I thought life was a play,
with the script composed
for the role I was to inhabit.
Designated stage directions
were set for me to follow
for my life to work out seamlessly.
All that was required was for me to
hit my assigned marks:
education, career, marriage, children,
for the production to be a success.
But others refused to
perform their parts,
changing the scene,
or departing before the play was finished,
leaving me floundering
on the boards, alone.
It took time for me to realize
that life had always been improv:
unscripted, hard turns, unpredictable.
I never had control of the narrative,
which caused needless suffering
in the light of the pain that is a part of existing.
Until I let go of demanding that my life
followed a script was I truly free
to find joy in the unknowing.
It taught me that every moment
was saying “yes, and” to whatever entered my life.
Category: Connecting with People
-
Life’s Unscripted Journey
-
Relentless Appreciation
Finding Joy After Loss
When the heart breaks open from the searing pain of
unbearable loss and the walls crumble to the ground,
the unimaginable happens:
relentless appreciation for what is left behind.
It streams from my soul with the force of a tsunami.
My love for those I meet in person and online has grown,
and I feel joy when I spend time in their presence.
My soul is filled with peace as I traverse the garden path,
captivated by the beauty of the flowering plants
and the perfumed, soaked air they create.
I watch the flying creatures with fascination as they busy themselves finding food and building homes.
I love the sound of birdsong, whether I’m wandering outside
or enjoying their symphony from inside my home.
For knowing there is but a short time
between birth and death, I breathe in deeply
all that life has to offer me. -
Friend, Mate, Amiga: Reflections On Friendship
For Nancy
I greet you with, “Hello, friend,”
a sacred salutation of recognition
of the deep connection that we share.
For it is in this space that we are united
by a bond deeper than blood.
For we choose each other
to share this short time on the planet.
We’ve shared so much over the years
that the depth of our laughter flows
from the earth in a cascade of water
rushing downstream in wild abandon.
Our hearts find comfort and safety
in each other’s company
when they’ve been shattered
by the sorrow that comes from living and loving.
As the seasons of our life continue to change,
and we face new challenges,
I’m grateful for the solace I’ve found
knowing that we traverse this road together.
Although we live far apart from each other,
when I hear your voice,
I will always feel that you are just around the corner.
Best Friends Forever -
We Are All Connected
As the news showed the images
of the devastation of the midair crash in DC
followed by a jet crash in Philadelphia two days later,
my heart ached for the lives that were cut short,
and for their family and friends who were
entering a nightmare not of their choosing.
Having lived through the sudden death of my husband,
the life I knew was altered, unrecognizable
as my heart lay on the floor, shattered.
No longer could I see the tragedies of the world
as numbers, but as individuals whose lives
would never be the same again.
For it was in my awakening from the searing pain of grief,
that I recognized all of humanity is intertwined.
That we are meant to be with each other,
holding each other in compassion.
I couldn’t sit on the sidelines
in the face of others’ pain,
whether it was from the death of a loved one
or other losses caused by unforeseen life changes.
I knew I couldn’t take away their agony,
but I could share the gifts I had,
hoping to bring some comfort,
no matter how small. -
How Community Heals the Soul
When the world feels so dark,
caving in with relentless bad news,
for that is what lifts the ratings
and increases revenues,
but at what cost?
It’s then that I shut the news down,
and walk away from doom scrolling,
turning to the communities that
refresh my soul and hold me in safety.
When I open the door to my people,
whether online or in person,
I feel peace settle over my heart
as I take in all those beautiful faces,
their love washing over me.
The vitriol of society is forbidden entrance,
as those who want to bring light gather.
Each circle that I’ve joined has changed me for the better,
providing hope that when we unite with the intention
of love and support, we can truly be our better angels.
Beautiful Bittersweet Life Poems 