whispered reminders (to myself)

 

remember, you do not have to know everything in each moment.

you can be still.

you do not have to run ahead.

you can breathe deeply and just stay right where you are.

you choose where to let your mind reside.

you can ask for help.

you can close your eyes until you see only quiet.

it is okay to pause. 

you know what to do.

yes.

you do.

give yourself permission to listen.

give yourself permission to know.

hello february.

 

You have snuck up on me dear February, and you have come in with the whispers of blue skies in the midst of the drip drip dripping grey. My mind has been swirling so much lately...with so much joy but yet also confusion and hope and fear and longing. This is life. Yes. This is where I am on my path.

  

Today, after sleeping just a few hours last night, the grey threatened to pitch a tent inside me as the longing for a friend here in this town, a quick drive away, and spending time with someone who gets me mingled with the sleepy silly thoughts of someone who needs a nap. But then when Millie insisted we head outside, I noticed you February.

 

I noticed your promise of spring. Yes. Spring always returns. Always. No matter the fears, grief, the road behind. Spring always returns. And even though we live in to a place that entertains grey for a few months of the year, we live in a place where you, February, where you bring hope in the midst of the grey.

 

And hope seems like a pretty good place to pitch a tent these days...

Care to join me?

senses. afternoon exploration.

 {hear}

{touch}

{taste}

{see}

 {smell}

 {and know}

{a week of} pink: the promise of spring

 

each day this week i have been breathing in the sweet, strong, specific smell of the hyacinths that bloom on our kitchen windowsill. even though winter and the grey are also a part of each day, this feast of the senses blooming in my home reminds me that in this corner of the world the crocuses try to bloom in february, the days are getting longer, and the cherry tree already has buds in anticipation of its march performance. each day this week (in this week of pink), i have been reminded that spring will return...

{a week of} pink: the simple things

 

a few of the simple things that made this day brighter...

taking a few moments just for me 

wearing my favorite happy socks and bloomers and even wearing shoes

 

the ritual of making tea 

sitting at the table (without the laptop) with a snack

letting go of keeping my favorite vintage tablecloth for good and using it every day

 

the smell of a warm pumpkin muffin

a dash of homemade whipped cream

a favorite mismatch plate from my college apartment

  

gathering books to inspire and nudge me just a bit
breathing in the quiet
pushing myself to know i am enough

*****

i am playing along with christina today (in my week of pink sort of way). such inspiration in the participants' posts...

{a week of} pink: two poems (an audio post)

Today, I would like to share two poems that both bring in the image of pink petals. I have shared them in my archives here and here, so today, I want to read them to you. To hear them, just click on "Two Poems" below. And, if you are playing along in this week of pink, please let me know so I can visit you in your corner of the world.

two poems

{a week of} pink: a glimpse into the little room

just having a little fun looking through the lens for a week of pink.

(if you decide to play along, be sure to let me know.)

{a week of} pink

a few months back, darlene and i were talking about various blog post ideas and i mentioned that i would love to focus on specific colors for a week at a time every now and then as a photography exercise on my blog. and then this weekend, i was thinking that maybe every now and then i would have "a week of...[insert to be determined prompt here]" on be present, be here to push me to post each day during a week and also to find inspiration in a specific prompt or theme. as i write this, i am thinking that maybe some of you out there will stumble upon these "a week of" posts and be inspired to play along every now and then...

this week, as those of us in certain corners of the world see the wintery gray of february looming before us, i think bringing in a little color might brighten things up a bit. last week, i mentioned being inspired by pink (well, a little bundle of goodness is joining us in a few months, so i have it on the brain) and gathered some flickr favorites together in this post, which all leads to me to this: a week of pink.

during the next few days, i will probably focus on photos that capture snippets of this color...photos i will take this week and photos in my archives. but i also think it would be fun to write using "pink" as the prompt or even create something with a little pink (perhaps the paints and a canvas will make an appearance on the kitchen table...).

also, wednesday i will be participating in christina's simple things (though i imagine that my simple things post will be a bit pink inspired). if you aren't familiar with christina's "simple things" posts and invitation to play along, you simply have to find out more on her blog. (and note that christina and her family are going to donate $1 to doctors without borders for each person who participates in "simple things" this wednesday. really, you must join in on the fun.)

if you do decide to play along in this week of pink, through your stories or photos or poems or lists, even if just for one day, please do let me know in the comments.

hope you are breathing deeply in your corner of the world...

see you tomorrow...

blessings,

liz