A place where you can be human.
As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.
Imagine spending a lifetime working yourself into exhaustion only to realize you just being you is how to let your light shine.
BY MAYA ANGELOU
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
I always forget to put music on when I write even though I know it’s the cure. Today I found this Relaxing Garden and look butterflies! I’m leaving this here as a reminder for myself in the future.
Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.
BY JOY HARJO
To pray you open your whole self
To sky, to earth, to sun, to moon
To one whole voice that is you.
And know there is more
That you can’t see, can’t hear;
Can’t know except in moments
Steadily growing, and in languages
That aren’t always sound but other
Circles of motion.
Like eagle that Sunday morning
Over Salt River. Circled in blue sky
In wind, swept our hearts clean
With sacred wings.
We see you, see ourselves and know
That we must take the utmost care
And kindness in all things.
Breathe in, knowing we are made of
All this, and breathe, knowing
We are truly blessed because we
Were born, and die soon within a
True circle of motion,
Like eagle rounding out the morning
Inside us.
We pray that it will be done
In beauty.
In beauty.
I haven’s shared poetry on here in a while, but eagle’s have been on my mind a lot lately. I found this poem on The Poetry Foundation‘s website. I appreciate that the author, Joy Harjo adds depth to people here. I posted on Facebook (not too long ago) about how important it is to understand that people are more complex than what we see. In this poem Harjo captures exactly that in this poem. Harjo starts with, “I pray you open your whole self.” This line shows her desire to see someone as a whole person. Then as the poem goes along she creates an image of the many ways you get see a person words moments wind are just few. I like this. I like her use of the eagle as a symbol, her clear desire, and how she reminds us the value of life because it doesn’t last forever. I’m interested to read more from Joy Harjo. I’m grateful for her contribution.
What a day!
Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
a study of perceptions
I have to share this short film we have an assignment on in school. What a great short film!!
I get to write a monologue from one of the three perspectives portrayed in the film. I really enjoy this creative writing course!! I’m excited to be in the class.
I’m in the mood for thoughtfulness, Connection, and all the other things that give me space to THRIVE. I want to be like my Spotted Begonia and just grow bigger than anyone expected and pull toward the sun. Now that’s Thriving. Maya Angelou once said, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” And this is how I know she gets it. She is who I want to share a table with. Her and all her wisdom and grace. Just as human, and just as stubborn, and just as woman as me.
I’m so grateful she found the inner strength to pave the way.
Do you have a favorite myth or parable?
I appreciate myths and parables very much. I’m not really sure when it started. I didn’t do enough homework in high school to learn much about mythology, but as an adult I appreciate it. Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung inspired me to appreciate the myth more than anything else. As for parables, I’ve always loved those since I was very young. I remember my mom reading them to us when I was in Kindergarten. Now if you asked me which I like more, it’d be parables.
My favorite parable as a kid was about a wise man who built his house on a rock. As an adult it’s the parable about the seeds that are scattered on the ground. It’s interesting that both of my favorite parables are about how we thrive with a proper foundation. Interesting.
On another note, have you tried one of these ASMR sleep stories before bed yet? I have not.
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Edith Wharton
Wooow! I love this quote!! And so of course I had to look up who Edith Wharton was. She was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction! The name of the novel that got her there was titled “The Age of Innocence.” I’m interested to learn more about her.
I don’t remember the first time I heard about time travel but the first time I took time to think about it, was from “Back to the Future.” All the better I could be by going back in time to fix all the mistakes I made. As an adult, I wouldn’t change any of the choices I made because I’m so happy with where I am and the woman I have become. But I’m not going to let happiness hinder my curiosity! Time travel and the idea that it started far earlier then HG Wells, is fascinating. So far, I’ve found that the oldest evidence of time travel was originally written in Sanskrit as in a epic poem titled “The Mahabharata.”
I found a reading of it here on YouTube
My whole brain lit up to hear about this. I loved the idea of storytelling in cultures. I love myths, parables, and all the ways that storytellers used their imagination to pass down information.
Interested in more Time Travel lit? Here’s a list from Wired
What are your ideas of time travel? If you could time travel which direction would you go; past or future?
Jayne.press