Embarrassing Rubbish

"Mistakes are the portals of discovery."

James Joyce

As a fourth grader, I accidentally experienced the joy of expressing private thoughts into a "Daily Diary".  My father convinced me to burn all of my writings from childhood, high school, and college when I was home for a visit.  He convinced me they were embarrassing rubbish and so I dropped each one into a barrel hot with fire. 

In the years to follow, I would often regret this act of destruction.  It was just another parental action to minimize my thoughts, life, and memories.  This experience of burning became a block, preventing me  from sharing my essays, articles or collected thoughts. It created a necessity to hide ... well, me.

In time, I was able to publish articles, maintain a question and answer column for a few years, and with the help of my writers group, create my blog. VIRGINIA'S VOICE. (Special recognition for Becky Aud Jennison) I share this as each one of us has a creative part that needs to be brought out from hiding and to be explored. Let no one put it asunder!

Shut Your Eyes

"Shut your eyes and see."

James Joyce

When we close our eyes, our sense of being deepens.  We hear particular sounds which had been gray background noises.  Fragrances float by and our imagination kicks wide open.  Upon inhaling, we breathe in life and slow our lovely selves down.  As we exhale, we release residue from our day.

With our eyes closed, we can travel to any location, memory, or person to feel connected and less lonely.  We can visualize ourselves being happy, healthy, and joyful.  We can experience silence and the oneness of all things.

We must not wait until we are in meditative pose or yoga attire.  It is not necessary to be in a special situation to offer our bodies the rest it needs.  When we close our eyes, we alter the stimulants surrounding us, and even if just for a slight passing second, we restore our body, mind and soul.