motivation – Colleen Keller Breuning

Nature’s Calm

Nature’s Calm

Rain
brewing
in dark clouds
feeling washed up
and hung out to dry
doubt pulses through my veins
feeling sorry for myself
pondering my mere existence
all mistakes and regrets amplified
thundering loudly in my addled brain
wallowing and pathetic in my pain
I step outside and take a deep breath
inhaling sweet scent of wet grass
letting the rain soak my skin
doubling down on courage
I pick myself up
and let nature
instill deep
sense of
calm

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2023
May 6, 2023

Mood: Cloudy and Unsettled
Inspiration: Native American Flutes & Nature Sounds

Hello, all. It’s amazing how nature can instill a sense of calm when you are feeling down. We all have those days where we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders. We wouldn’t be human if we did not. So what to do? For me, it is to get out of my head and into nature.

I was feeling extremely out of sorts this week, like wet laundry hung out to dry. (Excuse the punny simile). I almost did NOT go out for a run on Wednesday evening. I was making so many excuses: it’s too cold, it’s windy, I’ve got too much work to do, I’m tired, etc. etc. However, I forced myself to because I was feeling down and being hard on myself. I just knew in my heart that a run would make me feel better. But I went through the motions, put on those running shoes and bundled up, even though it was looking like rain. What was the worst that could happen? Getting on rained on during a run? No biggie, I actually find it much more refreshing running in a light rain than running in hot weather. Having a thunderstorm kick up? Well, that has happened to me as well. Not a problem, the running trail is only 1 mile around the lake and a quick sprint via shortcut to the safety of my house.

I’m happy to report that nothing stopped me, not the wind, cold or the cloudy skies. In fact, I was so much better for forcing myself to do something I didn’t think I wanted to do – but desperately needed to do. While out there on the trail, I saw some amazing sights of nature. Herds of deer pausing to look at me as I ran quietly by. A green heron stalking prey. Flocks of swallows circling the lake in search of insects. A beautiful sunset peeking out beyond the billowing rain clouds. And it did sprinkle on me during my last lap of the trail, but it was light and invigorating. I felt so much calmer for getting out of the clamor of my negative thoughts. Thank you, Nature. I love you.

I hope you will remember to step out into nature whenever you’re down (even if it is just on your patio or porch). It’s a natural prescription, a refreshing margarita, or a depression remedy for those days when you are feeling blue. I hope you have a lovely weekend! Love you all!

xoxo Colleen

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 44.14 Topic: Hung Out to Dry
Hard Bonus: Include a double down
Easy Bonus: Drink a margarita

Grace of the Daffodil

Grace of the Daffodil

She rose and turned to the sunlight,
The orange rays warmed her up inside.
She shook her yellow head, contrite,
And set aside her steely pride.

The orange rays warmed her up inside.
She braced for what the day would bring
And set aside her steely pride.
It was high time for a spring fling.

She braced for what the day would bring
In cloudless skies of crystal blue.
It was high time for a spring fling,
A chance for all things to renew.

In cloudless skies of crystal blue,
Robins sail low on the cool breeze.
A chance for all things to renew,
But you can never tell with bees.

Robins sail low on the cool breeze.
True motives scatter hitherto,
But you can never tell with bees…
For even weeds are flowers, too.

True motives scatter hitherto
As apple blossoms bloom and peak.
For even weeds are flowers too,
Colors splashing the landscape bleak.

As apple blossoms bloom and peak,
The dewdrops gently kissed her face.
Colors splashing the landscape bleak
And smiling with a sense of grace.

The dewdrops gently kissed her face.
She shook her yellow head so bright,
And smiling with a sense of grace,
She rose and turned to the sunlight.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2023
March 25, 2023

Spring is finally here, though it doesn’t feel like it for the past few days! The daffodils have been blooming for at least a month now, and I fear they are beginning to turn to mush. I wrote this pantoum to pay tribute to their grace and determination. They have endured the fickle weather, stood up to the winds, and put up with the crazy up and down temperatures. Sometimes we are all like daffodils holding our heads up, standing up to the tests of life, day in and day out. I would like to have the grace and gratitude of a daffodil, and I pray for this strength every day. Thank you for making my spring days golden, daffodils!

My hyacinths are starting to sprout up with their vivid colors, and I can see tulip shoots finally making their way out of the ground. Note to self: I need to spray some Deer Gone on both the tulips and hydrangea shoots to deter the adorable deer family from having them for dinner. I did not see any crocuses bloom this year, and I know I planted about 50-60 in the fall. Hmm. Oh well, I guess the chipmunks, squirrels, groundhogs or voles had some nice snacks over the winter!

I have never had much of a green thumb, but I do try my hardest to keep things alive. My garden has been a work in progress, I’ve had some successes and many failures over the years. I learn by my mistakes. I gave up on roses, but I have had great success with the crepe myrtle trees and hydrangea bushes on the north side of my house (now about 20 feet tall!) If it requires a lot of maintenance, then it’s probably not going to survive on my watch lol.

My biggest obsession is with trees, though! Every year since 2012 when we moved to our home in Northern Virginia, I have purchased about 4 trees per year (not counting the annual miniature spruces I purchase at Christmas, which have about a 75% survival rate on our property). The very first trees I bought were two beautiful Kwanzen Cherry trees, which produced absolutely beautiful pink blooms. They were planted on slopes in my backyard, on both sides of the house. A few years later, a substitute mower recklessly slammed into the side of one, lopping off a huge section of one branch. It was never the same after that, and one year it blossomed in the spring, then dropped its petals and never produced leaves. We left it for a year, it died a slow death. Then about two years ago, the surviving tree got blown over in a horrible wind storm. I actually cried, I loved those trees so much. Dan is usually very insistent that “we don’t need any more trees” but in my opinion, you can never have enough trees! But he knew how much I adored those cherry trees. The other day he pointed to the side yard, and he actually said “that looks like a good spot for another cherry tree.” It lifted my heart up, and I can’t wait to go to the nursery to pick one.

I love that the many different birds nest in our trees and those huge hydrangea bushes. We have several seed and suet feeders around the yard and in our rock garden on the hill. We get a wide variety of birds in our neighborhood: bluejays, cardinals, woodpeckers (red headed, red bellied, downy and pileated), red wing blackbirds, nuthatch, wrens, goldfinch, house finch, Carolina wrens, tufted titmouse, ravens, crows, bluebirds, mourning doves. We also enjoy the antics of the mockingbirds, catbirds, swallows, robins, and herons. And I don’t mind that the squirrels and chipmunks partake of the food, though I finally did set up a corn feeder for them which somehow the ravens discovered first.

I hope that wherever you are, you are enjoying the gentle breezes and beautiful flowers of spring! Have a great weekend!

xoxo

Colleen

Mood: Grateful
Inspiration: “Flora” by Ludovico Einaudi, the Master

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 38.14 Topic: Spring Fling
Hard Bonus: Incorporate an A.A. Milne quote or line (“She turned to the sunlight and shook her yellow head,” “Weeds are flowers too,” “You can never tell with bees.”)
Easy Bonus: Include apples and oranges