Poetry and Prose by #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, Co-Author of #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women, and Jan/Feb 2022 Spillwords Press Author of the Month
The end of January. Wow. It’s been almost a year since the pandemic broke out here locally. What a year. And, within 2.5 months of starting to work at home, my first blog post was published. Since then, I’ve created 295 posts, began following so many amazing blogs and inspiring people, and have now over 450 followers. Awesome, and so much fun.
Alright, let’s get to the writing part.
My 2 Favorite Posts This Week
I want to do something different this week, and for a few weeks. Instead of simply recapping all that I wrote, I’m going to choose my favorite 2 or 3 posts each week and provide some of the inspiration, thinking, and reflecting that went into the post. Ready? Good. Here we go.
The reminiscence poem was created as a multi-reflection on my marriage, my childhood, and having two beautiful boys. All three reflections combined in unique ways to create a poem about pain and joy, and recollections about simpler times.
One of the things I love the most about writing poetry, outside of the sheer exuberance I get when an idea flows through me, is looking back, reflecting, and putting on paper some joyous, and yes, sometimes painful life events.
Tanka #2
Tanka #2 was created as a reflection on my meditation practice, and the chasing we sometimes do as humans, trying to get to the next thing, and then the next. Reflecting on meditation and then the concept of chasing after things is a paradox, just like all of life.
The last two lines are a reflection upon creating the future from the present moment, with the knowing that already living inside of me, all of us, are the past, present, and future. As, they are one.
Alright, that’s my reflection on the reflections that inspired the two poems above. That was fun. Let’s now turn to one of my other favorite topics, music.
I’ve posted about my love for music before, though it’s been a while. I grew up in a household where music was always present. Whether that was through the TV and MTV, my dad playing his guitar, or sisters, mom, or myself playing the radio, cassettes, or an 8-track.
Yes, I did just reference the radio, cassette tapes, and 8-tracks in the same sentence. I did grow up in the late 70’s and 80’s though.
In this entry on music, I want to do two things. Show you the guitar I bought today, and embed a youtube of one of my favorite songs.
Alright, first, here is a pic of the guitar I bought today. As I mentioned, my dad played the guitar. Though I tinkered with the guitar as a child, youth, and young adult, it’s been years, and I am excited to take some lessons and begin to play.
Corvallis, Oregon 2021
Pretty, yes? Yes, I think so too.
Alright, now here is one of my favorite songs. I am present to it, because my oldest son played it on the guitars we looked at on Saturday. Was so beautiful.
Here you go.
YouTube
I just adore this song. Always have, and always will.
Alright, friends, that’s all for this week.
Remember, to keep breathing and take time for yourself. It’s important.
Well, next week we enter the fourth week of the winter term, and tiredness has become even more present for myself and the team. More on that in a moment.
Let’s first take a look at the writing from this week. Here we go.
Look at that, two My One Thing entries this week. That’s fun.
Alright, and what about next week?
Well, as we discussed in my last entry, I am continuing to write ahead, so have two posts for next weekend almost complete, which are.
The Leadership Series Part 3: Developing Teams
The Law of Attraction
I am also working on several more haiku’s, tanka’s, and poems. Fun.
This past week, I’ve also been reflecting upon growing up in Los Angeles. I don’t know if I’ll actually live permanently in LA again, however, it is a future possibility. Anyway, because of these reflections, I thought I’d share just a few of my favorite places in LA.
Here we go.
Wow, well I could fill several posts with all of the places I love to visit in LA, however, that will do for now. Alright, so quick descriptions, starting from top left, and working our way around clockwise.
Chavez Ravine, Dodger Stadium
Hollywood
Santa Monica
Big Bear
Huntington Beach
King Taco
Now, as some of you know, I also spent a lot of time in Orange County, CA, and will have some pics of OC in one of my future diary entries.
A New (to me) Podcast
I’ve been listening to a new to me podcast lately called, Invisibilia. The show explores the invisible forces, such as thoughts and feelings, that drive our experiences. As you can imagine, I fell in love with it immediately. It is well done, and, well, quite frankly, excellent. I highly recommend taking a listen.
