As the sun goes down for the night, clear your mind
As the sun goes down and the heat calms down, look up towards the moon
Notice its white glimmer
Feast upon the beauty of it

As the sun goes down and the world slows down, slow your heart
Think about the good things you have
Think about how precious life is

As you get ready to rest for the night, let your body relax and carry you off to sleep
And as you wake for the next day, smile for a chance at a new start
Treasure each moment and every second as they are a gift

It’s a new day
A brand new year is coming
A time when we can restart
Reinvent ourselves
Try something new
Explore
A time to hope
For something better
It’s a new day
A brand new year
A time to reflect
On what was
But also what is possible
A time to remember
Those sweet memories
That touch us
Ever so gently
Like butterflies
It’s a brand new day
It’s a new year
With new opportunities
Blessings
Believe

Oh how I miss the fall
The crimson time
I miss everything about it
In some ways it is a fresh start
It is my favorite season
I miss the colors
The regal essence of it
The trees dress up in splendor
With reds
Yellows
Oranges and golds

There is a smell of leaves on the ground
The sound of leaves crunching as you walk on them
The sound of raking
Big piles of leaves in yards
The crisp clear air
The cool night
Leaves rustling in the breeze

Smells of pumpkin cookies and pies
Cinnamon, apple cider and
hot chocolate
Halloween decorations and candy corn
Oh how I miss the beauty of the trees and countryside as the colors dabble the landscape like a painting

As you close your eyes, think of the ocean, its color, the smell, and everything about it. Imagine yourself slowly melting into the water. Let yourself become part of it. Feel the coolness on your body. Let it calm and refresh you.
When you are outside take a deep breath and smell the air and let it cleanse you.

Realize once again, as you have always known, that you are a part of all things here and in the universe.

If the sun shines, look at its brightness and realize and remember that is a part of who you are as well. Let your spirit fly free. Your heart and spirit are pure.

When you close your eyes again, let music play in your head, hear the notes and the sounds as they play in your mind and realize that is a gift from the universe.

You are part of the most magnificent orchestra in the universe -- life, and your talent is your instrument.

Delicious goodies
Bright colored ornaments
Gorgeous colors
Red, green, blue, gold and silver
Beautifully decorated trees
Scents of pine
Candy canes and tinsel

Tables adorned with chocolates
Holiday cookies all around
Smells of turkey and roasts
Pies baking
And all things good
Candy canes and tinsel

Snow covered lawns
Glistening white like diamonds
Outside trees adorned with lights
Carolers and choirs singing
Candy canes and tinsel

Sounds of music in the air
Feelings of good cheer everywhere
Smiles and laughter

Candy canes and tinsel

As the bright sun poured down on her
With its searing heat
It was unbearable
She needed a reprieve
There was the sound of water nearby
She found a beautiful waterfall
She couldn’t wait
The heat propelled her
She walked into the water
Under the waterfall
Letting the cool water run over her
As the water poured over her
It offered a soothing reprieve from the sun and heat
Eventually a cool breeze came
And gently blew across her face
Leaving a sense of peace and calm
It was so perfect
She never wanted to leave
She had found paradise

When covered in darkness
Seek the light
Let it cover you like a coat
When full of despair
Seek the light
When the mind is empty
Seek inspiration

When feeling lost
Seek the light
When overwhelmed
Trust yourself to see it through

When nothing seems right
Look to what you have
We all have treasures

When tired and fatigued
Try something new
When bored
Learn something

When the heart is empty
Seek art and music
Let it lift you up

When you feel alone
Help another

Lightness

Snow covered pine trees
Blanketed with white
Muted lights outside
Cold air clean to the breath
Winter is here
Slow walking people bundled up
Bright colored scarves
Hats of all shapes and sizes
Birds seeking their next meal
Cats on the prowl
Fireplaces burning
Pies in the oven
Cookies being made
Delicious soups
Roasts awaiting the oven
Sweaters and boots
Heavy coats with scarves
The fare of the time
Warm flannel PJs
Winter is here

A man walking on the solitary beach
A gray cloudy day
Cool but not cold
He is in pain as he slowly walks
Then he comes a glass ball partially buried in the sand
He stops to look at it
He uncovers it and lifts it up
He sees a gold clasp and opens it
Inside is a piece of rich red velvet cloth
On the cloth sits a folded piece of bright white paper
Curious he opens the paper
Written on the paper are instructions:
Touch the areas where you feel pain on your body
Then touch your fingers to the cloth
Close up the ball
And put it back in the sand as you found it
The man follows the instructions and continues walking down the beach
He hears a sound and turns around to see the glass ball lifting towards the sky the inside turning a bright gold color
And then there is a slight explosion and a shower of gold stars rain down
And as they cover the man
His pain is gone

