Window in the Sky

So fellow travelers, Zen moment framed by the trees at sunrise this morning. Yeah, I am up and out with our dog that early.

Window in the sky

First light bird songs remind us

Seek another way

At any given moment we can make a choice to respond differently. A slight shift in perspective can make a substantial difference and help us break free from reactive patterns, sense the pain in someone else’s anger and choose to not add to it, or accept the blessings in early morning wake up calls.

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready.

2 Comments
by on November 9, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Photography, Poems and Haiku, Zen Moments
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on November 9, 2017

https://dhrahalski86.com/window-in-the-sky/

Reaching

So fellow travelers, challenges at work are on the rise right now. Mindful of the toll stress took on my physical, mental and emotional well being last school year, I’m striving to counter act it’s effects proactively.

During my recovery this summer, I learned how significant simple moments can be and how important it is to attend to them by being present in those moments.

Moments like seeing light streaming in a window after a tough session with a student struggling to get through the day.

Reaching for sunlight

Plants know to turn from darkness

Learn from Nature’s ways

Focus on positives, use what’s working well to move forward one step at a time and for the joy in those moments of Light.

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready.

2 Comments
by on November 8, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Nature, Photography, Poems and Haiku, Zen Moments
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on November 8, 2017

https://dhrahalski86.com/reaching-2/

Zen moment : Glimmers

So fellow travelers, November is living up to it’s reputation as a cold, grey month. The slightest hint of sunlight sends me dashing outside to capture what Light I can.

A break in the clouds

Leaves hold a golden moment

Hope infused our hearts

When we catch a brief glimmer of hope, we must dare to take that thread and weave it into a possibility for healing and change. Our world is greatly in need of those threads of possibility. Gather and share them whenever and wherever you can.

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready.

1 Comment
by on November 7, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Photography, Poems and Haiku, Zen Moments
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on November 7, 2017

https://dhrahalski86.com/zen-moment-glimmers/

the middle way

Kathy has captured emotions I am reaching for deeply right now. This year’s transition of seasons is filled wth emotions for me as I have struggled to find meaning in some choices happening around me. Her words and the beautiful images she shared are a gift.

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by on November 5, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on November 5, 2017

https://dhrahalski86.com/the-middle-way/

Waiting 

So fellow travelers, it’s November and suddenly our luxuriously warm and unseasonable weather has flown off with the migrating geese leaving behind chilly winds and rain.
  My mood this week mirrors the grey skies viewed from my car as I wait for my morning coffee on my way to work.

Being a long distance mom is a tough challenge.

There comes a point when standing by in support mode is the most essential role we can take on as our kids take charge of their future. At times the need to be there nstead of here just to give my daughters a hug stretches my heart strings so much it physically hurts. It actually physically hurts.

Zen masters teach me time and space are illusions. In my meditations I focus on being present with the love I feel for family. It helps ease some of that ache,

but I still wish I for those hugs.

Editing a photo for an online project I found these words rising from the heartache

Trapped by illusion

Just a shadow of yourself

Hold fast til sunrise

 

Both my daughters are visiting in the next few months and I will get to give them the hugs I wish for.

Until then I will seek joy in the shadows.

 

 

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready.


1 Comment
by on November 3, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Family and relationships, Photography, Poems and Haiku
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on November 3, 2017

https://dhrahalski86.com/waiting-2/

Love Revealed

via Daily Prompt: Mystery

So fellow travelers, the blog prompt from WordPress today is Mystery

 

Suddenly it’s clear

What was hidden now revealed

Love was always here

 

Is there anything more mysterious than the power of love?

 

 

 

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready.

 

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by on November 1, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Poems and Haiku, wordpress daily prompt
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on November 1, 2017

https://dhrahalski86.com/loverevealed/

Autumn Zinnias

via Daily Prompt: Gratitude

So fellow travelers, today’s blog prompt from WordPress is Gratitude.

