I woke up with a roof over my head,
And a large dog yawn to greet me.
The nasty north wind chased me around the neighborhood,
It kept catching up with me but didn’t hold me back.
Oliver (my six-year-old Lab) walked an entirely different route, right alongside me.
Anxiety and worry stopped by to see if they could spend the day,
I too often try to make them feel welcome,
But I did show them the door.
Laughter cascaded over me from the radio,
Morning could be mourning without my radio friends.
I waved at mortality, “Maybe some other time.”
Introspection tagged along with me, all day long.
Doubt peeked in the window.
Confidence sought my company and tried to keep up.
Wincing as I rode past the cemetery,
Wistfulness popped up to push away the pain,
Fondness and memories washed over me,
And deep breaths curled them all up in my heart.
Determination sat in my office, making sure I stayed on task.
Alone at my desk, introspection came back, lingering,
Wondering if “Now is a good time?”
It’s always a good time for thinking, and when thinking of so many things.
Pausing in silence as I ponder the next thing;
I pause longer, knowing that outdoor silence beats indoor silence every time.
And with that, I shut down the laptop and end my workday.
Anxiety, mortality, worry, and sorrow are ready to join me.
They’re much more distant in the silence of the outdoors.
As I pulled the covers over me at night, I sighed at things left undone,
As I turned out the light, I smiled at another day of grace, silence reconvened,
And I exhaled gratitude.
Oh boy!!! The amount of inner-peace that you vehiculated to me between the lines is soul-soothing, my dear Tom! For this, I’ll never thank you enough, friend! 💙
“Anxiety and worry stopped by to see if they could spend the day,
I too often try to make them feel welcome,
But I did show them the door.”
Those lines made my day! 🤗💎🤗
Thank you. I’ve worn these same shoes on many days. Your poem reminds me of a quote from Bessel A. van der Kolk, “There is something very empowering about having the experience of changing your brain’s activity with your mind.”
You didn’t have to be grateful at the end of that day, but you were.
Grateful is something that I work at to be my default setting. I am not always successful, but working at keeps in more toward the forefront of my mind. I am always grateful for your contributions to any discussion, and very much so on this one.
Tom, to the list that already included man among men, friend, and favorite thinker, I just added another item: poet.
Your poem is the first thing I read this morning. I didn’t even know I needed it. I did. Thank you.
I am always grateful for any and every interaction with you.
Tom, thank you for an inspiring poem. I love it
Larry, thank you so much. I am always honored by your input.