Tag Archives: Purpose

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 8:35 am on October 16, 2022
Tags: , , , , , , , juniper, , , , , , , Purpose, , rocks   

#NatureSpeaks: 30 #Poems in 30 Days – Day 23: Gift From The Sea, by Selma Martin

I am not jealous of the rocks
that dwell deep in the ocean bed
they have nothing to covet;
nothing to look forward to
(scoff)
but for sore backs from laying stiff
under kelp beds in seagrass–
as threshing sea-doormats
— and perhaps of sand in their eyes
but I suppose I’m predisposed to
how heavy its shoulders must be
when my avant-garde gauge
is the emptiness I suffer
after yet one more mate left my bed
I met a starfish at the shore the other day
when my shoulders were laden with pity
and boy, was I surprised with the story she shared!
she named a rock in the intertidal zone
that dreamed about being a rock in Mt. Everest
where he’d lay under a female Juniper tree
in the forested zone, no less,
to wait for Juniper to drop him her berry-cones

“Don’t ask,” the pink starfish exclaimed,
rolling her eyes before she continued,
“but he is lots of fun and such a loving rock;
everyone respects him– we hope to keep him
grounded and curious.
We cannot make him change, but we can make him
grow aware of his unrealistic expectations,”
she said, and then she left with the tide
shouting I-don’t-know-what at me and that she’d
write her rock a love poem
How curious, thought I of the soliloquy
that even rocks have dreams to profess
curious-er still about the rock’s recklessness
to plant ideas into the heads of sea stars
Is that what life’s like at the bottom of the sea?

Today I met a rearing Adélie penguin pair
hit with a dire dearth of rocks to steal–
they have their eyes on the stones
at the bottom of the oceanic crust
but by golly, those are unwieldy
and immerse too deep to even try
“We’re the pebble poachers in these lands,”
the female told me, “with brave dreams of getting
our hands on those stones.”
“Stones that just lay on sea beds–
doing nothing,” offered the male.
Then, just as they came, they ran
off to write each other love poems.
I nodded, supposing I understood their plight.
Is it thievery when this couple
could put those rocks to good use–
and grant the rocks a purpose to be?
All for the sake of their offspring?

As I trudged home, my shoulders felt lighter
I didn’t know I didn’t know– but now I know!
Thinking hard about being jinxed by getting
the feted short end of the stick in life
which amounts to not having someone
to cohabit my bed with at night
Is my qualm due to quixotic expectations?
Do I need more lessons from the sea?
Perchance now I’m more ready to give it one more try
I’ll start today by writing to myself a love poem.

Photo by Rimvydas Ardickas on Pexels.com

Gift From The Sea was inspired by the poem Ocean’s Rocks. You can read more of Selma’s poetry at Selma.

I am sharing one more collaborative response poem tomorrow morning, and then will post one of my poetic responses each day the rest of next week, which will make 30 days in a row of poetry for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of the amazing poets that participated in this collaboration, and to all of you for being here, reading, liking, and commenting on the posts. It’s been so much fun!

Stay tuned to this blog for a Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration wrap-up post, and for details about my next initiative, by month’s end. Thank you.

Jeff Flesch

Author, #1 Amazon New Release Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow

Co-Author, #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women

Author of the Month, Jan/Feb 2022, Spillwords Press

#poetry, #30-poems-in-30-days, #burden, #determination, #dreams, #expectations, #human-connection, #juniper, #life, #love, #nature, #naturespeaks, #poem, #poems, #purpose, #resilience, #rocks

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on July 13, 2022
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Purpose   

heart of hope

the stream runs faster
and farther

than a single breath can last

moving in tandem
with a purpose delivered

at last

a mirror cracking and aching
from lost parts

pebbles and rocks strewn out
deep and broad

while I
give a wink, and nod

to the sky, singing the stream
a simple lullaby

made form syllables
long and short

all delivered from my heart of hope

Photo by Layers, Pixabay

#poetry, #contemplation, #heart, #hope, #human-connection, #introspection, #language, #life, #love, #nature, #poem, #purpose