With a forecast for heavy winds, rain and plummeting temps I knew the flowers still lingering in my garden were better cut and brought inside to enjoy than left to the elements.

 

 

Gratitude today

Is gathering zinnias

So late in autumn

 

 It’s a rare treat to even have flowers so late in the season.

The zinnias greeted me cheerfully on my kitchen table this morning as wind and rain sent leaves scattering all through the yard. One last breath of summer to be grateful for.

 

 

 

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready.



5 Comments
by on October 29, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Gratitude, Nature, Photography, Poems and Haiku, Seasons
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on October 29, 2017

https://dhrahalski86.com/autumn-zinnias/

Zen Moment : Milkweed

via Daily Prompt: Surreal

So fellow travelers, the WordPress blog prompt for today is the word “surreal.”

 

One experience from a few days ago immediately came to mind, as did several images I’ve captured recently. There is something about the way light can transform an ordinary object, like a milkweed plant so it generates an ethereal feeling in which significant messages are embedded

The change of seasons

Continuity of life

Illumination of hidden hopes

all these contained in the tiniest of seeds

Given the choice between a surrealistic ride in an ambulance where the future morphs into to blurry question mark or the surrealism of sunlit milkweed casting seeds of hope I’m going with the milkweed

Life’s too short not to bet on hope.

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready.

1 Comment
by on October 26, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Photography, wordpress daily prompt, Zen Moments
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on October 26, 2017

https://dhrahalski86.com/zen-moment-milkweed/

Zen Moment: Park Bench

So fellow travelers, warm weather continues to linger and I’ll take it in as long as I can.

Yesterday a passing front left behind dramatic clouds, promising photo ops worth the drive to the other end of the lakefront park where Delilah and I often walk. It’s not far, but that end of the park is often more crowded and I usually prefer the quiet trails closer to my house. They are a go to spot for sorting through a challenging day’s residual impacts.

Delilah was delighted to have some new critter dens to explore while I stood in awe of the gallery which greeted my senses. The lake and sky had outdone themselves in creating canvases of light.

The smell of autumn leaves filled the air, a light breeze brushed my face. Laughter echoed from the playground where many families had gathered. Is there any sound more joyful than the sound of kids laughing? It lifted my heart which is carrying concerns for several friends facing life challenges.

Walking towards the lake I spied a bench where I could sit to watch the sun paint the sky with golden light as I sent some positive thoughts to my friends. This morning as I looked through the images from our walk I found one with that bench and this haiku with an extra line emerged from the memory of the moment.

 

20171025_083428.jpg

 

Park bench in my mind

you meet me here and we sit

in silent laughter

with the setting sun

 

Friendship is a treasure beyond worldly rewards. Like the golden gift of a beautiful sunset it’s value is beyond measure.

 Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready.

2 Comments
by on October 25, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Gratitude, Nature, Photography, Poems and Haiku, Sisterhood and friendships, Zen Moments
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on October 25, 2017

https://dhrahalski86.com/zen-moment-park-bench/

Zen Moment : Secret Smile

So fellow travelers, it’s that time of year when darkness begins to encroach on both ends of my day.

Now sunrise kisses the sky just as I am headed in to work. A few days ago, I caught sight of the last faint sliver of the waning 4th quarter moon. Just a wisp of light, a smile fading quickly in the glare of daylight, a symbol of hidden joy. Hidden perhaps by the harsh glare of day’s demanding realities but known now to me, a secret tucked into my awareness to reach for when my own smile fades.

Night gives way to day

Crescent moon’s ghost of a smile

Joy’s hidden secret


Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready.

Postscript: The moment also reminded me of another smile I found on my #Spiritof60 Road Trip. You can read about that in the post at this link .

1 Comment
by on October 19, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Gratitude, Poems and Haiku, The quest for Inner Peace, Zen Moments
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on October 19, 2017

https://dhrahalski86.com/zen-moment-secret-smile/

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