Untamed was my first Glennon Doyle read. I’ve heard her name buzzed in Good Reads and various places such as, ahem, Oprah. Now this book is a Reese Witherspoon choice. So…I was anxious to read this one and the description grabbed my attention.
First, let me just say this isn’t a post about how to know if you are an empath. I just want to express the problems I’ve experienced as an empath myself and offer tips for those of you who are feeling especially tapped out right now.
Empaths are vulnerable to abusive people who take advantage of their good nature and well of compassion. Empaths are far from perfect and are often told they are too sensitive.
I’m sharing a poem with you today. I wonder, can you relate? As much of my life lessons have taught me about valuing material goods over love and health, I don’t believe I’ve expressed it as well as with this verse.
Whoever “she” is has taught me, too.
I’m feeling…somber.
George Floyd is yet another victim in a long list of black men and women who have been killed by people who are meant to protect them. The words “I can’t breathe” have become a sickening pattern. Not this again! How can this keep happening? Why is this happening?
Confession: I could not watch the video of his tragic death. I don’t have the stomach for it.
It’s surprising to me that we’ve quickly reached a point in this flu crisis of considering re-opening the economy. For example, two of our least hit Canadian provinces have already rolled out a re-opening plan. It makes us hopeful in spite of the risk. Won’t it be nice to get back to normal. But we all have different opinions on this.
I’ve had a fondness for pajamas for as long as I can remember. As a young child I recall mourning my pajamas when my mother confiscated them. She had decided they were too small for me. Just because my arms and legs were extending far beyond the leg and arm holes? I beg of you. Have mercy on a child who loves her pajamas. When I went in search of the trash bag I suspected contained my worn out pajamas, I found gold. Those pajamas lasted another year.
Welcome to Part II of my art journey and the lessons I’ve learned. Do check out Part I, if you haven’t yet.
In the years leading up to today, I have learned many lessons from this journey. Not just about studio space design, or perfect lighting or the fact that when I get a studio, something happens whereby I have to leave it behind…but the lessons I want to share with you now are deeper than the space I create in.
In case you didn’t know, I’m an artist. It’s not something I’ve talked about here in any depth, until now.
My journey began with drawing and painting classes when my kids were in school. It’s been quite the journey; both in length of time and lessons I’ve learned along the way. I’ve shared a few images of my paintings here. I will share more in this post and part II to come.
I was out for a walk on Sunday, minding my social distance. I walked through a schoolyard which was completely empty. There were tennis courts and baseball fields at the other end. The tennis courts, I’d noticed have been kind of busy lately.
This makes sense since you can play and maintain social distance from each other.
But I noticed there were four men on one court playing ‘doubles’. I also noticed all of their sport bags, coats and water bottles in one big pile by the court. I was amazed. There didn’t seem to be a single care about spreading the virus. So much for self quarantine.
What a silly decision.
Naturally, I wrote a poem about it.
Tennis In the Time of Corona Virus
Never before has
Doubles tennis looked so sinister
The men leapt, reached and ducked
On the court
I imagine sweat and saliva
Dripping from one to the other
The handsome young men
Not a care in the world
For the spread of a virus
With no cure
Caution to the wind
As their rackets swung
Next week one of them
Will lose their sense of taste
Break a fever and reminisce
In isolation, of his victory
On the court of death
His friends will follow suit
Strong, athletic men
If only they had played
Singles tennis
They may have lived another day
But they jeered a virus
That cannot be contained
All for a game
and shameless exhibition
of who is the best
But mother nature
She doesn’t play around
Nor should we
In the time of Corona Virus
Stay healthy everyone and if you play tennis, make sure you stick to singles game.
How are you getting your exercise during self quarantine?
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