Being Tired
I’ve been feeling more tired lately, and, as such, have been reworking my schedule. Taking off from work a little early each day, coming home and taking a nap, and then proceeding with my day. I don’t do this everyday, yet am doing it more often than ever before.
It occurs to me that we all need to continue to find new ways to get the rest we need. Whether that rest takes the form of a nap, meditation time, a walk, or some other form matters less, than we create the time, and take the time to replenish ourselves.
The important thing is to check our body and mind often for tiredness. And, when we feel depleted, to take the time needed to recover.
When we ignore our own tiredness, we, in a way, run right over our own intuition. And, our intuition is an important part of the human beings we are.
My invitation to you, as it is to myself everyday, is to pay attention to how your thinking and feeling. And, when your thinking feels skewed, or you just feel tired, to rest in a way that will replenish your body and mind.
It was great to put a period on the lengthy second installment of the Leadership Series. In installment 3, we will look at creating and developing teams. Will be fun.
Alright, and next week?
Well, I already have another Haiku scheduled, as well as a Tanka poem. I also have an article on intention and the last installment in My One Thing: Creating Alignment in Our Lives.
I also have some new ideas, which I’ll get to writing about in the next month or two. Here are a few of those ideas.
The Leadership Series Part 3
A new series on leadership, called Leading from Within
An article on the law of attraction
And, of course, I’ll have new entries in both the developmental moments and reflection series in the next few weeks.
Alright, how about birthdays.
Birthdays
Well, my oldest son turned 21 this week, and my youngest will turn 17 in May. Phew. It is hard to believe, and then not, that these boys are so grown.
I am so impressed with who they are becoming as young men, and am so proud of them both. A lucky father, am I.
Alright, Justin’s birthday was this past week, so he was over Saturday night, and I made a spinach salad with baked tofu (breaded with panko and slightly fried), and brown sugar butternut squash bread.
Both were super tasty, though I will write that the bread was a little sweet for my tastes. Here is the recipe for the bread, and a couple of pics.
Corvallis, Oregon 2021
Fun!
Overwhelm
As I already mentioned, last week we had our busiest week of registration since the pandemic started. Of course, this also means that the team was super busy, and, each of them, at different times and at different levels, experienced overwhelm. Yes, me included.
On Wednesday it occurred to me, though not for the first time, that we are all inundated with stimulation, and it occurs differently inside of the pandemic. Meaning, many of us are on technology more than ever before; and it is needed and necessary to move our work forward.
However, being aware of creating quiet space is also needed and necessary. I think it is needed more now than ever before, and necessary to keep us centered and in balance.
Thus, I sent the team the following message on Wednesday. Subject line: Please read today: Taking the time needed.
Hi all, Phew, what a busy week! I am so impressed by each of you, by the work and possibilities we continue to create for our community. A record number of registrations continue to come in! And, just as our record number of registrations is a beautiful thing to see and be a part of, we have all felt, in some way this week, overwhelmed by the work we are engaged in. I’ve said what I am about to write, in just about every meeting this week. We all need to create time to put the work down, and just be. Be outside in the sun, if it is sunny as it is today, be in a quiet space in our homes, be, well, wherever you can create time for yourself that is away from technology and stimulation. I am asking each of you to continue to create this time for yourselves when needed. You will see on my calendar today at 1 pm, a walk scheduled. I will be away from my computer and phone for 45 minutes. Please do the same when you can. It can be 10 minutes, 20, or longer, just take that time, and be. Great work this week, team!!!!! Jeff
CORVALLIS, OREGON, 2021
Now, I’ve written before about being overstimulated, and being overwhelmed is similar, and, in fact, can function the same way.
We all need time away from everything and everyone.
As you move throughout your week, I invite you to create this time for yourself. Create time for yourself, to be with yourself. Just for you.
And, take that time to breathe, witness all that surrounds you and is within you, and just be.
Well, we’ve now just about completed our first full week of the new year, which means, well, many different things for people. For me? It means that I’m back at the College, and we are continuing to move our work forward. I’ll talk more about that in a minute. For now?
