Tag: life

Sweet Reminders

On By Piano girl6 Comments

Today was our last day in Maui. Sad to leave but ready to be home. I will miss the slower pace of life here. It is refreshing.

A few things I take with me.

The constant rhythm of ocean waves- A reminder to listen thoughtfully.

The colorful contrasts between land, sea, and sky-A reminder to look curiously.

The ever-changing view from one day to the next from the same spot-A reminder to expect surprises.

That there is such a thing as terrifyingly beautiful views. Terrifying if only due to the path required to witness them.

And the knowledge that calm is only a breath away-maybe two. 😉

The love felt in celebrating thirty years of marriage in this beautiful place-Reminding me to be graciously grateful.

Little Lessons

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My bare feet squished in the sand as we walked along the shore. I smiled as my husband’s footprints disappeared within seconds. It occurred to me that not getting a pedicure before our trip was not a big deal after all.

I picked up a tiny piece of coral, obviously aged by the sand and waves. We talked about how it once was alive. I left it there to wash back out to its home. This one little thing represents an entire way of life? Now that is a big deal! 💙

White foam
Rolls in
Rolls out
As tides shift
And sandy shores
Silently wait-
Motion on the
Surface is
Endless-
One quick
Glance below
Reveals
Surprising
Stillness
Colorful
Creatures
Gracefully
Traversing
Their home
A peaceful
Contrast with
The waves
Overhead-
My heart could
Learn a lesson
From the wisdom
Below the waters

From the Shore

On By Piano girl2 Comments
Kahekili Beach

Endless shades
My favorite color
Clear, bright
Dark, deep
Each hue
Weightlessly
Effortlessly
Drifting, one
Into another
Providing
Few clues
As to where
The waters end
And the heavens begin

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl10 Comments

Day before vacation
Awakened from a
No-sense-dream
A phone ringing
Several missed calls
And text messages

Confused does
Not justly
Describe my mood
I was frantic
A panicked spiral
Attempting to take hold-

Not just a mess
But a hot mess
According to
My husband
Shhh…
He was right

I need you
To stand still
And take a
Deep breath

Breathing out
I felt the tears
Beginning to form
This is me
But only
A part of me

Today, I sit
In the airport
Traveling within this
Thirty-year love
And we are ok
Better than ok

Maui, here we come! ❤️

Progress

On By Piano girl1 Comment

How is it measured?
That depends
On the need
The event
The goal
The work

Where was the starting line?
That depends
On a memory
A realization
A decision
A step

Where is the finish line?
That depends
Each is different
Though more
Important than
The steps or the pace

Baby steps
Or giant leaps
The pace of a snail
Or a horse race
Not about comparison
But valuing the journey

Lighthearted

On By Piano girl6 Comments

Who Was that?

I walked past
My future self
This morning
At least
She could have been-
Faded jeans
And sandals
Unassuming
Floral patterned
Cotton top with
Spaghetti straps
White hair
Pulled back
In a relaxed, but
Fashionable style
Wire-rimmed glasses-
Well, I would probably
Choose more
Colorful
Frames
They are so much fun-
As I continued
To walk into
The day ahead
I couldn’t help but smile-
I wonder if she saw me?

So Simple

Such a simple idea
Cooking dinner
Admittedly, not
Something I do often
I would rather
Bake cookies
But this thought
On this day
Brought a smile
Along with
A complete
Shopping list-
Meal and dessert!
Before you offer
Any congratulations
Just know it was
A simple meal
Tasty, healthy
But not complex
Still, I energetically
Prepared, carefully
Timing each chop
And measure
Proud of myself
Upon completion
Happy to announce
Dinner’s ready!
And share this simple joy-

Guest Writer

On By Piano girl3 Comments

My daughter, Rachel, wrote the following poem not long after my dad passed away. It paints a beautiful picture of the way we need and care for each other. I asked her if I could share. ❤️

Circle of Grief

Your mom needs you
Is a call to action
I do not take lightly
My Dad said this to me
After learning my mom had lost her own father
I held her tight in my arms
Breathing deep and slow
Like she had done for me
so many times before
Your mom needs us
My Dad said to her
As they prepared to leave
I imagine she held her mom tight in her arms
Breathing deep and slow
Like she had done for her
So many times before
How precious it is
To need your mom
And be needed by her

-Rachel Morris

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl2 Comments

Hi, Dad

The day we
Laid you to rest
The sun shone brightly
The wind blew
Stronger than
A breeze
And carried
A cold bite
Uneven, at best
Like my emotions
Visited again today
Knelt down
By the dirt
And smiled
Hi, Dad
The sun shone brightly
No breeze to cool the air
The sky was a beautiful blue
Somehow, felt balanced-
Surprisingly, so did I

Hi, Honey

Soft baby blanket
Tiny pink hat
Your sweet face
All that we
Could see
All that we
Needed to see
Eyes still closed
Your new cry
Broke my heart
Hi, Honey
Your dad
Held you close
My heart filled
To overflowing
My baby
Holding
His baby

Happy Father’s Day!

A Tiny Light

On By Piano girl2 Comments

So small
Yet, captivating
I’m unable to
Look away-
Uncertainty
Arrives first
But does not
Settle in
Curiosity soon
Takes its place
I continue to watch
Not knowing is ok
Maybe even better
Allows more space
For my thoughts
To wander
As I watch this
Tiny being of light
A bright spark of life
Knowing it will
Pass from my sight
And I will have to wait
Until it returns
Once again
Drawing my eyes
As my heart follows
Close behind

I continue to love the writing circle. You never know what is going to show up on the page. Sometimes, I do not know where the words come from or what they mean. Then I read them out loud to caring, intentional listeners and take in their reflections.

The above poem was written in our most recent circle with Ali Grimshaw. https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ Inspired by a line from the poem A Note by Wislawa Szymborska.

To follow a spark on the wind with your eyes.

What do you think I was writing about? 😉