Stuck

 

 

She spoke in scars

Bitterness of broken heart

Sailing with the undertows

Salty sting of ocean tears

Refreshing her pain

There was safety there

Reeling to the beat of

“It’s- not- my- fault”

Making peace with the fog

So she didn’t have to see

 

Sunlight beckoned but

She reveled in the rain clouds

Trading rainbows for permafrost

Frozen, hard fast in the loss

In time, she’d rewind in the wind

Dust off the grudge and wrath

Wipe the mist from the mirror

To see more than lines on her face

More than the misery of this place

Cue the music

And dance wildly to the light

 

 

I am hosting Poetics at dVerse Poets Pub. We are writing to “Life Lessons”. “What is one thing (or more) that you have learned that you feel could change another life? Well at least improve it.” Please share with us in a poem. There is still time to join in. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shipwrecked

 

 

 

We bobble like iron bubbles

Anchored to docks of despair

Waving flags, still bragging

About love of country

Humble hearts whisper

In feathers, doves

But hope does not float

Intentions are stuck in

Stagnant sea scum

Blood flows and God knows

We are tired

 

 

Written for this week’s Quadrille prompt over at dVerse Poets Pub

Image credit: pixabay.com

 

 

Flicker

 

 

When nightfall finds you

Breathless under muted moon

Your shattered heart fumbling

Tumbling faster than your thoughts

May you count stars instead of tears

Echo the moments, over years

Summon one precious particle

Of light within your soul

Carry on, my friend

Carry on

This life is not over

 

 

Written for dVerse as Paul brings us a beautiful prompt for Poetics, called

“Blessings”

Far Be It From Me

This gallery contains 2 photos.

  to say I saved you time has traveled in dust deviled clouds and I am not allowed to speak of it but here you are beaming and I’ve been meaning to ask you if you remember the dark , the muffled glow of my heart shattered in pieces       Written for “Poetics: […]

Collaboration for Peace – 50

Photo: Mish

 

Dreams of Peace

 

we hang our dreams from

broken branches of hope

where they flutter listlessly

until the breath of peace

whispers aside the clouds

and we dream once more

 

© Candace Kubinec

 

Check out more of Candy’s poetry at rhymeswithbug.com

Tournesol (Sunflower)

This gallery contains 6 photos.

  Le soleil est dans mon coeur aujourd’hui Et donc je danse     The sun is in my heart today And so I dance      

Collaboration for Peace – 20

 Hope you enjoyed a sunny Sunday…

 

© Candace Kubinec

 

 

White feather

You speak of hope

that floats in

delicate currents

whispers of peace

that rock you gently

cradled in mid air

before soft landings

Collaboration for Peace – 9

 

Candy and I are happy to bring you another collaboration.

 

 

Photo: Candace Kubinec

 

Universal

 

We may not see

Scars and bruises

Heartaches hidden deep

Or know the twisted roots

Of troubled minds

Understanding takes time

But we can feel the rain

Of a thousand fears

Streaming down faces

In faraway places

We have never been

We can start here because

Tears are universal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration for Peace – 8

We are combining our love for poetry and photography for the sake of PEACE!

Be sure to check out Candy’s blog at rhymeswithbug.com.

Image credit: Candace Kubinec

 

 

Out of Darkness

 

Clouds speak in silhouettes

Embellished by the gift of light

Sunbeams stretch to infinity

Trees soak in the serenity

When sapphire skies mimic

More than a glimmer of hope

 

Collaboration for Peace – 7

Candy and I have united with photography and poetry. These collaborations are a very small example of how perfect strangers can work together, be inspired by each other and share a passion for peace.

 

Image by Candace Kubinec

~

Life is delicate, intricate

Complicated, segregated

But one heart still beats

At the center of existence

One soul still strives

To be one with all

The Dis connect

 

 

 

Who broke the link? Who broke the link?
I think it could have been me
I stretched myself too far this time
I forgot where I should be
How does one fill the gaping void
Where fragments flake to rust?
Does time slow down to heal the wound
Does space turn hope to dust?

