hergrowthcollective – Colleen Keller Breuning

Presence

Presence

When anguish cuts like steely blade,
Anxiety and pain invade.
Those days when life becomes intense,
I am grateful for your presence.

Let’s seek our solace in the skies:
Gold and crimson winter sunrise,
Full moon fades to halves and crescents.
I am grateful for your presence.

You shower me with faithful love,
The greatest gift from God above.
Blooming in your warm spring essence,
I am grateful for your presence.

When anguish cuts like steely blade
I am grateful for your presence.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021
December 11, 2021

This Kyrielle Sonnet was written for the Instagram group @hergrowthcollective. The topic for 12/9/21 is “Presence.” Presence is the state or fact of existing, occurring, or being present in a place or thing. It can be a person or thing that exists or is present in a place but is not seen.

For me, the reciprocal presence of loving, genuine people in my life is one of the greatest gifts. I have been so fortunate to be surrounded throughout my life with family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors who really do care. I would never be where I am today without them, and I can only hope that I have also touched them. I am extremely grateful that I have maintained rich relationships with them over the years.

These meaningful relationships go both ways. To some degree, I am present in their lives, and they are present in mine. It does not have to be a physical presence, but rather in my heart and my mind. My adult children and my grandchildren live in Florida, and I try my best to be as present in their lives as possible through texts, messages and FaceTime when I am not visiting. The greatest thrill is being able to see them in person once again. It is so healing to the heart and soul.

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but try to choose one word to abide by or strive for during the year. In 2021, it was “calm.” Sometimes I did not do very well with that word, due to anxiety and stress. There were a lot of life changes and travel, so it was a great focus word for this past year. Perhaps “presence” will be my word for 2022, as I strive to be more present in my loved ones’ lives, savor each moment, and learn to let go of worrying about the past and future. What will your word for 2022 be?

xoxo
Colleen

Mood: Grateful
Inspiration: “No Surprises” by Radiohead

Sparks of Joy

Sparks of Joy

Soft
cuddles
blazing fire
tender kisses
watching snowflakes fall
by glow of Christmas tree
scent of pines and cranberries
taste of mulled wine upon my tongue
old Christmas carols fill the night air
bringing back memories from my childhood
past, present and future meld in my soul
each moment and adventure savored
grandbabies, travel, wine and love
my heart swells with gratitude
for the life we have made
forever as one
tears sting my eyes
and turn to
sparks of
joy

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021
December 2, 2021

This Double Etheree format poem was written for the Instagram group @hergrowthcollective. The topic for this week is “What Brings Joy.” I believe that we can choose to experience joy every day, if we are willing to make the effort. Simply gazing at the sun beaming and reflecting off frozen pond waters is a joyous sight to behold. Even if there are clouds in the sky, the gentle pitter patter of rain on the roof brings comfort while nourishing the trees and grass outside.

Christmas and holiday seasons can bring out the best of all joys, though sometimes it can bring on sadness or melancholy. Remember this – the choice is yours. Meditate, think about all the blessings that you do have, and give thanks. Open your eyes and marvel at the simple beauty of the twinkling Christmas tree lights, or the candles on your menorah! No matter what life challenges you are facing at this time (and believe me, there can be MANY), make a commitment to yourself to seek out joy each day.

And here’s the really cool thing – YOU CAN BE THE SPARK OF JOY! Spread good cheer, give genuine thanks to the cashier at the grocery store, notice their name tag and SAY their name, wish them a happy holidays! Outside the store, put a few coins or bills in the Salvation Army kettle and give the ringer a big smile! You will feel your own heart swelling with joy…. it is contagious.

I’m not trying to be saccharine sweet, but really dig down into your heart and realize that despite all of your human wants and needs…. there is so much joy to behold in this world. Find it in your own life, and be that spark of joy. I wish you all a most beautiful and blessed holiday season!

xoxo Colleen

Mood: Joyful
Inspiration: Max Richter, “Dream 13 (minus even)”

In the Wilderness

In the Wilderness

In the wilderness, the word itself is beautiful music
from summer cricket songs to moth’s wing flicks,
cool nights bedecked with planets and radiant stars
far and away from the cacophony of rumbling cars.

In the wilderness, the rolling river bends and flows,
trickling down to all the places that silence goes.
Rhythmic lapping, gentle beneath a splintered dock,
crashing, pounding breakers on the craggy rocks.

