Morning Gifts
My morning ritual continues of going outside on the porch at our home on the lake. I sat down in a chair at the black wrought-iron table, allowing my body to awaken to the birds chirping and watching the squirrels scampering under the trees. Suddenly, the sound of honking Canada Geese swimming on the far shore of the lake alerted me to listen deeply to hear the geese take flight. I heard their wings on the water with their feet skimming the surface as they lifted off into the air. The second gift came when they came in for a water landing in front of our dock – their webbed feet like their own natural water skis landed on the surface with their wings fully spread. They were made for this – just this. I pondered all the times that I had taken ‘flight’ in my own life and remembered all the times I landed in safe places. Gift beyond gift – like ‘Grace’ so freely given – serene moments reminding me to breathe it all in.
“God’s in his heaven
and all’s right with the world.”
These are often the words that come to mind
when I am experiencing true serenity,
which I must say,
isn’t often these days.
When my husband and I bought this house . . .
the first one we had ever owned together
(after looking for over twenty years),
we were happy and full of energy.
It was September 2012
and the hard work ahead
didn’t daunt us . . .
we gloried in the work,
and slept the sleep of the dead at night,
exhausted, but content.
The air was getting a little cooler,
signalling the approach of autumn.
One night,
after a particularly trying day
we went and sat on the side porch,
squeaking as the ancient wicker furniture groaned beneath our weight.
We didn’t even talk.
We were too tired . . .
the fireflies were long gone
and it was very quiet in the dark, dark night.
I melted into my chair and rested my head on the high back . . .
I relaxed and let the cool breeze caress me . . .
I felt as if I was free floating in the most peaceful place on earth.
And then I heard the hoot of a great horned owl from across the way,
a few minutes later another series of hoots.
We looked at each other and stayed for what seemed like a conversation,
knowing we were being given a sacred gift . . .
a house warming blessing from the owls.
I felt exactly as the above quote describes,
and feel it still
every time I think of that night.
Serene moments in the morning when opening the windows and perceiving and taking in the beauty of all around with gratefulness offer a calm and fresh start into the day every morning,. Moments of peace and beauty.
This goes back several years, I was working on a project and it began to take over my thoughts, and feelings. I couldn’t stop my monkey brain from thinking about it; the project consumed my thoughts and me, and I became anxious, and couldn’t even sleep.(which is not like me-I can sleep standing up🤣)
Anyway, I realized I was out of sorts, so in addition to my “prayer and meditation practice,” I added a short repetitive phrase I used in order to throw a wrench in that “hampster wheel” of a monkey brain.
It worked!!!
So, after a few more attempted invasions of the project-thoughts that were pushed out by that short phrase, serenity finally returned. Peace descended or enveloped me, and I could stay in the moment, let things go, not worry or feel anxious and sleep easily again!
It was as if a blanket was wrapped around me and the fog cleared.
Well that is the best way I can try to describe it.
I live my life with cerenity. My calm demeanor can easily be mistaken for nonchalance, because Asians put a premium on heart over technique. I’m fortunate to be one of the few with both. Having a noncompetitive approach to life helps me be satisfied with who I am, comfortable within my own skin, and appreciate every moment.
Serenity implies that I am not troubled which these days is a real challenge with what appears to be the whole world on fire. Everything is so tribal. That said, I remember an experience I had many years ago when my husband met some friends in town and promised he wouldn’t stay long and would be home early. Well, the hours dragged on and on and by about 2 a.m. the next morning, the children were sound asleep and I was pacing the floor with a fearful feeling deep in my gut. I prayed, I cried, and found myself after so many years of his alcoholic behavior, screaming at God. I cried, “you’re not suppose to give us more than we can bare and this is more than I can bare!”
A calm came over me immediately. Even the roots of my hair seem to relax. I walked into the kitchen and I felt like I was walking on air. Everything was in slow motion. I calmly made myself a cup of cocoa, drank it and climbed in bed. His well being was no longer in my hands or my mind. I felt free and crawled in bed and slept so deeply. I do not know when he got home. After he left for work the next morning, I noticed he had taken my car. I walked outside and discovered that his car was covered with mud and grass and the manifold was literally lying on the ground. To this day, I do not know how he got himself or the car home.
I have come to the realization that when I cried out, when I admitted that I was at the end of my rope, I surrendered and figuratively I would say, I was surrounded by angels. I think Life always wants to give us what we need but trusting that to be true is not always easy. Paraphrasing spiritual teacher Ram Dass,” Whether this is the first day of the Apocalypse or the first day of the Golden Age, the work remains the same…to love each other and ease as much suffering as possible.”
