A Still Life

a still life

to live so quiet
is a mighty thing
in this world
which honors
the bold, the loud,
the speed
rather than
stillness and grace

the voice can only
be found
in this moment,
it is whispering
for you to stop

for only in the silence
do you find
your way back home

--TB 2009

I am being "bold" and sharing some writing from my butterfly notebook, where my poetry is written down.  I wrote this piece last year when I was closing the shop I had at ArtFire, difficulties with my little jewelry/accessories business and trying to re-group, find some balance--it was a tough time. This was written at a moment of finding peace, getting back to the joy.

Peace has been much on my mind.  Especially since reading the March 2010 issue of Shambhala Sun, a Buddhist magazine. This was a special issue devoted to mindful living in the modern world. An article in this particular issue, "How to Be a Peacemaker" by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, really struck my heart.  He wrote, "To bring peace to the world, each of us must take on the responsibility of discovering inner peace."  That taking as little as ten minutes a day to sit--to just breathe, be with our self in the moment and reflect peacefully, can be a great step in bringing peace to the world.

That's pretty powerful, don't you think?  That if each of us, for even just ten minutes a day, stopped what we're doing, and gave our minds over to peaceful, loving thoughts in the moment... What a more mindful place the world would be!

Do you have ten minutes?  Could you make room for ten minutes for peace, for love, for compassion, for joy--for yourself, for the world?

In recent weeks I've been carving out a little more time for this myself, for the practice of loving-kindness & peace meditation.  Hence, a few less postings here than what is/was "usual".  The winter has been a good time for reflection and meditation.  Winter is good for cultivating the still inner life.  And it has been a great time for writing in my butterfly notebook.  :o)

Wishing you peace and love...

P.S. In case you've not been by, there's some new photos this week at my photo blog, A Certain Slant of Light, and a new recipe at my food blog, Savour!  I've been doing a lot of photo editing, writing, crafting, etc in recent days and am now experiencing some tendonitis flair up in hands, wrists & elbows.  So I'll be taking a break from the computer this weekend to take it easy. I look forward to catching up with you all more early next week.  Happy Weekend!

Comments

[Jacqueline]

Such an inspirational post and i really adore your sweet sweet journal! You are sooo talented in writting and your poem is truely inspirational. Yes i do have 10mins. :) Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to you!~

[Melanie]

Yes good idea to take time out and a step back from the normal conveyor belt of daily life. Too often I steal time waking early to finish things or staying up late.

[kamana]

what a pretty journal!

and thanks for sharing your poetry.

have a great day, tracy.

[Bumpkin Bears]

You do inspire Tracy, feeling exhausted from my recent trip it would be good for me stop rather than fighting against it! Sorry your hands are sore, take it easy and have a lovely relaxing weekend. Catherine xx

[Lisa]

What a beautiful journal Tracy - such a lovely place to write your moving verse. Thanks for the reminder to find our inner peace - sometimes I get too carried away with the hectic day to day routine to stop and reflect.

[Anne Donald]

Yes, the world would be a better place if we all took time to think about our actions and their consequences. Have a lovely weekend, love Anne x

[Pipany]

Oh I hope the tendonistis clears quickly for you Tracy. I think taking a few minutes out is the way to clear the mind and allow good thoughts through the mire of daily life too. Have a lovely weekend xx

[Se'lah]

I always take time for me, alone, to meditate and decompress daily. It's good for the soul. Thanks for sharing and for opening up your butterfly book to us. Your poem is beautiful!

[red or gray art]

thank you so much for sharing this part of you . i will copy this and add it to my collection of very special encouraging words written by very special friends ..be well elk

[BK]

"To bring peace to the world, each of us must take on the responsibility of discovering inner peace." I truly believe that we will be able to find peace with the world when we are able to find peace with ourselves. And I believe that if we spend just 10 minutes a day to mediate or just focus on loving thoughts, peace and kindness, the world will be a very different place.

[Shayla]

Sorry to hear about the tendonitus flair up. I guess your body is also "whispering to you to stop". Enjoy a simple, beautiful weekend. Thanks for sharing your poem. It is very good and I'm picky when it comes to poetry. The message is pure, not trite, and not contrived. Thanks too for sharing your thoughts on 10 minutes of peace meditation. How important that is and of course real world changes have to start on the smallest level. Small has power. I'm taking my 10 minutes :)

[P.K.]

Thank you for sharing your poem, true about the silence. Take care of your hands, there is nothing more frustrating than tendonitis when you have things on the go.

[JoLyn]

Your words from your butterfly journal are beautiful! Thank you for sharing them here. I am going to try your advice today. I get myself moving so fast through my day. I can imagine that ten minutes of peace would change everything!

I hope this weekend of peace brings you improved health!

[Sherry]

Thank you for sharing your poetic heart with us Tracy. 10 minutes is really no time at all...but we seem to be stingy with ourselves in granting that 10 minutes of respite. Finding the peace within can only be of benefit in so many ways. Lovely thoughts, lovely post! xo

[Karen]

Thank you so much for posting your wonderful poem, dear Tracy. I'm going to read it often. There is always a real feeling of peace about your blog. That's one of the many reasons I love to read it. We do need to find stillness in this very noisy, busy world.

[sheila]

Such a beautiful sharing Tracy. Yes, I, too am a great fan of silence and I think it is quite addictive actually. Have a great weekend.

[potenta]

beautiful Tracy... so simple and beautiful.

[MrPuffy]

Really beautiful writing, Tracy. I think it can be hard to be still because that's often when unbidden thoughts and old fears surface. It takes strength of character and discipline but does bring peace if one can let go....

[JoLyn]

Hi Tracy - (I commented once, but I don't think my computer worked...so you can delete this if I've commented twice!)

I love the words from your butterfly book - so powerful, but full of peace. You really have a way with words.

I'm going to take your advice today and give myself the gift of ten minutes. It should be wonderful!

[Dyan]

Tracy, I think that's so beautiful - all you said speaks to how I've been feeling these last few months. Sometimes, there simply needs to be stillness and quiet time so that you can become clear and centred again. I have a new little blog now - mostly my pictures, just something to help me stay focused on the stillness around too.
x Dyan

[SNOOPYDOG]

That's such a pretty journal and a very special one too. Lovely piece of poetry. Peace and quiet are essentials of life...... well, they are to me, anyway! Hope you enjoy the weekend. Ros

[S. Etole]

I love the hush of this ... and your pretty journal

[Anali]

Lovely poem and very insightful words. It really takes on new meaning to think that just our own little ten minutes of self-reflection can add peace to the world. Time for my ten minutes...

Have a great weekend Tracy and feel better! ♥

[Helen (Dixon Hill Girl)]

Tracy, your words are beautiful. Please continue to be brave in sharing them with us.

As for peace and stillness, I completely agree with you. World peace would be automatic if we could each find peace within ourselves. And no matter what our differences, we can all connect in stillness. The quiet, humble moment is powerful.

[nicolette]

Wonderful words and poem Tracy!

I will start to try to find some stillness every day and to find some peace within myself. I hope we can make the world a tiny better place!