Have you given thanks yet today?
for the miracle of breath that fills your belly?
for the pulse of life in your veins,
the inner drumming of your heart that sets
the grounding tempo of your physical fibre?
for the amazing resilience and strength
of this unassuming body
without which you would not
have form in this world?
for the limbs and hands
you were given
that allow you
to move,
to shape,
to create,
to give?
Have you given thanks
for the bright sun rising
and the new day ahead
that is not yesterday again,
that has brought you one more step
out of the dark past
and into the future,
that is tomorrow, now, here today?
for the morsel of food that has made it’s way to your mouth,
the pleasing
shape and texture and taste of it?
for the very sip of water you drink,
the life-fuel upon which our bodies depend,
these gifts of the earth
that we cannot function without?
Have you discovered gratitude yet
for this strange time we are experiencing?
for the slowing rumble of traffic?
for the clearing skies?
for the opportunity to hear unimpeded
the birdsongs
and how it is now possible to notice
that they fill the whole day?
to see, perhaps, our wild cousins
venture forth into their old lands
unafraid?
for the gift of time to admire
the sun moving across the sky
to watch the world outside your window
and witness
the minute pleasures
of it’s everyday dance?
Have you given yourself the space
of a moment?
of even a full breath?
of even two breaths together?
to notice the constant shriek and threat
of the old-life’s stresses
and constricting shapes
fall away from this new present?
to breathe deeply,
expanding
all the way,
into the back and sides
and belly
of this fresh now?
Have you let yourself
*sink*
bottom-deep
into this profound reminder
of the importance of human connection?
of the priceless value of friends
and family
and kindness
towards others?
Have you given yourself
permission yet
to welcome
the sadness,
anger,
grief,
bewilderment,
discomfort,
the fear,
to sit with it,
to let yourself feel it,
to name it,
to acknowledge that it
is also
a part of your life
and that it
also
has something
valuable
to teach you?
Have you leaned yet
into
this irrefutable mirror
of the picture of your life
as you thought it
and recognized
what is essential
and what was
pure indulgence?
that, yes,
actually, yes,
you CAN
throw out that old furniture
of ingrained habit?
Have you realized yet
in this time
of forced isolation
that our humanity
is defined
by our relationships,
and that we
*can*not*
exist
without
others?
that our existence
itself
would be
meaningless
without
the presence
of all these
animals
plants
insects
and elements
that make
this world
so alive?
Have you accepted yet
that what makes
our hearts
so sick
is the adherence
to that ancient
and terrible
idea
that you are
separate
from everything else?
that idea
which denies
the very
foundational
connectedness
of life
as it is?
that if you
turn away
from that blind
and crippling
worldview
you will finally
see
how you are
never
alone?
Have you considered yet,
the idea
that you chose
to be alive
during
these times
for
a reason?
That you
have something
more worthy
to add
to this existence
than merely
the profit
of your
productivity?
Have you appreciated yet
the power
of this pregnant
void
between the
worlds-ending
and world’s-beginning again?
this momentous
opportunity
we have been given
to re-draw the road
ahead?
to take
a collective breath
together
and leave behind
that selfish soundtrack
that has encouraged us
in repeating
such damaging mistakes?
to not only
dream
a better dream
for the entire
planet,
but to unite
our powers
together
and make it
happen?
because
why
should we go back
to what
was clearly
doing more
harm
than good?
Heart Songs 