Does space turn hope to dust?
Does time slow down to heal the wound
Where fragments flake to rust?
How does one fill the gaping void?
I forgot where I should be
I stretched myself too far this time
I think it could have been me
Who broke the link , who broke the link

 

 

My first attempt at a Palindrome poem in response to Mary’s prompt for Meeting the Bar.  Mary explains that in Palindrome poetry or Mirror Poetry “the poet uses the same sentences (or almost!) forward and backward. “

 

 

My Brother

Driving east from our hometown

I remember a sunset

Blazing behind me

Reds I’d never known

Tangerines twisted

In tones of blue silk

Ivory smiles, infectious

Masquerading as cirrus clouds

I think it was you, my brother

I think it was you

              ~

Miles were meaningless

Moments embedded in golden hues

Purple streams extended

Like arms that had my back

I never lost sight of your afterglow

Love as large as the sun

Fades not in distance

Or in hearts

I think it was you, my brother

I think it was you

Grace encouraged us to write about brothers/brotherhood for dVerse poetics.  I lost my only brother suddenly when he was 36.  This was written as I recalled the most amazing sunset, traveling home one day from the small town I grew up in. It just happened to be his birthday.

The Irony

I would not have soared
If it were not for you
Finding fault in my feathers
As I flew

Your doubts became my updrafts
Scrutiny sculpted wings
Lifting my heavy heart
To higher ground

I made steps
From your stone grey eyes
And they have served me well
For taking off
Propelling me gently
Into turquoise skies

~

Inspired by Gabriella’s poetic prompt for dVerse as we reflect on vocations.

Speaking of Peace

 

We are but one decibel in the scream

One whisper of insight, unspoken

Tongues too frozen to speak

Or are we tone deaf to the sound of

Fingers running along wind chimes?

Glass, bamboo, shells, stones, porcelain, metal, wood

All different

Dangling in the same sweet sea breeze

Tapping on each others hearts

To find perfect harmony

~

“Truth, peace, harmony, love” are part of the poetic prompt at dVerse this week.

Also written for Artists4Peace.

Pieces of the Rainbow

Sitting in her favourite chair
Her tiny dog on her lap
Persistent stitch and steady hands
She makes masterpieces
Together, they would stretch
Across skies of sadness
Oceans of tears
Mountains of despair
Beautiful colours of comfort
Filling empty hearts
Painful situations
Unquestioned

Because this is about
Unconditional love
This is about a lady whose compassion
Reaches for miles
To grateful smiles that
She may never see
Places she may never be
People she may never know
But they will know of her
As they wrap a piece of the rainbow
Around their tired shoulders
They will know her love

Wild Water

 

 

Don’t ever lose what you came here for

Dreams lost between fingers

Float aimlessly so

Haunting you, taunting you

Forging the flow

Of what you cannot

And what you will sow

Like they know

Hah! Like they know

~

Don’t ever lose what you came here for

Thoughts and faint hearts

Will easily dissolve

Diluting, polluting

Your streams of resolve

Diverting your course

To bowers and bays

That lead you astray

Hah! Sail away

One Gift

 If I had to choose one gift to give
To every single child
I’d walk, I’d run to find each one
And sit down by their side

My rocking chair would hold them all
My heart would stretch for miles
My arms would wrap around their pain
To find one tiny smile

We’d sail away on twinkle stars
From darkness to the light
The senseless hate this world creates
Would weaken from our flight

A million salty tears, we’d send
To peaceful skies above
If I had to choose one gift to give
The gift I’d choose is love

Peaceful Intentions

 

 

We have not even begun
To make peace
We simply roll it around
With our tongues
Stand united in multicultural scenes
Singing in different languages to
Candy coat the truth
We pray for it
We stand for it
Make demands for it
But we don’t know peace
Because we don’t know
What we’ve never had
It has yet to be created
And that takes wisdom
Not war
That takes a plan
Not a song
That takes love
Not hate
That takes you and me
And everyone else on this earth
To look inside their hearts
Forgive, forget, reset
And start again
Do you think that will happen?