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on January 19, 2022
Tags: , , , , , , , , Purpose, ,   

the red brick wall…

the red brick wall

is covered in stories, holding the heat of 1000 nations,
imbibed with something
extraordinarily

stationed…as
we bear witness to a

façade that cracks,
and crumbles,
as each piece
of story
falls,

and
tumbles…

picked up by passersby, as they journey behind time,
washing themselves in the riddle of
human
kind

leaving their fingerprints upon the surface, adding
their stories to the
collectivity

it is
their
purpose

molding their hearts together, while adding one more
story

to love’s, ever-burning, furnace…

Photo by uvlik05, Pixabay

#poetry, #collective, #connection, #heart, #humanity, #life, #love, #poem, #purpose, #shared, #stories

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on October 30, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Purpose   

towards the light of another day…

I skip over puddles, one, two, three,
in the mirror images, I see, you
refracted back at me…

always loving and kind, despite the pain
sitting on the surface
of our contoured purpose,
reaching deep within,
looking amongst the worn out travelers, sin

arises, seems raw, and depletes me again…

tired, and tortured, I look to the earth’s very nature, for a sense of purpose

realizing
the feelings, and thoughts, go against the grain

like the trees, bare, and scorched of their outer skins, while flayed and portrayed

in the myriad contexts,
where love is at the center, not grim,
more compassionate, to the travelers
making their way

towards the light of another day…

Photo by distelAPPArath from Pixabay

#poetry, #connection, #contemplation, #emotion, #heart, #introspection, #joy, #life, #light, #love, #nature, #pain, #poem, #purpose

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

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 6:00 am on April 11, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , collaborativewriting, , , , , Purpose,   

A Blogger’s Diary 4/11/21: On Writing, Reflecting, Collaboration, and Purpose

This past week, I’ve been reflecting upon purpose, which I’ll write more about in a moment, and planning in the unknown, which will be the topic of a post, well, I’m not sure when, yet will get to it eventually.

Before we get to my reflection on purpose, let’s take a look at a couple writing reflections.

Writing and Reflecting

Photo by hannah grace on Unsplash

Mind

The poem Mind was, as you may have already surmised, a reflection on my meditation practice. A large part of my life today. It is a beautiful experience, to sit and watch as the mind does it’s thing, and to become detached from it’s activity. It is also a wonder to sit and watch as your mind, over time, begins to slow and become more quiet. Magical.

The Mind poem was also my first foray into the Hexastich poetry style. I learned about this poem style, like many others, from a lovely blogger friend of mine. I’ve written another poem in this style already, and will have more to share in the coming weeks and months.

Gift

The poem Gift was a reflection of the many things I’ve learned in the past 4 years, as I’ve learned to go within from my life coach and teacher. It’s been difficult and one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.

And, like I write often, this nexus of the difficult and wonderful, a paradox (and not), is where the jewels of life live. When we slow down, go within, really get to know ourselves, we get back so much more. Beautiful.

Collaboration

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

As you may know, yesterday I posted The Dance Dances A Life of Its Own, which was a collaboration with Amber of DiosRaw. As a relatively new blogger, I’ve only done one other collaboration, which was the post, Vulnerability: A Paradox, with Maja of Lampelina.

Amber and I created the poem this past week, with the former, sending emails back and forth throughout the creative process. Was superb. A wonderful experience.

With the latter, I submitted a request to do a guest post on Lampelina, and Maja reached out to me to do so. Was also a great experience.

A lot of fun all-around.

There is another collaboration, of a different kind, coming soon, with another inspiring blogger. I’ll have more on that in the future.

I love the concept of, and practice of, collaboration. You learn so much more when you work with other people. It is by far one of my favorite things to do in this life, collaborate with inspirational people. I’ve been very lucky to have had these opportunities and many others in various areas of my life; and, I look forward to future ones.

