“Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? — every, every minute?” 

Emily from Thorton Wilder’s Our Town

It’s the beginning of a new year. Life continues to be a disappointment in many ways, so I’m trying to challenge myself to keep a bullet journal and to write a poem each day since Glenda Funk encouraged me to join the Stafford Challenge.

I’d also like to keep a gratitude journal and intentionally witness and record the beauty in life. This morning outside my window, I can see the sun rising. What a relief since it’s incredibly cold here, and we’ve had a long month of mostly gloomy gray days. The river looks a bit pink, and the trees are laced with snow. It’s a frozen tableau.

When I head off to work, the trees along River Road will be covered in eagles. Yesterday, I finally saw a few cardinals, too, which have been sadly missing. My husband suggested that the derecho might have been one of the reasons we are not seeing many this year.

The first thing I decided to write this morning before beginning my blog post was to write a poem. You will be able to witness my struggle to focus on the positivity, but I like the brevity of this poem.

cancer-fighting seeds

grind

pretending you win

Stay warm! Barb, January 16, 2024