Today is a look forward, back, and side-wise. It is a speculation on a future as yet unformed. All of the past ceased to exist when the present moment came into existence, and all of tomorrow can never exist for this moment in time is all that can exist. Embracing this truth means knowing that everything before this breath reaches the bottom of my lungs has faded as fog to the morning sun, and all that I can be, have, do, think, and will must be chosen within the space of that breath. That knowledge is mighty and terrifying in its entirety, for I must choose well or continue to hide from disturbing consequences that greet me each moment of the rest of my life.

I'm playing again today, trying to decide how many of these I can create for a wee chapbook. Let me know what you think. The feedback will help me determine which goes in and which stays out.

Thanks for giving your opinion on 1.) whether poem is accentuated by this photo, 2.) whether placement of poem should shift to a different position or take on a different color font, or 3.) should I give up the idea of doing a chapbook of this type.

Waiting for opinions,

Claudsy

Days of Learning, Days of Growing

Courtesy of BJ Jones Photography

This past couples of weeks has been interesting. Have you ever had a time in your life when you seem to have gone back to school, but you don’t go to class? It’s as if everywhere you go, everything you encounter are lessons of one form or another.

What do you do with the experience of meeting a person casually who begins telling you their life story at that moment, for seemingly no other reason than because you happen to stand next to them? And what do you do when something in what they say “clicks” in your head audibly, telling you that this bit of information, this insight is something that must be remembered?

Here’s another example. I’ve been concentrating on several small projects lately aside from the blogs and website. I send out at least two, sometimes three, submissions each week; poetry at least once and fiction. I’m putting together a growing list of submission markets for both genres.

My biggest project at present is my book of poetry “The Moon Sees All.” It’s out with my beta readers. It’s being poked, prodded, and evaluated for necessary/suggested changes to make it absolutely irresistible to publishers. That’s an enormous step for me.

My rejection rate is decreasing. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. I’d just like to know the reason. In the meantime, I’ll accept this change and the blessing.

Life seems more settled for me in many ways right now. I actively write less, but produce better, given the acceptances lately. I don’t feel harried any longer, which is another blessing. On top of all that, these tiny lessons in changing my thoughts, attitudes, aspirations, etc. have begun bearing fruit in small but effective ways.

Perhaps, in the end, that’s really the take-away for life. Small changes—choosing to spend the day enjoying the outdoors and appreciating those natural gifts we can only experience where they live—repay us with fresher minds and hearts. Our spirits are rejuvenated because we focused on something outside ourselves for a while.

Doing the dishes allows for quiet thinking time. It isn’t the task that’s so important, it’s the time you spend with yourself, considering and pondering those caches of thoughts tucked away in mental closets that you’ve not had time for lately. Mundane chores, while necessary to a tidy household, are also opportunities to review, renew, and reconnect with that piece of yourself that you’ve neglected.

At least, that’s what I’ve concluded. For instance, a few weeks back I showed everyone my office area and how bad it was in the disorder department.  I’m about to get radical with it. I’m clearing out those things that don’t grow corn for me anymore.

About half of the items occupying my space will be eliminated in the next few weeks. I am simplifying my life, my work, and my intentions. The goals remain the same. It’s the approach that needs a clean sweep.

And there you have it. Part of my studying has led me here. The rest comes from lessons encountered willy-nilly in unexpected places.

Things should get really interesting before long. I’m looking forward to it.

Now, let me ask you again. Have you been given surprising lessons lately? Leave a comment and tell me about them. We all have them. It’s whether we recognize their delivery or not.

Until later,

Claudsy

Taking Stock

Once in a while, like everyone, I have to pause long enough to take stock of things that are going on in my life. This past week has been a really good one.

Two of my poems were accepted by the literary journal, Four and Twenty Short Form Poetry; one “Moon Paths” for the July 17 issue, and one “Seniority” for their online promos. I couldn’t be happier with this news.

The past couple of days I’ve been working to finish the final edit on my book of poetry “Moon Sees All” before sending it off to beta readers. I put out a call yesterday for those readers and have received a marvelous and enthusiastic response. As soon as I get the finishing touches on the manuscript and get it reformatted as a PDF, I can send it to those lovely readers on Thursday.

Since I’ll be incommunicado from Friday through Sunday, I have plenty to get set up for my working week beginning on that absent Sunday. The editorial calendar is in place for Two Voices, One Song and will take effect on July 8^th as soon as Meena and I both return from trips elsewhere. That puts work onto my plate for the next three days.

What work? Oh, research for profiles, some flash fiction, themed chat and brainstorming ideas. I’d like to have several finished posts for all my blogs in place and ready for auto-downloading before I leave for a few days. That takes some of the pressure off for next week, too.

