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.
Tag: Transformation
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How Community Heals the Soul
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Stumbled Upon: Embracing Life’s Unplanned Adventures
When I sit down to write my autobiography,
I will title it Stumbled Upon.
For it is this unplanned life
that sent me veering onto a path
of unimaginable adventures.
Often, I was catapulted by a lifequake*,
brought on by the death of my husband,
which left me adrift.
And yet, I somehow found my footing.
The steps were heavy amid the grief,
but I kept walking and my steps grew lighter.
Photography became a saving grace,
as a continued bond to my husband,
and kept me in the present moment
when my eye was focused in the viewfinder.
From capturing the beauty of nature to
going to bars, something I hadn’t done since I was in my twenties,
to photograph musicians as they played
opened a forgotten part of my life that brought
me both joy and finding kind people I call friends.
By using my photography email, I ended up
being the photographer for the Phoenix Film Festival.
I’d never done event photography,
but my saying yes to the unknown
opened the world of independent films,
filmmakers, and new friendships
with festival attendees and volunteers.
All these experiences led me to participate in
a storytelling event on how my life had come
full circle with my husband, photography and music.
I stood on a stage where I had spent so many
hours capturing musicians at work,
sharing my story by heart
with a few butterflies stirring in my stomach.
As time goes on, and I adjust
to my body’s capabilities,
I have found new ways to feed the creative beast that lives within.
Now, I spend my days expressing myself with art and improv.
The beauty of letting go of a planned life
is the richness that I never imagined
and the communities that I have become a part of.*Lifequakes is a term coined by Bruce Feiler in his book Life is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age
Photo credit: Neil Schwartz
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She Lives in Me
For Mom
I breathe in your essence,
what you’ve infused into my soul.
I miss your embrace and the sound of your voice.
And yet, I feel you walking beside me.
It’s the light in my eyes when I
lead with curiosity, whether it’s meeting new people
or trying new experiences.
Your childlike wonder showed me
how to explore the world.
The willingness to make mistakes and fall,
knowing that I would rise again.
You taught me to laugh at myself,
to laugh with others, but not at them.
I miss when you’d say,
“I’m so proud of you.
You reinvented yourself.
You could have just given up,
but you kept going.”
Those words were uplifting,
reminding me that I found a way to live
in the face of grief and trials.
I never minded
as your memory faded
to hear those precious words on repeat
until they disappeared as well.
The gift of encouragement,
especially on days
that are overwhelming and exhausting,
still resound in my head.
It is also a reminder to pay it forward,
telling those I love how proud I am of them,
hoping to spread your warmth
that you left in my keeping. -
Because Everything Falls Away
In a finite world where I’m here but for a moment,
I savor the first bite of toast with homemade blueberry jam
and the spicy warmth of my morning chai
as I break the fast of sleep.
I savor my family, those who are still with me,
and those who I carry in my heart and memories.
I savor my friends, who walk with me through all
of the seasons of life.
Their friendship is the balm for my soul,
A place where I can be my genuine self, sharing laughter,
tears and deep conversations.
I savor the warmth of arms that envelope me in a hug,
reminding me that I am loved.
I savor nature’s beauty: the hummingbird, the bee,
and the butterfly as they alight from flower to flower,
refreshed by its nectar.
I savor breathing in the air as I amble along
the garden path or among the tall pines,
a place where deep serenity abides.
I savor the beauty of the sky as it shakes off the blue of the day,
and dresses in its pastel finery
before slipping away below the horizon.
I savor the quiet moments tucked up with a book,
as I’m spirited away to another time and place,
freed from the worries of the world.
At the end of the day, when my body and mind are weary,
I savor slipping into the comfort of my bed,
pulling the covers tightly around me,
slipping away to the nighttime cinema. -
The Seed
An Ode to My Parents
The seed was planted, watered, and tended with love.
With the warmth of the sun, it was allowed to grow.
The sower’s voice spoke gently, encouraging it to blossom
With petals full of love, stretching out to the world.
It watched the gardeners’ example of gentle compassion
As they walked along the flowerbeds,
Treating each flower, whether thriving or dying,
With dignity and grace.
For they knew that the flowers’ beauty must grow from within
If it was to brighten creation once it left the safety of the bed.
The sower released the flower to humanity once
All the wisdom had been bestowed upon it,
Allowing it to spread its seeds to all it touched.
Beautiful Bittersweet Life Poems 