White sliver of moon against
a purple sky
Highlights of shades of pink in the background
Outlines of clouds can still be seen
Small white candle is burning
French jazz music playing softly in the background
To set the mood
Warm summer breezes tease my face from time to time
Lights glimmer in the background on another night
Summer is here

Looking out the kitchen window
Watching the palm tree move in the breeze
Branches mirroring feathers
A few birds resting on it or seeking food
As I watch a feeling of bliss and calm fill my body
I am at peace
The scene is a form of melody
Hypnotic and meditative
Mother Nature is both composer and conductor

Red maples surround the empty road
The emptiness is calming
The color of the trees is so brilliant it almost looks false
It’s beautiful
The black asphalt road is a contrast to the color of the leaves
Hints of bright green highlight the red
Almost like a painting
It’s surreal
Even the rain doesn’t dim the leaves
It creates a look like a fairy tale
Or part of a movie set
Yet it’s real
Part of the artistry
Of Mother Nature
Pure magic

Red maple rain

Bright blue skies
A few white clouds
Golden rays
Multi colored flowers everywhere
Green trees swaying
Fragrant scents adorn the air
Like perfume

Sunbeam days
Light calming breezes
Blow across the face
Teasing it ever so slightly
Like gentle butterfly kisses

Sunbeam days
Ocean waves pounding the shore
Turquoise water
Endless sandy beaches
Smooth as silk
Umbrellas everywhere

Sunbeam days
Music in the air
Hints of summer
Fill my mind

Safe spaces
Loving ones
We all need them
They are sacred
Places we can go
And feel safe
Comfortable
Cared about
Stress free
They are very important
To our well being
They can be anywhere
Anything really
Home
Restaurant
Park
A bar
Cafe
Salon
Store
Forest
Beach
Country
It doesn’t matter
What’s important
Is how we feel
When we are there
They bring comfort
Love and care
They are precious
Invaluable
Safe

Oh how I miss the fall
The crimson time
I miss everything about it
In some ways it is a fresh start
It is my favorite season
I miss the colors
The regal essence of it
The trees dress up in splendor
With reds
Yellows
Oranges and golds

There is a smell of leaves on the ground
The sound of leaves crunching as you walk on them
The sound of raking
Big piles of leaves in yards

The crisp clear air
The cool night
Leaves rustling in the breeze

Smells of pumpkin cookies and pies

Cinnamon, apple cider and
hot chocolate
Halloween decorations and candy corn

Oh how I miss the beauty of the trees and countryside as the colors dabble the landscape like a painting

Cooler breezes tempt me
Bring a smile to my face
The summer brightness
Of the sun is almost gone
Darker mornings greet me
There is a crispness in the air
It’s refreshing
The seasons are changing
Ever so slowly
From summer to fall
Time to change the wardrobe
Time for tea and hot chocolate
Time to get ready
Time to think about soups
Time to think about stews
Cooler breezes tempt me
Fall is coming
My season

There’s something
to be said about quiet
and peace
It can calm the spirit
Clear the mind
Slow things down
The world is so hectic now
So much noise
Rarely silent
With social media
There’s always something
It’s hard to find a moment
Yet we all need it
Crave it really
That little bit of peace
It refreshes us
Feeds inspiration
It’s golden
And everything

Snowflakes gently touch your face but you are not cold

The air is refreshing
As you breathe you focus on your each breath

There is total peace around you
There is a scent of pine in the air
It reminds you of the coming season

You close your eyes to listen to the quiet
When you open your eyes, you see a doe looking at you.
Still, quiet and peaceful

Beautiful gold purple sky
Mirroring a Monet painting
Rain clouds dotting the sky
Streaks of lightning highlight the clouds
A storm is fast approaching

Beautiful gold purple sky
Looks like a work of art
Coming to close out the day
Winds pick up causing the wind chimes to play
A familiar melody
Plants sway to the wind
A storm is approaching

Beautiful gold purple sky
No doubt nature is an artist
The sky has a surreal look
It’s  entrancing

This morning I woke up alone

You were not there
I was indeed alone
For some reason it hit me hard
Like a punch
Right in the heart
It felt like a form of withdrawal
I think I am addicted to you
You were not there
The apartment seemed empty
Even hollow
Only filled with my noise

You were not there
It hit me deep into my core
My spirit shook
It remembered another time
The feeling was similar
Long, long ago

