Here’s to the close of 2011!

I’m a long-time fan of Mr. Fred Rogers of the PBS series, Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. My good friend and neighbor gifted me with a book of his quotes for Christmas (thank you, Jen!). Even though it’s been years since I’ve seen a video episode displaying his magical, yet subtle educational ways, his words brought back many peaceful thoughts and good memories.

The quote I used in my design above caught my eye, so I’m sharing it with you as we enter this powerful year of 2012.

I like imagery of love as infinity. Endless. Infinite. I also sometimes think of love as a river, I can dip my toes in anytime, I can drink from it, and I can funnel that river of love to anyone in my midst. We all can. I believe this to be true.

In fact, I’m passing love to you as you read this, can you feel it?

While I’m not a “resolutionista” — I do enjoy setting an intention for the year to come. As 2012 breaks through the coming dawn, I will do all I can to live my life with the intention of love and basing my actions from a loving place.

I wish you all the best for the coming year and thank you for taking the time to read my words, always. Feel free to say hello in the comments, I’ve missed y’all.

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Techie/Design Note:

About the design above, I photographed my lovely engraved stone sitting atop an imprinted journal I recently purchased. I then imported the image to my Mac and used Photoshop to apply a filter, then Illustrator to adjust the opacity, add the outerglow, background, colormatching, and text layer. If you’re intersted, here’s the original photo (below).

Much Love, Namasté,

Lori ~xo

Further Reading:

∞ Inspirational Design: Never Give Up
∞ Graphic Poetry, Haiga: Savor
∞ Graphic Poetry, Shape Poem: Your Shelter

[Fine Print: I offer to you free use of the designs at my site. Please use as you see fit. Link back to my site if you feel so moved or let me know you enjoyed my work (lori[@]janebenimble[dot]com). However, my policy is to create for all with no expectation. All images are either solely created by me or used within terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License when noted. I authored the text and designed the graphic in Adobe Illustrator®.]

I would be gratefully humbled if you chose to subscribe to receive updates from my blog. You can request new posts emailed to your inbox or receive updates via RSS. (The subscription has no costs associated, and I gave up SPAM when I switched to a plant-based diet, so no worries about receiving that in your inbox.)

The ten statements above have been lifesavers for me. I live by them.

When I was writing/designing the graphic above, it really hit me: these ideas are not that complicated—so why do we allow things in our lives that sap our energy? Really, think about it.

Having MS means that energy is no longer something I can take for granted. That pep in my step I’ve had for much of my life is no longer available like an open spigot, and when I feel it, I need to use it wisely. Rest is no longer optional. When I don’t get enough rest, my life becomes much more difficult.

And, that goes for the other things on my list, too. When something gets skipped, my life becomes no fun at all. No more wiggle room for me.

Maybe I see things through a lens that has become distorted, but it’s also helped me to appreciate things more deeply. I’m thankful for so many things in my life. There’s something about knowing a real probability exists that I could continue to loose function, so every day that I can design something new, smile at a stranger, tell a friend a joke, or walk across the street to give my neighbor a hug is the best day of my life.

As the holidays approach, I’m giving thanks for my life every day, moment by moment.

I give thanks for you. I’ve had this special spot of the internet landscape for a considerably long time, I appreciate you for taking time to read what I have to say. You make my experience here much more rich and I hope I’ve added to your days in a special way, too.

Enjoy your life, there’s no better time than this very moment. This human experience is a precious gift to be celebrated. Close your eyes and think of something right now for which you are thankful, take a deep breath, feel it though all your senses: smile.

Much Love, Namasté,

Lori ~xo

Further Reading:

∞ Inspirational Design: Never Give Up
∞ Graphic Poetry, Haiga: Savor
∞ Graphic Poetry, Shape Poem: Your Shelter

[Fine Print: I offer to you free use of the designs at my site. Please use as you see fit. Link back to my site if you feel so moved or let me know you enjoyed my work (lori[@]janebenimble[dot]com). However, my policy is to create for all with no expectation. All images are either solely created by me or used within terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License when noted. I authored the text and designed the graphic in Adobe Illustrator®.]

