The wind is picking up outside while the rain continues to pelt the earth with an incessant fury. The river belches in fullness and flows with determination down towards the Bay of Fundy. High tides ream the coastal shorelines, already saturated with this deluge. Where is it all coming from? In other parts of this country, it arrived as snow. I can't imagine how much snow this would be if the temperatures were lower. Up to the "window sills high" I'm sure. Instead , my town is getting a thorough rain cleansing. I will do the same. By writing ..... a cleansing of a few thoughts which have been logjammed while I pushed through my restlessness.
Tonight, I'm safe, warm and dry in my home. Inspirational upbeat music is playing in the background, encouraging me to write, but also to sway to the beat. There are a few tasks on the "to do" list that are vying for my attention, but dammit, I'm going to blog tonight! Not only that, I'm going to FINISH a piece and post it! It seems as though I begin a new piece and run out of steam halfway through it....... or maybe my attention gets redirected .... or the restlessness I have been feeling kicks in. All of those things, plus I've been busy. Man, have I been busy. But, you know........ it still seems like it takes me 5 extra steps per usual step to accomplish anything. Focus still wanes. Certain tasks don't seem to get completed on time. I'm trying.
Maybe i'm just always trying to catch up to the learning. That's how it really feels. My learning curve which has been created by so many amazing experiences this fall is as steep as Everest! As I have journied forward, tackling hard heart things as well as welcoming tenderness back into my broken heart, I am learning to step out into the world of discomfort to feel the yawning stretch of opening the door to surprises!
Wide-eyed ones. Whispering ones. Courageous ones. Scary ones. Expressive ones. Risky ones. Shaky ones. Deep pit in the stomach ones. High flying catapulting ones. Prayer-full ones. Surprises parcelled in promises of learning.
In order to continue the flow of this piece however, I refuse to get all jammed up trying to write about everything that has happened. As much as I would like to do just that........ I would need a week or so to give the stories the attention they deserve. My restless soul won't allow it right now. Instead, I decided to provide a snapshot of where I've been and where I am. That way, I am hoping I can begin to unravel what is in my heart and head.......... AND get back on track with my writing and blogging. It is too important and meaningful to me to let it slide any longer. Writing isn't a choice anymore. It is a life force. Like breathing. Like any creative outlet. Part of me feels like I've been holding my breath!
So, without further hesitation....... a snapshot complete with headings........
What have I noticed recently? The other night, I was walking my dog down the street. The winter stars were glistening jewels in the black sky. The moon was a sliver of itself. From this vantage point, I could see the lights on the other side of the Saint John River. Some of them were stretched in blurry reflection on the water, bobbing with the currents. Golden yellow, candescent white, a flashing red from the tower which welcomes the planes into this city. I expected to see flickering Christmas colours beyond the river, decorating the homes I couldn't make out in the dark. What I noticed? The only predominant colour of light that night was blue. It was like it outshone all other colours.... left them in its wake. The blue light shone in random fashion like they were fancy stars hovering low to protect the people who lived over there. Or maybe they were remnants of summer fireflies. I stood and watched them glow on and on.......... my hands in my pockets to keep warm......... my big blue scarf wrapped up around my neck and ears in silence. I wasn't restless.
Currently reading...... I wish I could state that its a big juicy novel that I have escaped into! Not yet. Soon I hope. Maybe over the Christmas holidays. However, what I am reading are stories and explanations of the Season. Advent stirs in and around me. I have a thirst for it. No matter how busy I am, my thoughts don't stray too far from it's guidance and lessons. All year long, I have said to myself that I wanted to simplify........ to let go of the layers of complications ....... to pry my fingers off life's steering wheel ... to learn to be more accepting and less controlling of how events unfold ..... to surrender rather than ADD more to the buffet! I kept adding more..... more and more...... making life more complicated than I could handle, until it forced me to dive undercover to hide. I was doing the opposite of what I wanted! How masochistic is that? So......... here we are, in the middle of Advent, and I see how I actually have been simplifying.... not in the traditional manner, but by reflecting on what is most important and what is gravy. I may be busy juggling home, community, work, and play, but inside the layers of complications are letting go as I prepare for Christmas Day with my family and friends in Joyful Hope.
Currently creating...... I can't tell you that! It would spoil the surprise! I've got a few little gifty projects on the go right now. I love this time of year!
Favourite things.... Kissing ranks high on the list lately. I forgot how wonderful it was. Yeah, I'd walk a mile in a snowstorm for a lingering romantic kiss. hmmmmm......... what else? Gee, all of a sudden my brain is fogging up with passionate steam! hahaha!
What I am thankful for: Absolutely no question. I am so grateful to be a Mom to two of the most beautiful human beings around. Yeah, I'm a little biased, but honestly? Last night, the three of us sat down for Sunday dinner and my whole being filled up with love and gratitude when I looked into their eyes. We are doing alright, the three of us. In fact, we are doing just fine despite our personal stressy days and busy ways. Both are excelling at school and in their personal pursuits. I am so proud of my daughter and my son. They give me strength everyday, and i hope I do the same for them.
What am I listening to? Life, traffic and music all around me ... students in need of spilling their stories, the voices of my friends and family, my inner voice, choral hymns, lessons in nature, sermons that touch my heart and soul, the spoken words of a friend whom I have spent meaningful time with this fall as she successfully SOARED towards making her personal vision come to life. Her fierce determination to bring 1000 people together to promote much needed treatment services for Youth in this province with mental health issues culminated in an amazing rally last week! It was a grassroots community movement that only happened because of my friend Maureen's shared testimony and connection to groups and individuals throughout the city. AMAZING! I was honoured to be a part of it from the initial planning stages in mid-October. Here's a link to the latest story about the event. I will write more about this when I have time to reflect properly over the holidays.
Plans for the upcoming week...... SO MUCH GOOD STUFF! And of course, the other stuff I don't even know is going to happen! Gifts. Blessings. New learning. Illumination. Worries resolved. New worries rooted. Projects continued. Music to stir. Feelings that run deep. Meaningful connections. Love.... giving and receiving. Beauty in all of life's imperfections.
How about a picture? This one is my favourite of the week. Youth learning about the importance of community gathering to support a cause. These kids were very involved at the Connect the DOTS rally in front of the legislature. My Max is in the middle! It was awesome!
So, here is my snapshot. A little rambling, but I just kept writing and let my fingers feel the keys again. No edits. One draft. C'est tout! I feel blog unclogged a bit! Hopefully I can reach inside to find that creative writing side of me again. I've missed it sorely! Here's hoping it will return as my restlessness disappears. Joyful hoping!
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