time

i’m here this morning pondering about something my son said yesterday. we were talking about how 2022 is almost ending, December is starting and we haven’t done many planned things for this year. He said to me:

“don’t worry, time is linear. months, years all these are created by men, time isn’t something that starts and ends, it’s constantly going on and on. we only realize the changes of the seasons because we live in Canada, if we were at the Equator, where is 30 C year-round, the seasons wouldn’t make a difference.”

wow! without expecting i received a wonderful lesson yesterday. according to him months and years created by man are nonsensical. His thoughts have only strengthened my point of view that what matters is the moment, being here and now.

anyways, habits are difficult to change, so i’m wishing a happy new month to you!

joining Moonwashed weekly prompt – nonsensical

dappled

Dappled – marked with spots or rounded patches accordingly to Oxford Dictionary

I had to check this word out when I saw the Moonwashed Musings‘ prompt for this week and my first thought was about getting older.

The photo above is of one of my hostas in the backyard. I think it is beautiful the change of colours, the slow decay of the leaves with all their spots and edges turning inwards as if investing in self-care, saving the energy for the rough months ahead. It’s a different kind of joy when I look at the plants in the autumn compared with the joy in the spring, when the plants are coming alive, the edges going onward, showing off all the beauty and expectations for the new season.

renew

Today, I woke up and I wanted to write, do you know the urge to put down words on paper?

My thoughts were: could I start over again and remove all the weight of the past from my shoulders and walk through the sun? I didn’t want to sit and write in my journal as if it was a secret, but I wanted to write for the world, to let my feelings fly away.

RENEW who we are! Is it possible without erasing the past?

The past, mainly the mistakes, always knocks on the door of the present. I can feel a lightness after a yoga session, a few minutes of meditation, or a lovely vacation. I say: I’m ready for changes, to start over. But without any notice, those thoughts came back and put me down, like nothing has changed, I am the same as always.

Before you start to imagine which mistakes I’ve made, I let you know that I didn’t commit any crime against humanity. I’m talking about choices I made, words I said, or didn’t say, lack of self-respect and self-love, acts and actions that impacted mostly myself.

RENEW for RXC – Any word starting with RE.

2022 journals

It’s unbelievable, but we are almost at the end of 2022! Today the clocks went back one-hour giving goodbye to daylight saving time. As a tradition I put my twinkle lights up. I love to have them on when I’m back in the evening, now it will be dark and they are one warm welcome.

My 2022 journals are also getting chubby, a sign that the year is ending. This year I’m using 3 journals: One for morning pages (the orange), the small one on the top right is a kind of gratitude and quotes journal, and the one on the bottom is a travel journal.

I just got new inserts for my gratitude journal, hope they last until the end of the year! But it’s ok if not, this means that I’m having more things to be grateful for. 🙂

I love to start the new year with a new journal for the morning pages, I’ll start to look for it, basically the colour, I don’t like to change the brands I’m used to. It will be a Moleskine or a Leuchtturm, both have excellent paper quality and it’s nice to write on their pages.

And you, and plans for a new journal?

Hope you have a great week ahead!

Hump day

Yes, above is the photo of Sunday breakfast, today it is only yogurt and cereal, not worth a photo. Hump day means the middle of a workweek, 2 days gone and 2 more to go, in my case 3 to go, today, Wednesday, is one of the longest workdays for me. I’m starting now at 9 and I go until around 7 pm. And I made the mistake to open my email earlier, and I already saw many extra tasks to crunch into my day.

I’ll try to make today a great day, hope you do the same.

Water

Many years ago from the window of an airplane I saw a river with crystal blue water and I thought: This place will be my home.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It’s always our self we find in the sea.
e.e. cummings

Now, as I write this post in my living room, I can listen to the waves and hear the engine of a ship passing by. My home is a few steps from this magnificent river. Every morning I walk/run by its side, feeling its power and energy, flowing with it.