I would be gratefully humbled if you chose to subscribe to receive updates from my blog. You can request new posts emailed to your inbox or receive updates via RSS. (The subscription has no costs associated, and I gave up SPAM when I switched to a plant-based diet, so no worries about receiving that in your inbox.)

Hi All,

How was your month of October?

I happened to come across this quote by Harriet Beecher Stowe and thought it worth sharing with y’all.

I snapped the photo above one beautiful morning in October while I was filled with gratitude. When I arrived home, I spotted a sweet little patch of morning sun etched into the sand, located close to the center of field of view.

It struck me as a reminder that if we relax into our existence and live in the moment, we never know what little patch of sun will strike at just the right time.

I’ll keep this short for today and leave you with a strong suggestion to head over to Tim’s blog. He posted my all-time favorite music video by Tina Dico. Someday (soon?) I’m going to create something with this quote from her lyrics, it says so much:

“Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to go slow.”

Namasté, friends. ~xo

[Fine Print: I offer to you free use of the designs at my site. Please use as you see fit. Link back to my site if you feel so moved or let me know you enjoyed my work (lori[@]janebenimble[dot]com). However, my policy is to create for all with no expectation. All images are either solely created by me or used within terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License when noted. I photographed the image above and designed the graphic in Adobe Illustrator®.]

I would be gratefully humbled if you chose to subscribe to receive updates from my blog. You can request new posts emailed to your inbox or receive updates via RSS. (The subscription has no costs associated, and I gave up SPAM when I switched to a plant-based diet, so no worries about receiving that in your inbox.)

G’day, greetings, and salutations. I hope as you view this post you find yourself smiling and content.

I gave myself a dose of art therapy today with photos I snapped of flowers that have been in my home this summer, all gifts from dear people in my life. I adore the text I placed below the photos—a favorite poem from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki.

The poem captures the notion that we can only truly see something when our perception is interrupted. As an example, we more fully experience the open, blue sky when clouds drift through, or perhaps the beauty of the expanse of ocean when waves form to break the ocean’s flat skin.

I’ve considered these words often in light of “bad” situations or even when I see something that I might not find beautiful or pleasing at the time. Thinking about this concept really does help me re-frame my perception and make certain aspects of life easier, lighter, or more bearable.

I like to think I more deeply appreciate events, things, physical sensations, and emotions these days because I am mindful of perceptions interrupted.

When I asked hubs if he had a favorite of my flower photos from the summer, I was a bit shocked that he picked the one that I initially didn’t like at all. The one on the center bottom of the collage. The one with the hunk of gunk in the bottom amongst the stems.

I looked again at the photo and now I agree with him. I think the small curled-up brown leaf actually drew my eye to the interesting part of the photo where light magically bends through the glass.

If you’ll allow me to offer something to you today, think of this notion when your world is interrupted. What can you see because of it?

As a post script, I’d like to thank all of you who are here today reading. I am thankful for you and hope you had a wonderful summer. Enjoy the last week of summer if you are in the northern hemisphere!

Namasté, friends. ~xo

[Fine Print: I offer to you free use of the designs at my site. Please use as you see fit. Link back to my site if you feel so moved or let me know you enjoyed my work (lori[@]janebenimble[dot]com). However, my policy is to create for all with no expectation. All images are either solely created by me or used within terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License when noted. I photographed the images above and designed the graphic in Adobe Illustrator®.]

I would be gratefully humbled if you chose to subscribe to receive updates from my blog. You can have new posts emailed to your inbox or receive updates via RSS. (The subscription has no costs associated, and I gave up SPAM when I switched to a plant-based diet, so no worries about receiving that in your inbox.)

Illustrated Poetry in the JBN stacks:

∞ Savor

∞ Your Shelter

∞ Tanka No. 130

∞ Silence

I wrote this recent Haiku during a stormy patch in my day. Vertigo had my head spinning, my mind filled with my typical MS fog. The more frustrated I became, the faster my head spun.

I moved to the floor, sat cross-legged, and sunk into meditation with Snatam Kaur on my stereo.

