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Tag Archives: kindness

NaPoWriMo – Day One, Say Hello to a Stranger

01 Monday Apr 2019

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Poetry, Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

kindness, NaPoWriMo, poem, poetry

100days

 

For my birthday, I got a book from a dear friend entitled ‘100 Days of Kindness’, and, it being the 1st of a new month, I thought I’d start – and see if I can’t get a poem out of it each day…at least for this month anyway, because April is NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month) http://www.napowrimo.net/ whose invitation is to write a poem a day for thirty days…

 

DAY ONE – Say Hello to a Stranger

I pass a young woman

With asymmetrical hair part

Long part shaved to one inch in

A funky kind of way we

Exchange smiles and I remember

Today I’m supposed to say

Hello to a stranger

 

There’s a guy coming my way

Dark hair and a beard

I’m prepared and

Say hello and

Am ignored stared past

Into invisibility while we

Both keep walking

 

I meet the dog before

The owner and say a warm

Hello to this short legged rotund

Little mutt with gentle eyes and

Fur turning grey it occurs to me

I would’ve said hello to the dog anyway

Not just on hello a stranger day

 

The owner I see first from

The back he’s wearing a black

Cap with flames in orange

Yellow red he turns and his hair

Is going a little grey too

he says morning at exactly

the same time as I say hello

 

So I don’t know –

Does that count?

Poetry in three – take two!

01 Wednesday Nov 2017

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Poetry, Uncategorized

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

creative writing, creativity, generosity, kindness, poem, poetry, poetry to order

Last Friday, while on a half-term break from the weekly writing workshop I lead, I followed through on a personal promise to warm up my three-minute poetry writing skills for real, in preparation for several upcoming events.

It was a truly magical morning, during which I went to the cafe in Exeter Library, and asked if I could write three minute poems for their customers while I drank my coffee. These people would give me a subject of their choosing, I would write the poem in three minutes, and then, if they liked the poem, I would invite them to make a donation to the cafe’s fund, which pays for a coffee for those who can’t afford one. In just half an hour I’d approached five tables, written three poems, and had £15 pounds to donate, as each person who’d received a poem had given me £5, and enough tears/smiles/appreciation to fill my heart to bursting.

I could have continued but I didn’t wanted to push my luck, or break the spell, or get  greedy. I’m sure I will become more accustomed, but it really is a very powerful and connecting experience. When a total stranger reads and receives my words, and responds with tearful eyes, material generosity and an emotional exclamation that I’ve truly captured something of their own thoughts and feelings, that is just…well it’s pure energetic alchemical gold. It’s also the closest I come to the experience of knowing that I receive all that on behalf of something much larger than individual little old me. During those three minutes something is gifting me, and I am accepting my role as the one allowing that gift to be passed on by making it manifest. That is an honour.

“That’s amazing!” said the cafe manager as I gave her the £15  “you should come again!” Indeed I intend to. You can read the poems in the photos. Remember these were written in just three minutes so no, they’re not brilliant, they’re far from perfect, but they spoke to the people they were written for…and that’s all that matters.

 

Poem for a priest2

 

 

Poem baby rose

 

poem about music

I’m very much looking forward to writing in collaborative circles again, both tomorrow and Friday, feeling creatively re-inspired and deeply re-affirmed in my belief in the potential power of poetry, and in general spontaneous writing in from a place of heart, humility and courage.

May you too know the experience of being blessed by the act of blessing another, until there is no distinction between the gifter and the gifted.

Kindness Challenge Reflection Post: Self-Love

13 Saturday May 2017

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

kindness, kindness challenge, loving kindness, meditation, reflection, self-love

 

When I saw that the first week of The Kindness Challenge was self-love, I smiled. Joke was on me. Aww man – here we go again! Can’t I, like, you know, skip a step?

There’s a wonderful meditation practice known as ‘metta’ or ‘loving kindness’ which I have practiced regularly for several years, with varying levels of commitment. When I first began exploring it more deeply, I found myself very resistant to starting with myself, as is traditional. I shared this with my teacher, who told me to try starting elsewhere in the process for a while, and see if that helped. It did. I needed permission to take the focus away from my greatest block for a while.

What I learned from that process, and what this week has again highlighted for me, is that loving kindness to ourselves and being kind and loving towards others are inextricably linked. One cannot exist without the other. When the sun shines, it doesn’t choose which fields to land on. It shines on all, unconditionally. Night works the same way. When I am unkind to myself, it doesn’t only affect me. If I want, as I wholeheartedly do, to be kind to others, it has to include self-love. These are fundamentals, basics, and as so often with fundamentals and basics, they sound simple, and are hard to get right in practice. I believe this is a direct result of their simplicity, which leaves no place to hide.