Well, I’m happy to report that I’ve been scheduling posts in advance, so I already know some of next week’s posts, which include a few poems, haiku#2, and two more articles on development. One of the articles is on having difficult conversations, and one is the last entry in part 2 the Leadership Series.
I am also working on two new articles, which will not be posted for a couple weeks. One is on creating intention, and the second is on the law of attraction. They should be super fun.
Alright, as it was my first week back to work in a week-and-a-half, let’s take a look at how that went.
I’ve been in this current position for almost 4 years now, so the break was, well, awesome, and different. Different in that, there was more time. I didn’t work as much, so had more time for writing and other endeavors. Was nice.
However, by the last weekend of the break, I was ready to see the team. We had a great first week back, registrations are stronger than they’ve been since the beginning of the pandemic, which means we are serving more and more people each term. Amazing.
The team is well. They are continuing to use both their heads and their hearts to move our work forward, which is, well, essential.
I’ve written before about making sure we use both our heads and our hearts in our lives, well, actually recently, so will simply state here, that it is super fun to see the team’s growth, our collective growth, and the growth of each individual. Super fun.
I am happy to write that the remote book club is alive and well. As you may recall, we are reading, Killing Commendatore, by Haruki Murakami.
Now, I’ll admit my bias, as I have before, I am a huge Murakami fan, so I love this book. Thus far, the book is about journeying. Journey’s that occur inside ourselves and outside ourselves. It is quite fascinating.
We are only about half way through the 700+ page book, which means we will not finish it until sometime in February.
I look forward to the discussion we will have in about three weeks from now, should be pretty amazing.
This past week I was more present to the word, or concept of, difficulty. For many reasons, one of which is, yes, the article I wrote about difficult conversations; and, also the continued difficulties due to the pandemic.
I am leaving you this week with the Monday message I have scheduled for the team, which will go out tomorrow morning.
Here we go.
This past week, I’ve been reflecting upon the word, or concept of, difficulty. Why?
Well, the entire world has experienced many difficult things this past year. And, whereas, yes, we are beginning a new year, it is part of my everyday practice and work to recognize that more difficulties lie ahead.
However, understanding that there will be difficulty does not mean that there will only be things that are difficult.
One thing, of the many, I’ve learned this past year, is that it’s actually inside of life’s experiences, which are difficult, where we learn more about, well, everything. More about the world, the nation, the state, our local community, the college, our team, and, yes, about the human beings we are today.
I’ve also learned that no experience, or concept, such as difficulty, is free from their conceptual counterpoint. In this example, we can use the word, or concept, easily, as the counterpoint to difficulty.
When we experience something that is difficult, we know it’s difficult because we’ve also experienced things in our life that are easier. They go together. Always have, and always will. It’s how life works.
My invitation to you?
To remember, when life is giving you things that are difficult, that they will pass, and that, in some ways, when we get life experiences that are difficult, they make us appreciate the easy stuff that much more.
Corvallis, Oregon, January 2021
Wow, I’ve never used the “pull quote” function in WordPress before. That’s fun. Alright, back on track.
We will always get things in life that are difficult. It is inevitable. However, we will also get things in life that are easy, also part of life. They are, in fact, one. Inseparable. Meaning?
Enjoy them all, as you are able, my friends, and live your life to the fullest extent possible.
Alright, as we embark on a new year, it only seems fitting to, yes, take a look at last week’s writing real quick, and then? Well, we’ll take a look at two new series I am working on for this new year; one launched, and one in production. And, then a small reflection on this past year, and my hopes for 2021. Let’s get started, shall we? Good. Here we go.
Writing
Though I did work a little last week, I was on official holiday, as it is the only time each year that the college closes. Meaning, I had more time to write. A few more posts were published, and I did some writing for future weeks, which was really nice. Here then, is what was published last week.
Nice. Funnily enough, one of my favorite posts this week was the baking post. Different, and fun. Next week? Yep.
I’ve got two posts scheduled already, one for Friday morning, and one for Saturday morning. The former is the second installment, though it is written as the first, in the My One Thing series, which I’ll write more about in a minute, and then the latter is the second-half of the second installment in the Leadership series.