In the wilderness, the poison ivy and honeysuckle creep
where young rabbits romp and the black bears sleep.
The full moon rises, proud in its golden glorious glow,
waiting for insolent clouds to crown with gauzy halo.

In the wilderness, my heart is glad and fills with peace,
my head cradled by the grass, soft as lamb’s fleece.
From the dew-kissed wildflowers to the blue skies fair,
there is beauty, heartbreaking beauty, everywhere.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021
Originally written May 27, 2015

This poem is posted for the Instagram group @hergrowthcollective. The topic for 11/18/2021 was “beauty.” Since I had just written a poem on the beauty of nature last week, I decided to look back into my archives for another poem written on beauty. This is a repost of a poem I wrote back in 2015 that incorporated my two favorite Edward Abbey quotes:

“Wilderness, the word itself is beautiful music.”
“There is beauty, heartbreaking beauty, everywhere.”

Of course, there is a recurrent theme here for me, the beauty of nature. If you know me, that’s no surprise. Indeed, but there is beauty everywhere IF we choose to take the time to experience it. I believe that beauty invokes more than just sight – rather, it invokes all of the senses. Therefore, experiencing the beauty of something can be felt on an emotional level if you will allow it. It is both external and internal, but you must open your heart and soul to feel it.

I see beauty in my grandchildren’s eyes, I hear beauty in the chords of a piano concerto, I taste beauty in a freshly cut orange, I smell beauty in the Blue Spruce pine needles, I feel beauty in the warm ocean breeze upon my skin. Mere memories of these beautiful things, or experiencing it in the now will transport you to a place of zen and calm the unrest in your mind. It can be a meditative and transcendent experience.

Take a few minutes at the beginning of each day to reflect upon the beauty in your life. Close your eyes, still your mind and focus on your breathing. Then think of the beauty you have experienced, breathe and be grateful.

Xoxo Colleen

Mood: Introspective
Inspiration: “Tomorrow’s Song” – Ólafur Arnalds
Ólafur Arnalds

Stark Beauty Beckons

Stark Beauty Beckons

Cast off your blindfolds with open eyes,
The golden dawn morphs in blue skies.
Emerald grass with dewdrops pearled…
Stark beauty beckons in this world.

Behold the jewel colors of fall,
Noble maple stands bare and tall.
On the ground, its crimson leaves whirled…
Stark beauty beckons in this world.

Blue jays frolic in pure white snow,
Deer cavort in fields of fallow.
Each day new treasures are unfurled…
Stark beauty beckons in this world.

Cast off your blindfolds with open eyes…
Stark beauty beckons in this world.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021
November 14, 2021

This Kyrielle Sonnet was written for the Instagram Group @hergrowthcollective. The topic for 11/11/2021 was “Appreciation.” Appreciation is such a broad term, and there are so many blessings and things that we should appreciate in our lives. I narrowed the focus of my poem to appreciating the beauty of nature all around us in this world.

We get so busy with day to day life and tasks that we often don’t take the time to just look out our window or move away from our computer screens. There is a world of beauty to behold each day, whether it be in our family members, friends, music, food, or nature. Take the time to slow down, breathe deep, open your eyes, observe and appreciate.

Today, I see beauty in the colorful autumn leaves, squirrels burying nuts in the yard, cats gazing out the window, crystal blue skies dotted with puffy clouds. And that makes me grateful and calm. Tell me, what do you see? What things you appreciate in your life?

xoxo Colleen

Mood: Wonderful
Inspiration: “We Played Some Open Chords” by A Winged Victory for the Sullen

Momentum

Momentum

Fear pulls me downward
sinister thoughts creeping
in corners of my dark mind
gripping tight, talons sharp
as I bleed from the inside out
and rail to the heavens in rage
from the depths of an anguished soul.

Passion pushes me onward
parting a veil of diaphanous desire
satin hush, silken touch
the scent and taste of love
as the glorious sun glows
in effervescent rainbows
shining the light on my path.

Hope coaxes me upward
picking up the broken pieces
scattered amongst wayward leaves
a cool breeze permeates my skin
its soft kiss upon my cheek
determination coursing through my veins
as I break through the force field again.