Purpose

Photo by Derek Thomson on Unsplash

While I’ve written on purpose before, it is a concept and practice that I reflect upon, well, not quite often, yet it does come up now and then. This week, purpose has come up in regard to planning inside of the unknown.

There was a time in my life where I continually questioned my purpose. Was in fact, confounded by the idea of purpose. Maybe even a little afraid of the concept.

However, today, I accept my truth in regard to purpose. That, in fact, each moment we are alive, we can find our purpose in, well, exactly what it is that we are doing. Right now, typing this end of the week diary entry. In the next moment? Don’t know, it doesn’t exist yet.

What I am pointing to, is that purpose lives inside of us. Purpose is a concept that we attach meaning to, just like every other concept. If you believe that purpose needs to look and feel a certain way, and you don’t see or feel what you are looking for, well, then you’ll have a hard time finding your purpose.

However, if you believe that purpose lives within, and lives in each moment every day, doing exactly as you are already doing, well, there’s nothing to find. Your purpose is readily apparent in each moment everyday.

We can all develop an awareness of purpose that is different from the current one we hold. It just takes practice. Practice letting go of the concept of purpose as we understand it today, and learning a new way to think about and feel purpose.

Remember, purpose is first and foremost a concept. It is not a living breathing thing. We breathe life into the concept of purpose, as we do all concepts, when we give life to it by attaching meaning, which we create, to the concept.

And, just as we breathe life into the concept of purpose as we do today, we can learn a new way to breathe a different life into a new concept of purpose.

It is up to you, me, and everyone else; and, well, that’s quite empowering.

Alright, that’s all for this week.

Have a blessed week, my friends.

#poetry, #blog, #blogger, #bloggers-diary, #blogging, #collaboration, #collaborativewriting, #creatingpurpose, #diary, #poem, #poems, #purpose, #reflection

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 1:00 pm on December 5, 2020
Tags: , , , miracle, , , Purpose, run   

Run

Photo by Jeremy Lapak on Unsplash

You’re me,
So please let it be
As it is all relative,
So why try to flee

From that which you see
A mirrored reflection
No matter the direction
You take, or upon

Which road your fate may lay

It depends not on the fray
Or the delay which you see,
Only on the scene, which will
Play out as a matter of destiny

Hidden
And yet it’s view plain
For all to see

A matter of course
And miracle to most, so
Celebrate each moment
With a true sense of devotion

For the Host, and

Run if you must, yet
Know that when you run,
You are never alone,
As you are a miracle born

With a purpose all your own

Have a lovely weekend, everyone.

#destiny, #life, #love, #miracle, #poem, #poems, #purpose, #run

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 6:22 pm on November 1, 2020
Tags: , poemandwriting, , Purpose,   

A Poem of The Road

Corvallis, 2020

The Road
A path laid bare
For all who dare, to
Travel it without great fanfare

Bumpy it will be, and
Forks you will see
Left or right decisions are alright,
Yet choices never ware

For it is within our hearts compare
Where you must dare, to
Find yourself in times of despair, and
Tranquility both, in belief are fair

And, thus do complete our affair
Of a minute and distant, yet
Relevant pair, seemingly
Two, yet unknown and known as one

Left or right, choose one, and
Have faith that all will be just right
For it isn’t in the choice that knows
It’s in the poise that shows

Of the strength you have inside

A knowing that knows, of
The home that shows
That left or right, path
Smooth or stoned, will prove
To be your purposed road and abode

#poem, #poemandwriting, #poems, #purpose, #writing

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 7:23 pm on September 26, 2020
Tags: , authenticityandpurpose, beingwhoyouare, , , , goodnightlights, , , makingadifference, movingonepersonatatime, Purpose,   

An Insight, An Inspiration, and A Quote: On Purpose and Authenticity

Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

I recently wrote the post, 3 Reasons Why Creating Alignment With Your Why Is Important; And, 3 Simple Steps to Create Your Why, and it occured to me on my hike today that I missed a very important aspect of understanding, creating, and then relaying our why. What, you ask?

