V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #70: alien

October 28, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

“I’ve never seen anything like this!” I’m at the doctor’s again. It’s a followup visit with the specialist to verify the new treatment is working. It is working…sort of…except for the large, red welts on my face. “Leave it to me,” I respond. “Always presenting teaching material.” “Yes, well, I have no students anymore, so […]

Inspiration Rekindled

October 27, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Eight years now, I have been blogging. It has been a process of unfolding. In the beginning, I wrote for reflection, but as life changed, so did my need. I dug deeper and poetry emerged. I remember at one point telling my husband that I wished I could create my own images to pair with […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #69: kindle

October 21, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

My gears are seizing up; creativity sabotaged by self-doubts. The inner critic declares my efforts worthless. My paints sit dormant. I fear stagnation. “I need something to kindle my inspiration,” I tell my artist friend. Together we visit a local artisan’s workshop. A listing of art classes informs us of an upcoming sketching class. We […]

Never Too Old To Play

October 20, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

“Do you know where your wife is?” the man across from me spoke into his cell phone. I could hear my husband’s laughter from across the table. I wore a long black robe that rustled about me as I strutted through the room, fluff from my feather boa leaving a trail. A sparkling tiara perched […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #68: play

October 14, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

‘Play’ has many meanings and uses, so have fun with it! To participate, create a post and link back here. Look forward to your responses.

Sky Aware

October 13, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Feet on floor,earth connected,breathe deep,sky awarefind a centercalm and strong –equanimity restored. Our focus this week has been ‘sky’. Thank you to all for your inspiring thoughts and feeding my sky obsession. ProsceniumReena SaxenaBrewNSpewStuff and what if…UnforsenitiesREVERIE IN REVERSEone letter UPDOES WRITING EXCUSE WATCHING?SgeoilparallaxPictures without filmAWISEWOMANSJOURNEYDEMYSTIFYING DESTINY I’ll be back tomorrow with a new challenge!

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #67: sky

October 7, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

I am currently fixated on the sky, as if the gathering clouds have a secret to reveal, or as if the slivers of sun are trying to reach me with a personal message of hope. Is anyone else obsessed with the sky? Let’s look to the sky this week to find what inspiration we can. […]

Savouring the Season

October 6, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

October has arrived like an unexpected guest, catching me unprepared. Shorter days and cooler temperatures challenge summer’s laid back attitude. Winter nips at Autumn’s heels, and I want to stop the clock and savour whatever good days we have left. The featured image is of Kettle Point, on Lake Huron. Ric and I drove there […]

V.J.’s Challenge #66: savour

September 30, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Our youngest granddaughter loves food so much that when she takes a bite, she’ll close her eyes, hold the food in her mouth, savouring the flavour, and moan with appreciation. She is three. This is surely a God-given gift. Her sister and cousin eat so fast, I’m sure a famine must be chasing them. I […]

Just Smile and Do It

September 29, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

I argue with myself all day, and in the end decide to don a smile to cover my insecurities. I’ve already missed three circle meetings and it wouldn’t get any easier if I put it off one more time. Ric drives me so I can leave my walker at home. Having scouting out the location, […]

Of Trauma Born

Goodbyes tarnishfaith, like ashesscattered My heart grows dismissal,craves a balm of connectionseeks quiet harbour Remind me what it feels like to be safebreath nurturing life,love a rhythmic flow In meditationI reach for peaceimagine salvation But this wayward chaosunrestrainedcements me in doubt Tainted intentionsI lift up to the Universea tempest without hope My soul incubates malicea […]

Hawk (haiku)

Relevance of Story

Stories have power. Parents, teachers, public speakers, and therapists understand that the secret to engaging an audience or connecting with others is through illustration: storytelling. I see it in the eyes of the my grandchildren, who love to hear tales of family history. I’ve seen in the eyes of students, when recognition and understanding light […]