Making space for calm
she looks up from her phone
locks the screen
leaves it face down and walks away
she’s making space for calm
⊹
she opens her journal
picks up her pencil
starts to write and discovers her soul has something to say
she’s making space for calm
⊹
she shuts down her computer
walks over to the sunbeam streaming through the window
closes her eyes, hugs herself tight and says ‘I love you’
she’s making space for calm
⊹
she pulls on her coat
finds her gloves, a beanie, thick socks, and boots
picks up her snowshoes and walks out the door into the forest
she’s making space for calm
⊹
she leaves her earbuds in her pocket
listens for the quiet
watches the trees and lets nature become her teacher
lets her worries and rage and heartbreak settle
lets her heart fill with love, even if just for a moment
⊹
she’s ready now
to step in, step up, lean in, speak out
she’s made space for calm
⊹
she will not ignore what’s going on
she sees the horror and wants to stop it
but she won’t let it consume her either
she knows better, knows she can’t go back there again
⊹
calm makes her fierce
keeps her steady
gives her the kind of strength that lasts
she has a feeling she’s going to need it
⊹
they say there’s beauty around her too
she’s determined to find it
she has to, she must, she doesn’t want to miss it
she needs it
because life and love and loss have taught her it all goes by so fast
⊹
so she looks up
opens her heart
closes down hate
pulls on her best self and walks out into her little corner of the world
and makes it a little better
⊹
with her smile
her purchasing power
her love
her voice
her self
⊹
she’s not alone
there are many others
together all their ‘little better’s pile up
together they make a difference
and she is not consumed
she has made space for calm
and she knows it matters
⊹
These words were inspired by Nature Meditations Deck: Simple Mindfulness Practices Inspired by the Natural World and Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life — a gorgeous little book and card deck I found on my bookshelf this week while looking for something to stop my panicky thoughts and frantic doom-scrolling and help me return to hope.
I hope it brings some light into your world today.
💛
Celeste
did AI write this? nope, this lady did ⤴ always💛