I guess when I can practice my morning ritual, of coffee and contemplation, I am pretty serene.
There are definitely times in nature that I experience serenity. A couple of weeks ago, I drove out to the coast with my wife and we hiked to a pretty remote beach. We were the only humans on this beach and after walking around and exploring a little bit, we had a snack and fell asleep to the sound of the waves and birds and wind. It felt so good.
We’re camping, and I was delighted this morning to find myself and the dog walking through old growth Ponderosa pines. Their orange bark indicated they were 100 years old or more. Each ponderosa’s bark has a unique scent. Today I smelled caramel, butterscotch, and rain. It was quiet and cool, with a single bird singing and the stony peaks of high mountains in the background. A serene morning indeed.
I also want to extend credit and thanks to Sylvester Allred for sharing his knowledge about ponderosas in his book “Ponderosa: Big Pine of the Southwest.” Ever since I read the book, I’ve had an ever deepening appreciation for these pines. The knowledge of their scent and age/coloring comes from his book, which in turn is the result of a career spent studying this ecosystem. An example of how one person’s passion can benefit total strangers in a lasting way.
The most serene moments of my life were when I held each of my children for the first time as newborns. In those quiet moments, the world seemed to fall away. There was only stillness and an overwhelming sense of love and presence. As I held them in my arms, time stood still. Nothing else mattered; nothing could break through the focused, gentle energy of that moment
I often experience serenity in the morning after I have meditated. It is a time of being present, and having uplifting spiritual principles at the forefront of my mind, rather than being caught in worry.
Many times have I experienced pure Joy and Serenity- most memorable are road trip on back county highways, summer time and windows are down for a sweet breeze as smell of just cut alfalfa flows into the car. I’m enroute to visit my favorite older brother and sister-in-law whom I cherish who live in a very small town in Iowa.
I feel like I have so many times I could list. All the quiet mornings I spent going to the beach when we still lived in Charleston, watching the big orange sun come up over the ocean. But last September when we were still in WNC, we hiked a lot of mountains. All of them were beautiful, but my favorite was the hike up Glassy Mountain at the Carl Sandburg home in Flat Rock, NC. Carl Sandburg was a poet and his home is a historic site now open to visitors. It’s a great place with all kinds of trees, flowers, a goat farm where you can go play with the goats, and lots of trails around the property. The Glassy Mountain trail takes you about a mile up, and the view at the top is one I’ll never forget. The Blue Ridge Mountains are just gorgeous. I swear I felt some magic standing up there and looking out at it all. I could have stayed all day.
I live in Charleston and I can relate to the peace that comes with breathing in the salty air as the sun starts to sink below the horizon. The rhythmic sound of the ocean waves breaking on the shore is a gentle sound that pushes out the noise of the world.
I was in Charleston all my life until last August (minus leaving for college). I love the lowcountry and have to say, I do miss the beach, especially early in the morning and sunset. I love Charlotte, but need a beach visit soon!
Sunnypatti– The SE USA is one part of the states I have never visited (other than a brief visit to Florida in high school). Your posts give me a window and appreciation into that part of the world. I once did a silly FB quiz that said that my personality most matched people from North Carolina– but who knows if that had any meaning at all.
Serenity: clear; quite; calm; tranquil; peaceful; placid. Yesterday afternoon was just such a time. Walking along the head ditch to check the head gate for obstructions. The wind was up a bit to keep the mosquitos at bay. The lupines and purple vetch along the ditch. The red and white clover blossoms along with the purple flowers of errant alfalfa plants. A dandelion bloom here and there. The flower heads of 8 variety of grasses waving in the breeze. Some puffy cumulus clouds drifting by. Several types of winged beings occupied the space between. Namaste.
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Morning Gifts
My morning ritual continues of going outside on the porch at our home on the lake. I sat down in a chair at the black wrought-iron table, allowing my body to awaken to the birds chirping and watching the squirrels scampering under the trees. Suddenly, the sound of honking Canada Geese swimming on the far shore of the lake alerted me to listen deeply to hear the geese take flight. I heard their wings on the water with their feet skimming the surface as they lifted off into the air. The second gift came when they came in for a water landing in front of our dock – their webbed feet like their own natural water skis landed on the surface with their wings fully spread. They were made for this – just this. I pondered all the times that I had taken ‘flight’ in my own life and remembered all the times I landed in safe places. Gift beyond gift – like ‘Grace’ so freely given – serene moments reminding me to breathe it all in.
