Daily Archives: March 5, 2012

Something Good

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The Universe saying “yes.” This happens all the time, if you are paying attention. It happened for me today, more than once. Sometimes, it yells in celebration, and sometimes it’s as quiet as a whisper, and it happens more often when you are on the right path, doing the good work that is uniquely yours, following your calling, trusting your heart, knowing your hungers, being wholeheartedly yourself. It’s been happening for me a lot lately, and often when it does, I burst into tears. For so long I ignored it, told it to wait or even shut up and leave me alone, and all it wants is the very best for me. The love and wisdom that is available to us, all the time, can be utterly heartbreaking.

image by renaissancechambara

Leftovers. Thanks to the boy for this. I opened the fridge to make my lunch today and realized there were multiple options, so much that I felt like I was ordering off the menu of my favorite restaurant. He takes such good care of me.

Spring. Spring Break isn’t until next week, and technically according to the calendar it’s not quite Spring yet, but the warm weather yesterday and today, more daylight, and crocuses blooming say that it’s close. I ate my second breakfast today sitting in the backyard with the dogs, one of my all time favorite things to do, (I think it’s theirs too), and I can’t wait to do more of that.

image by Armin Vogel

Online classes. I feel like I have stumbled upon this magical wonderland of creativity and support, wisdom and kindness. There are so many classes available, taught by so many amazing women, and though I don’t really have this kind of time, I keep diving in. I just started “Blogging from the Heart” and “Telling True Stories” will be right on its heels. You, dear reader, can only benefit from me spending time immersing myself deeper into the practice of writing.

              

Live music. Last night, I saw Gregory Alan Isakov and Ani DiFranco in concert. There are plenty of bad things I could list about staying up late, standing in a dirty hot loud crowded space for four hours, getting shoved around and groped, having drinks spilled on you, but that’s not my point here. My point is there’s something good about hearing and watching music performed live. The force of sound vibrating in your chest, that bodily experience of the music. A direct and immediate conversation between an artist and their audience. Anything can happen, spontaneously, in the moment. You are trapped in the crush of humanity, screaming, dancing, singing, clapping, and sweating. There’s the potential for aggression but also the opportunity for compassion, for you to soften to those around you, the chance to be in the moment, feeling what you feel, allowing emotions to arise and dissolve, feelings evoked by a person opening their heart to you, telling the truth. This is all possible, mistakes, bravery and vulnerability, life and pure love.

Ani DiFranco, image by Julio Enriquez

Global Sorority. This is yet another fabulous Kickstarter campaign that I pledged this week. It’s a documentary planned by Tia Kelly & Loretta Cella. They explain it this way:

It’s our hope that these documentaries will be used not only to bring awareness, and aid the upward mobility of women and girls in developing nations, but also to be a learning tool in schools and colleges in the western world, offering a platform for discussion around women’s issues and also giving young women a starting place as to how they might connect and make a difference, in their own lives and in the lives of young women around the world.

As with the “Realizing Empathy: An Inquiry into the Meaning of Making” and “Danielle Ate the Sandwich Album” Kickstarter campaigns, I pledged because I wanted to see the final product, but also because I believe if the project is realized, the world will be a better place, suffering will be eased, and I am all in for that.

Color Me Katie blog. This blog is fun, sweet, colorful, and makes me so happy.

Kate, a 24 year old freelance photographer, actress, street artist and fun maker!

And finally, the tiniest-big dose of happiness and cuteness the internet has to offer: Dancing Baby Plover from Dou Dou Birds. Click on the image to see the other three views. The sum of four enables you to see the full measure of his little happy dance.

41 6-Word Days

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image from Judy's post

I was going to add this to my Something Good list today, but decided it deserved it’s own post. On A Human Thing, Judy posted a reflection, where she explained it this way:

At the same time that I launched A Human Thing, I launched a project with my friend, Julia Fehrenbacher, called “41 6-Word Days.” We invited people to join us, and they did, sharing their lives in beautiful, revealing, clumsy, poetic 6-word snippets. Most people wandered in and out of the space, but ten hardy souls went the distance with us, posting all 41 days.

It was sometimes hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking, with so many moments of magic and so many of grace, and I loved being part of this “project.” I was one of the ten that did all 41 days, and Judy was nice enough to put together our lists in a shared summary. Here’s mine:

♥Jill♥

Struggled with everything, then let go.
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Snow and cold, two warm dogs.
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Lots of words, only one picture.
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Work though I’d rather stay home.
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Where does this sadness come from?
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Flooding in Oregon, worrying in Colorado.
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I can’t drink like that anymore.
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Dreamed of three ladybugs in snow.
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Upside down, love rushes towards you.
Thank goodness the wall was there.
Thank goodness the teacher was there.
Thank goodness for headstands in yoga.
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This isn’t working for me anymore.
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I can’t go to work today.
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Before dawn, we walk alone, together.
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I am aware, but can’t move.
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Medium or psychic, you’re a liar.
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I wish Sunday would never end.
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Finally, kind attention causes a shift.
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Two long walks with my dogs.
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Wishing, understanding, gratitude: love, love, love.
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Three hour nap instead of work.
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Cold snow, warm blueberry bagel: comfort.
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Smells: banana bread, cupcakes, and laundry.
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Rough Sunday. I wished for Monday.
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I’m full of light and beans.
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Bed full of dog and love.
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I want to go to there.
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Finally made some progress at work.
He doesn’t know what happened? Bullshit.
Play growl or mean growl? We disagree.
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Fantasizing about running away from home.
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I vowed: basic goodness, enlightened society.
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Running, playing, yoga-ing, eating, and napping.
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Do you see that? Good dog!
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Hoping the blood test reveals something.
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Burger and fries, donuts: sinking fast.
(Conversation with myself, how not embarrassing.) 🙂
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Surprise love note: “you’re my favorite.”
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Perimenopause?! You’ve got to be kidding…
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Dinner with Rachel Cole, holy wow.
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A circle of woman around me.
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Apparently, dog training works. Who knew?
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Try this next–hope it works.
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Water Dragon entered on fierce winds.
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Sore muscles, tender heart, open eyes.
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A circle of women writing WILDly,
filled my home with WILD words.
Mine? Blackout poem for Tina Fey.
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Mending dog babies, celebrating human baby.
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It is important to say goodbye.
End with love, just in case.
Especially when that’s where you started.
Much love to Julia and Judy.
The rest of you are amazing.
Openhearted, brave, wise, kind, and hilarious.
Thank you. Love you. Love, Me.
~~~
At night, I sleep, dreaming words.
At dawn, I wake, thinking words.
Arranging them in rows of six.
Then I remember, we are finished.
I am awake, alone, and sad.
But then I remember love, laughter.
I offer a prayer of thanks.
Form leaves us, but love remains.