The Journey

Lots of voices shouting over here. Plenty of bad advice. Fear scattered all over the place. Feeling the old tug of doubt. Wondering what on earth i'm doing with my life. (Career wise)  Feeling like i'm not enough. Like i'm not doing enough.

Frustrations. Impatience.  Wanting.  Resisting.  Reaching---- for clarity.  And peace.

Knowing it will come. 

My little ones have gone to their aunt's for a couple of days. 

Tomorrow i will stop doing.  I will lie in the hammock and stare at the trees and sky.  I will listen to the bird sounds.  I will breathe big, deep breaths.   And try to find the humor in these crazy ups & downs.  And my mind will get a little quieter.

And i will feel better.  I'm sure.

It's a comfort to know that Mary Oliver understood.

The Journey

by Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began,

though the voices around you

kept shouting

their bad advice—

though the whole house

began to tremble

and you felt the old tug

at your ankles.

"Mend my life!"

each voice cried.

But you didn't stop.

You knew what you had to do,

though the wind pried

with its stiff fingers

at the very foundations,

though their melancholy

was terrible.

It was already late

enough, and a wild night,

and the road full of fallen

branches and stones.

But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of clouds,

and there was a new voice

which you slowly

recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper

into the world,

determined to do

the only thing you could do—

determined to save

the only life you could save.