Connection

“There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way” Thich Nhat Hanh

If happiness had a clear, unambiguous course of travel,
Would you follow it to the T?
Would you not get distracted by what lies before you
On the path as you travel to get there?

Would you go by car?  Perhaps that pace is too fast
And one sideways glance away, you might miss
The next mark on the road.

I’d choose to go by foot.  I imagine that happiness is like
A hiking trail with blue square postmarks.
Some are new and bright blue.
They are easy to decipher.

Along the more difficult terrain,
The marks may be dull and faded.
Can we trust that we are being led to happiness?

What means happiness to me
May not be happiness to you.
So we must have a clear definition of what is happiness
Before we embark on this journey.

Or perhaps it is the course of travel itself
That illuminates the path to joy.

Is happiness the end point?

Creative Fiction

Bloom into JOY

The succulent fruit
hangs from the peach tree
just waiting to be plucked.
With just a small amount of force
the branch gives way its bounty.

A tight snag
Then a snap with release.
The shape is like a little sun
A glowing orb
cupped in my hand.

The orchard is full
of these golden jewels.
A bounty of sweet joy.

A little green leaf
left its mark
on the flesh
with a little shade from the rays.

The rays gave it nourishment
And now I jubilantly hold
It close to me.
I smell its fuzzy soft skin
and take a bite.

Oh, succulent ripe peach!
Its juices no longer contained
and they release out
with the scent of summer
and promise.

And the creative potential
to alchemize into something more
than a mere glowing orb
on a tree
just waiting for the right
passerby
to bring its gifts
into fruition.

What seemed impossible
to the little blossom
when the sun whispered,
“You are more than what you seem.
You just wait and have faith.”
And I’m at awe to see
It bloomed into joy.
self-care

I come from there

I come from there.
Far over the edge
where the sky meets the earth.
The trees line the horizon
With never ending evergreen.

I come from there.
The warm grass
with little crawling insects.
A green soft blanket underfoot.

I come from there.
Where salty air cools my skin
and fills my lungs with care.

I come from there.
Far over the edge
where the sea spreads out
to a flat horizon
whose edges knows no bounds.

I come from there
Where rain melds
and becomes my tears
tears of joy
tears of sorrow
nourishment and sustenance.
I feel and appreciate it all.

I come from there.
Where home greets me
at the door.
A warm embrace.
A quick burst of chatter about the day.
We are welcome.
We are loved.
We belong
And call this our forever home.

I come from there.
The lovers embrace.
The calm after the storm.
The seed of potential.
The green light of love.
The sparkling emerald of my heart.
I come from there.

I just know in my bones.
There was no lesson.
No guidebook or post
to mark my path.

The landscape was laid out before me. 
Welcomed me
with a warm embrace.
Sunshine on my face.
Sustenance to survive.
Laughter, joy and connection
to make it all worthwhile.
Mine all mine.
My story.
My experience.
My joy and sorrow.
I come from there.

The edge.
The sea.
The air.
The sky.
The grass.
The rain.
And I am welcomed
home to mother earth
greeted by a new day
and embraced by the moon each night

I come from there.
The loving world
and welcomed embrace