If I could summarise 2019, it would be as a journey on the high seas with periods of calm interspersed with violent storms. There were days when getting out of bed seemed impossible and yet other days when I charged out of bed with gusto- all dependent on whether I saw my cup as half-empty or half-full.
I once wrote a poem about storms making us better sailors and …. I sure hope that’s true! Nevertheless, I’ve closed the door on areas that don’t ‘feed’ my soul and picked up new challenges as I press towards my goal. Anchors aweigh!
When barbed clouds threaten to rip you in two
-when self-doubt is a blanket you’ve become used to,
no-one wants to read about people like you…
“Too much reality”
……that seems to
lower the tone
of the neighbourhood
of fantasy
And yet, it doesn’t last
-just a course-correcting storm
that finally deposits you on
the shores of sanity
© Vivian Zems
January 5, 2020 at 12:03 pm
What a wonderful poem to start the new year
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January 7, 2020 at 10:42 pm
Thanks Jae😊
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January 5, 2020 at 12:11 pm
This whole post is a delight – picture, writing and hornpipe! Thank you.
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January 6, 2020 at 2:29 am
My pleasure Rosemary!
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January 5, 2020 at 1:03 pm
You achieved great things in 2019, Viv. All the best for 2020.
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January 6, 2020 at 2:28 am
Awww , thanks for saying that, Kerry 🙂 All the best to you as well!
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January 5, 2020 at 1:12 pm
sail on, V! And thanks for the hornpipe!!
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January 5, 2020 at 3:09 pm
Yay! Thanks Ron!
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January 5, 2020 at 3:16 pm
The bad doesn’t last forever. And the memory of the good lasts as long as we remember. There will always be a soul (or 13) that wants to read us fully. And the ones who don’t, well… Their loss.
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January 6, 2020 at 2:28 am
Absolutely!
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January 5, 2020 at 3:46 pm
“when self-doubt is a blanket you’ve become used to,” … this is so true. I say we break free and fly! ❤️
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January 6, 2020 at 2:29 am
I quite agree, Sanaa!
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January 5, 2020 at 4:06 pm
“Nevertheless, I’ve closed the door on areas that don’t ‘feed’ my soul and picked up new challenges as I press towards my goal.” Sounds like in some ways, the past year had been a volatile one for most. The answer though lies in your determination to press on with own goals, while letting go of dead weight. All the best for 2020!
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January 6, 2020 at 2:27 am
Thanks Khaya! And the same to you 🙂
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January 5, 2020 at 5:26 pm
You, too? I thought your poem was about me as I read it in my voice. Maybe we all are as one voice to encourage each other to success. The tide lifts all ships so we can land on those shores of sanity. Thank you for providing this visual, Vivian. Well done.
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January 6, 2020 at 2:27 am
My pleasure..life is a daily battle- but we’re up to it 🙂
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January 5, 2020 at 5:54 pm
Jibe Ho! I know the sound of those waves and have learned how to sail them. Now it’s figuring out how to wrangle the crew! I love the music accompaniment!
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January 6, 2020 at 2:26 am
Lol! Thanks Lori!
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January 5, 2020 at 6:22 pm
Oh so many storms come my way. Even the new year brought one. I can’t explain how I weather them except to say “I just do.” May the new year bring many blessings.
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January 6, 2020 at 2:24 am
Amen to that, Susie 🙂
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January 5, 2020 at 7:45 pm
Love the phrase ‘shores of sanity.’ Well done Vivian!
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January 6, 2020 at 2:25 am
Thanks Linda!
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January 6, 2020 at 12:34 am
I can really relate to this, Vivian, as I’m sure most can. That blanket of self-doubt that we get used to can be quite a trickster and it’s hard, when cuddled up within it, to remember that it’s just a “course-correcting storm” that will pass and we will jump out of bed with gusto again. But of course, it is faith in this that gets us through. Thank you for the reminder.
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January 6, 2020 at 2:25 am
My pleasure, H!
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January 6, 2020 at 5:28 am
I had forgotten how fast the sailors hornpipe was as remembered dancing all around to the music so very many years ago as a pre teen in some boys club! I often wonder whether my life would be much different had I made some different decisions many years ago. No matter what, we poets have is a delightful hobby, job or whatever you want to call it that seems to fill many gaps and allows us to relax and enjoy this most satisfactory occupation that fills the gaps in our lives.
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January 6, 2020 at 8:02 am
Absolutely, Robin!
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January 6, 2020 at 10:01 am
I totally get the too much reality bit – a lot many people would rather you show false optimism and fake smiles than actually take in a truth or two.
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January 7, 2020 at 10:41 pm
You got it!
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January 6, 2020 at 4:53 pm
Boundaries! Yeah, I am trying to minimize time spent with things that deplete my spirit. The last few years have provided a lot of lessons about what feeds and what starves my soul.
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January 7, 2020 at 10:40 pm
Wisdom!
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