Tag Archives: introspection

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 12:06 pm on May 23, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , , introspection, , silver falls state park, ,   

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

Photo by Matthias Oberholzer on Unsplash

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

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on May 20, 2021
Tags: , atop, , , introspection, , , ,   

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

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on May 19, 2021
Tags: , beyond time, , , introspection, , , ,   

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

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 pm on May 15, 2021
Tags: , , , , introspection, , , , , , rumination,   

Haiku #24

Photo by Matt Gross on Unsplash

Water, transfixed in
mind, ruminations abound
as life mirrors back.

#poetry, #contemplation, #earth, #haiku, #introspection, #life, #love, #mirror, #poem, #poems, #rumination, #water

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on May 15, 2021
Tags: , , , , forget, introspection, , , ,   

Forget

Photo by Manuel Meurisse on Unsplash

Sometimes
my emotions feel like a
spool of thread
wound tight, yet not too so,
more just right.

How, you ask, could I know?

Years spent
living in a body
with emotions bound
so tight,
I lived on the verge
of extinction
from the very bliss of
every little feeling distinction.

And now?

Just right,
is about the state
of things today. And,
I’m always curious
about what the next chapter
will lay

at my feet.

As I continue
to learn
more about my (our)
very existence
on a planet
so full of wonder
I often forget

what I’m dealing

with.

#poetry, #contemplation, #earth, #emotions, #forget, #introspection, #life, #nature, #poem, #poems

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on May 11, 2021
Tags: , , , introspection, , , , , , ,   

Haiku #23

Photo by Omid Armin on Unsplash

memories forged of
another place and time, we
sit and ponder this

#poetry, #contemplation, #haiku, #introspection, #life, #love, #meditation, #poem, #poems, #ponder, #wonder

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on May 10, 2021
Tags: , , direction, , , , introspection, , , , ,   

Protection

Photo by Paul Szewczyk on Unsplash

The tree stands,
some in light
and some in shadow

A whimsical
feeling soes foretell
of another
delightful place and time,
Where healing happens
in an instant
and all those issues
are gone before you’ve
glimpsed it.

It’s there
on the stairs,
again, calling
to all that care.

Beauty
in all that’s seen
just like in a dream,
magical, mysterious,
and certainly glowing
with such effervescence
you wonder
if it’s really full
of that much pleasure.

You reconcile
the feeling
with a need for healing,
and realize,
the light’s always been
there. Guiding
and providing
you with direction
and much protection.

#poetry, #contemplation, #direction, #feeling, #guide, #healing, #introspection, #life, #love, #poem, #poems, #protection

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 pm on May 8, 2021
Tags: , , exploration, , , introspection, , , , ,   

Haiku #22

Photo by Evgeni Tcherkasski on Unsplash

twists and turns galore,
heart ready to explore, with
silence at your door

#poetry, #contemplation, #exploration, #haiku, #heart, #introspection, #life, #love, #poem, #poems, #silence

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 12:00 pm on May 8, 2021
Tags: , , , introspection, , , ,   

Unpacking and Reconceptualizing Purpose

Photo by Laura Seaman on Unsplash

I’ve been reflecting a lot upon the concept purpose the past few weeks, and, whereas I’ve not come up with any real new conclusions about purpose, I do have a few reflections to share with you. Ready? Okay, here we go.

Let’s first define the concept.

purpose noun

the intention, aim or function of something; the thing that something is supposed to achieve

Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries

There we go. 

While I understand this definition, it leaves me feeling a little wanting. Meaning, while I understand the definition perfectly well, I think it can set us up for heartbreak if we’re not careful.

For instance, what happens if the “something that is supposed to [be] achieved,” is not achieved. Then what? Hm.

Photo by Ava Sol on Unsplash

I have a different way to think about purpose; and it consists of three basic concepts.

  1. Being present.
  2. Accepting what is.
  3. Creating anew.
Photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash

When we are fully present, each moment lives and breathes with a purpose all it’s own. Thinking about purpose this way is not about “achievement.” It’s not about striving or seeking anything. It’s about being present to what is, accepting it with an open heart and mind, and then taking the actions necessary to create anew in each moment.

Thinking about purpose this way, eliminates the need for something specific to happen. Instead, each moment something unexpected can occur, and we can accept it, and create our life anew from that space. 

That is powerful, empowering, and purposeful.

#acceptance, #creation, #humandevelopment, #introspection, #minfulness, #presence, #purpose, #selfdevelopment

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:01 am on May 8, 2021
Tags: , , fractures, , , introspection, , , , , , sealingandhealing   

Sealing and Healing

Photo by Anthony Intraversato on Unsplash

Trauma and pain
go together,
and as I sit here
and type this poem,
I’m reflecting upon
this person’s pain, and
all of the memories
that are the impetus for such
agony and drain.

The memories
are like splinters
in my heart,
and run deep, just like
a fracture in the earth,
which, in times of
great consternation
split wide open,
spilling forth
the earth’s contents
from it’s very core.

And,
just like our beautiful
Mother’s fractures,
these splinters of the heart,
widen with time,
until momentum enough
is created,
and everything comes
spilling forth.

Yet,
this truth does not
live in isolation
from the sealing
and healing
of those splinters of heart,
and fractures of earth,
which gather together
over time.

Acknowledging
their existence,
and filling them,
one and all,
with love and compassion
is a remedy
that I truly adore.

#poetry, #contemplation, #fractures, #heal, #heart, #introspection, #life, #love, #pain, #poem, #poems, #sealingandhealing