Determination

I wrote this on July 4, 2016 while sitting in a pine forest, watching the animals flit about and came across this tiny, determined ant climbing straight up this huge tree…

an ant climbing a full grown pine
like my struggle 
to get through the days
with the complexity of my emotions
i've learned to distance
away from them
the basics sometimes taking so much
time and energy
where does it go
the subconscious robbing
like a blind thief
in the night
my meager reserves
adrenaline continuously
pumping through
nonstop for 2+ years now
trying to live
not just exist
find moments of joy
hopping rock to rock within the pond
unsteady underfoot
avoiding waters unknown
these moments of pure peace and joy
so infrequent
i am like a drowning vicitm
fighting for a breath
give me more
addictive like heroin
coursing endorphins
through me
seeking that high
anywhere and how
dangerous lines 
needing to watch
be diligent
wanting to let go
be caught
and cared for
realizing yet again
it must come from within
the resolve to live
unknown path
varied terrain
adapting
changing
striving to hold on
to those 
few and precious times
of the calm ocean
before the stormy waves
of reality
come crashing into your psyche
threatening
to crumble down 
these precarious moments 
holding me together
grasping to hold on


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Reflections and Resilience

As I sat in the coffee shop that I normally write in, I pondered what to share today.  Usually it comes to me on my morning run, but today, it did not, I was preoccupied with the election. The sky is one of those brilliant blues that have been rare here lately, so I was gazing outside lost in the birds flitting around, the contrast of the trees against this bright backdrop pondering the importance of today, being election day, and the angst among the people leading up to and including today.  I am actually less anxious about the actual results today, but what weighs heavily in my mind is the rift that has happened in our country. Continue reading

Halloween

It used to be one of my favorite holidays.  I have memories of my dad going upstate and getting my mom some of the biggest pumpkins ever. She would take so much joy intricately carving those, decorating the house, buying a new “creepy” thing each year to add to her collection.  She reveled in each of the costumed children that came to the door, particularly the littles. One of the things I “got” from her was a love of this day. Jesse loved it as well.  For many years, we were the creepiest house on the block by far. Continue reading