Taking deep controlled breaths, pausing at the top of the breath, I held the visual of a majestic mountain: steady and strong. In time, my mind-body relaxed. The vertigo and fog remained, but I felt steadfast while gently allowing my environment to swirl and tumble around me.

I reached up to the table and grabbed my notebook penning this Haiku to reflect that moment.

Short form poetry can be quite soothing and healing. Writing brief observations of the moment, infusing nature and the essence of the season, can focus your energy and bring you into the beauty of this gorgeous planet. It’s quite humbling to live here, truly.

My wish for you today is this: whether you’re new to Haiku, Tanka, Senryu and other forms of poetry or an experienced sage, write a poem today. Take a moment of your busy day—you need no more than five minutes—and settle your mind-body with a creative thought of the moment. Even better, take ten minutes in meditation to balance your mind-body before you begin.

Continue to honor the good, the not-so-good, and the space in between—being human and present in this time space harbors immense beauty.

Namasté, friends. ~xo

[Fine Print: I offer to you free use of the designs at my site. Please use as you see fit. Link back to my site if you feel so moved or let me know you enjoyed my work. However, my policy is to create for all with no expectation. All images are either solely created by me or used within terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License when noted. The stunning photo backdrop for today's image was gracefully donated by Mr. Chris Ezzy, a heartfelt thank you to you my friend _/|\_. I authored the Haiku, then designed the graphic in Adobe Illustrator®.]

I would be gratefully humbled if you chose to subscribe to receive updates from my blog. You can have new posts emailed to your inbox or receive updates via RSS. (The subscription has no costs associated, and I gave up SPAM when I switched to a plant-based diet, so no worries about receiving that in your inbox.)

Illustrated Poetry in the JBN stacks:

∞ Savor

∞ Your Shelter

∞ Tanka No. 130

∞ Silence

When I troll  through the memory banks of my life, I sometimes ponder the rough patches. You know, the ones you wished had never happened.

The pain of those rough spots surface when you can’t see through to the other side. When you’re in it. When you’re at sea and you have a hole in the bottom of your boat. You’re bailing but all you have is a teaspoon and you can’t see that you’ll be able to reach the banks of the distant shoreline.

In those times, you must keep bailing and rowing. You’ll make it. You’ll plant those feet on the warm sand and look over your shoulder to see that all along, there’s been a necessary clearing while you were at sea.

A fury.

A wild, painful flame,

to make room for the perfect, pure, still, white peony of you.

You see, sometimes a devastating event of destruction, like a raging forest wildfire, is the only thing that can clear away the space for the forest peony, which only grows in the open space.

Thank you for sharing a moment to read my work. Continue bailing and rowing, my friend. I’m calling to you from the shoreline. You will make it!

Wrap your arms around yourself and give you a hug from me, too.

This is my contribution to this week’s One Shot Wednesday, for One Stop Poetry: a place for poets and creatives to gather. Please visit to partake of a cornucopia of wonderful artists.

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Post Script: Thanks to everyone reading today, whether you comment or not. Your presence is a gift.

Illustrated Poetry in the JBN stacks:

∞ Savor

∞ Your Shelter

∞ Tanka No. 130

∞ Silence

[Fine Print: I offer to you free use of the designs at my site. Please use as you see fit. Link back to my site if you feel so moved or let me know you enjoyed my work. However, my policy is to create for all with no expectation. All images are either solely created by me or used within terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License when noted. I photographed today's image and authored the poem, then designed the graphic in Adobe Illustrator®.]

I would be gratefully humbled if you chose to subscribe to receive updates from my blog. You can have new posts emailed to your inbox or receive updates via RSS. (The subscription has no costs associated, and I gave up SPAM when I became a vegetarian, so no worries about receiving that in your inbox.)
~Namasté friends. _/|\_

In a funk as the morning fog lingered into early afternoon, I sat wondering about life. The fog can seem a closet that won’t open. Claustrophobia. Haunting.

Then…

I feel a shift.

This fog, my supposed nemesis, is merely sky reaching down to me. She’s nature giving me an ethereal kiss on the cheek.