This week we were asked to come up with a mantra, an affirmation, something that could be repeated, lent into, called upon when we needed a kindness reminder. One of the things I’ve been noticing since starting this challenge, is how the root of my lack of kindness towards myself so often lay in comparison. I constantly compare myself to others, or to my own expectations or previous achievements, and find myself wanting. Ugly, judgmental thoughts arise with nonchalance, so accustomed am I to them. So, I chose an affirmation, a mantra, that struck at this root.

‘You are loving and loved,’ does NOT work for me in the moments when I most need it, because it’s in those moments that I am least able to believe it. That statement is not one I yet accept as a lasting, incontrovertible truth. So I chose something else.

“You are unique,

as is everyone you meet.”

That feels wholly and always true, and that means it’s a powerful thought tool, however much of a mess I’m in. It stops the judgement immediately, because it whips the carpet from under it by questioning the assumption that life is a pair of weighing scales; good/bad, right/wrong etc. It affirms that each unique individual, and each unique situation stands alone, and we are invited to get curious and appreciative, over and over again.

This week has also reminded me that kindness is the master unraveller. That means that, for me at least, there are times when self-love is a little scary. Why? Because I’m not sure what I’ll find in the middle when I unravel. I’m not sure I’ll be able to put myself together again if I fall apart. It’s like those moments when you’re on the verge of tears, and someone looks at you kindly, or says something really sweet and you’re like – ‘No! No! Don’t be nice, please! I’m just about holding it together!’

Self-love is a journey, an adventure. It’s not linear, and it’s never over; and sometimes it can be a little counter-intuitive. I remember, as I write this, another time when I was struggling. I’d behaved badly and said things I regretted. That, I decided, was not the moment to sit and tell myself how great I am. Rather, it was a time to pick myself up and act – give myself a reason to feel more self-love. That is not to deny the truth that, ultimately, we never need to earn or justify love; it was simply about using awareness to find what, in that moment, would best support me in returning to a place where that felt true. I found the person, apologised, and made an inner commitment to learn from that experience, and, as much as possible, avoid actions that would give me another stick with which to beat myself.

I’m very lucky. I am surrounded by some very kind people, courageous people, creative people. I have met several people whose kindness appears to be so natural, so effortless. I have also been lucky enough to discover that, like most things in life, kindness and self-love can be cultivated, grown, strengthened – and there are tools out there. The ones that have worked for me?

Loving kindness meditation 

Gratitude journaling

and…my new affirmation!

“You are unique,

as is everyone you meet.”

 

Blessings on your week friends, and may self-love grow and overflow, in and through you.

For more about The Kindness Challenge, and more reflection posts, go to:

https://therichnessofasimplelife.wordpress.com/2017/05/07/week-1-self-love/

For information on loving kindness meditation, check out:

https://jackkornfield.com/meditation-on-lovingkindness/

GLADvent Day 2

02 Friday Dec 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

acrostic, advent, advent calendar, craft, creativity, gratitude, kindness, optimism, reflection, sharing, spirituality

Welcome, one and all, to GLADvent Day two! We began yesterday, with the quality of kindness, as played with in this acrostic poem:

kindness

And now, can you find the second stocking?

day-1-whole

 

Great, let’s turn it over and see what we’ve got…

 

g-day-2-sharing

SHARING:  “Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.”

– Ruth Reichl

Now take a moment to pause and reflect upon how sharing has shown up in your life recently; what has been shared and why? How did that add to or change the situation?

day-2-whole

Two stockings turned! Hope to see you tomorrow for number 3.

Do continue to share your thoughts and reflections in the comments section below as you wish…

GLADvent Day 1

01 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

advent, advent calendar, christmas, crafts, creativity, gratitude, kindness, optimism, reflection, sharing, spirituality

Ladies and Gents it’s my great pleasure on this December 1st 2016 to welcome you, one and all, to GLADvent! Just the familiar recognition of the passing of the days leading up to Christmas, but with an extra twist of Joy and Gratitude thrown in.

gladvent-angel

To mark the passage of time, and offer daily invitations to reflect and give thanks, I’ve created a GLADvent calendar, which I’d love for you to ‘open’ with me each day, from now until December 24th.

This is not to deny that there are many and real problems we face right now, both individually and as a collective. It is to remind me, and anyone else who needs a nudge, that there is still much of beauty and blessing in this world. That remembering is a source of strength that can be used to face those challenges with courage and compassion.

The numbered stockings each have a specific word and related quote written on the back. The quote is a bonus, for it’s the word that is intended to be an invitation to give thanks for the presence of that thing or quality in our lives. Can you find number 1?

gladvent-whole

 

OK friends, let me turn it over for you and let’s see what we’ve got…

 

g-day-1-kindness

KINDNESS: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle. – Plato

Now take a moment to pause and reflect upon how kindness has shown up in your life recently; kindness given, kindness received or both.

day-1-whole

And we’re off! The GLADvent journey has begun. Hope to see you tomorrow for stocking number 2.

