Hi Loves,
This time of year makes me want to eat soup and nestle in for the evening. Sit on the couch, sip tea and read poetry to my lover. My lover might be Ben, Tessa, my dog, or myself. Whomever is available in their heart space. I can't say my 12 year old is open and available to poetry these days.
When I was 12, I couldn't stand poetry. Maybe it was Miss Riddle, my 7th grade English teacher. Bless her, it wasn't easy for her to open up to a bunch of middle school kids. Poetry felt so sappy back then or I just plain couldn't understand it. It wasn't until my meditation practice was established that I fell in love with poetry. Poetry is the language of the heart. My intellectual mind doesn't understand a lot of poems, but when poetry is read to me, my heart hears it and seems to understand.
A friend recently went to my website to see if I was offering anything special that she could attend with her husband and that made me realize that I haven't offered much in the evening for our community in awhile. So I am offering "A Night of Poetry" again. I offered this a couple years ago and, silly me, I forgot my folder of poems for class! It was so beautiful how it all ended up, so I am excited to see what happens this time. This will be such a sweet evening to share with a loved one or yourself. Please bring a beloved poem. Also a journal and pen.
When sitting down to write this letter, I decided to start by writing a poem. I can probably count on one hand the number of poems I have written. I just wanted to see what the heart wanted to sing. I know it's raw and needs work, but below is what came out. I hope this inspires you to come to "A Night of Poetry" and maybe your heart will want to sing too. It can be totally imperfect and it doesn't matter one bit to the heart. Let's see what happens!
Love to you all!
Namaste,
Shari
A Night of Poetry
Friday, November 15 6:45-8:45
Tahoe Yoga and Wellness Truckee
Cost $30
Sign up with a beloved by Wednesday, Nov. 13 for $40
***Let's come together, be still, listen, move, create and possibly share. Bring a loved one or just yourself, your journal, pen, most beloved poem and your heart. You can expect somatic movement and restorative yoga poses.
A Mother's Gift
by Shari Beard
When your daughter is on her way to being a woman, you are met with the hand in one moment and in the next a warm embrace. Eye rolls and a tone that makes you feel crazy and next, the most sincere, "Is everything ok mom?".
She says, "You love everything I hate. I love everything you hate." Hate is not even in your vocabulary, but you understand she is trying to find her own.
You know this is natural, her pulling away, but it's still doesn't mean it's not painful.
You question, have you given her enough tools to navigate this messy, wild, wonderful life and haven't given her too much crap to work through in therapy. You know you are not suppose to utter one more, "Eat your veggies, not junk.", but your mouth won't stay shut. More therapy for her, you are sure of it...
Yes, you trust that life will take care of her and there still is a pull on your heart. Does she know how beautiful she it, how loved she is, how adored?
And.... not for one minute do you want that pull to be fixed. You want to feel this blessing that you have been given to it's fullest because it's a privilege.
This one unbelievably, precious chance to experience what mothers have been feeling for centuries/lifetimes. You are truly blessed.
