Choosing curiosity

I’m thinking this morning about curiosity; 

About the vulnerability it entails 

To respond to the unexpected or confusing 

With openness instead of frustration.

 Can we respond, like these plants, 

To the dark places in our lives 

By opening our hearts to let in more light?

Grateful for awareness

Give thanks today 

 For that sense of awe within us 

That invites us to notice, stop, and appreciate 

 The simple moments of beauty 

In the world around us; 

That looks beyond the fence of routine actions 

And lifts our eyes to the joy that resides 

In awareness of our surroundings.

In praise of tenacity

How can we not be admire the tenacity 

 Of trees, who so determinedly place roots 

That will support them 

 And allow them to reach great heights 

Despite the difficult circumstances 

In which they started? 

And yet, how fortunate we humans are 

 To have the choice, the opportunity, the courage 

To pull up roots and plant anew elsewhere 

 When circumstances prove inhospitable. 

But still — the need for roots remains: 

Too many moves, and the lack of roots 

May stunt our growth…

Where can we step?

This time of year, 

Despite, or perhaps because of, a rainy Spring, 

Every living thing appears to be blooming. 

Where can we step, if every step we take 

Appears to crush a blossom?

Stop and explore

Sometimes, like scientists, 

We make our most important discoveries 

 On the way to something or somewhere else. 

What is it that invites us to stop and explore? 

And what is it that puts the blinders on 

And drives us to keep pushing forward 

To the arbitrary goals we set for ourselves?

From wariness to hope

What if that wariness we feel 

When something new or unexpected 

 Enters our horizon — 

Which stems from a longing to protect 

Who we are and what we have — 

Were transformed into hope:

 Expectation of opportunity

 For expansion and growth?

The paths we follow

I so appreciate the ones 

Who take the time to guide us on our way. 

And I hope, with time, I’m leaving markers 

For other folks to follow. 

But the fact still remains that blindly following 

 The path others have laid for us 

May not be leading us where we are meant to go. 

We must raise our eyes; look up and out, 

And in the end must choose 

 The destination that’s right for us, 

 Even if it takes us off the path.