Feel free to share your thoughts and reflections in the comments section below,

and welcome to GLADvent!

A new diet…

04 Friday Nov 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Poetry, Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

diet, food, fun, humour, joy, kindness, poem, poetry, smile

pink-flowers-jpg

image credit: http://babybudgeting.co.uk/

I went to a brand new cafe

that didn’t serve food at all

but strangely enough

once they’d served me the stuff

I was totally, utterly full

***

The starter that day was a smile

that sparkled right into my eyes

for my main, some kind words

sweetly sung by a bird

and dessert was a warm hug goodbye

***

I think I might like this new diet

I’d probably lose some weight too (!)

and best thing you see

is that all of it’s free –

I think you should try it, don’t you? 🙂

 

 

I don’t usually post twice a day, but couldn’t resist turning a fun exchange in the comments on my earlier post into this poem 🙂 Thanks https://writingtofreedom.com/ You’re awesome!

 

 

Kindness comes first

04 Friday Nov 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Poetry, Uncategorized

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

awareness, community, compassion, connection, humanity, kindness, life, priorities, spirituality

my-religion-is-kindness

 

A reflection I wrote to help when I need to get perspective again, and reset my priorities – Enjoy:-)

What’s more important; being right or being real? What’s more important; getting what you want or getting what you need? What’s more important; your own comfort or the dignity of another? What’s more important?  What’s most important? If first thing’s first – what’s first? Kindness. Above all, kindness. Kindness to self, kindness to all, kindness to the whole. Kindness is unconditional, soothing and inspiring. Kindness begets kindness like a smile begets a smile and kindness to self is the beginning of genuine compassion for all beings. You cannot force yourself to be kind.  You cannot shame yourself into being kind. You cannot create kindness from its opposite – it is birthed of itself and endlessly reciprocating.  Kindness comes first.

Kindness

23 Monday May 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Poetry, Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

acrostic, community, fun, humanity, kindness, love, poem, poetry

Keep your heart and eyes open

Invite opportunities to share the best of you

Now, with a smile, an offering

Doesn’t need to be big, just real

Nothing fancy, just genuine warmth

Ensuring the other feels valued, recognised,

Seen as a fellow human being, a

Sister or brother to enjoy life alongside

‘EveryGrandpa’

10 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

appeal, compassion, economic crisis, generosity, greece, kindness, migrants, poem, poetry

afp-australian-heads-to-greece-to-help-crying-pensioner-in-photo

image credit: http://uk.businessinsider.com/afp-australian-heads-to-greece-to-help-crying-pensioner-in-photo-2015-7?r=US

I see a vast canyon

in the mere metres between

that queue and you

their eyes reveal hearts

teetering on the edge

of engagement

but fear burns all bridges

and they dare not fall

***

Who gave permission

to greed and scorn

to rob our elders of dignity

and our youth of purpose?

We drown our minds in numbers

until our hearts forget

people are downing too

***

I sit before a silent screen

aching to hug you through the pixels

to hold you, EveryGrandpa,

in my shamed arms and say

‘Please stand, I’ll hold you.

This stops with me’

You may know of, or find, your own way to stand by the people of Greece at this difficult time, either as a whole or more personally through individuals/families you know who are directly affected, but there are some links below to a few current stories and campaigns if you’d like some ideas. I’ve also included a link to the story of a man who is helping to rescue the migrants at risk of drowning in the mediterranean.  Let this stop with us. May we find a new way to take care of our whole human family with compassion, dignity and joy.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/greek-crowdfund#/story

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/small-greek-business-in-greece-of-crisis#/story

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/28/the-greeks-for-whom-all-the-talk-means-nothing-because-they-have-nothing

http://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/jul/08/millionaire-who-rescues-migrants-at-sea

For fun, and…

31 Sunday May 2015

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

compassion, earth, humour, kindness, nature, poem, poetry, sharing, words, writing

There’s only an ‘e’
between feast and fast
so perhaps
with a little empathy
we could all eat
never doubting there’s enough
eradicating world hunger forever
but even I know
it won’t be as easy as that

famine’s just two letters away from family
so perhaps it’s not what we do
but how
growing food sustainably
to share our harvest generously
we’d nourish the world abundantly
dream I a little wistfully
we’re not there yet regretfully

if you swap earth’s ‘h’
from the end to the start
you get heart
for happiness leads to
harmony leads to
healing leads to
humanity re-seeing
that our mother earth’s well-being
is a must for our joy too
simple, yes, but true

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