Restless

And the truth is

That the day has just begun

Time to do it all remains

There’s much yet to be done

Opportunities present

Live,  love,  give

Soothe

Be balm

In the midst of chaos

Choose.

Create the calm.

Begin within.

I AM  Loving, Strong, Smart, Creative, Honest, Contented, Serene (most of the time ;-) )

What wonders reside within you?

Let me know!

“Love much. Earth has enough of bitter in it.” ~ Ella  Wheeler Wilcox, American Author & Poet

~ ω ~

I’ll take my bitter

In the form of bitter herbs

Soothe me, treat me;

My distress, curb.

Chamomile, arugula, wormwood, mint.

Each a cure,

Sublimely sent.

In a drink, yes, I think

Bitter can be grand.

Salty gin, tonic, lime~

Never bland.

I’ll take my bitter with a little dash of sweet.

Combined with love and honey, a real treat.

Grapefruit, lemon, sour grape, wine.

Divine

But I won’t take your bitter, spewed and splattered all about.

If you so choose to live,

Then you

I’ll live without.

And love from a distance.

When I first met The Good Husband nearly thirty-five years ago, I sensed something special.  Yeah, yeah, there was pure teenage attraction and unrestrained passion, but it was more than that.

As a 17-year old, he exuded an aura of calm and inner connection that I wanted to better understand. It took another year before we began dating and I had the opportunity to figure out how this guy ticked. Within a few months, after seeing him function  in the world and in his family home, I knew that the secret was integrity. The man has impeccable integrity, as did his father before him. Integrity is the essence that guides his every act, and has as long as I’ve known him.

Like many others over the years, I saw in this man, felt in his presence, a sense of wonder and possibility. I recognized an option to be a better version of myself. I wanted to learn that, be that, so that I could walk a similar path and emit that kind of light. It took some time, but for the most part, I succeeded.

Not long ago, I came across a related quote and am compelled to share it. It is, quite simply, an essential truth. It’s part of a philosophy, an outlook, and a lifestyle that can lead to only good things. And it correlates beautifully with another of my favorite quotes, gifted by Ghandi: “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

Have a read, then let me know what you think: 

“People of integrity seem to have a kind of built-in ability to handle whatever comes up as they go toward success. You see, when you act from integrity, you don’t lie. When you don’t lie, you have no need to remember. When you don’t have anything to remember, you don’t have to save your energy for protection, in fear of being found out; then you have access to all your energy in the present. When you have your energy present, here and now, you are in a better position to handle whatever comes up. If you do that often enough, you’ll gain an enormous amount of self-confidence, a belief in yourself based on empirical evidence — your life.

When you live a life of integrity, your success may very well manifest as wealth in friendships, trust, admiration, respect, and the ability to inspire others.”

- John-Roger, American Author & Spiritual Leader

“The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.”

~Ashley Montague

…

Sunrise on a summer morn.

The moment each of my children was born.

Seeing him cross a crowded room.

Witnessing someone I care for bloom.

Weddings when the match is right.

Achieving the goal that took all one’s might.

A simple meal, a glass of wine.

Knowing, regardless, that all will be fine.

Because I let happiness seize me.

“What’s the earth

With all it’s art, verse, music, worth–

Compared with love

found, gained, kept?”

~ Robert Browning

 Dear Robert,

You got it mostly right. This world ~ with all it’s art, verse, music ~ simply would not be, without love. Love is the root of adornment and adoration. Love is the reason for it all.

Love ~ found, gained, kept ~ is at the bottom of everything worthy of aspiration. Love is the aspiration.

Romantic love, friendly love, passionate love, familial love. Love of the creator. Love for fellow men. Love for loving’s sake.

I AM what I AM, you are what your are, we are who we are… in love, through love, by love, because of love.

Deny love - deny yourself.

Love. The opposite of fear. And we all know the only thing to fear is fear itself.

Think on that for a bit.

Yeah, yeah. I know the drill. Hands are the true indicator of a woman’s age.

But let’s get serious…

These Hands

Among other things

Have raised

Babies

Vegetables

Spirits

And Hell

Why wouldn’t I love them?

Vow to release the old, rigid ways 

They hinder each step of the journey. 

Open to options, to love and forays 

Don’t let judgment inhibit the glory. 

Eyes wide open 

See what is real 

Eternal, soul-building, enduring. 

Consider, think, choose 

How to fit in those scenes 

Witness? Player? 

Defensive? 

Alluring? 

Then open up.

Prepared

For the ride of your life.

All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love.

Everything is, everything exists, only because I love. Everything is united by it alone.

Love is God, and to die means that I, a particle of love, shall return to the general and eternal source.”

~ Leo Tolstoy

Dear Leo,

Did you know that  I’m a Leo, too? Yep.  Born on August second. Smack dab in the middle of The Leo Zone. I am FULL of Leo-glow… strong, creative and enthusiastic, open-minded, faithful and loving. I’m a little bit dramatic, like to make an entrance, and want to leave an impression.

I can be dogmatic, pompous, and am sometimes patronizing. I’ve been called stubborn and opinionated, and overly idealistic. Although I hate to admit it, I’m a little vain. And I must be boastful since, on occasion, I really do think “It is good to be queen,” while secretly yearning for a ruby-studded tiara. I am uncomplicated. I have few secrets. What you see is what you get.

How is it that I am aware of all these things? How do I so thoroughly understand my assets, flaws and foibles? Simple. You, Mr. Tolstoy were right. We only understand when we are willing to love, and I have learned to love. I’ve benefited from  exceptional living examples, numerous historic role models, and a lover and friend who loves me unconditionally. I have learned to love. Not all of us do. How lucky am I? I live love, give love, take love, make love. I AM love.  I live. I breathe. I love.

So thank you, Leo, for so famously putting into words what is certainly the universe’s driving force and eternal truth. But I have to say, you and I are also alike in our verbosity. John Lennon put all that in a nutshell. And then in a song. Using only 5 words. “All you need is love.”

And there you have it.

Love to you, Leo!

        ~ Aristotle

Dear Ari,

 When you’re right, you’re right.

 Love, Kim

 ~ CHOOSE ~

~ ? ~

Choose to be happy

To depend on yourself

To find joy by the end of each day.

~

Choose to be honest

To live only the truth

No regrets; ne’er deceive or betray.

~

Choose to be valiant

To look fear in the face

Straighten shoulders; lift your chin and love.

~

Choose to be brilliant

To let your light so shine

That the Gods seek you out, from above.

~

This

Is to live.

Choose.

~ ? ~