A Blogger’s Diary 5/23/21: On the Week, Writing and Reflecting, Hiking, and Beauty

This Week

This week was full of preparation for the next fiscal year; and, continuing to reflect upon all of the beauty that surrounds us – really, both are equally true of this past week.

Before I write more about the latter, let’s take a look at the writing that occurred this week.

Writing and Reflecting

Photo by Kazi Mizan on Unsplash

The poem Beyond Time was a reflection on the internal work I’ve been engaged in these past four years. Continuing to be present to my emotions as they arise, and then following those back to the experiential seed.

The poem is also a reflection upon stillness of mind, which can and does occur, and the fact that, in those moments there is no time; it simply does not exist. Beautiful.

Writing the poem Atop, which was inspired by the WDYS #82 prompt, from Keep it Alive, by Sadje, was an interesting process. Initially, I had one idea, even wrote two stanzas, and then as I contemplated the two stanzas, another insight occurred, which is the poem in its present state.

Simply, the world exists in its present condition, when we view it as such. New experiences occur, and the world comes into view. As I’ve written about previously, the view we experience is based upon the concepts we hold about the world; and, this is only one way to view the world. 

As I’ve found out about, and experienced, there are many other ways to view the world, which is, well, quite freeing. 

Hiking

As you all know, I have a new series, Willamette Valley Wanderings and Wonderings, which now has two installments. This week, I hiked Silver Falls State Park, which was absolutely amazing.

I will save the details of the hike for the next installment of the Willamette Valley Wanderings and Wonderings series, however, I just had to include a few more pics in this diary entry.

Beauty

As I walked around campus this week, and contemplated the hike I was going to take on Saturday, I was present to all of the beauty that surrounds us. A flower blooming, a bird calling, a leaf dancing in the wind, a stranger helping another, there are so many things right in front of us, when we pay attention.

Part of my internal work, as you know, also includes my meditation practice, which has been transformational in my life. Being fully present is a gift, and we all have this gift within us.

When we let go of the concepts that typically drive our reactions, pause, reflect and contemplate our life, we learn stillness; and, it is in this stillness where presence to all that is within us, and without us lives. Beautiful.

As you walk through your week, notice the flowers, the trees, the people, and how that makes you feel. It is a tremendous experience.

Alright, that’s all for this week, my friends.

Be well, and have a lovely week.

#beauty, #blog, #blogger, #bloggers-diary, #blogging, #contemplation, #hiking, #introspection, #presence, #silver-falls-state-park, #willamettevalleyhiking, #writingandreflecting

Haiku #26

Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

the sounds of water
cascade through me, quiet and
quite beyond compare

I made it out to Silver Falls State Park today. What an amazing morning. Beautiful. I will share more about the hike in the next installment of Willamette Valley Wanderings and Wonderings, yet just had to share this pic, and the accompanying haiku, which occured to me as I took in all of the beauty today.

#poetry, #beauty, #haiku, #hiking, #life, #love, #nature, #poem, #poems, #water, #waterfalls

Willamette Valley Wanderings and Wonderings: Chip Ross Park

Corvallis, Oregon

There are so many places to hike in the Willamette Valley. It is a beautiful place, full of rivers, creeks, hills, lakes, and, yep, lots and lots of trails.

This past week, I stayed local again, and completed a short hike out at Chip Ross Park. Chip Ross Park is located in North Corvallis, and is, in part, connected to the McDonal Research Forest, which I wrote about in my last entry.

The hike I completed at Chip Ross Park this past week, is a moderate trail, fairly level, sans the trails beginning, which is somewhat steep. The hike winds you back through the dense forest, where you can catch glimpses of wildlife, flowers, and many, many varieties of plants.

Here are some pics from the hike.

Beautiful, yes? Yep, I think so too.

As I wandered through the forest last week, I was wondering about joining a gym again. I’ve been noticing that my body is tight, especially in my shoulders, arms, and back. Much of this is due to the extensive amount of computer facetime that is required, and has been for almost 15 months, in a remote work world. 