We have not even begun
To make hope
We simply………

 

~

Please visit Artists4Peace

https://artists4peace.wordpress.com/blog/

Breaking Bread Habits

You sprinkle the flour
Careless chaos across my counter
I want to even it out, but I resist
This is your life now
You knead it

~

Watching you with motherly eyes
I finally see
That everything you are
Did not originate from this kitchen
And I thank God for that
You’ve moved on from
These minds, crumbled and torn
This table set robotically
With knives scraping on Corelle
Just to break the silence

~

You twist and turn this art
Into your own
Scoring precisely as planned
Filling the old loaf pan
With new hope, rustic and pure
This bread will leaven
And my heart will rise

~

Written for dVerse and inspired by Gail’s nurturing poetic prompt using the subject of bread.

Misty Muse

Seasons play with my perspective
Bending my evergreen thoughts
That dabble in serenity’s streams
Finding new ways to make me believe
That my life is a calendar

But I cannot pencil in peace of mind
Capsules of pain still hang
Bittersweet droplets of dew on the pines
Fighting gravity, wasting time
Landing on fickle forest floors

~

If Wishes Were Whales

All that I wish for
Lies by the sea
Swept in by the riptides
Between ridges in seashells
Gold dust under the glow
Of the 3 o’clock sun
They collect in my bucket
Of dreams to come true
They have nothing
To do with you
And if wishes were whales
My dreams would come true
To see both smiles
That look like mine
Bursting in laughter
Uncontrolled
Peace in hearts torn
Relief for minds ravaged
Stars in the sky
Sun in my eyes
To trample a trail of my own
Have strangers for tea
Stand spellbound and free
On an isle in the sea
Watching the humpback
Rise to the surface
Just for me
If wishes were whales
My dreams would come true

Coexistence

I will find peace here

You will find peace here

Together

We will find peace

~

Fusion

Colours were meant to be blended.

People are destined to live in harmony.

Don’t they know?

That’s what hearts are for.

~

Flight Delays

Image: Brooke Shaden “waiting to fly”

 

It is the longing

That shortens our days

Taking trips around the world

In paper planes

Diving perilously over

Our own dark skies

Only to come back empty

Pilot aborted, hope distorted

Deserted dreams repeated

Making over dramatic

Emergency landings

Before take off

 

 ~

For dVerse poetics, Grace introduced us to the most amazing, artistic photographer, Brooke Shaden. Her work is truly inspirational as a writing prompt.

http://brookeshaden.com/gallery/

My Lighthouse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are my lighthouse

Directing me to shore

When I drift carelessly

In my own waves

Signalling me to safety

My lantern, my love

Wrapping me in safe harbors

To sift through sands

For ancient shells

Emptied of lost moments

Until I find the one

Perfectly pierced

Waiting for a chain

And a reason to be worn

 

You are my lighthouse

Illuminating my destiny

Through fog and faint heart

Shining on me

Like I am important

My lantern, my love

And there is not a gale

Or storm that could take me

When I have your light

Your beacons of hope

Guiding me back

To shores of solace

Dreams and castles

Still yet to be built

 

 

Karin Gustafson  at dVerse Poet’s Pub, challenged us to follow through on metaphors.

“Meeting the Bar” at dVerse

 

 

 

 

Logic of Light

 

She was given the night

To ponder her pain

Soak in the rain

Feel the blade in her back

Evil, she called it

But why would the sun

Rise to the occasion

If there wasn’t one?

~

http://dversepoets.com/2014/09/09/poetics-bringing-light-to-darkness/

The Power of Peace

 

PEACE isn’t merely a word,

A two fingered gesture

Casually tossed

At passers-by

PEACE enters darkness

To separate innocence

From all that destroys

PEACE is a power

Stronger than evil

But much more intelligent

PEACE doesn’t fight

PEACE uses its words,

Its heart, its mind

PEACE takes its time

To think, to listen, to believe

That we are all the same

And those that hate

Need PEACE to guide them

Not guns in their hands

Or more sorrow in their hearts

PEACE is Love

And LOVE is Peace

Hand in hand

 

 

Please visit

http://artists4peace.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

Upwards

Image credit: “Breaking Away” by Joel Robison

 

 

There is little to lose

Rising above the rain

Stepping over asylums

You built for yourself

Come on up

Strange how it happens

You muster up a strong front

Setting you asail

Over cimmerian shades

To worlds unclouded

Places you know

Inside and out

But have never been

 

