Memories of Spain

While each mistake I make, makes me stronger
And everyone of those tears I cried washes away the sorrow
Their tracks show on my soul, engraved there by the pain
And burned into my memory,

Let me forget, let me move on, let me be brave
That old cliché, forgive and escape from the hurt
Took forever to understand, I do it now, so wisdom prevails?
Or am I just hoping and praying and waiting for change?

How can I forgive that which sneaks into my mind
with the slightest picture it encroaches and overwhelms
taking its place as if it belonged, in my thoughts
From the past, song, and perfume
Triggers a memory, a simple colour combined with a smell,
transporting me there, to where I truly can escape.

A smile remembering the first scents of Spain
acrid black tobacco, strong coffee and humidity
surrounding me like a blanket, lingering wafts of my favourite
Dama de Noche, the night flower in my mothers San Antonio garden;
In the streets Patchuli and leather bracelets; love beads and Hierbas Ibicencas;
I am back, in the 70's, Mallorca and Ibiza, Tenerife and Barcelona
What longings I feel, deep in my soul, memories of music and friends,
dancing till dawn, loving the fashions and trends
Oh islands of Spain, I will never forget you, part of my soul
Sewn like threads blowing in that beachy wind
Lost as I am today, this moment, I can escape to you
I can revisit you, I can be there again, o favourite places of my mind

Tho I can travel today, they have gone forever, as they were
So simple, uncomplicated, almost a blur
But they are as clear as now when I hear a song, or smell a perfume
I can be happy this moment, burdens away, peace today
Forgiveness and prayer, my true salvations, love and mindfulness
I can have it all, how brilliant that joy, and light is everywhere
I am free, I can dance again in the moonlight

Gathering the Harvest for this Moment Gillian R Whipp - I wrote this after a workshop I recently did

As I gather the buds of WISDOM and they turn to seeds
I plant them in my garden of SUCCESS replacing the doubtful weeds
I sharpen my rusty TOOLS of KNOWLEDGE with shiny new ones
UNDERSTANDING that the seeds are sprouting 
Making ROOTS in the garden of my soul
I water them with FAITH, CONFIDENCE, and GRATEFULNESS 
Shine some light with HOPE, CHARITY and LOVE
Till the roots attach themselves firmly in my being
Harvesting the rewards by APPLYING them to this moment right NOW

These old slippers

 A pair of old slippers could be compared to a long lasting marriage

They are familiar, you like them

Because you are so used to them

You don’t want to throw them away or replace them with new ones

Though sometimes you consider doing just that

Sometimes they rub against your toes

At times they make your feet feel hot and irritated

Mostly though, you feel content with them rubbing against your feet

These old slippers are there for you

They are loyal, usually in the same spot

Sometimes they go missing and you have to look everywhere for them

But then you realize they are exactly where you left them

They were there the entire time

Good to know you can always count on them

To keep your feet warm, cozy and content

Sometimes you wear them outside and they get wet,

So you have to wash them and fluff them up in the dryer

You see them again as if they were brand new

That is when you realize why you picked them in the first place

So you keep them around, Year after year

You take them with you on vacations

Even short weekends away

They bring you the comfort and consistency of home that you crave,

Even when you are far away on the road

Spirit like a Bus ?

My spirit is like a bus.
God is the bus driver
Jesus is my tour guide
Angels are the passengers

God drives my spirit
Jesus guides my spirit
The angels whisper thoughts in my ear
The messages can be heard
through dreams or in key moments

Like intuition or gut feelings, 
Sometimes through bursts of adrenalin
advising danger is near,
or a dream or a thought or a memory

Ultimately, I choose what I do
I choose where I go
I select those around me
or let them go

My destiny is mine,
but I am thankful for the help I get
from my driver, my guide and my advisers!

Forty something

The day was nothing special
just another birthday I suppose
I wasn't falling apart yet
Just a little uneasy as it goes

I may forget names, phone numbers or dates
But remember the password
For the forum on losing weight

My keys fall into voids
and places unknown
Like socks and favorite tops
That disappear on their own

Nail files, creams, lotions and things
Get found in the fridge freezer mixed with the greens
Canned goods in the trunk didn't go sour at least
Husband shakes his head though, afraid of the new beast

While driving to work I wonder if I left the garage door open
Then ask myself why is it that other drivers now behave like jerks?
My blood starts to boil as surrounding me now
Are tailgater's, cutter offers and speeders that forget
What to do at a 4 way stop

Black spidery things begin sprouting under my chin
A sudden intolerance to tonic and gin
What more awaits me as I creep up in years?
A TV commercial that leaves me in tears

Just found the watch I replaced months ago
In a pile of mail stashed under the couch

Books on health, growth and spirituality
Line my bookshelves as I search
At 5am, my spirit quizzes me on destiny and purpose
when before I slept in

What a journey it is as I start to accept
Confusion reigns now but humor gives release
Meditation, deep breathing and green tea give me peace
But patience and tolerance seem out of my reach

Wisdom

At fifteen my heart was set on learning;
At thirty I stood firm;
At forty I had no more doubts;
At fifty I knew the mandate of heaven;
At sixty my ear was obedient;
At seventy I could follow my heart's desire without transgressing the norm.

Confucius