We had rain and thunders during the night. The water was showing all its power. It was washing and cleaning, it filled up the rivers and lakes. Earth’s fragrance is freshness.

A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself.
Laura Gilpin

Water is magical in all its forms. From Inside a cup ready to hydrate us to the large oceans harbouring fish and others sea creatures. From the tap in our homes to wash our hands to the salt water washing the shore of islands.

Be like water,
Flow like a river,
Crash like the rain,
Fly like the cloud again!
Md. Ziaul Haque

Sharing with WQWWC. The theme this week is Lakes, Oceans, Water

WQWWC :: Relax

Relax. Pockets of ‘me time’ during the day, sometimes not easy to find room for self-care in the middle of the daily business, but it’s a must to be able to do so. Early ‘me time’ sometimes starts with morning pages and a cup of coffee, other times it starts with a run by the river.

Either way, these are moments for relaxing and organizing my thoughts before getting ready for the day. As an introvert, it isn’t easy to be in contact with people and socializing at the work place. I need down time, to think and recharge.

Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges.
Bryant McGill

My garden is my private paradise. Taking care and admiring the flowers and the vegetables or just sitting down and looking at the sky and feeling the breeze washing over my face and my hair. When at home I make sure I have a garden walk at least 3 times per day, generally after each meal.

Nothing more relaxing than spending a hot summer afternoon with a book and a refreshing drink.

Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.
Jane Austen

Sharing with WQWWC, this week’s theme is Relax. And you? What you do to relax during the summer?

WQWWC :: On my way

On my way to 5K! I’ve been training to run a marathon in October. I wake up early everyday and go out for a run. I love the fresh air and all the beauty I find on my path. Having a goal is important to keep my mind and body synchronized. I’d tried to keep fit many times, but I always let it go. My son run a 20K last year, and I saw many people of all ages running, each one at his/her own speed. Then I talked with my family about it, and they like my idea of joining the marathon.

Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.
Tony Robbins

I have a treadmill at home for the snowy months, but nothing compares to the outdoors for exercise. My neighbourhood has many beautiful places to walk/run. I enjoy the view and I always find some excuse to stop and take a photo.

You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.
C.S. Lewis

Noticing the little things on my way decreases the stress in my legs and inspires me to keep going. It’s incredible how the mind and the body are connected. As the years go by, I can feel how this connection plays a role in my health.

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”
Ashley Smith

This week’s WQWWC is free theme. Terri from Secondwindleisure is hosting the challenge while Marsha is busy getting her new AirB&B ready. I’ve chosen on my way as a theme. Hope you enjoyed it!

Tanka Tuesday :: Longing

Holidays are always tough on me. The memories and dreams are vivid, it’s like I can touch them, the feelings are all over the place, urging to make new memories and at the same time keeping the old ones in the background of my mind.

Tanka Tuesday this week is poet’s choice. So, due to the holidays’ mood I wrote this double Senryu and added this photo that I snapped during in the weekend. I would call it a Haiga, but I’m not sure if a double Senryu can be used for it. Let’s see what Colleen has to say 🙂

Hope you had a great weekend and the holidays weren’t tough on you!

WQWWC :: Freedom

This week’s theme for WQWWC is Freedom. Well, freedom has many meanings and possibilities. It depends on who is claiming it, who is experiencing moments of freedom or the lack of it.

No one outside ourselves can rule us inwardly. When we know this, we become free.
Buddha

This sidewalk drawing was on my way this morning. I was running and thinking what should be my take on this prompt. And voila! Freedom was there to be seen! I stopped and couldn’t believe it! That feeling that the universe has my back. I took the pic with a smile on my face.

None but ourselves can free our minds.
Bob Marley

I decided to go simple, a few words to describe Freedom. An acrostic poem is perfect for it.

Fierce as it can be
Resilient upon to the right time
Elusive and inspiring
Emancipation to the needed
Divine in respect
Observant in silence
Meaningful to all

Freedom lies in being bold.
Robert Frost