I’ve always been an early riser, As a kid I’d drive my parents nuts on weekends. I’m up at 6 and they’re trying to sleep. When I went into the army, the sergeant waking us up at 4:30 a.m. was a piece of cake. I was ready to go. I still wake up early. I set my alarm for 5:15 a.m. I’m awake by 5. My alarm never goes off. I’ve always carried an excitement within me about the day ahead. I don’t want to take a moment longer snoozing. There is too much to do, too many people to see, and wonderful places to go to. Life is a wonderful adventure. Where are you off to today? What exciting plans are you putting into play?
life
Today’s Poem: Late Fragment by Raymond Carver
Late Fragment
Raymond Carver
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.
Today’s Poem: If I Could Live My Life Again – Anonymously Attributed
If I could Live My Life Again
Anonymous
If I could live again my life,
In the next – I’ll try,
– to make more mistakes,
I won’t try to be so perfect,
I’ll be more relaxed…
I’ll take fewer things seriously..
I’ll take more risks,
I’ll take more trips,
I’ll watch more sunsets,
I’ll climb more mountains,
I’ll swim more rivers,
I’ll go to more places I’ve never been
I’ll eat more ice cream I’ll have more real problems and less imaginary ones If I could live again – I will travel light
If I could live again – I’ll try to work bare feet at the beginning of spring till the end of autumn,
I’ll watch more sunrises …If I have the life to live
Today’s Poem: Good by R. S. Thomas
Good
R. S. Thomas
The old man comes out on the hill
and looks down to recall earlier days
in the valley. He sees the stream shine,
the church stand, hears the litter of
children’s voices. A chill in the flesh
tells him that death is not far off
now: it is the shadow under the great boughs
of life. His garden has herbs growing.
The kestrel goes by with fresh prey
in its claws. The wind scatters the scent
of wild beans. The tractor operates
on the earth’s body. His grandson is there
ploughing; his young wife fetches him
cakes and tea and a dark smile. It is well.
Today’s Poem: The Waking a Poem by Theodore Roethke
The Waking
Theodore Roethke
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Of those so close behind me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.
Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lonely worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air;
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.
Today’s Thought: Are You in Balance?
Three days a week I practice balancing on one leg then on the other leg for 30 seconds. I repeat this balancing exercise three times with each leg. I’ve read where practicing balancing is good for our core and brain. It makes me think about my life. An important question is, “Is my life in balance?” A follow up question is, “If I am out of balance, where is my life out of balance?” When our lives are not in balance, we become stressed. We can only stay out of balance so long before we topple over. When we’re in balance we’re able to adapt to the organic process of living. Dial back on the things that are keeping you off balance. Place a greater emphasis on the important things that have been set aside.
Episode 57: Grieving – Letting Go of the Guilt and Recrimination
In Episode 57 of my podcast, Journey from Grief to Healing I talk about how important it is to live our life in such a way as to have no regrets, it doesn’t stop the pain associated with grieving, but it allows us to free ourselves from guilt and recrimination.
You can listen to Episode 57 on your favorite podcasting app or click here for Episode 57.
Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button to receive notifications of future episodes.
Today’s Inspiring Quote: YES!!!!
Live your life as an Exclamation rather than an Explanation
Episode 29: Grieving Changes the Way You Live
In Episode 29 of my podcast, Journey from Grief to Healing, I describe how my life changed after Babe’s death. I come to the realization that I have a choice: I can drown or swim, there is no in between. I choose to swim. #grieving
You can listen to Episode 29 on your favorite podcasting app. or click here to be taken directly to Episode 29. Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button to receive notifications of future episodes.