I also have several poems written, and am also working on scheduling those in advance. Though, again, with poetry, I like the space to create on the fly, as insights occur. I’ll be managing that balance as we move forward this year.
I describe the insight behind the My One Thing series in the upcoming installment. Yet, real quick, will write that I am excited about a series that will cover, and capture, a moment in time, and expand out to, well, life, I suppose. The main idea behind the series is to focus and write about My One Thing of the moment, or evening, morning, afternoon, day, week, month, quarter, year, or longer.
You can see an example of this new series in the baking post above. And, the second?
I’ve been looking into and researching haikus, and I have to say they are quite beautiful. I’ve read many from your amazing blogs, and am currently reflecting upon creating a haiku series.
Though I love the stream of consciousness involved in poetry, there is also something quite magical about a 5, 7, 5 syllable sound pattern that is exquisite in its creation and manifestation. I am going to create a few haikus over the next week, and then, we will see.
As I look back at last year, I see a lot of pain, anger, frustration, worry, sadness, grief, and, well, many other emotions and actions, which I definitely felt and worked through this year, and I know were present for people around the world.
We were taken on a world upending, in many ways, tour de force of the power of nature. And, though the aforementioned emotions and actions were a reality, I did also see other emotions and actions in play this past year. Such as?
Acts of kindness, generosity, love, compassion, empathy, reciprocity, and many more. Yes, it was a tough year, yet even in that toughness there was also beauty.
Which leads me into my hopes to see more kindness, generosity, love, compassion, empathy, and reciprocity this coming year. As I’ve mentioned before, there is a lot of work to do in this country from many perspectives, equity and justice being one of them.
I look forward to progress this year on the continual dismantling of the, still in place, systems and structures of oppression in this country; and, I have hope that the vaccine will, at the very least, prepare a runway for us all to be back together again at some point this year.
Until then?
Continue to take the actions we can to create the world we all want to see and live in. It doesn’t matter how small or large the actions are. It’s not about that. It’s about taking that one step, that one action.
And, on that note, I’ll leave you this week with a quote that speaks to that point.
“Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” -Dalai Lama
Well, this past week, I had an insight about writing. An insight that was derived from some of the blogs I follow. Yes, some of you, so thank you. The insight? Sure.
Namely, to write and schedule posts in advance. I’ve not done something like this on a regular basis, yet I can definitely see the utility, especially when during normal work times, of which this particular time period is not. So?
Well, I’ll get to that in a moment. First, let’s take a look at this week’s writing. Here we go.
As I was writing about above, I already have two posts scheduled for next weekend. An article on leadership, and one on vulnerability. It’s nice to have those written and scheduled, which will allow me to get back to work on the leadership series, the reflection series, and the social construction series next week. Excited.
I’m present to goal-setting today, as I’ve created a new vision for some of my upcoming engagement on LinkedIn, and have set new goals within that vision. Of course, I’ve also created priorities that are connected to both the long-term, and short-term goals.
And, when you have goals that live within your vision, whether that is personal or professional, you need a system to put it into. I’ve written a couple articles about creating systems, and will share my LinkedIn system with you here.
There we go. That was fun. I do love venngage. Anyway, here we can see the department priorities, and then one way that I will take action next quarter to create more engagement through LinkedIn (LI). You will see there are some blog series listed, which are not actually a reality yet, however, that’s how goal-setting works.
First you create the vision, then the objectives, then the priorities, and then? Well, you get to work. I am excited about the opportunity to discuss the new series with you in the future.
Okay, let’s turn to holidays, shall we? Good. Here we go.
Wow, what a lovely time of year. I do love the holiday, as I’ve written about before. It’s more the time of year, when we are heading into deeper winter, and I can start to see the spring not far off.
Well, it’s still a ways off at this point, however, in the Pac Northwest, the days start to get noticeably longer in January. And, I do love longer days, and the possibility of more sun as we head towards March.
Though, we had a gorgeously sunny day today. Beautiful.
Though I didn’t travel this holiday, we did Zoom calls, like lots of people, and that was nice. I also spent time with my oldest son, playing frisbee golf in the rain and cold, yet it was so nice to spend time with him. We made a sweet potato and butternut squash chili, and had dark chocolate cranberry bread for dessert.