Authenticity.

An Insight

Anyone can create a why, right? You get a prompt, why do you do what you do? You answer. Yet, that’s not quite it. If your why is disconnected from your authentic-self, people will not be attracted to it; why?

Because they will know/feel that you are being inauthentic.

It is, then, super important when creating our whys to be the authentic human being you know yourself to be. Let go of preconceived notions of who you think other people believe you are, and write your why from the space of who you know yourself to be. Important.

See, creating a why, or a purpose statement, is not about pleasing someone else, it’s about you. About the person you are today, the person you are creating yourself to be tomorrow.

When you get clear on your purpose, and convey your why from a place of authenticity, people will be attracted to it. They will see themselves in you. And, when someone shares their why with you, you’ll know if they’re being authentic, and, if they are, you will probably be attracted to them.

Photo by Taylor Smith on Unsplash

An Inspiration

You. Yes, you dear blogger.

I’ve been following more and more sites the past couple of weeks, and have been truly inspired by all that I’ve read. From food recipes to articles on grief and trauma.

In the event someone hasn’t told you recently, you are making a difference in the world. Each one of you.

Human connection is such a wonderful experience, and to connect with each of you, though distanced we are, is such a joy, and honor.

My cousin literally just sent me a new message via LinkedIn, and shared with me a beautiful story about the Good Night Lights. Have you ever heard of this? I hadn’t. Take a look. Beautiful, and moving.

Good Night Lights

I went to the site and was moved to tears. Why? Well, it is, yes, a beautiful story. And, then, it got me thinking about each of you, and the work you continue to do on your individual websites.

See, it isn’t about moving an entire population of people, or providing them access to you and your ideas, all at the same time. It’s about touching one person at a time.

One person, then becomes two people, which eventually becomes thousands, as many of you can attest to; and, thousands can become millions.

You are an inspiration, and I thank you for the opportunity to know you in the way I do today.

Here are three quotes on authenticity that I love.

A Quote

“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” Brene Brown

Awaken the Greatness Within

“As I began to love myself. I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living my own truth. Today I know this is authenticity.” Charlie Chaplin

Awaken the Greatness Within

“Authenticity is more than speaking; Authenticity is also about doing. Every decision we make says something about who we are.” Simon Sinek

Awaken the Greatness Within

Always be who you are. Every day, every moment.

Be well. Be authentic.

#authenticity, #authenticityandpurpose, #beingwhoyouare, #blogger, #blogging, #blogs, #goodnightlights, #insight, #inspiration, #makingadifference, #movingonepersonatatime, #purpose, #quote

Unknown's avatar Jeff Flesch 7:49 pm on July 31, 2020
Tags: , conqueringfear, , dothatwhichyouthinkyoucantdo, eleanor roosevelt, eleanorrooseveltandrace, newexperiences, Purpose, purposeoflife, stregth, thepresent   

A Blogger’s Diary 7/31/20: On Eleanor Roosevelt

NPR

I am reading Eleanor Roosevelt: The Early Years right now. It’s awesome. I’ve always drawn upon Eleanor Roosevelt (ER) quotes, and have seen biographies about ER, yet reading the book has given me much more to consider, and to reflect upon. Powerful.

If you’ve not read much about ER, here are some of my favorite quotes, and a cool American Experience interview I highly recommend with Vernon Jarrett.

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Goalcast
National Park Service

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Goalcast
Franklin D Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

“Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Goalcast

Here is the American Experience interview.

American Experience

With all that we face today, it is important to remember that what is now, is now, yes, yet will not always be our present now. Make sense? Said another way, this too shall pass.

Stay healthy and well.

#confidence, #conqueringfear, #courage, #dothatwhichyouthinkyoucantdo, #eleanor-roosevelt, #eleanorrooseveltandrace, #newexperiences, #purpose, #purposeoflife, #stregth, #thepresent