a radical trust in your own navigation and the stamina to keep rowing when there is no landmark in sight.

Don’t fear the open water. The shore you leave behind was once a new land you had to find. Trust the horizon.

Something to Think About:

What “shore” are you currently clinging to that is preventing you from seeing the horizon of your next great chapter?

7 Days of Beans: Your Easy Meal Plan for Weight Management

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Use these questions to prep your mindset:

  1. True or False: You must soak all beans for at least 24 hours before they are safe to eat. (Answer at the bottom of the Post.)
  2. True or False: Rinsing canned beans can reduce their sodium content by up to 40%. (Answer at the bottom of the Post.)

In my last post, we talked about why beans are a weight-loss miracle. Now, let’s talk about the how. Transitioning to a fiber-rich diet doesn’t have to be boring or complicated.

This 7-day “bean boost” adds one high-protein legume dish to your day to help stabilize your blood sugar and keep cravings at bay.

Your 7-Day Kickstart Plan

DayFeatured MealQuick Tip
MonBlack Bean Breakfast TacosUse corn tortillas and avocado for healthy fats.
TueMediterranean Chickpea SaladToss with cucumber, tomato, and lemon vinaigrette.
WedRed Lentil SoupLentils cook fast—no soaking required!
ThuWhite Bean & Spinach SautéGreat as a side dish or topped with a poached egg.
FriQuinoa & Edamame BowlHigh protein punch to finish the work week strong.
SatThree-Bean ChiliMake a big batch today to have leftovers for Sunday.
SunBlack Bean BrowniesYes, you can bake with them! A healthy way to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Pro-Tip for Success

If your body isn’t used to high fiber, start small. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help your digestive system process the extra fiber smoothly. Consistency is the key to seeing those weight-management results!

Quiz Answers

  1. False: While soaking dried beans reduces cooking time and improves digestibility, canned beans are pre-cooked and ready to use, and lentils/split peas don’t require soaking at all.
  2. True: Rinsing canned beans under cold water significantly reduces the added salt used in the canning process.

“He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything.” — Arabian Proverb

This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.

The Lasting Legacy: Why Your Impact is Measured in Feeling

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The Heart of the Matter

We often spend our lives chasing “resume virtues”—the titles we hold, the projects we complete, and the

speeches we deliver. We worry about saying the perfect thing or performing the most impressive feat. But if you want to be a true force for good, you have to look deeper than the surface.

As the legendary Maya Angelou once said:

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

This isn’t just a poetic sentiment; it’s a blueprint for a meaningful life. Being a difference maker doesn’t require a massive platform or a million-dollar budget. It requires emotional intelligence and presence. When you walk into a room, do you bring light or do you suck the oxygen out of it? When someone speaks to you, do they feel heard or merely tolerated?

Your legacy isn’t written in stone or ink; it’s written in the hearts of the people you encounter. A simple word of encouragement can sustain someone for a decade. A moment of genuine empathy can change a life’s trajectory. Today, choose to be the person who leaves others feeling seen, valued, and empowered.

3 Ways to Improve Your Life Today

  • Practice Active Presence: In your next conversation, put your phone away and listen with the intent to understand, not just to reply. Making someone feel truly “seen” is the greatest gift you can give.
  • The “Plus-One” Rule: Aim to leave every environment—whether it’s a grocery store line or a boardroom—slightly better than you found it through a small act of warmth.
  • Reflect on Your “Emotional Wake”: At the end of the day, ask yourself: “How did people feel after interacting with me today?” Use this awareness to pivot toward kindness tomorrow.

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” — Mark Twain

Writer’s Prompt: The Glass and the Grudge: A Flash Fiction Thriller

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She wasn’t waiting for a date; she was waiting for a victim.

Writer’s Prompt

The neon sign outside flickered with a rhythmic hum, casting a bruised purple light over Tonya Ferpe’s glass. She didn’t look like a vigilante. She looked like a woman who had lost everything but her nerve.

Under the bar’s sticky mahogany surface, her knuckles were calloused—a map of every heavy bag she’d punished since her roommate, Sarah, came home trembling and hollow-eyed. Tonya took a slow, deliberate sip of the Cabernet. She felt the weight of the shadow behind her before she saw him.