Lovely
I agree, Diane, they are so beautiful!
I have Canada geese where I live too,
dear Diane . . .
they never fail to thrill me. ♥
“God’s in his heaven
and all’s right with the world.”
These are often the words that come to mind
when I am experiencing true serenity,
which I must say,
isn’t often these days.
When my husband and I bought this house . . .
the first one we had ever owned together
(after looking for over twenty years),
we were happy and full of energy.
It was September 2012
and the hard work ahead
didn’t daunt us . . .
we gloried in the work,
and slept the sleep of the dead at night,
exhausted, but content.
The air was getting a little cooler,
signalling the approach of autumn.
One night,
after a particularly trying day
we went and sat on the side porch,
squeaking as the ancient wicker furniture groaned beneath our weight.
We didn’t even talk.
We were too tired . . .
the fireflies were long gone
and it was very quiet in the dark, dark night.
I melted into my chair and rested my head on the high back . . .
I relaxed and let the cool breeze caress me . . .
I felt as if I was free floating in the most peaceful place on earth.
And then I heard the hoot of a great horned owl from across the way,
a few minutes later another series of hoots.
We looked at each other and stayed for what seemed like a conversation,
knowing we were being given a sacred gift . . .
a house warming blessing from the owls.
I felt exactly as the above quote describes,
and feel it still
every time I think of that night.
Such a beautiful memory, Sparrow.
It will always be with me,
dear Mary . . ..
it was a beautiful, spontaneous moment. ♥
♥️
Serene moments in the morning when opening the windows and perceiving and taking in the beauty of all around with gratefulness offer a calm and fresh start into the day every morning,. Moments of peace and beauty.
This goes back several years, I was working on a project and it began to take over my thoughts, and feelings. I couldn’t stop my monkey brain from thinking about it; the project consumed my thoughts and me, and I became anxious, and couldn’t even sleep.(which is not like me-I can sleep standing up🤣)
Anyway, I realized I was out of sorts, so in addition to my “prayer and meditation practice,” I added a short repetitive phrase I used in order to throw a wrench in that “hampster wheel” of a monkey brain.
It worked!!!
So, after a few more attempted invasions of the project-thoughts that were pushed out by that short phrase, serenity finally returned. Peace descended or enveloped me, and I could stay in the moment, let things go, not worry or feel anxious and sleep easily again!
It was as if a blanket was wrapped around me and the fog cleared.
Well that is the best way I can try to describe it.
I live my life with cerenity. My calm demeanor can easily be mistaken for nonchalance, because Asians put a premium on heart over technique. I’m fortunate to be one of the few with both. Having a noncompetitive approach to life helps me be satisfied with who I am, comfortable within my own skin, and appreciate every moment.
Serenity implies that I am not troubled which these days is a real challenge with what appears to be the whole world on fire. Everything is so tribal. That said, I remember an experience I had many years ago when my husband met some friends in town and promised he wouldn’t stay long and would be home early. Well, the hours dragged on and on and by about 2 a.m. the next morning, the children were sound asleep and I was pacing the floor with a fearful feeling deep in my gut. I prayed, I cried, and found myself after so many years of his alcoholic behavior, screaming at God. I cried, “you’re not suppose to give us more than we can bare and this is more than I can bare!”
A calm came over me immediately. Even the roots of my hair seem to relax. I walked into the kitchen and I felt like I was walking on air. Everything was in slow motion. I calmly made myself a cup of cocoa, drank it and climbed in bed. His well being was no longer in my hands or my mind. I felt free and crawled in bed and slept so deeply. I do not know when he got home. After he left for work the next morning, I noticed he had taken my car. I walked outside and discovered that his car was covered with mud and grass and the manifold was literally lying on the ground. To this day, I do not know how he got himself or the car home.
I have come to the realization that when I cried out, when I admitted that I was at the end of my rope, I surrendered and figuratively I would say, I was surrounded by angels. I think Life always wants to give us what we need but trusting that to be true is not always easy. Paraphrasing spiritual teacher Ram Dass,” Whether this is the first day of the Apocalypse or the first day of the Golden Age, the work remains the same…to love each other and ease as much suffering as possible.”
What a powerful experience, Carol! Thank you for sharing.
I well remember those nights,
dear Carol,
and in particular,
I appreciate your paraphrased quote
from Ram Dass. ♥
ps. I hope you are feeling better.
I guess when I can practice my morning ritual, of coffee and contemplation, I am pretty serene.