Again, a lesson I need to play on repeat—it’s all in how we frame our thoughts. Our experiences are merely illusions interpreted by our senses, translated by our mental apparatus. That pesky brain of ours. (Oh, behave, you wild and wooly brain.)

I sink into meditation once again, find the stillness, and savor the sky.

Thank you for sharing this Haiga* with me. Continue not only to look, but to see—you can choose the lens through which you see your life experiences.

I dedicate this Haiga to the people of Japan. My love hugs your shores and courageous souls. Read this beautiful post for thoughts regarding what you can do for Japan during this tragic time.

Oh, and wrap your arms around yourself and give you a hug from me, too.

*The combo of art and short form poetry is called “Haiga.”

This post is also my contribution for One Shot Wednesday. Please visit One Stop Poetry: One Shot Wednesday for a collection of savory poetry. This is week #38, thanks to all contributing to this wonderful community.

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Post Script: Many thanks to Petteri for allowing me to use his gorgeous travel photography as a backdrop for this Haiga. Thanks to everyone reading today, whether you comment or not. Your presence is a gift.

To learn more about the art of Tanka and Haiga, please visit Aha Poetry, Tanka Online, or One Stop Poetry’s Tanka Feature.

Illustrated Poetry in the JBN stacks:

∞ Your Shelter

∞ Tanka No. 130

∞ Silence

[Fine Print: I offer to you free use of the designs at my site. Please use as you see fit. Link back to my site if you feel so moved, however, my policy is to create for all with no expectation. All images are either solely created by me or used within terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License when noted.]

I would be gratefully humbled if you chose to subscribe to receive updates from my blog. You can have new posts emailed to your inbox or receive updates via RSS. (The subscription has no costs associated, and I gave up SPAM when I became a vegetarian, so no worries about receiving that in your inbox.)
~Namasté friends. _/|\_

Our lives become richer by our willingness to traverse walls.

If our daily experiences were all rainbows and smiling faces, imagine how dull our lives would be. Really. Difficulty may not be fun or enjoyable at the time, but think back to the most challenging times in your life and put into perspective how those times enriched your life.

I’ve been writing poetry for most of my life and tend to lean toward short form poetry such as Tanka, Senryu, and Haiku because of the play between brevity and the focus on life as is. It’s like speaking from a part of the self through a kaleidoscope or monocle.

The graphic and poem above may not be uplifting, but it’s a simple expression of a moment in life. Don’t get me wrong, I love silence. I love the siren of nothingness. Some of the most beautiful moments in my life occur during utter darkness and silence.

But, as life is life, sometimes silence can be a bone-crushing, painful experience. This Tanka poem written in the shasei style (a sketch from nature and life) is an expression of those days where silence is not golden and walls must be climbed.

Continue climbing those walls, my brothers and sisters. I’m right behind you.

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Post Script: Many thanks to Petteri for allowing me to use his gorgeous travel photography as a backdrop for this Haiga (the combo of art and short form poetry is called “Haiga”). The kindness and generosity in the blogosphere is blowing my mind. Thanks to everyone reading today, whether you comment or not. Your presence is a gift.

Please visit One Shot Poetry Wednesday, hosted by the awesome people behind One Stop Poetry, an online meeting place for creatives like poets and photographers. Rock on, master poets!

To learn more about the art of Tanka, please visit Aha Poetry, Tanka Online, or One Stop Poetry’s Tanka Feature.

Illustrated Poetry in the JBN stacks:

∞ Your Shelter

∞ Tanka No. 130

[Fine Print: I offer to you free use of the designs at my site. Please use as you see fit. Link back to my site if you feel so moved, however, my policy is to create for all with no expectation. All images are either solely created by me or used within terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License when noted.]

I would be gratefully humbled if you chose to subscribe to receive updates from my blog. You can have new posts emailed to your inbox or receive updates via RSS. (The subscription has no costs associated, and I gave up SPAM when I became a vegetarian, so no worries about receiving that in your inbox.)
~Namasté friends. _/|\_

Greetings,

I have a love affair with all things cosmological.