Again I am inspired by the amazing photography of Joel Robison

http://joelrobison.com/index.php/category/blog/

For dVerse

Where Earth Meets Sky

Image credit: Joel Robison

 

I sit here writing

About the possibilities

The sun setting on the horizon

As if it is so far away

Thinking I have to reach

Dreaming about dreams

When all I have to do

Is believe

That rainbows exist

The earth meets the sky

Thoughts merge with reality

And change is not work

Change is just catching up

To the truth

 

 

To see more of Joel Robison’s  extraordinary photography, visit  http://joelrobison.com/index.php/category/blog/

 

For dVerse

 

Dear Robin Williams

Thank you for your gifts

Your shenanigans, charades

The epitome of a smile

Bigger than anyone’s

A brilliant mind

You so generously shared

With boundless energy

To make one thing happen

Laughter

We’re not laughing now

Conceiving your pain

Repeating your name

Retracing your fame

Brilliant minds are not safe

From the storm

Or the rain

We will take this joy

You so kindly gave us

Carry gently, your heart

And dance

In the sparkles of your eyes

 

 ~

“But only in their dreams can men be truly free. ‘Twas always thus, and always thus will be.”
~Robin Williams as John Keaton- ‘Dead Poets Society’~

Image: Wikipedia

Taming the Tempest

Her storm gathered strength

Brewing between head and heart

Her mind, a flywheel of thoughts

Spinning relentlessly

Energy wasted on the rain

And the flash floods of her life

~

She could feel her sun beating

Teasing her reckless thunder

Warming the zephyrs of her past

Taming the tempest

She surrendered to the blue sky

And gathered her fallen branches

~

At Dverse Poet’s Pub, Claudia challenged us to use bold images and metaphors to create a strong visual impression in our work.

Cardio

 

My heart still beats
Though stitched and sewn with
Threads of hope, frayed
Robotically repaired
In rhythmic mode
Patched up places
Where entry wounds gaping
Took hold of every breath

My heart still beats
Tick tock, tock ticking
Pulse belongs to them
Lovingly tended
Far from mended
But they are the blood
The oxygen saving
My life, my soul, my love

~dedicated to my father and my brother~

 

Today at dVerse Poet’s Pub, Marina Sofia asked us to “consider what does it take to shatter your world and how do you make it whole again”.

http://dversepoets.com/

 

 

 

Where The Sun Shines

This is where the sun shines
In lower ground
On weeds and weary souls
We’ve all but given up on

Beacons of hope
Brilliantly borrowed from
Selfish fools unable to
See the light

This is where the sun shines
On shattered hearts
Wide open to receive
The greatest gold of all

 

From the Shadows

I had no wings

Until I soared high

Over the desert

Faith under feathers

Suspended above

Corroding platforms

Of jagged words

Spellbound by what was

And what could be

             ~

I had no voice

Until the silence screamed

Above the sound

Of my own heartbeat

Exploding

Into a million

Tiny fragments

Of fear, recycled

               ~

I had no hope

Until it was buried

In early graves

Defective dreams

Petrified particles

Of all that I knew

For in this soil, this pain

Sifted and sorted,

I grew

 

In dVerse Poet’s Pub, MarinaSofia inspired us to answer questions of our own identity.

1) Who are you and whom do you love?

2) What else are you, that no one has seen before?

3) Describe a morning you woke without fear.

4) What lingers when all is said and done?

 I responded to #3

A Good Mother

I built a wall around you

Believing that was right

Pushing away the darkness

To hold you in the light

Brick upon brick

Arms wrapped around you

Leaving you nowhere

To fall or hold on to

Except for me

But I don’t count

Because a good mother

Would have let you out

A good mother

Would have sewed you a cloud

To sail to the sun

And sing out loud

To swell up with tears

That rain on parades

To play with the lightning

And not be afraid

A good mother

Would have loved you from afar

Forgot where you came from

And learned who you are

She would have braved her own demons

And dried her own tears

Harbored your anger

And welcomed your fears

A good mother would love you

And that I have done

But you broke the wall

You found the sun

Life’s Door

Colour draws me in

Lifting my heart to the sky

Through turquoise dreams

And flying machines

Luring me gently to the clouds

Over the rainbow

And back again

I only need to open

This door of hope

Yellow like the sun

Decorated with doves and lace

To remind me of grandmothers’ doilies

And simpler times

I only need to open

This door of endless possibilities

One hand gripping and turning

One heart open and learning

One life in front of me

Inside of me

Around me

I only need to open

This door of life

To find my rainbow

Photo credit: Doors – 2014 Calendar

 Photography by Londie Garcia Padelsky

Undertow

Regrets swell like the tide

Dragging us like rag dolls

Back into the abyss

Swallowing us whole

Spitting us out

Only to con us in again

 

