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Hope you feel over the weather soon 🌤

Over the Weather

by Naomi Shihab Nye

We forget about the spaciousness
above the clouds

but it’s up there.The sun’s up there too.

When words we hear don’t fit the day,
when we worry
what we did or didn’t do,
what if we close our eyes,
say any word we love
that makes us feel calm,
slip it into the atmosphere
and rise?

Creamy miles of quiet.
Giant swoop of blue.

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author

Thanks for introducing me to this poem, Nancy. And for the good wishes! I'm working on it!

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The Other Side

There are too many choices!

Colors. Designs. Patterns.

The time has come.

The Ceremony of Thresholds.

How do I choose?

I must only pick one.

Whichever door I choose, I must boldly enter and

proceed to whatever uncertainty lies in wait.

Is the design a clue to

what’s on the other side?

Is the pattern that I see just an illusion?

If the door is beautifully decorated,

does that mean it is an entryway to more beauty?

What if it is plain?

This door looks like a puzzle.

Must I solve it and prove my intellect and worthiness?

There are strange voices on the other side of this one.

If I listen to them, will they tell me what to do?

How, oh how, shall I choose?

I pause.

Silence.

I try to still the voices running laps in my mind.

I breathe.

Inhale: Empty

Exhale: me

Inhale: Peace

Exhale: Authenticity

In the stillness, I begin to step towards a door.

I am drawn to its simplicity.

There’s beauty without boasting.

Inhale: Joy

Exhale: Centeredness

Warmth and light seem to emanate,

and yet, the air is crisp and refreshing.

Do I hear a whisper?

It invites me closer.

What’s that aroma?

Keep breathing.

Inhale: Calm

Exhale: Clarity

I reach for the handle.

It turns slowly.

I hear the click.

Breathe.

I exhale loudly as I push.

Gently.

Yes!

It is open.

I pause,

inhaling wonder and

exhaling wows!

I cross the threshold.

What a ripe and glorious place.

A chance to be curious,

to explore,

to create,

to flourish.

Inhale: Thank

Exhale: You

And look!

More doors up ahead!

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author

Thank you, always, for sharing your work, Nancy.

Now I'm wondering what the door would say to you . . .

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Apr 10Liked by Phyllis Cole-Dai

As you described the doors I keep thinking about truth and deception. In the second part, I love how you used mindfulness and centering to find the true door for you.

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Apr 10Liked by Phyllis Cole-Dai

On this side of the door:

roses are red,

violets are blue.

There is rhythm and rhyme

and harmony -

composed in stanza and verse -

fashioned into lyric and song.

On the other side of the door,

the toast is getting cold on the plate,

the milk is getting warm on the counter,

and the oatmeal is burning on the stove.

Moral of the story:

don’t write poetry while cooking breakfast.

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LOL 😆

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author

So fun!

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Apr 10Liked by Phyllis Cole-Dai

Disclaimer: Yes I am a Math Geek.

Another thing about doors - I discovered something called "The Monty Hall Problem". If you don't know - Monty Hall was the first host of the game show, "Let's Make A Deal". During one part a contestant gets to choose Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3. Behind two doors there is a booby prize (like a goat) or something less spectacular than what was behind the other door which is an expensive car.

For all you math geeks - Here's the problem. Let's say you choose Door #2. Monty knows what's behind each door and opens one of the other 2 doors and reveals a goat. Now he asks if you want to switch doors. You know there is an expensive car behind one door and a goat behind the other door. Should you choose the other door?

The actual answer is yes. You have a better chance of getting the expensive car if you switch than if you stay. If you want to know the mathematical details go to Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Hall_problem

Or search google for The Monty Hall Problem

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author

Well, this was a blast from the past! Made me smile.

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