new-year-rambling

so far it’s been a fairly gloomy january. no snow. cold and gray in wallace.

i’ve been easing into the new year, adding a couple of new items into my routine, and rededicating myself to a few previous ones.

things kind of went askew last year after i broke my wrist at the end of march.

that beautiful noise

words thrown on a page
scattered and diverse
my mind racing
faster than my body
can keep up

empty rooms
and cluttered hallways
whispered instructions
and unspoken apologies

sketches, then illustrations
poetry and color
right fits
wanderings
experience and thirst

my headaches
that beautiful noise
allowing me to realize
what’s most important

my work
my sons
my true partner

a need for moxie
rest, recuperation
while wintering

unfiltered magic
raw radiance
harmony


 
 
 
 

at the ❄️winter solstice❄️

well, here we are at the ❄️winter solstice❄️

there has been a lot going on throughout my days, a true hodgepodge of recent events several christmas-related parades and programs and open houses, meetups with special friends, painting, shopping, decorating, cleaning/prepping the pink house for our holiday guests.

why?

why does it rain hard
when we forget the umbrella
but shine bright
when we don’t?

why is the speech in
front of the mirror perfect
but the words all tangled up the
moment they need to be heard?

and why do we spend
precious time and energy
worrying about anything we
have ZERO control over?

the beat goes on

sometimes visitors to the villa are surprised by the constant and obvious sounds of traffic on autostrada A15, the motorway that is close by.

sometimes surprised and actually bothered, since they had this romantic “under the tuscan sun” image of my italian villa – set apart from any distractions, a quiet oasis.

me & my dad

missing my dad
so very much
right now

whenever things got weird
i could always count on him
to make it all better

just sitting alongside him
poking fun at life’s absurdities
laughing at his uncanny wit

he’d utter his perfectly-timed
“no shit” response and
i’d feel grounded once more


 
 
 
 

thanksgiving hygge

because of good friends
who truly love us
like family

we will be headed
over the river and
through the woods

to a wonderfully
warm and cozy
thanksgiving feast

hope you will be
feeling the hygge
as well today


 
 
 
 

S O L I T U D E

S O L I T U D E

the situation of being alone
but not lonely

engaging with self
by choice

clearing one’s mind from distraction
enjoying the quiet
focusing on things that matter
exploring one’s creativity
relaxing into unhindered thinking
improving one’s well-being
feeling accountable and in control

reflecting and refreshing
replenishing and renewing

facing challenges
increasing self-awareness
regaining perspective
searching for one’s purpose
experiencing an inner richness
restoring one’s body and mind
driving one’s own life

silence
plus
sovereignty


 
 
 
 
photos of solitude house
at the monastery of st gertrude
camas prairie, north central idaho
 
 
 
 

what would happen if

sometimes there are things
we wish we could do
we really want to do

but we don’t do
because

we’re scared
we’re tired
we don’t have the time

we’re too old
we’re too young
we don’t have the energy

we lack confidence
we lack guts
we don’t have the faith

or maybe it’s just that
we’re not sure how
others will react

today imagine
DOING THE THING

ask yourself
what would happen if .

the crux

finding one’s individual VOICE is a crucial ingredient of the wellness recipe, and the crux of my seven essential elements.

we all know how vitally important it is to be listened to and understood. how we engage and interact and exist on a daily basis, how we survive in this big wide world, is shared primarily through our words.