A New Adventure Begins
Looking forward instead of back
Moving ahead in lieu of remaining stuck
Progression towards a profession
One that excites, stimulates, and fulfills
Taking flight
Soaring to new heights
But always coming in for a landing
Exploration without reservation
Day after day, moment by moment
Alive to the present
Reflective on the past
And moving towards the future
Let the adventure start!
United you stood
So that one would not fall
And in doing so,
You protected us all
The mountains were steep
The rails, ardous
But you kept moving forward
Through dirt, grime, sweat, and tears
You banded together
In support of one another
And a common cause
Standing alongside, behind, and in front
One is as valuable as the other
Together uniting as one and many
Tending to each petal
With delicate touch and sense
Fragile yet resilient
In both beauty and depth
The stem digs deep
To find a connection
Providing a sturdy base
From which to grow
Exists but only a time
Enhancing the surroundings
With color, vitality, and beauty.
30 August 2015 FINDING THAT CREATIVE SPARK
Ever have moments when you feel completely uninspired? I had an entire day of them, which made this week’s Sunday SoulJourn entry significantly more challenging than normal.
The tip of my pen rested on the lined paper waiting for inspiration to strike. The words blotted out like clogged ink, and I rested my head against the dining room chair out of frustration. “You’re trying too hard,” I decided. So, I closed the notebook and returned to the laundry room.
Hours later I re-opened the book and turned to the page where my young niece decided to write her “poem”. Though merely scribbles, her creative spirit reminded me that inspiration was already around me. Her youthful energy, ceaseless passion, and artistic interest motivated me to find that version of myself long since passed.
I smile broadly every time my niece informs me that she wants to perform on stage and how she strums her child-size guitar for the mere enjoyment of it. I want to support those dreams, interests, and talents for her as I do all my nieces and nephews. This afternoon, as I watched her turn my mother’s sewing board into a stage background, I thought back to a time when I used to love to perform. When did I stop believing in my own dreams and allow the big, bad, scary world to influence my level of confidence?
I am an artistic spirit – I know that without doubt or question. However, for most of my life’s journey, the doubts, fear, and pragmatic questions kept me traveling in circles. Today I realized that inspiration exists all around, but ultimately comes from within.
*What sparks your creativity? How do you deal with a lack of inspiration or motivation? Please share your tips, insights, and advice!*
In a world currently overwhelmed with social media, digital advances, and fast-paced living, we sometimes race straight past Present and head towards an unknown Future. I admit to the above and, as such, decided to create Sunday SoulJourn as a reminder that life is not a race; it’s a journey.
Join me every Sunday as I reflect, ponder, and contemplate topics that tend to get overlooked as we sprint through life.
Words float aimlessly above
Out of my reach even on the tips of my toes
I try to grab the ones I seek
Yet they bounce and spin out of grasp
Fatigue sets in, and I relent
Grabbing whichever I can hold on to
I make use of the word in my hands
Creating something out of thin air
With each new phrase formation,
the words glow bright
Proud of their achievements
And thankful for the recognition and appreciation
Sometimes, that which we struggle for
Remains out of reach to help
Us pay attention to that which we need
Beauty, creativity, and artistry surround us
We just need to utilize them.
23 August 2015: A Journey of Spiritual Character
I’m currently standing at a crossroads along my SoulJourn. Why? I haven’t a clue – okay, maybe I do.
I am a writer who hasn’t spent enough time writing recently. I come home from an eight-hour work day (in an unrelated field) and relish the time to relax. Instead of spending an hour or two writing after dinner, I put my feet up and watch television (though…since my professional career of choice is writing for television you could say that I’m doing research).
I should clarify…I do write during the week (Motivational Monday and Sunday SoulJourn), but I have not spent any time as of late working on my fictional material. It’s as though I left my characters back in their respective villages and headed out to places unknown, instead of bringing them with me on the journey.
This artistic spirit craves creativity. Without it, my soul hungers for purpose, connection, and value. As I stood in the metaphorical forest today, I realized how much I missed my characters and the stories I’d left unfinished.
I picked up pen & paper after dinner tonight, and got at least one set of characters out of artistic limbo. I’m progressing forward and taking my characters with me!
In a world currently overwhelmed with social media, digital advances, and fast-paced living, we sometimes race straight past Present and head towards an unknown Future. I admit to the above and, as such, decided to create Sunday SoulJourn as a reminder that life is not a race; it’s a journey.
Join me every Sunday as I reflect, ponder, and contemplate topics that tend to get overlooked as we sprint through life.