There are definitely times in nature that I experience serenity. A couple of weeks ago, I drove out to the coast with my wife and we hiked to a pretty remote beach. We were the only humans on this beach and after walking around and exploring a little bit, we had a snack and fell asleep to the sound of the waves and birds and wind. It felt so good.
I like that time of the day too,
dear Charlie . . . ♥
What a wonderful experience and memory. Thanks for sharing it.
We’re camping, and I was delighted this morning to find myself and the dog walking through old growth Ponderosa pines. Their orange bark indicated they were 100 years old or more. Each ponderosa’s bark has a unique scent. Today I smelled caramel, butterscotch, and rain. It was quiet and cool, with a single bird singing and the stony peaks of high mountains in the background. A serene morning indeed.
I also want to extend credit and thanks to Sylvester Allred for sharing his knowledge about ponderosas in his book “Ponderosa: Big Pine of the Southwest.” Ever since I read the book, I’ve had an ever deepening appreciation for these pines. The knowledge of their scent and age/coloring comes from his book, which in turn is the result of a career spent studying this ecosystem. An example of how one person’s passion can benefit total strangers in a lasting way.
I have always enjoyed the ponderosa zone Drea.
The most serene moments of my life were when I held each of my children for the first time as newborns. In those quiet moments, the world seemed to fall away. There was only stillness and an overwhelming sense of love and presence. As I held them in my arms, time stood still. Nothing else mattered; nothing could break through the focused, gentle energy of that moment
Just reading your post made me feel calm.
I often experience serenity in the morning after I have meditated. It is a time of being present, and having uplifting spiritual principles at the forefront of my mind, rather than being caught in worry.
Elizabeth, “…being caught in worry.” what a powerful image for what we all tend to do. Worry makes one feel caught with no way to let go.
Many times have I experienced pure Joy and Serenity- most memorable are road trip on back county highways, summer time and windows are down for a sweet breeze as smell of just cut alfalfa flows into the car. I’m enroute to visit my favorite older brother and sister-in-law whom I cherish who live in a very small town in Iowa.
I went to college in a small town in Iowa, Carla. I remember that alfalfa smell! ♥️
I feel like I have so many times I could list. All the quiet mornings I spent going to the beach when we still lived in Charleston, watching the big orange sun come up over the ocean. But last September when we were still in WNC, we hiked a lot of mountains. All of them were beautiful, but my favorite was the hike up Glassy Mountain at the Carl Sandburg home in Flat Rock, NC. Carl Sandburg was a poet and his home is a historic site now open to visitors. It’s a great place with all kinds of trees, flowers, a goat farm where you can go play with the goats, and lots of trails around the property. The Glassy Mountain trail takes you about a mile up, and the view at the top is one I’ll never forget. The Blue Ridge Mountains are just gorgeous. I swear I felt some magic standing up there and looking out at it all. I could have stayed all day.
I live in Charleston and I can relate to the peace that comes with breathing in the salty air as the sun starts to sink below the horizon. The rhythmic sound of the ocean waves breaking on the shore is a gentle sound that pushes out the noise of the world.
I was in Charleston all my life until last August (minus leaving for college). I love the lowcountry and have to say, I do miss the beach, especially early in the morning and sunset. I love Charlotte, but need a beach visit soon!
Sunnypatti– The SE USA is one part of the states I have never visited (other than a brief visit to Florida in high school). Your posts give me a window and appreciation into that part of the world. I once did a silly FB quiz that said that my personality most matched people from North Carolina– but who knows if that had any meaning at all.
I love the Carolinas and am so grateful life took my mom to Charleston when I was a toddler.
We think life may take us to the southwest someday… we’ll see how the journey unfolds!
Hills Creek State Park in the fall.
Serenity: clear; quite; calm; tranquil; peaceful; placid. Yesterday afternoon was just such a time. Walking along the head ditch to check the head gate for obstructions. The wind was up a bit to keep the mosquitos at bay. The lupines and purple vetch along the ditch. The red and white clover blossoms along with the purple flowers of errant alfalfa plants. A dandelion bloom here and there. The flower heads of 8 variety of grasses waving in the breeze. Some puffy cumulus clouds drifting by. Several types of winged beings occupied the space between. Namaste.
I think the deer divested me of my carefully cultivated lupine,
dear Joseph . . .
more power to them. ♥
Beautifully shared…thank you…I bet I’m not the only one walking that head ditch with you! You create a vivid picture and feeling with your words.
On the beach by the ocean with its salty air, gentle waves and sand between my toes……pure serenity.