space between...
Tonight, I am reading from Mary Oliver's collection Thirst: Poems, and again, I am grateful for the way her poems just feel true. As though I am sitting beside a mentor who doesn't have to tell stories for hours but instead just says what she needs to say in a few lines. And then says, "Now go live."
Today was a long day.
But I promised myself I would sit alone for a minute or two and just breathe deeply and try to find some softness in that space between the inhale and the exhale.
So I did that tonight while Jon gave Ellie her bath.
And it did feel softer as I let a few pieces of the day slip off of me.
And I had the thought that the softness feels a little quiet in that way one can feel when you just really need a good night's sleep and then someone who loves you to make pancakes in the morning.
Know what I mean?
In this moment, I wish for you a minute or two where you can close your eyes, let your shoulders drop away from your ears, your face relax, and then you can settle in to notice your breathing...to try to find the softness you need.
PS The photo at the top of this post arrived in the mail in the form of a postagram from my friend Donna. Seeing her tea beside my little book of poems made me simply happy. You can now order Five Days in April, a collection of poems, here.
breathe.
Reader Comments (7)
Mmm . . . breathing easier, now. Thank you for once again sharing from a place of gentle vulnerability. Your truth helps mine come out, too. Recently I keep finding my shoulders right up there--all up in my ears--and I didn't even know I was doing it. Each time I take a breath, lower 'em, stand a little taller and nudge myself back toward gratitude. It helps. (So do pancakes, naturally.)
you have been in my thoughts this week, liz, sending love & light your way...
Oh, how soft we are...what a beautiful post that resonates. Thank you for the reminder...have a lovely Friday!
hi liz, congrats on your book of poems being published and now available to purchase. :) poetry facinates & challenges me-- i look forward to reading your poems. this whole week has been about nurturing myself & i my plan is to continue this next week. my two week holiday! i've been soaking in sea salts, reading, writing, cleaning & cleaning out (emails too) and noticing the in & out of my breath, not only in yoga but at home too. thank you for sharing all that you do & feel-- it means alot! xo
Hi Liz,
What a lovely post. My thoughts have been with you, John, and Elle this week. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Blessings,
Angela
Deeply loving the way you describe Mary Oliver as saying so much in just a few lines and then encouraging us to go live. That is the exact reason I love her.
Liz,
I realized since Inner Excvate-along ended that I hadn't added your blog to my RSS feed, so am catching up. I need to do this, really do this, but it's not until I'm falling into bed or worse, a week later, when I realize I haven't done it at all. I want it and I need it -- what is stopping me from doing it?
Blessings,
Leanne