This morning I woke up alone
The feeling was crushing
The silence deafening

I miss you dearly

It is a late spring day
Early afternoon
The sun is out
The sky is a bright blue
There is  a scattering if white clouds across the sky
There is a slight breeze -- not too warm, not too cold
Just perfect
You are sitting in a field of tall grass alone
The grass is a light beige color
The grass sways gently to the breeze and makes a soft rustling sound
The breeze is calming as it touches your face ever so gently
There is no sound only the grass moving to the breeze
You feel complete stillness and calm
You are at peace

Lying in the dark
16 year old girl
Many years ago
Holding a portable radio
To ones ear
Listening to music
Rocking to the beat
Imagining far away places
Feet moving to the beat
Eyes closed
Letting the clouds of sleep
Approach as I listen to the
radio
Rockin to the beat
In the darkness

Gold is precious
Some treasure it
Instead of money
However it’s value
Is not as high as water
Nothing is
Water is life
For everything
Plants
Animals
Fish
And humans
The planet
Without it
There’s devastation
And death
It is natures true gold
Real gold
Worth more than
Money, jewels or
Power
It can enhance
Or destroy
Let’s protect it
Value it
Not waste it

It can be overwhelming
Crushing
When we lose a loved one
Someone important to us
The pain is searing
Going to the depths
Of our being
It burns
Our hearts break
We hope the news
Is not true
It’s hard to accept
Surreal

It’s an impossible time
Almost paralyzing
Each day hurts
Sickening
The only remedy
Is time
As it slowly passes

Sometimes we need quiet
A time to be still
To stop the chaos
To listen to the nothing
It calms the mind and spirit
Allows us to refocus later

The world is so busy
Fast moving
Never stopping
Noisy
Sometimes it’s hard to keep up
Stillness can reset us to a better place
It can enhance creativity
Allow the mind to wander
Aimlessly
Slow down the body
Lift up the mood
Sharpen the mind
Go to a higher place

When you are sad
Get up and look at the sun

When you are crying
Get up and look at the stars

When you are hurting
Get up and look at mother nature

When you can't go on
Get up and remember those that went before you

When you want to give up
Get up and remember that you have your own destiny

Believe

When possible
Seek joy
It brightens the day
It lifts one up
It brings in the light
It’s fun
It chases away the
darkness

In times of difficulty
It can lighten the load
It can be hard sometimes
When things are difficult
But in the end
It does help us feel better

It’s infectious
Spreading to others
Eventually across the land
And the world
We never know what is coming
But we can control
how much light we let in
So seek joy and laughter
It’s worth it
In all ways
Light up the world
With your own light
Believe

Every day we offer slices
of ourselves to the world
Some are quiet and subdued
Some are sweet
Some are loud and boisterous
Some are fun
Some are ****, almost sour
Some are thoughtful and serious

Some are filled with darkness
and heaviness
Others are bursting with
bright light and hope
Some are kind and loving
and others are not
Some are lonely
Others are filled with a
celebration of life

But every slice is a part of us
And together they help
to make up what is us

Slices

There is a grey colored mist floating through the air almost like a haze in the air
The sun is starting to come up over the horizon – a hot pink ball slowly rising over the sea
A man is standing on the beach facing out to the water, bare feet buried in the sand
He lets the ocean waves gently wash across his feet
The water is neither too hot nor cold, it is just right
He is wearing a muted grey colored sweater
Standing with his hands in his pockets, he is facing the water, watching, listening to the pounding of the waves as a soothing drum beat ever so slowly
He closes his eyes to listen and smell the salt in the air like perfume
The sounds and smells calm him – leave him with a sense of peace
He then opens his eyes and looks off to the right, down the beach
He sees a woman slowly approaching him from a distance
She is walking slowly to the rhythm of the waves
He closes his eyes once again, waiting for her
Then he opens his eyes and sees her standing by him now watching and listening to the roar of the sea
They smile to each other, grasp hands, turn and continue walking down the beach together

You are in my heart
You live in my soul and spirit
You have always been a part of me

My heart

Since I first met you
You glimmer like gold and precious jewels
You fill me with hope and love

My heart

You have touched me like an artist
You are in my heart

You are my heart
You are the best of me
Always

At a time of negativity
Be positive
Be thankful
For loved ones, family and friends
For your experiences
For the life you have

At a time of great strife
Be thankful
For the many blessings that have graced you

At a time of darkness
Reach for the light
Let it lift you
Let it inspire you
Let it help you lift others
Be thankful

At a time of difficulty
Reach for the easy
Believe
Achieve
Inspire
Be thankful

Look around you
See what there’s to see
Experience life to the fullest
Enjoy every day
Treasure each moment
Give love
Instead of hate
Offer kindness
Instead of cruelty
Make someone smile
Fill your heart with joy
Pass it on to another
Be thankful

