Like a Rainbow

February 1, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is to find images that portray at least four colours of the rainbow. This garden of snapdragons, taken last summer, is a breath of fresh air, storm or not. Stained glass from the parliament buildings in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. A heart rainbow!

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #33: Upside-Down

January 28, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Strong-minded, I am not easily swayed. In fact, I like to say that life has to hit me over the head with a frying pan in order to get me to pay attention. Another analogy I use is that I have to be tied around the ankles, dragged to the fire and hung upside-down – […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #32: Stillness

January 21, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

It is not in my nature to be still. If there is a current, I will push against it. When my body fails me, my mind is churning. Emotionally, I am in a constant state of restlessness. Stillness does not come naturally. And yet, when I take time to calm the body, release the mind, […]

Getting Where?

January 20, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

I’m lying here with the heating pad, altering it’s position every so often to ease the pain that has set in since my trip back home. I can’t quite shake the lingering exhaustion. Three things are running through my mind, disrupting sleep: the book I’m working on (and have set aside for far too long) […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #31: Destination

January 14, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveller is unaware.” Martin Buber I walk to the kitchen, planning to put the kettle on, but as I pass my purse, I remember that I meant to write myself a note, so phone in hand, I return to the couch and type up the memo. Satisfied with that […]

And So, We Turn the Page

January 6, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

Years gather as links in a chain, some unremarkable, some adorned with jewels, and some bearing the marks of hardship. 2018, for me, would have an arrow shaped charm, pointing upwards, as this year heralded many firsts – a rebirth of sorts. For 2019, I pray to keep the momentum rolling – that I will […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #29: Transition

December 31, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

Setting New Year’s resolutions is not my thing. I do, however, honour the passage of one year to another by reviewing what the passing year has entailed and consciously deciding where I would like to focus for the next. For example, as a young mother of three, having returned to work, I learned to prioritize […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #28: Recipe

December 17, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

This time of the year, I find myself perusing recipes – looking for the perfect gluten-free dessert, or a new appetizer to take to a potluck, or maybe an easy way to use up leftovers. I am also concocting a recipe for the perfect get together – imagining the ingredients and timing for holiday […]

Unintentional

December 16, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

The excitement of travel, friends visiting, and the overabundance of photo opportunities has left me exhausted. Yesterday was the first day in four that I ventured outside briefly. So much for intentionally practicing peace. I feel a bit like a dog chasing its own tail – so much I want to do and see, yet […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #26: Titles

December 3, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

In the late 1980’s, I began to study the psychology of dream interpretation as offered by our local university. One of the exercises our professor recommended when doing dream work, was to give each recorded dream a title, and then periodically list those titles, in order, to elicit new understanding. The assumption behind the exercise […]

Blossoming

It may be foolish of me, at my age and in my current condition, but I hang on to the hope that the pain of this effort is leading somewhere: renewal, new purpose, or at the very least, a blossoming.

Monday Mood: Stretched too far

Saturday we packed up the garage (with help). Dusty, dirty, and exhausting. Sunday we attended and then hosted a farewell party for our Ukrainian roommate, who is going back to Ukraine despite all our protests. Yes, two separate gatherings. Heart wrenching. This morning, we visited our new apartment building to get set up with a […]