Yes, of course I made the bread from scratch! I love to cook and bake, which I don’t know that I’ve written about before. Anyway, the bread was delicious.
Alright, that’s all for this entry.
As we approach the New Year, I want to wish you all the best in the coming week, and in the coming year. I am so excited about this next year. Seriously. I am excited to continue to create and write, and continue to engage with your beautiful creations.
Alright, another busy week, and, yep, also not busy. I’ve not started an entry that way before, have I? Nope. Why?
Well, it occurred to me this past week that in even the busiest times, when we feel like life is moving faster than we can follow along, there is always time. Now, granted, we have to create it, yet it does exist. In these pandemic days, I just wanted to make sure this is known. More time for yourself, for myself, is creatable.
Writing
Okay, now, into the writing that occurred this past week. Here we go.
I’m currently working on a couple of new posts, which are.
The Social Construction Series Part 9: The Social Construction of Power
The Leadership Series Part 2.5: Why Developing the Self is Always the First Step in Leadership
I thought getting one of these published this week might happen, alas, that will not be the case. However, I do feel pretty confident about getting them both completed next week. We shall see. And, as I always say, or, rather, write, that is the fun part of the process. Not really knowing, and being at peace with that.
I’ve had so much fun with the remote book club. Last week, as we discussed in my last diary post, we finished Anxious People, and are now onto my choice, Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami. I’m a big Murakami fan, so I am super excited about this next book.
In my diary entry last week, I also wrote about connection and communication, and I’d like to report that having the additional connection and communication with the local folks in the remote book club has been amazing. Fun.
August, 2020
Videoing
Well, I’ve not written about creating videos in some time. Why? Well, I’ve been putting more time into my writing, and so the videos have been deprioritized. However, I have a whole new vision for video engagement, especially for LinkedIn, and so will be creating some new videos in the next quarter.
If you’ve not seen any of my videos, and are interested, due check out my Youtube channel. I’ve only had the channel for a short time, and find that creating videos is a beneficial way to connect with people from an audio/visual learning perspective.
You can also check out the videos on my site right here. Wow, I’ve not added a new video to the website since June. Phew. It’s been a little longer than I realized. Well, that just means there’s that much more to create!
I’ve written many articles on vulnerability. All of them intended to create the importance of actively being aware of how vulnerability can be transformational to both our personal and professional development. Seriously transformational.
I am resetting them here, as I do also believe that in the future we will need as much innovation as possible. And? Well, one of the gateways to unleashing creative potential is learning to be vulnerable. Alright, here are those articles.
Wow, what a busy, busy week. I know, I know, I always start out that way. Yet, it really was. So much so, in fact, that my time was allocated to other things, and writing in some ways, not all ways for sure, took a little bit of a back seat this week.
Writing
Simply meaning that I didn’t get to work on larger pieces this week. Yet, you know what I did get to work on? Yep. Poetry. I am absolutely falling in love with writing poetry. Love. And, here’s what that looked like.
And, next week? Yep, here is what I’m currently working on.
An Insight Poem
The Reflection Series Part 4: What Does it Mean to Live a Life Full of Insight?
The Reflection Series Part 5: What Does it Mean to Live and Love a Communicative Life?
I am finding that it is necessary to shorten my articles a little. That certainly doesn’t mean I’ll stop writing longer pieces. Yet, at least for the time being, I am working on some shorter posts. We will see.
Okay, so I am still reading the book on Ramana Maharshi, yet am also now reading another book for the book club, which I’ll write more about in a moment. Ramana?
I am about 1/3 of the way through the book, maybe more, and here is what I love the most about the book thus far.
The book is set up as a Q&A session with Ramana and the narrator. And? Time and again, the narrator basically asks Ramana the same question in different ways. And, each time? Yep.
Ramana gives a very different answer that points the narrator, and the reader, back to the same place. Fun. The place?
Inside of you, of course. No matter the question, the seeking, the apparent frustration, the answer? Yep, already lives inside of you. Stay quiet and listen. Lovely.
