Heavyhearted Resting Place

We often feel heavyhearted at the emotional ordeal of letting go of things we hold dear. We can let go when we know that a thing represents a fond memory that will be with us always.

Finding myself in a situation where I am having to downsize my personal belongings, I am facing letting go of many material possessions that I hold dear. However, I am fast to realize that these objects of my affection merely represent the memory of a time or place, or even a loved one's face, in my past. These are the people, places, and things I need never let go of, for they live in the mind of my heart forever.

This past week I experienced such an event that left me feeling heavyhearted. I have this wood carving of an eagle that I have carried across the country with me on various moves for nearly two decades. On the move I am about to make I have no room to tote my eagle along.

For days I contemplated whether I should try to sell my eagle at a yard sale or give it to someone I felt worthy of its presence. I chose the latter.

There is a couple that lives nearby that have befriended me and my dog Valentino. We look forward to seeing them on our daily walks in the neighborhood. Valentino runs to greet them as they call out to him. The woman in this pairing has lovely flower gardens throughout her yard and I often take pictures of her flowers (and the butterflies they attract!) My heart told me my eagle wood carving would be a splendid addition to the gal's garden fare.

One day my dog and I stopped to chat with the fellow and I told him I had a gift for his wife's flower gardens. Later that evening I carried the eagle up the street to their home, leaving it on their doorstep.

I felt a bit sad as I walked away from my eagle. Conversely, I felt humbled the next day as I saw the prominent resting place the carving had been given. From the street I could see the eagle sitting at the bottom of the front porch stairs, nestled alongside an old tree surrounded by ferns and flowering plants. What a vision to behold!

Eagle Resting In Nature Postcard by abitosunshine

Book: Things We Once Held Dear

It will be easier for me now, the letting go of things once held dear, and my heavyhearted feeling seems to have vanished. It is as though the eagle is directing the pathway to my destiny. This is a heartening experience for me as I prepare to grasp an opportunity to look at life things through new eyes.

I can honestly say that this eagle-eyed experience has taken me from feeling heavyhearted to feeling lighthearted. Yes, I have let go of my wood-carved eagle that I once held dear but I shall remember its significance ... forevermore.


Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an Associate of Amazon and Zazzle and may earn income based on purchases made through links in this article.

My topic today for the 26-Week ABC Challenge of emotions begins with the letter "H" — feeling HEAVYHEARTED about things held dear.

Read all about the ABC Challenge and join us right here each week as we write and share emotions from A to Z.

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Floral Scented Sip and Sing-Along

Sip on the scent and sound of musical finery in this floral scented song in haiku and charmed winery by abitosunshine.

Flowers in Haiku
©Ruth Cox

Floral scented song
Glass or bottle sarong, charmed
Sip-along lyrist


Charms for Bottles and Glassware
by abitosunshine

Bottle Blossoms Wine Glass Charms by abitosunshine

No doubt the offerings of poet and designer shall meet with our earth mother's approval on Earth Day as we link up with Noner Says for Wordless Wednesday.

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an Associate of Zazzle and may earn income based on purchases made through links in this article.

Gladsome, Guided, and Grounded By Love

While with a canine companion by my side I have always felt well-grounded, the best-laid plans of a woman and her dog do not always come to pass on the long and winding road of life.

On a gladsome note ... Shortly after a glitch in the plans for me and my dog to move to the state of Washington occurred, I received an unexpected text message, followed by a telephone call, from my son and feel as if I have been granted a genuine chance for mother and son (and grandson!) to reunite as a real family.

I guess things really do happen for good reason. While I am feeling sadness about not going to Washington (meeting my friend Karen there and my friend Nancy along the way) I am feeling gladness about being guided to return to my home state of Ohio.

I look forward to working hard at repairing my damaged relationship with my son. And of course, I am feeling great about getting to know my grandson before he's all grown up.

I am also grateful to my previous boss (and friend) in Ohio who is giving me back my old job. I will at least have an immediate income. It's a start at a new beginning.

If not for the generous giving and support of others (via the Fundrazr set up on our behalf) this move would not be possible. I will be forever feeling gratitude for those who have made it possible for me and my dog Valentino to travel this leg of our life journey ... Together!

My plans to go west have been thwarted, at least temporarily. However, preparing to head north on the road of life, I am feeling...

Gladsome, Guided, and Grounded by Love!

We Thank You Postcard by dogpawsitivetidbits

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an Associate of Amazon and Zazzle and may earn income based on purchases made through links in this article.

This week my topic for the 26-Week ABC Challenge begins with the letter "G" — feeling GLADSOME, GUIDED, and GROUNDED.


Read all about the ABC Challenge and join us right here each week as we write and share emotions from A to Z.

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Feeling Forgiven Not Forgotten

Forgive & Forget

A forgiving spirit toward others as well as ourselves is essential for our personal well-being. 

It is often said that we can forgive but not forget. In truth, a forgiving feeling comes into being only after forgetting.

Forgiving Spirit
©Ruth Cox

Forgivable
Worthy of being
Forgettable

Forgiveness
Born of
Forgetfulness

Forgiven
In time
Forgotten

Forgiving
Spirit of future
Forgetting


Another truth of forgive and forget is that we must remember it is the action we felt was taken against us which we need forgive and forget — not the person. This reasoning is clear to me each time I read the poem Night Mail by W. H. Auden.

You can listen to the verse written for the documentary film. (Fast forward to 19:20 or so for "Night Mail" by Auden)

The last line of Auden's verse says it all for me...

For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?

  

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an associate of Amazon.com and may earn sales commissions via purchases made through links on this article.

This week my topic for the 26-Week ABC Challenge begins with the letter "F" — feeling FORGIVING not FORGOTTEN.

Read all about the ABC Challenge and join us right here each week as we write and share our emotions from A to Z.

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Feeling Emotionally Bankrupt Or Bloated

I thought it a case of feeling elderly until a chat with a younger friend brought me to the realization that what I was experiencing was akin to feeling emotionally bankrupt or bloated.

Although he is nearly twenty years my junior, I found my friend (whom I'll refer to as Leo) suffering the same emotive state of mind as I. To me, it appeared as though both of us teetered on the brink of emotional ruin.

Being sixty years of age and facing yet another major life storm, my emotions are running rampant and I find myself feeling spiritually bankrupt. I feel as if I am about to burst from the overflow of emotions. (Much like my tummy might feel if I were physically bloated from overeating.)

However, the difference this time was that it was a lot easier to deal with being in such an emotional state when I was younger. Or so I thought.

My conversation with Leo has me rethinking my emotive theory and I realize blaming my emotional bankruptcy on the fact of feeling elderly was an equivocal statement. Bloated or bankrupt, I feel it time I pull up my big girl panties and take evasive action.

Feeling exasperated and empty of enthusiasm, I decide that only by closing the door on non-essential thoughts and feelings can I renew my zest for living. No longer bamboozled by the winds of change, entrenched in the power invested by and for me — I declare myself proud owner of a new song to sing in the rain. (And to my friend Leo.)

Bamboo In A Gentle Rain...hear her rhythm Cards 
by karenerdmann

This week my topic for the 26-Week ABC Challenge begins with the letter "E" — for EMOTIONALLY BANKRUPT. (As well as a few other letter "E" emotions.)

Read all about the ABC Challenge and join us right here each week as we write and share our emotions from A to Z.

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