I am hiding out
Disappearing
Becoming a phantom of myself
Not seen or heard
Almost not here

I am hiding out
Finding new places
Going back to old ones
Changing my ways
Getting quiet
Calming the spirit

I am hiding out
Disappearing light a cloud
Becoming a phantom
Vapor to the wind

Light a candle
Save the world
Sit in stillness and pray
Light a candle
Save the world
Sit in stillness and pray

Light a candle
Ask for help at this troubled time
Stand in the light repelling the dark
Ask for healing for all
Ask for that we may move forward

Light a candle
Lift up yourself
Then lift up the world

Believe

It’s the season
It comes once a year
It’s special
It brings
Lots of memories
Togetherness
Good cheer
It’s the holiday spell
It’s magical
It’s a time to come together
Bring light not darkness
To reach out
Offering kindness
Light up the world
With your special power

Silver Sliver of a Moon
There’s a small sliver of moon tonight
It hangs in a thick, rich black velvet sky
The moon glimmers a soft white
The sky looks rich enough to touch
In the distance is a glow of the city

Another day closes with a new
night beginning
The air has cooled to the breath
The lungs feel refreshed
A slight healing breeze is blowing
It soothes the heat beaten brow

Plants welcome their daily drink
People move on the street enjoying
the cool reprieve and coming night

Every now and then someone
looks up and smiles at the moon
It’s magic
The moon looks down at the earth
and smiles back

Soon we can wipe the slate
Get a fresh start
The end of the year is coming
Time to start a new
We have a chance to try again
Learn and grow
This year will be in the past
We can move forward
Hopefully
Things will improve
Over time
We are being given another chance
Let’s count our blessings
Look around at the beauty
Look around at loved ones
Look around at the planet
Be grateful
Love instead of hate
Give instead of take
Use your own light
To light and lift up the world
Fresh start

I live among ghosts
Phantoms
They keep calling me
I walk by memories
Old haunts
I touch them ever so slightly
Carved through year’s of life
There are spirits
Vapors of life
I feel them touch me
They hover above
They watch
They listen
They are always there
I see remnants of where they were
I feel them
I can’t escape them
Every where I turn
Everywhere I look
I feel them
Echoes of them embedded
I feel them in the air
I feel them in thoughts
I feel them in faces
I live among ghosts and memories
Of another time

There once was a tiger
Beautiful and perfect in every way
It was the top of its game
Respected everywhere
It was a guardian of the world
It kept darkness at bay for eons
Then one day darkness found its way
It seeped into everything
Turning good to evil
Sweetness to sour
Helpful to selfish
Tolerant to judgmental
Kind to cruel

The tiger felt trapped
There wasn’t much it could do
Though it tried
It asked for help
For the light to come
Nothing happened for some time

Then one day
A warrior came
He was gentle
Smart and kind
He brought the light with him
Everywhere he went
Things began to change
He looked at the tiger
As if giving an order
The tiger nodded
He went where the darkness was heaviest
The tiger knew what to do
It showed its teeth and claws
And whipped its powerful tail around
Sending the darkness away
As he did this the light grew brighter
He looked at the warrior who smiled
And said thank you
Now, let’s begin

It was a crisp winters day
In the middle of the season
The sun was bright blue with a dotting of a few white clouds

There was a cold wind whipping through the trees
It was bitter to the skin
Branches were bending to it as if they were dancing
Wind chimes could be heard in the distance

The snow was blowing around shifting location creating white dunes like cotton candy

The fireplace was burning with a fresh log creating a hypnotic warmth in the room
The wood gave off a pleasant scent as it burned
It was a good day to be inside

Sometimes we may fail
We may even feel like a failure
We may fall down or not meet expectations
Ours or others
But if we try, including new things are we?
As long as we get up and try again
Failure

People judge others all the time
Holding them up to their standards
Whether they are appropriate or not
How can one truly know about another
Without being in their shoes
Failure

If we take a risk and try something
If we reach beyond our means
If we find our own way
Even if different and unique
If we define ourselves based on our choices
Are we a failure
It’s in the eye of the beholder
Especially ours
Failure

It’s morning
Not early nor late
But as one rises
For the day
Its a time for rituals
Of life
Both of the body
And abode
A time for coffee
Breakfast
Changing clothes
Feeding the pet
A time to get ready
For what is to come
Whether work
Or something else
Errands
House chores
It’s the morning
Time to get going