Well, here in Oregon, we are now on a 2-week freeze, which the Governor did say would be extended if the cases continued to stay steady or rise. Impact?
Hardest hit are the local small businesses, especially those in the food industry. Phew. Difficult.
We will be working with small business owners in the coming days and weeks to ensure they have what they need to pivot their businesses once again.
I’m not sure a more resilient group exist right now, with the exception of those in healthcare. Amazing people all around.
Quick updated. I was able to get the remote book club together for our first meeting a week ago Saturday. Fun!
We’ve chosen to read, Anxious People, by Fredrik Backman. It’s actually pretty good thus far.
Sort of an inquiry, as the title relates, into the human condition in regard to emotionality, and the spectrum of how that plays out in stressful situations. Interesting.
Closing
Well, that’s about it for this week. Time to go see what you are all up to, and to see if I can finish the insight poem on this night. Ha! Even more fun.
The first stanza? Sure. Here we go.
Insight is such a delight, A fancy quite bright, which lives Beyond the pale moonlight
Fun, fun, fun.
Alright, everyone, please stay healthy and well, and have a wonderful week ahead.
Remember, you are an inspiration to me, and to everyone around you.
Alright, as a novice blogger, I only really learned about these blogging awards in the past couple of months. How, prey? Well, from you of course. 🙂
Now, I’ve been nominated a couple of times alongside some fantastic bloggers, of which I am honored to share nomination space, by, for instance, Soni, of Soni’s thoughts. An amazing and talented writer, artist, and singer.
This is the first time, however, that I’ve actually written a nomination post. Fun!
From Laura, of Lotus Laura. Another amazing blogger. On Laura’s blog I’ve read about spirituality, music, food, and much, much more. Wonderfully talented. Thank you, Larua, for the lovely nomination.
Alright, Laura, and friends, ready? Good. Here we go.
Rules
Thank the person that nominated you and put a link to their blog
Answer the questions given to you
Nominate 2-6 bloggers and notify them of their nomination
Create 11 new questions, or use the same ones below
Questions from Laura
Do you have any nicknames (or childhood nicknames)?
What’s your favorite type of weather?
How would you describe your style of writing?
Do you prefer music or TV/movies?
What’s a good meal you’ve recently had?
Are you currently working from home?
What’s your favorite planet?
Are you looking forward to Christmas?
Do you think much about the future?
Do you prefer to be serious or joke around?
What is your current mood?
1. Do you have any nicknames (or childhood nicknames)?
Hm. I don’t think so. Unless you count the variation of Jeff and Jeffrey, which, of course, are not nicknames proper. Thus, I would say no, no nicknames.
Ah, yes. Well, growing up in sunny Los Angeles was great in that, well, it was sunny all the time. Yet, what you miss in that kind of environment is the beauty and majesty in seasonal changes.
Right, right, the question at hand. Here we go.
I LOVE the time of year where I currently live, when we shift from summer to fall. We still get lots of sun, which I love, and the temperature cools down a bit, which is also nice.
3. How would you describe your style of writing?
A good question. Let’s see. I think it is always changing. At one time, I would have described my writing as academic. You know, very mechanical. Yep. True. Not so much today, however.
I am learning that I can write in a more relaxed style and still investigate, with all of you, of course, intellectual topics. Hm. For today, I would describe my writing style as relaxed. Tomorrow? Don’t know. 🙂
LOVE this question. Alright, so I adore, and I mean, adore music. This one, then, is really easy. I much prefer music over the other two. Though, I will add here that I do enjoy a good movie, or television show.
5. What’s a good meal you’ve recently had?
Hm. Well, they are all mostly cooked by me at the moment, due to the pandemic. Meaning, that I am not really eating out right now. Okay, ready?
Here’s one I’ve been preparing a lot lately. And, I love it.
Many of you may know that I am practicing a vegan diet today and have been for, well, over a year now, so protein? Yep, you’ve got to be creative.
Alright, so my son taught me how to cook lentils, which I love, in such a way that they end up cooked through, yet a little crunchy. They are an amazing substitute for the protein in street tacos, which are one of my absolute favorite foods. Delicious.
