Once I saw a lady laughing with friends and instinctively
whispered, “If I was like her, I would always be confident.”
Of this I was immediately certain
~~~~
With photos reviewed, I was, however, surprised. This
face would not launch a thousand ships, and her figure
was softer–like mine!
~~~~
And I pondered this awhile
~~~~
It was in the smile. For when eyes twinkled
and teeth said hello, a veil lifted and for that
moment you viewed the glorious garden inside,
full blossomed, fragrant, and free
~~~~
And this woman—she smiled
~~~~
She was a gardener who tended what mattered,
flowers blooming, vines encircling, accepting
both sunshine and rain, and then, bravely, often,
and when she chose, waiving the admission fee
~~~~
She was beautiful,
and I wonder still if she even knows?
~~~~
—–and these days I make sure I tell them, and remember that true beauty is born within
~~~~
©Heather Pound 2022
Please don’t run from your very own thoughts
While formative and compelling, they are not
in the seat of power–you are. They do
not characterize you, but if left unattended
they can influence your feelings and actions
unnoticed.
~~~~
Thoughts are just thoughts and your marvelous
brain can examine them, try them on for size,
and if they don’t fit just right they can be
replaced by newer and more intentional ones
This process becomes more difficult, however,
the longer you leave them running free
~~~~
Today, if they are telling you lies,
such as worthless, wasted or weak;
rather than running, grab those thoughts
with both hands, hold them up to the light
to find their flaws, toss out the bad,
enhance the good, and just forget some of them
altogether. But whatever, remember
that you are in the driver’s seat,
and you are in command
~~~~
©Heather Pound 2022
If it wasn’t for you I would not have taken
the time and effort to sift through my
thoughts and beliefs, examining them well
and intentionally putting aside the ones
not measuring up to the light of truth,
and I would not have lived years of my life
both healing and free. I could have
endlessly lived one step ahead of myself,
worried, instead of present in the now,
and I would not have practiced the balance
that brings me intentionality and creativity
and peace
~~~~
And while everyone’s stories are entirely
their own, I would not be able to understand
what it is like to live with you and what it takes
to manage and get rid of you, and be able
to walk beside others now doing the same
So, surprisingly while you have been
most unwelcome and utterly cruel,
I thank you for the ways that you have
made my life both fuller and free, and how,
in the end, you have enriched and produced
depth and have opened the door to lasting
joy
~~~~
—An open letter to anxiety and depression. I am surprised to find, with perspective, that you may actually be one of my longest and truest friends.
~~~~
©Heather Pound 2022
If today your heart requires you to
breathe deep and rail at the Heavens,
then this you can most certainly do
God, who is inextricably linked to
your every single breath is not worried
about this emotional release
In fact, he already knows
just how you feel
~~~~
The worst thing that you can do
is to hold it all in for days and years
Letting it out to start a healing
conversation is what the psalmist
did–and this is how he found
resolution and peace
~~~~
©Heather Pound 2022
©Heather Pound 2022
backgound by Canva
The blackbird chirping outside knows that his
song, while fine, will never be the nightingale,
but still he lifts his song to dusk and daybreak
full-voiced, impassioned and free
Humans, however, tend to compare
and wither in the doing
~~~~
Why don’t we, like the blackbird,
gaze upon the dawn instead
–and remember
there is enough beauty for us all
and our own unique presentation
is exquisite and worthy and fine
~~~~
Unless we learn to embrace ourselves,
competition, while sometimes inspiring,
is the killer of connection, authenticity,
creativity and many other things
that the human heart craves
participation in
~~~~
So, I wish you well in all that you create,
and do, and are. I will focus on my very own
flavor of things to be the best ‘me’ that I can
become, and together we will make the world
an even more beautiful place to be
through appreciation
rather than comparison
~~~~
©Heather Pound 2022
I went outside into nature to ponder and found I was sitting on empty,
scooped out like watermelon rind, flesh devoured on a hot summer day
and discarded in the sun
~~~~
The next moment fear began to whisper tight and cruel that I would not have
what it takes for the very next wave that life might bring,
or even the very next day
~~~~
Fear mushroomed, sucked out my breath and wailed, “Meaningless, empty,
fruitless and useless.” Words like these are quicksand to the human heart
if any attention is given
~~~~
But then I remembered, that a vessel that is empty can always catch the rain,
simply by embracing its shape
–of hollow
~~~~
And instead of a prison, ‘empty’ became a container to be filled,
and I looked beyond myself and saw all the wondrous things about
waiting to be chosen
~~~~~
—-’empty’ is not a final destination, it is the beginning of being filled with something new.
~~~~
©Heather Pound 2022
Safely sitting in nature, quietly observing,
requires nothing of us. She just lets us be.
She reaches out, envelops us in her embrace
and says, “Look! Notice my intricate splendor.
You are part of something miraculous,
much greater than yourself.”
~~~~
Savor creation and admire her shifting beauty,
for even when fierce, she is magnificent
She reminds us that we are part of something fine,
and noble, and brave, a valued portion of the whole
and connected to Divine
~~~~
Then returning to the process of our lives,
we remember that moments such as these
are not frivolous, but a vital use of time
~~~~
©Heather Pound 2022