Goodbyes can sting
Over forty years ago I said goodbye to my dream
I watched him walk away
It was almost more than I could withstand
It was to be our final goodbye
It was our first and most gripping

As I watched him walk away
I felt my heart start to crack
Tears streamed down my face
My body shook as if going through withdrawal

Goodbyes can sting
Today felt like deja vu
Unbelievably over thirty years later
I had the chance to see him again

At the end of our visit we had our second goodbye
We had big plans and high hopes
The second goodbye did not sting as much as the first because of hope
Unfortunately our plans were dashed

Goodbyes can sting
Luckily fate found us again
Putting us on the same side of the ocean
Today we had our third goodbye
Once again I watched him walk away

In some ways it stung like the first
Memories flooding back
This pulled at something I had not felt in a long time
While I know I will see him again
The heaviness in my heart will not allay
My emotions are tight like a fiddle
It’s funny they always say it’s easier to leave than to be left

Goodbyes can sting
My heart says that is true
They also say distance makes the heart grow fonder
That has been proven true as well

Goodbyes can sting

Sitting in a hidden corner
Quietly disappearing
Back tight against the wall
Melting into it
Almost oblivious to the world
Trying to become like a vapor
Translucent
Uncomfortable
Watchful
Like a cat
Eyes wide open
Ready to run
Anticipating
Sitting in a hidden corner
Disappearing from the world

It is Sunday morning
The woman gets dressed
Having finished her brief breakfast
She is going out

Dressed in her red coat and scarf
Ivory colored turtle neck sweater
Blue jean leggings
It’s winter at the end of January
Very cold outside
It gets into your bones
Makes them ache

She is heading out to the store
Afterwards she will stop for coffee at a favorite cafe
Before heading home

She is living her new life with her high school sweetheart
An unbelievable dream come true....

Butterflies, tulips, robins and daffodils
Warm gentle breezes
Leaves beginning to bud
Flowering trees and bushes
Pinks, whites and red
Greenery everywhere
Cherry blossoms out in their full regalia
Bright, hypnotic blue skies
Signs that Spring has once again arrived

In a time of negativity
It’s time for some good will
Think better than not
Time to extend kindness
Instead of hate
Time to feel love

In a time of negativity
It’s time for some good will
Time to walk towards the light
Away from darkness

In a time of negativity
It’s time to lend a hand
It’s time to lift someone up
Not pull them down
It’s time for some good will

In a time of negativity
It’s time for some softness
Not harshness
It’s time for some good will
Time to show some love
Not hate

It’s time to reach out
To accept
Not hide
Not pull away
It’s time for some good will

Searching for peace
The special essence
of tranquility
Looking for harmony
At a time of upset
in the world
Hoping for a moment
of pure stillness
Where mind and body
rest
Is there such a thing?
These days there’s such
tumult
Everything moves quickly
No time to stop
Yet for me
Peace
Would be a piece of
Heaven

It’s is an early fall day
The sun is out
The sky is a bright blue
There are a few clouds scattered across the sky
There is a slight breeze -- not too warm, not too cold — just right
The trees are dressed with their fall colors
You are sitting in a field of tall grasses
The grass is a light beige color
The grass sways gently to the breeze and makes a soft rustling sound as it moves
As you sit down in the field
A cloud of butterflies surround you
They are all colors -- purple, blue, yellow, red, gold and green
As you put out your hands, several light onto your hand before flying away

You close your eyes and take in the moment
You are at peace

A red rose is perfect in every way
The blue sky with hints of white clouds is stunning
Oceans with their white capped waves are hypnotizing
Beaches with silky sand cool to the touch
Yet, right now humans are limited
The outside world doesn’t offer much solace
It’s like a poison beauty
Tempting but possibly deadly

How I crave to leave the terrace and walk the streets
To sit at a cafe or bakery for breakfast
To go to the store and not fear what may happen
It’s like a poison beauty
Tempting but possibly deadly

The light breezes blowing across my face
The blooming roses on the terrace
The memories of normality
Haunt me in my memories and dreams
It’s like a poison beauty
Tempting but possibly deadly

Oh how I long for this time to pass
For the ability to come and go
To be free of stress and worry
To feel the stillness and peace again

Poison Beauty

Cold and dark winters night
Raining outside
Sky a deep black velvet
Temperatures cooling off
Hard to feel comfortable outside
Bones starting to ache

My heart, soul and body hunger for the sun
Just a glimpse of it through the clouds

I snuggle into my bed with warm blankets
Enjoying their warmth and comfort as the time passes into nighttime

My cat is by my feet seeking warmth for her body
I enjoy the sound of her purr as she falls asleep
Letting the sound calm me