In fact, just last night I watched (again) another video episode of Cosmos—a thirteen-part TV series broadcast by PBS in 1980, hosted by my hero Carl Sagan. Yum. Much of my poetry plays with concepts involving the heavens and heavenly bodies. What could be a better muse? In today’s poem, I play with personifications of the sun and moon.

Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed my contribution for One Shot Poetry Wednesday, hosted by the awesome people behind One Stop Poetry, an online meeting place for creatives like poets and photographers. Rock on, master poets!

For a cornucopia of beautiful poetry, please make a stop to One Shot Wednesday and tell Pete I say hello.

I invite you to share your thoughts or try your hand at writing a poem in the comments. Expressing yourself is good for you.

[Fine Print: I offer to you free use of the designs at my site. Please use as you see fit. Link back to my site if you feel so moved, however, my policy is to create for all with no expectation. All images are either solely created by me or used within terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License when noted.]

I would be gratefully humbled if you chose to subscribe to receive updates from my blog. You can have new posts emailed to your inbox or receive updates via RSS. (The subscription has no costs associated, and I gave up SPAM when I became a vegetarian, so no worries about receiving that in your inbox.)
~Namaste, friends. _/|\_

Sandra at Always Well Within posted an intriguing message recently. This is no surprise—she often writes about topics that leave me thoughtful for weeks or months. (Visit her often to expand your mind, you won’t be sorry.) Thank you for inspiring me once again, Sandra.

Sandra’s post moved me to reflect about the place imagery holds in my daily life. As a collegial response to honor Sandra, I’ve chosen three to share that will hopefully also inspire you, too.

Immediately, this came to mind: the image of a panther.

To me, panthers represent confidence, grace, and nature’s instinct while harboring innate feline playfulness. I’ve always loved big cats and now I live 24/7 with an image of her on my body.

Not long ago, I “free wrote” a post that was partially inspired by the fact that I have a tattoo of a panther. I had a blast writing The Woman with A Panther Tattoo and literally wrote it in about 15 minutes. Please read this post to be inspired to free write and use it as an example if you’d like. Free your mind, folks. You can do it! Also, The Exception posted her version of free writing her life, packed with awesomeness.

Really, truly, go forth now and try this yourself—then return when you’re ready. (I’m not going anywhere…)

Next: the infinity symbol

I love the inherent truth represented by mathematical equations as well as pure, simple prime numbers. Using a symbol from mathematics as a representation of life to convey the infinite, the vast unknown, the expanse of the universe, well, it’s difficult to put into words the power this symbol holds for me. Can words ever really convey the infinite?

I’ll let you sit with that thought…

Last but not least

Nature, nature, nature! Images of nature in any form can inspire and change my mood almost immediately. Next time you feel stuck, uninspired, or down, seek the imagery of nature in person or via photographs.

I’d also like to offer a huge shout out and thank you to Sue from Inspired Type for inspiring me with her imagery. We have similar tastes and talents, but I love her fresh approach and admire her clean, provoking style. Please stop by to bathe your soul in inspiration with her delicious designs.

The Essence

Sandra invited us to think about a few images that hold a special place in our lives.

What a valuable exercise to ponder this topic and evaluate whether the images you’re choosing are truly making you a better you. Also, have you considered collecting images which inspire for the next time you fall into an emotional or spiritual well? When already in the well it’s not the time to be searching for a rope, if you get my drift.

Please discuss anything you’d like to share in the comments. I honor your presence and remarks.

Wishing you a peaceful day and a balanced heart,

~Lori

[Fine Print: I offer to you free use of the designs at my site. Please use as you see fit. Link back to my site if you feel so moved, but my policy is to create for all with no expectation. All images are either solely created by me or used within terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License when noted. I offer my gratitude to cheekyneedle, via Creative Commons license, for allowing use of the waterfall image as inspiration to apply the illustration of my words.]

I would be gratefully humbled if you chose to subscribe to receive updates from my blog. You can have new posts emailed to your inbox or receive updates via RSS. (The subscription has no costs associated, and I gave up SPAM when I became a vegetarian, so no worries about receiving that in your inbox.)
~Namaste, friends. _/|\_