“Buy you another?” a voice rasped. It was a sandpaper sliding over silk.

She didn’t turn. “I’m doing just fine with this one.”

She watched him in the mirror’s silvered decay. He was unremarkable—a beige man in a beige world—but his hands were quick. As he leaned in to “admire” her vintage watch, his fingers danced over the rim of her glass. A tiny, crystalline flicker dropped into the red depths.

Tonya’s pulse didn’t quicken; it slowed. This was the kata. The predator thinks the prey is cornered, but the prey has already calculated the distance to the throat.

“Actually,” she said, her voice dropping an octave, “I think I’d like to take this to a booth. It’s too loud here.”

She stood up, her movements fluid and lethal, leaving the spiked wine on the bar. She walked toward the back hallway where the lightbulbs were dead and the exit door was chained from the inside. She heard his footsteps following—eager, heavy, confident.

In the dark, Tonya reached into her pocket and gripped the cold brass knuckles Sarah had been too afraid to use. She turned to face the silhouette.

“You forgot your drink,” he whispered, holding the glass out to her.

Finish the Story

Does Tonya force-feed him his own medicine, or does the “beige man” have a backup plan she didn’t train for? The shadows are long, and the next move is yours.

Light for the Journey: Why Flowers are the Ultimate Medicine for a Tired Soul

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What if the simplest cure for a heavy heart was sitting in a vase on your kitchen table?

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” ~ Luther Burbank

Blooming from the Inside Out

Luther Burbank wasn’t just talking about gardening; he was describing a fundamental biological reset. In our high-speed, digital-first world, we often forget that humans are wired to respond to the natural world. A flower isn’t just a plant; it is a burst of vibrant intentionality. It reminds us that beauty doesn’t have to be “productive” to be valuable.

When you surround yourself with “sunshine, food, and medicine for the soul,” you aren’t just decorating a room—you are nourishing your mental ecosystem. This simple act of bringing nature indoors lowers cortisol and sparks empathy. It’s hard to stay cynical when you’re watching a petal unfurl. Today, treat your spirit with the same care you’d give a prized garden. When you feed your soul the right nutrients, you don’t just feel better; you become a beacon of light for everyone around you.

Something to Think About:

If your soul were a garden, what kind of “medicine” or “sunshine” does it need most right now to help you show up more helpfully for others?

You, You Only, Exist ~ A Poem by Rainer Maria Rilke

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The Eternal Now: Finding Transcendence in Rilke’s “You, You Only, Exist”

In a world obsessed with “hustle culture” and the digital ticking of the clock, we often forget that life isn’t lived in years, but in the sudden, breathtaking arrival of the present moment.

You, You Only, Exist

Rainer Maria Rilke

You, you only, exist.
We pass away, till at last,
our passing is so immense
that you arise: beautiful moment,
in all your suddenness,
arising in love, or enchanted
in the contraction of work.

To you I belong, however time may
wear me away. From you to you
I go commanded. In between
the garland is hanging in chance; but if you
take it up and up and up: look:
all becomes festival!

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Rainer Maria Rilke’s “You, You Only, Exist” is a profound meditation on the relationship between the fleeting human ego and the eternal “Now.” Rilke suggests that while we are constantly “passing away” through the distractions of time, there is a singular reality—the Beautiful Moment—that remains absolute. Whether found in the heights of love or the focused “contraction of work,” this presence is the only thing that truly exists.

In our contemporary society, we are often victims of “time-poverty,” caught between anxieties about the future and regrets of the past. Rilke’s verse acts as a spiritual corrective. He argues that even as time wears us away, we find our true belonging when we surrender to the present task or person before us. When we stop viewing our days as a series of chores and instead “take up the garland,” our mundane existence is transformed into a festival. To live Rilke’s truth today is to choose presence over productivity, recognizing that the “suddenness” of life is where the divine truly resides.

As you read this poem, ask yourself:

In the “contraction” of your daily work and routines, are you merely passing time, or are you allowing the beauty of the present moment to command your full attention?

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