Hi Friend!
How is this Monday of quarantine going? How are you feeling as the weeks continue to pass?
I came across this beautiful poem this morning (right on time) and it reminded me of a perspective I can choose to have amidst all this change and uncertainty. Lately, it's felt harder to settle into this perspective for me. As the length of this stay-at-home order extends it takes a stronger and deeper willingness to focus on the good, to pause and shift the thoughts from fear to love.
I am F E E L I N G it. Big time.
After reading this poem I felt lighter, more aligned. If it can do that for me I hope it does the same for you.
It's written by Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman. I've always loved the perspective of younger people.. they can still envision and dream of a world many of us adults have given up hope on. They dream and believe in the impossible. They are beacons of light and they know love is the way.
I hope this poem warms your heart and lifts your spirits. I hope it soothes you and reminds you that it will all be okay. I hope it inspires you to see your world a little differently today. When we choose to see through the eyes of love, love is what we see. Enjoy!
I thought I'd awaken to a world in mourning.
Heavy clouds crowding, a society storming.
But there's something different on this golden morning.
Something magical in the sunlight, wide and warming.
I see a dad with a stroller taking a jog.
Across the street, a bright-eyed girl chases her dog.
A grandma on a porch fingers her rosaries.
She grins as her young neighbor brings her groceries.
While we might feel small, separate, and all alone,
Our people have never been more closely tethered.
The question isn't if we will weather this unknown,
But how we will weather this unknown together.
So on this meaningful morn, we mourn and we mend.
Like light, we can't be broken, even when we bend.
As one, we will defeat both despair and disease.
We stand with healthcare heroes and all employees;
With families, libraries, schools, waiters, artists;
Businesses, restaurants, and hospitals hit hardest.
We ignite not in the light, but in lack thereof,
For it is in loss that we truly learn to love.
In this chaos, we will discover clarity.
In suffering, we must find solidarity.
For it's our grief that gives us our gratitude,
Shows us how to find hope, if we ever lose it.
So ensure that this ache wasn't endured in vain:
Do not ignore the pain. Give it purpose. Use it.
Read children's books, dance alone to DJ music.
Know that this distance will make our hearts grow fonder.
From a wave of woes our world will emerge stronger.
We'll observe how the burdens braved by humankind
Are also the moments that make us humans kind;
Let every dawn find us courageous, brought closer;
Heeding the light before the fight is over.
When this ends, we'll smile sweetly, finally seeing
In testing times, we became the best of beings.
Take time today to pause and observe your neighborhood. Witness all the love there is right now from the interactions of your neighbors to the songs and danced of the birds. I'd love to hear how you are and how you've been navigating this time (and your thoughts on the poem!!) so feel free to hit reply and say hello!
This is a wild ride. Be easy and gentle on yourself.
Sending you lots of love today and always,
Annie