 Moments back washed

Dripping with defeat

Nostalgic thoughts repeat

In the ebb and the flow

Dreams adrift

Seeking shores of solace

 

Snow Angel

As deep as my heart

That summons strength

To shine beneath the shadows

This cold bed

Will cushion my fall

Bring joy to my soul

Arms will unfold

And with eyes on the sky

I will fly

Confiding in the Crocus

I can dream of Spring

Faith of the future

Life reborn

Victorious in its battle

With borealis

Eyes closed

This warm wind

Will simmer my soul

Shed light on my thoughts

Refurbish my being

Eyes open

These colours

Will bleed into me

Open my heart again

Sing to me new verses

Of hope and vitality

Bliss

An ABC poem

Featured this week in Poet’s Corner and shared with dVerse

All eagles glide

Bound only by hope

Certified souls in flight

Driven by the wind

Emanating life

Feathers floating on thermals

Gaping canyon chasms

Hang below talons

Infinite skies of turquoise

Jagged rocks and ridges

Knotted pinion trees

Latching softly on edges

Muted exultation

Navigating our senses

Oozing sweet silence

Promising peace

Quilted in the clouds

Right in front of our eyes

Soaring vicariously

Timeless and true

Unanchored by guilt

Visions of heaven

Weightless and empty

Xcept for our hearts

Yes, our hearts

Zigzagging in the wind.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Eerie

Take me from the icebox to the fire

Through the window of pain

Melt away this melancholy mind

Beyond my icy veins

Kindle my convictions

Guide me to the glow

Ignite my frozen heart

For this is all I know

Drag me through the snowflakes

That vanish on my skin

Let me warm my hands

On the spirit from within

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/11/01/photo-challenge-eerie/

Proceed

Sometimes

You must walk on

Through reeds

That sway sweetly

In silence

Because silence is the word

Telling you to move forward

Speaking to your mind

Comforting your soul

Picking up your feet

Along the trail of truce

Even if it only leads

Back to your own heart

for dVerse Poet’s Pub, Open Link Night

http://dversepoets.com/2013/10/22/open-link-night-119/

Strange

Sometimes you travel down a path

Before knowing you are on it

Time ticks and toys with your intentions

Space grows large enough to swallow you whole

Highways, byways lead to nowhere

Signs are non existent, lights are out

You surrender to the map of fate

Blindly hoping it will bring you back

To the warm, familiar place

You took for granted

To the smiles, the love, the laughter

Away from the “strange”

Dawning Hope

You are with me in the fog

Drifting silently on your own

Though you hide within the darkness

You will never be alone

Waves of anger turn to ripples

As the faithful sun will rise

Murky minds catch rays of hope

To see the light inside

~

You are with me in the fog

Relentless it may be

I am hiding in the darkness

Words are lost and swept away

We are floating without current

We are discord in a daze

But there is promise in the sunrise

There is love beneath the haze

She Needs Your Help

Last week, I had to find a way to provide a family member with all the basic essentials of life. She had nothing but a bed, a couch and a few personal belongings. It is a very long story that I will not tell except to say that her situation is of no fault of her own and I would not wish it upon anyone. Helping her was a necessity. It reminded me of how blessed I am to have a roof over my head and food to eat. It reminded me of others who are in similar situations of desperation as my family member. It reminded me of Cheryl, a fellow blogger who just needs a job to turn things around. Sounds easy, but it isn’t.

I know I have stood on this soap box a few times already, but it’s my soap box. You can simply turn the page if you wish…

 We are not all given the same opportunities.

We are not all blessed with families that are willing or able to help us.

We are not all blessed with healthy bodies or healthy minds.