Along with that work is my attempt to catch up on all of my coursework. I’m a few lessons behind and would like to start fresh when I return. Whether I make it or not depends on a few things; mainly whether I make it harder on myself than it needs to be, which is often the case. I really have to work on that tendency of mine.

I’m also beginning to take better care of myself; a plus in anyone’s book. I came close to the crash and burn scenario a couple of weeks ago. Having been in deep doodoo before with that scenario, I’ve chosen a much healthier avenue.

A half an hour of yoga will begin my day, followed by my recumbent bike workout. At that point, a need for sustenance will take over; giving me an opportunity to continue with health consciousness and to choose something that will aid my body to get healthier. Meditation will follow later in the day when I really need a break from everything else.

I know. I tend to make full schedules for myself. It could be my age, you know. I’m at that stage where each minute seems to need some purpose, even if it’s only to be still and live within the silent moment. Over the past few months I’ve come to appreciate stillness and the inward view as a way of coping with self-imposed work demands. I’ve reduced those demands to help compensate, as well.

And there you have it; my recap and taking stock for the week.

I hope everyone has a great holiday tomorrow and fun rest of the week. If you need to, pause to take stock of your own days and what you choose to fill them with. What’s happened lately that improved your attitude, gave you reason to ponder an important question, or encouraged you to push just a bit further in pursuit of something you really desire?

Feel free to share here. I love comments and knowing what’s happening with others. Now I must return to the editing table. Take care, all, and God bless.

Claudsy

Today's sandbox at my poet's playground. I hope you enjoy it. Be sure and let me know if there are types of images or poetry that you'd like to see, or not, and I'll try to accommodate at least once a week.

Claudsy

An Alphabet of Life’s Daily Events: “A” Through “M”

A few days ago I was reminded of family duty of communication. Work and daily life chaos had prevented me from calling on of my aunts for far too long. I was reminded periodically, but “things” got in the way. She took the initiative to call me, never chiding, but reinstating my obligation to keep in touch more regularly. I’m to keep that in mind came the unspoken instruction.

Break to when I got off the phone. Questions swirled in my brain. How often do we change course in our lives through such a soft-toned reminder that someone worries about us when they do not hear from us often enough? And how often do we voice the same concern over one who’s been silent too long?

Causing people distress isn’t something I indulge in purposely. Yet, as it does for so many it happens occasionally through social interaction and family dynamics. Somewhere there must be a mechanism for the prevention of the effect of our lives.

Direction came from my Creative Muse as she let fly with one of her spurts of healing juice. I discovered within me the unstoppable need to put poetry to picture for Claudsy’s Blog. This process takes as long as writing a blog post and is not something done to save time.

Examination of suitable photos takes nearly as much time as writing the specific poem that will hold court in that image. Sizing the photo, getting Sister’s copyright with proper placement, and sighting the position of the text box, all take up time. I’m fussy. Everything must be just right before I hit the save button, and if it isn’t, it hits the trash bin.

Fortune smiled for me, I had the exact photo that fit my mood. Muse wrote the poem through my fingers. Et voila, a poem photo is produced and posted.

Gathering other images for use with poetry kept me moving that day, along with my other writing obligations. Stretching my writer’s fingers has become a full-time occupation lately; one which keeps me growing and moving forward. The experience is a good one, albeit exhausting.

Here, in my small office space does magic occur. I don’t concern myself with whether someone will lift my new creation for their own use. I’m sure some already have. I think of these personal triumphs as ambassadors, carrying part of my purpose with them on their travels.

In the time it’s taken to write this short piece, something I’ve created from nothing more than a thought and a supposition has taken flight to destinations unknown, to ask questions, offer solace, lift a spirit or simply offer beauty. That is its only obligation and my only concern.

Jumbled within our daily exercise of life, should we not take one hour to create something for no other reason than to share it? Should one have to desire more than that revelry in order to enjoy the process of creation? Must we have other agendas?

Knowing the soul’s purpose for creation is, I learned, absolutely necessary or there can be no joy in it. If the act of creation causes dis-stress, pain, confusion, tension, and a sense of never being good enough, it becomes the destroyer of the one creating; its own antithesis.

Longing to free Muse from a stagnant prison empowered me to begin writing, to make a serious effort toward publication and the writing life. My hard work led to being published several times in several genres. Along the way, the business got in the way of the creation.

Making room for life within the business of living under the title of “Author” can wear down anyone as it did me. I’d lost sight of my purpose in writing. I’d almost lost the joy creation. I was brought up short before it was too late. And I’ll always thank those responsible for it.

A Break from habit, Causing me to follow a new Direction to make a closer Examination of the  Fortune in ideas Gathering  Here  In  Jumbled array;  Knowing,  Longing for the Making of new creations for all. 

There are times when creativity overwhelms other considerations. Hence this bit of poetry with image.