As I sat alone in a wine-cafe (yes, such a thing exists!), swirling & sipping a glass of something red & chewing chilli-seasoned olives while listening to Sleeping at Last I penned this oh so short poem:
My eye caught this beautiful scene of the sunlight through my front window this afternoon & I paused to take it in… the roses & green grass behind and, in the middle, this framed calligraphy of the beautiful, guiding poem Desiderata.
As I take time off following the end of a beautiful, hard job that stretched, broke (in bad & good ways), grew, shaped, blessed, fulfilled & thrived me…
As I take time off to think & feel & plan & be, before starting a new challenge & path ahead…
As I take time to enjoy art & reading & space & friendship,
this poem speaks to me anew & I am enjoying living it’s advice to (poem summary ahead):
Go placidly amidst the noise & haste & remember what peace there may be in silence.
Be on good terms with all persons.
Listen.
Don’t compare.
Enjoy plans & achievements alike.
Be at peace with God. See the beauty amidst the ugly drudgery it the world.
Be yourself.
Yes, be yourself.
Be yourself.
Through this hard year I have learnt the value of being more myself.
Of self-awareness, understanding & acceptance.
Acceptance which leads to better growth – of self & others.
And to the beautiful power & freedom of working, living, relating from a place of ever-more Me-ness as I continue to push on and let go.
As I continue to grow into the stunning living poem I am & write & draw my own story as I go.