We are not all blessed with minimal disasters that fall upon us.

We are not all fortunate to succeed from our hard work. Some work harder than us and get half as far.

We are not all able to work.

Some of us struggle every day just to eat, pay a bill, keep our sanity or find even one small fragment of hope to carry on.

 I am asking that you really think about how you will be inconvenienced if you were to give a small amount to someone who is at risk of losing their home. If I can leave myself short to reach out to another, then believe me…so can you.

When you truly give, you look into your heart, not your bank book.

I hope you will look into your heart to help my fellow blogger and friend.

http://allbuthomeless.wordpress.com/

You can also check out her web design services at

http://deesebydesign.weebly.com/

Particles of the Past

The past can resurface

 Creep into your disbelieving mind

Because now you see it differently

The validity of discontent

How much you truly suffered

And how far you have come

Now you see

The pain as a separate entity

An unwelcome foe from long ago

Knocking on your mind

Rattling your fortress of serenity

Trying to find a way in

The past can return

Play with your peace of mind

Because it never really goes away

It is yours to subdue and restrain

Yours to push back into the darkness

Far from your precious light

Now you see

Under the light that you have kindled

With broken sticks and broken dreams

How easily walls can fall down

Leaving you vulnerable once more

Exposing your scars

The past can sweep you away

Determined to turn you to dust

Shoving you back in the pile

Of degraded debris and dismay

Now you see

How easy it was to crumble

Because words alone can crush you to pieces

And it’s hard to get up

When you are a tiny particle

Of the past

Canada Geese

With weathered wings
They take flight
Oblivious to our gaze
Graceful glide
Pace and stride
Bellies rise
Above our eyes.

With weathered wings
They reach out to
Fellow feathered friends
Clumsily aligned
Directionally defined
Uplifting hearts
That long to fly

Canada geese departing from a dock on Lake Erie.

Journey of Empathy

Not all passages are smooth

And some have traveled long

On winding, washed out trails

That led to nowhere

It takes so little

To pave their stony path

Tiny offerings of hope and comfort

Can burnish a bumpy road

http://allbuthomeless.wordpress.com/

Missing Hope

Somehow the sun

Sneaks in

Unnoticed, even shunned

By those not ready

For the flicker

Of a flame already snuffed

So many times

By paralyzed thoughts

Of reality known

And dreams departed

Somehow the sun

Slips gently

Making contact, though rejected

By hearts still twisted

With past and pain

Blocking rays, restricting light

As life gives moments

Short yet sweet

To collect and keep

Or resist and release

Wanted: Ten Nice People

I was thinking about a fellow blogger’s dilemma. Actually I think about her a lot. I think about how she has sacrificed everything, hanging on to her dignity to reach out to total strangers.  What absolutely amazes me is the reluctance of others to help, even with a few dollars.

We see homeless people on the street.  They weren’t born there. They started from a place where the bottom finally let loose, there was nothing else to hold on to, no one else to approach for help, nowhere else to GO. It is a turning point that most of us can only imagine. Lucky us.

So, when you have the opportunity to do such a SIMPLE and SELFLESS thing for someone that could be the difference between security in their home and being on the street, why do we hesitate to do it?

Is it because we would really miss that ten dollars?

Is it because we think they will ask for more?

Is it because we question their story?

Is it because we think it is wrong for them to ask?

Is it because we think our small contribution wouldn’t make a difference?

Is it because we have no time?

Is it because we think they don’t work hard enough?

These are questions we may never have the all the answers to. However, we throw a dollar into a hat and hope for the best ( or maybe assume the worst). We donate money to charities without always researching their administrative costs.

In this case, one human being has bared her soul, shared the personal financial details of her mortgage, her bills and her urgent situation. Most of all, she has shared her heart.

Her heart is GIVING.  Her heart is STRONG. Her heart is GRATEFUL.

I have never met her. As much as I’d like to, I don’t need to in order to know that she deserves any help that she is given. I don’t need to research her. All of the facts are on her blog. I will not miss the very small offering I have given her. I KNOW that it made a difference. She has not asked for more. I do not question her story. I don’t think it’s wrong of her to ask for help because that is ALL she has left right now. I believe she IS working hard to change her situation. Some situations cannot be resolved without a helping hand. This is one of them.