With my legs crossed on the wrought-iron bench
And my eyes closed
I tilt my head toward the sky
And smile
The avian melodies calm and uplift
Giving wings to my spirit
Mother Nature’s gentle kiss refreshing my senses
And my palms pulsate in acknowledgment
I am connected to the Earth and Sky
A vessel of which I navigate
Waters both choppy and serene
Illumination enlightens me in mind, body, and spirit
I fix my now-awakened gaze on the swaying branches
And nod in thankful greeting
Before returning the pencil to its natural mate.
16 August 2015: Steering Straight Ahead
My sister and I ventured back to NJ this morning for some meditation and motivation. My initial idea for this week’s post came to me as I stared at the stunning display of Buddhist images, symbols, and decor on the opposite wall. I noticed a beautiful, peach-colored lotus blossom on the shelf and knew instantly that would be the central image for today’s entry. “I’ll stay after and ask if I can take a picture for my blog,” I thought. Then I realized I was supposed to be focusing on my breath, so I quieted my mind and pushed the idea aside until later. By the time I pulled it back in, I was in the car and headed across the NJ/PA border.
“What am I going to write about now?” I wondered for the next few hours. I became fixated on the one idea that didn’t come to fruition and laughed. As I mentioned during Week Two of Sunday SoulJourn, I dream big. Part of my big dreams involve elaborate, intricate, idyllic wishes. For instance, I come up with this wondrous idea to have an award show viewing party. I can totally see it as I wish it to be: in a rented banquet hall, themed appetizers and deserts on the long tables, decorations, centerpieces on the tables, a movie screen to watch the telecast, and much more. I can see it all, but then it quickly overwhelms me and time passes. Ultimately, I end up inviting a few friends over, cook some themed dishes, and sit on my sofa in the company of good friends. As much as I try to enjoy the moment, I admittedly find myself fixated on what didn’t occur.
I thought about all this as I drove home today and realized that those grand ideas don’t come to fruition because I don’t always take the wheel and steer them where I want to go. Part of me expected everything to simply fall into place. That I’d know the way without paying attention to the directional signs. That I didn’t need to stop for directions or ask for help, because I knew where I was headed. Deep down I thought that just by envisioning the dream, the universe would help it come to be. The grand ideas, like singing professionally or hosting exciting themed parties, didn’t occur because I didn’t a) have enough confidence in it, b) work hard enough to make it happen, or c) believe in its significance and importance.
I didn’t keep two hands on the “wishing wheel”; I slammed on the brakes and let someone else sit in the driver’s seat. I sat passively by, watching the scenery blur by in a haze of color.
Are you the driving force in your own life? Do you sometimes feel like your dreams are too big to come true?
In a world currently overwhelmed with social media, digital advances, and fast-paced living, we sometimes race straight past Present and head towards an unknown Future. I admit to the above and, as such, decided to create Sunday SoulJourn as a reminder that life is not a race; it’s a journey.
Join me every Sunday as I reflect, ponder, and contemplate topics that tend to get overlooked as we sprint through life.
In need of some creative inspiration? Use the images below to kindle your artistice side.
What are you inspired to create?
In a world currently overwhelmed with social media, digital advances, and fast-paced living, we sometimes race straight past Present and head towards an unknown Future. I admit to the above and, as such, decided to create Sunday SoulJourn as a reminder that life is not a race; it’s a journey.
Join me every Sunday as I reflect, ponder, and contemplate topics that tend to get overlooked as we sprint through life.
9 August 2015: Caught Up In My Dreams
I dream big but live small, wound in a cocoon surrounded by a self-constructed protective bubble. Since toddler age, I gained value and purpose from artistic interests and talents. However, I held on to them as treasures, not believing that they could sustain me on a professional, financial, or realistic level. I enjoyed my creative ventures, finding solace and motivation from them, so that was enough…or so I thought.
Almost a decade in to genealogy research and I consistently discover inspiring stories, lessons to be learned, and ancestors whose struggles I can’t emulate but can appreciate. When drafting this week’s Sunday SoulJourn entry I sat in silence, pen in hand, and listened to the spirits that came before – not in a “quick-call-the-doctor-she’s-hearing-voices” kind of way, mind you.
I closed my eyes and imagined the settings, hardships, and events of my ancestral lineage. I could visualize myself stepping off the boat onto the American coast, a mixture of fear and excitement intermingling. I could see the dirt and sweat on the faces of the coal miners who worked in perilous conditions day in and day out. As my body relaxed, I watched an eagle take flight from the arm of a Native chief and listened to the Celtic flute in an Irish pub.
The bubble that surrounded me dissolved like ash, and I opened my eyes to a world full of possibilities. I’m moving forward, and as I do, I blend artistic dreams and career goals. As I travel with the spirits of those who journeyed before me, I’m catching up to my dreams, one step at a time.
Kelly Deeny