Mmm. Yes and no. I am looking forward to the holidays generally, as I do every year, yet, due to my father’s passing last year, and the pandemic, it will probably be a little rough this year.
These are the moments where I am truly grateful for technology, like Zoom and Skype, which will be a nice way to connect with my mother and sisters in Los Angeles.
Fun! My answer will not surprise most of you, as I’ve written quite a lot on this topic.
I believe that we create our future in each and every moment. Yep. Every action we take, connected to a future self we know ourselves to be, means that we are creating tomorrow today.
Therefore, I believe the future lives in the present moment. In that way, you can say I think about the future a lot!
10. Do you prefer to be serious or joke around?
Another fun question! Might depend on who you ask, and when you ask them. Generally, I would say that I am both. That is, when focused, I am serious, driven, and determined to create a new and more equitable world and future.
At the same time, however, I am full of life, love, and laughter. Therefore, it is possible to see me in one moment, super focused on the task or project at hand, and in the next, laughing until I fall out of my chair. Really. Just like that.
Mmmm. A lovely question. Phew. I would say that right now, I am filled with both hope and optimism about the future. And?
At the same time, I am also filled with sadness and grief. Sadness about just how hard everything is right now. Really hard.
And, grief for many of the local small business owners that will have to once again pivot their business models, if possible, as the entire State of Oregon is now in a 2-week freeze. Yep.
And, you know what? It is okay and perfectly normal to be filled with both hope and optimism, and grief and sadness. Yep. Perfectly normal.
It’s hard to believe, I know, I know, cliche, yet, it is hard to believe that the holidays are upon us. Phew. A busy week, as always, and a stressful one for people that live in this country. Yep. True.
Writing
Right, so, first, in the event you’ve not yet seen what I’ve been up to, here it is.
Well, well, well, look at that. More poems than any other type of writing this week. Hm. Well, I did write last week that I was going to continue writing poems. How fun.
And, this week?
Well, as always, there is a plan, yet I’m never really sure what will happen. More fun that way. Really. Let’s see. Yes, I am thinking about a few different pieces. Here they are.
Poems on
Courage
Movement
Vulnerability
Majesty
A new social construction series entry on interaction ritual – it’s a sociological thing, of course, and will be fun.
Some new thinking I’ve done on interactions. More specifically on coaching type conversation.
And, I’m still pondering that piece on moving towards a more resilient and positivistic approach to sociology. Not sure.
It’s super fun to look back on what I’ve written during the week, reflect upon it, and then consider the following week’s writing. I am very curious to see how much poetry comes this next week. Hm.
Right. Well, that’s all about writing. Now? Yep, here we go.
Though, I’m not going to go on and on here, I do want to acknowledge how much stress, worry, and anxiety people in this country have been feeling about the election over the past week
And, no matter where you align yourself along the political spectrum, the aforementioned statement is true.
I am grateful that the election is complete, and that Biden and Harris will be in office for the next 4 years.
Whereas, I am hopeful they will do some good for a very fractured country, I do believe they are a bridge to a better day. Meaning?
That both political parties have work to do; and, they need to begin today.
That’s about all I have to write about that for now. Music? Yep. Good. Here we go.
Alright, so, like many of you, I’m sure, I listen to music when I write. Well, actually, I listen to music when I do lots of things, writing is simply one of them. And?
Well, a good friend of mine turned me on to a new pianist this past week. And?
WOW!
I mean, phew, moving, inspiring, exceptional. Ready? Here you go.
Now, whether you enjoy piano, or not, I invite you to please take a listen. Yiruma plays some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard. Really. Phew. Lovely.
Alright, that’s about all for this week.
Before I go, I want to add one more thing. Ready? Good. Here we go.
A New Day
Though divided, They simply had forgotten, That division is the seed of begotten Times past, and
That there was need Of a new day, where the kids could play Free from fear of reprisal,
Along a path toward survival With a much needed revival
Let us then not be stifled, but rather Set a course Quite more delightful
And work side by side One and all Toward a future That holds the promise Of what is rightful and insightful
Develop. Inspire. Transform. 