Momentum carries me forward
out of a forlorn past
through hot burning coals
blistered feet, hot searing pain
leading to a tropical oasis
where I can frolic in the green
cool raindrops upon my tongue.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021
November 8, 2021

This post was written for the Instagram group Her Growth Collective @hergrowthcollective. The topic for the week for 11/11/2021 is “Momentum.”

Momentum is defined as the strength or force that something has when it is moving. It is also the strength or force that allows something to continue or to grow stronger or faster as time passes. I believe that the momentum in our lives can be generated both internally and externally. Sometimes we have the energy, desire and impetus to make positive changes in our lives. Other times, we simply roll with the waves and are forced to change, lest we sink and drown.

For me, many things have affected my life’s momentum. Fear, passion and hope are recurring themes that have carried me through and allowed me to change the direction of my life. Reflecting on this topic helped me to write my poem “Momentum” on the plane ride back home from my son’s wedding. Life is good, keep the momentum going!

xoxo Colleen

Mood: Reflective
Inspiration: “Push the Sky Away” by Nick Cave

The Magical Journey

The Magical Journey

Close your eyes, come along with me.
Let’s take a magical journey
To the imagination’s end…
Where we can be real or pretend.

Do what you wish, be what you’ll be;
Close your eyes, come along with me.
Breathe in deep the lavender moon…
Dance with fireflies until you swoon.

Let your mind wander wild and far
Race through the sky on shooting stars
Close your eyes, come along with me…
We shall conquer the galaxy.

Rise up to greet the morning sun,
Embrace life now before it’s gone.
Soar like the eagle, proud and free…
Close your eyes, come along with me.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021
October 27, 2021

A Quatern poem written for the group Her Growth Collective, which can be found on Instagram @hergrowthcollective. The topic for 10/28/2021 is “Pretending.”

Sometimes I have to close my eyes and focus in order to pretend. Other times, I just have to let my mind wander. And that is exactly what I did while writing this poem. It’s funny how I always end up looking at the sky, seems to be a recurring theme in my life. I remember that I always wanted to be a bird as a child. In this case, I got steered towards the moon and stars.

Whether you want to pretend or not, the message is we all need to enjoy and embrace life, because it is just way too short. So dance with the fireflies and ride those shooting stars…. starting today!

xoxo

Colleen

Ode to Dark Times

Ode to Dark Times

Broken black clouds taunt overhead,
Filling up hearts with sense of dread.
Cold rain tumbles relentlessly;
The future is too dark to see.

Don’t harbor truth with alibis,
Dark stains bruising blue crystal skies.
Ominous signs of travesty;
The future is too dark to see.

Sinking down deep into quicksand
To hide the blood upon your hands.
Overwhelmed by this tragedy;
The future is too dark to see.

Broken black clouds taunt overhead;
The future is too dark to see.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021
September 13, 2021

We are living in dark times. Sometimes watching the news can just be too overwhelming. Take a break and do something for yourself. Watch a sunset, feed the birds, take a hike in nature…. heal your soul! xoxo Colleen

This poem was written for the Instagram group @hergrowthcollective. The topic last week was “Overwhelmed.” I am a week behind because of our trip to Florida.

Productivity

Productivity

Monday mornings come with a tinge of blues.
I rise at dawn and punch the clock for years,
Achieving all my goals, paying my dues…
Blazing the trail with my blood, sweat and tears.

A hamster wheel of productivity,
Pangs of guilt for every wasted minute,
Breeding anger and negativity….
You can’t see the damage while you’re in it.

A breaking point, difficult decision,
Calm descends after winds of change have blown.
Breathing fresh air with a clearer vision…
Reclaiming my life to shape as my own.

Deep inside my soul, I’m feeling sated…
Productivity is overrated.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021
September 3, 2021

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I’m writing for the first time for Her Growth Collective, a group of women encouraging others to walk the path of self-development together. You can find them on Instagram, @hergrowthcollective.

I have a different take on productivity lately. Sometimes productivity is a double-edged sword. I have been a motivated and productive person for my entire life, but in the past years my plate has been piled on to the point of burnout. Consistent productivity is met with yet even more work, because you have proven time and again that you can handle virtually every task. Unrealistic expectations ensue, and you are left frantically juggling an unmanageable workload despite voicing your concerns. Eventually one of the balls may drop, resulting in negativity, criticism and being/feeling devalued.

When one is penalized for their productivity in this manner, it cuts you to the core and forces you to re-evaluate your situation and make changes. At times, productivity is overrated.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021