When you spend 12 hours a day on a computer, working and then, yep, blogging, and are focused, you sit, well, a lot. Thus, more movement is needed. Yet, I am unsure if I’m ready to go to the gym regularly. 

Pre Pandemic, I was at the gym every day. Really. I rarely missed. Yet, today? I’m not sure if that is necessary or needed. Hm. More reflection needed.

What have you done to stay mobile during the pandemic?

Alright, that’s all for this installment. Next time, I’ll have some waterfalls to show you, as I will be traveling up to Salem to hike Silver State Falls next week. Fun.

Here are a few more pics from the hike, just for fun.

#corvallis, #corvallishiking, #corvallistrails, #hiking, #nature, #oregon, #trailsinoregon, #willamettevalley, #willamettevalleyhiking

Helping Hand

Surpassing
the grandstand,
I withstand the pull,
as my heart
continues to fill

with

an effervescent joy
at all that is employed,
by the gentle touch of a stranger
helping another, who finds themselves
in a little bit of trouble.

Looking into their eyes,
cascading ripples
of love are seen
moving from one to
another
as the realization dawns
that the stranger is our brother.

Mistaken,
we are not, as the soul
we see
is a mere reflection of the

We.

Take heart then,
and don’t fall apart. Rather,
withstand the pull
of another’s desire, and lend
a helping hand
when you can.

#poetry, #connectedness, #connection, #helping-hand, #humanity, #life, #love, #poem, #poems

Caress

Photo by Maheima Kapur on Unsplash

Transfigured
and transformed
like a star
that’s met its last
act of resistance,
and takes the
final curtain call.

We
move through the world
with hopes and desires,
fed by the
gravity of tomorrow.

Pulled into it,
we dance alongside
the wheel of time,
as it turns, and
witness a mirage
and a beauty,
which is one of a kind.

A simple caress
from the morrow,
beckons us
with a will borrowed
and called
forth upon its own sorrow.

And, then?

At destinies chance,
we glance back
and thank
the helping hand
guiding us,
just like all the rest.

#poetry, #beauty, #connection, #destiny, #humanity, #life, #love, #poem, #poems

Atop

Image credit; Sean Robertson @ Unsplash

sitting atop,
ponder the new,
while existence
comes into view

In response to the WDYS #82 prompt from Keep it Alive, by Sadje.

#poetry, #atop, #contemplation, #existence, #introspection, #life, #love, #poem, #poems

Beyond Time

Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash

Love breathes life
into my being, as I stare
out the window of time,
and gaze back
at all of my past crimes.

They are detailed before
me front and center,
outlined
by the pane of censure.

Cracks in the glass of being,
splinter without a care,
radiating out like a spider’s
web of intoxicating pleasure.

And, just now?

I’m pulled back
from my reverie, and
breathe in deep, knowing
that the past, like the future,
only live in the mind’s shallow glass.

While, conversely,

full is the being
without mind,
always present,
and beyond time.

#poetry, #beyond-time, #consciousness, #contemplation, #introspection, #mind, #poem, #poems, #time

Haiku #25

Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash

tranquility is
the essence of being, as
we reflect back love

#poetry, #haiku, #life, #love, #nature, #poem, #poems, #relfection, #tranquility

Glory

Photo by James Day on Unsplash

Mesmerizing is
the sun, radiating love
and breathing life
into my being.

I often stare up,
wanting to catch a glimpse
of that fiery ball
in all of its
glory.

#poetry, #glory, #life, #love, #nature, #poem, #poems, #sun

Tanka #12

Photo by Arun Clarke on Unsplash

lights shine in night sky,
an owl sings in the distance,
crickets echo, day
contemplating existence,
be still and take it all in

Photo by Sébastien Goldberg on Unsplash

#poetry, #existence, #life, #love, #nature, #poem, #poems, #silence, #stillness, #tanka