Month: August 2015

Where Are YOU on Your Own Priority List? #BeWoW

Do you ever think about yourself and your own needs during the course of your day? I know, well, strongly feel at least, that we live in a very self-centered, narcissistic society that predominantly thinks of ones own wants far too much. But I’m not talking about that or to them. There are many loving, giving, sacrificing folks out there and that’s who I’m speaking to today. 

If you have made it this far and are still with me, I’m very likely talking to you’ So, let me ask again: Where are you on your own list of priorities? If you’re honest I’m betting not very high, probably not even in the top-ten. 

At my annual eye exam last week I was reminded that I need to make myself a priority in my own life if I want to be around to both enjoy and be enjoyed by my family and friends. Your health and well being (and mine) is in your own (and my own) hands; we are each responsible for “us” (oftentimes along with many other folks and things in our lives but that’s actually part of the problem I’m speaking of). 

Do you want to enjoy the precious time you are gifted in this life as you move ahead? I do. Do you want to be a burden to those around you in the future? Having been a burden in the past, I know I certainly don’t want that again. If you can make choices today to prevent or decrease the chances of that happening aren’t you ready and willing to do so? I am. 

I know: you’re busy and have a ton on your plate; me, too. But I promise you that excuse won’t cut-the-mustard down the line when you’re unable to enjoy a decent quality of life, spend pleasurable time with your children/grandchildren or whomever it is that is near and dear to you. 

Starting right now move yourself up on your list of “need to do” list – or whatever you call your it – and don’t feel guilty about doing it; you’re doing it for the ones you love, I not just for yourself. What better way to express your love to those you care most about than by being there for them “then” as well as “now”?

The Rabbit: a #haiku

As I took a break from my daily-doings this afternoon I check the prompt of the week from Haiku Horizons and found an interesting work: brush. While there are many ways one could go with this prompt this is what jumped from my thoughts:

slipping through the woods
the rabbit brushes the snare
snapping the trap closed

Starting the Day: a #haiku #haibun

Summertime is almost always a very busy season for me but this year is an exception: It’s been even more busy than normal! I’m longing for the end of this busy time so I can settle back into my normal (dull?) routine to be very honest!

This week when I read the prompt words from Ronovan’s weekly challenge I immediately thought I would be writing a spiritual piece; with the words rise and save I seemed to have the perfect opportunity to do so, at least that’s what I though. But as I tried to piece together a haiku that “worked” and that I was pleased with I ended up writing a more mundane account of how today (and most days) are kicked off. 

rising each morning
groggily starting the day-
saved by my coffee

Lead: a #haiku/haibun

Ah, election year is upon us. No, wait; it’s over a year until the election still. But for months we will get the pleasure of hearing how much better our lives are going to be if only we will support ____ (fill-in-the-blank)! Don’t get me wrong: I love living in the USA and having the freedom to cast my vote for who I believe will best lead our country. But I loathe the myriad of low-blow, nasty, and (boarding, at least, upon) corrupt commercials we have to endure before the votes are cast. 

looking ahead we
search for someone who can lead
us to better days

Really, how much better will our lives be just because of a handful of political offices change occupants? And if they have used the kind of ads I mentioned above – now think about this – are they really worthy of our vote in the first place? I think not.  

(Inspired by this week’s prompt from Haiku Horizons)

Must Bust: a #haiku

This week’s challenge from Ronovan Writes was truly a challenge for me! The prompt words are “must” and “bust”, which go pave me a few initial ideas- none of which I could make work. So I backed up, regrouped, and came up with one that did, though I’d say it’s far from my best piece.

life is filled with “musts”
often ending up as “busts”
I hit one more time

As you can see, the three lines make up two separate sentences, in this case totally unrelated it seems. But maybe it’s better than I give it credit for: What do you think?

Breathing: #BeWoW #blogshare

In case you’re not familiar with the term BeWoW, click HERE for more information on it. 

Breathing is obviously something we all always have to do if we expect to continue living. For most healthy folks it’s completely involuntary: we inhale air and exhale carbon dioxide. You can’t only inhale nor can you only exhale because this exchange of gases/materials is vital to our very existence. While I’ve been referring to breathing in the physical, natural sense, we also have to breath spiritually, too, in order to live a healthy spiritual life. 

The Bible teaches us that God breathed the breath of life into Adam after He made him. 

Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

And mankind has been inhaling the air God made ever since. But God also gives us spiritual life and we inhale His essence daily. This breathing is our prayer life.

With each breath we breathe in more of His nature and are sustained spiritually. But like our physical breathing, we also need to exhale spiritually; releasing back into the world and people around us the goodness we have taken in from Him. 

we breath in God’s grace,
love, mercy, tender kindness
are what we exhale

As we breath spiritually we become more like Christ Jesus, both as we inhale (take in) His good gifts and as we exhale (give off) His characteristics as we grow and become more like Him. 

Breath deeply today and everyday. And enjoy the benefits of both inhaling and exhaling. 

Matthew 7:12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

Abandoned: a #tanka

The mid-week wordle from APED provided these words to work with: Buy, Abandoned, Again, Dad, Mystery, Story, Mouse, Nothing, Glimpse and Soul (see the link for the guidelines).

It didn’t take me long to compose a tanka using most of them. 

abandoned again
it cuts through my very soul
where are you Daddy?

glimpse at me and tears you’ll see

nothing but pain – my story