Her most urgent need at the moment is to keep her power on in her mobile home. She needs 145 dollars to do this. YES, she has many other needs! That is what happens when you spiral into  poverty. It doesn’t mean that things won’t change. It just means that RIGHT NOW, assistance is needed.

If TEN nice people gave TEN dollars, it would help her more than we can ever know. It eliminates one of the burdens on her shoulders, giving her more time and strength to deal with the others.

Her name is Cheryl and her story is at allbuthomeless.wordpress.com

You can donate many ways but to help with her immediate power bill, all the necessary information to do this is on one of her posts at:

http://allbuthomeless.wordpress.com/2013/06/02/reprieves-are-great-but-help-please/

You can email her at allbuthomeless@gmail.com if you have any questions.

I will leave you with a quote from one of her recent posts because I admire her writing skills and her philosophical thoughts.

“ If you have to overthink the deed , analyze, speculate or procrastinate or even doubt despite your ability to make a difference , you probably shouldn’t do it. Because, certainly if it causes you angst, you will find no satisfaction in your generosity .”

 

 ~Cheryl~ (“Hot Southern Mess”)

 

Ten from ten.

Are you in??

Recipe for Change (50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years….#13)

#13. Don’t look to others to change your life. It’s not going to happen. You are accountable for your own destiny. The only one that can change your situation is you.

Life is tough.

I think some people are more fortunate than others to breeze through the first half of their life, without losing  a parent or sibling, without going through a divorce, without being abused, without suffering from a serious physical or mental illness. Then there are others who have faced all of these and more.

Life is not fair.

Random things happen to random people. I think it is foolish to think that tragedy cannot strike at any moment. It can. It does. It happens  to someone somewhere in every moment. It could be me. It could be you.

So now that I’ve spewed this negativity and doom, I will follow with some hope. Hope is one thing that can always exist. No one can take it away. It is yours. No one can control it. No one can end it for you. If you take hope and mix it with a little action, it equals change. This recipe is a keeper. It can also be passed down. You demonstrate this for your children and wowsers, they will have the best formula for survival on this planet. Keeping with this analogy (humour me here), you can also stir things up that really need to be and watch your life rise to new levels.

I made the mistake of looking at where I was in my life as where I had to be. Someone had to get me out or maybe I needed to stay there. This wasn’t fair. What did I do to deserve this? Someone else had to change so that everything would be ok for me. How dare someone else try to ruin my life or leave my life. I wallowed in self pity, anger, resentment and pain. It took many years for me to realize that no one else was going to do ANYTHING of the sort. That is difficult to accept. First you are thrown this horrible fate and then you are supposed to be the one to deal with it? Seriously?

What it comes down to is that you cannot control the crazy, unpredictable, tragic, shocking things that can happen to you and no, you cannot change everything you want. Change  doesn’t bring back the loved ones you have lost from this earth. It doesn’t completely heal the scars that cover a victim of abuse or multiple abuse. Change is a place for you to go. It is anywhere else but where you are…..and  if you’re in any type of despair, then anywhere else is good.

Strength Where There is Nothing Else (50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years….#12)

#12. “You are much stronger than you think. You just have to tap into it.”

There is an abyss that exists in my mind.

I have been there.

It is a place of darkness, unimaginable hopelessness , shock, denial, fear…but most of all, it is empty.

It is nothingness with the relentless power to end you as you know you and your life as you know it.

You try to move…..you can’t.

Cold reality has its grip on you so tight, it is easier to succumb to it, than it is to fight.

The ground you walked on crumbles under you and the only way to go is down.

You bounce around in the tunnel of blackness, empty headed.

There is no mercy here. You surrender to the unidentified force that surrounds you.

Nothing else means a thing. This place is center stage and you are the audience tied to your seat.

Nothing moves. Nothing cares.

You are still.

Sometimes there is more strength in stillness, in silence.

Sometimes what we don’t do is stronger than what we do.

Sometimes our strength is not about our stamina, courage or our energy.

Sometimes……it comes from the faintest whisper in our mind, the weakest part of our sanity……the dimmest light.

Sometimes we can only find enough strength to extend one tired and desperate  hand

……and hold on.