Holding space for air….

camellia
There is a place
in each moment,
a soft space for breath
to unfold slow
and deep
and safe,
where rest enough waits
like a tall glass of lay-me-down
and  whispers welcome
to every lift and settle of my heart.

And there is a stream there,
a place for tired soul to go bare,
glimmering easy songs of here and now
and of a love that fills
and it nourishes and calls
and I can answer if I will

funny valentine

‘Cause sometimes I wreck this heart
by rushing,
wanting to flop down into the finally
of having everything done and wrapped up tight,
and it’s crazy how my mind can wedge me into stories
that steal away my peace
and set me to running from rest
because I get to thinking
that it’s the push and squeeze that saves me.

Yeah,   I can forget to breathe,
to let the soft vapor of life
tend the peace that lifts me
from the weary way I sometimes keep.

It’s braver to breathe.

dearheart
I wish you deep gulps of air in every place where your heart is holding it’s breathe.

“And breathe,
just breathe.
Oh breathe,
just breathe.”

– Anna Nalick

If you’re looking to do something yummy for yourself,  check out this goodness from my big-dreaming friend,   Kimber.

24 Comments

  1. dulcy on January 31, 2016 at 10:02 am

    A sweet treasure of photos and words for this lovely Sunday morning.
    xo
    dulcy

    • jennifer on February 3, 2016 at 11:58 am

      Easy like Sunday morning:)
      So glad to re-connect with you and your artful life:)
      Thanks, Dulcy,
      Jennifer

  2. Elephant's Child on January 31, 2016 at 1:11 pm

    How I love your brave, beautiful, vulnerable self.

    • jennifer on February 3, 2016 at 11:57 am

      Love and thanks for those kind, balmy words.
      Does my heart so good:)
      -Jennifer

  3. CherryPie on January 31, 2016 at 5:31 pm

    I love your soft gentle images that accompany your words 🙂

    • jennifer on February 3, 2016 at 11:56 am

      Why thanks, you:)
      I’m so glad you dropped in.
      Peace to you,
      Jennifer

  4. Julia on January 31, 2016 at 8:46 pm

    Dear Jennifer, when I started to read your post, the first thing I did was to breath deeply and it filled my space with peace. You have such a way with words of wisdom. My peace was short live as I was unable to leave comments. It won’t recognize my email address and password so I’m trying again. I couldn’t leave a v=comment on Nancy’s blog either.
    HUgs,
    JB

    • jennifer on February 3, 2016 at 11:54 am

      I get so frustrated with tech glitches, too. Fantasy: a personal assistant. How amazing would that be to just do what you love
      without having to sort through languages you don’t know. Big dream:)
      Thanks for stopping by and cheers to some deep sweet peace,
      Jennifer

  5. Julia on January 31, 2016 at 8:47 pm

    My comment went through. Julia

  6. Nancy on January 31, 2016 at 9:37 pm

    Your words encourage and fill the troubled space and remind me to breathe deeply and feel the peace….Hugs

    • jennifer on February 3, 2016 at 11:52 am

      oh, Nancy. You’re such a cheerleader!
      THANK you, friend:) I so appreciate.
      Filling up alongside of you,
      Jennifer

  7. Barbara on January 31, 2016 at 11:10 pm

    I still forget to breathe sometimes, but I’m getting better at recognizing when I’m holding my breath! It’s amazing what a deep breath can do, isn’t it?

    • jennifer on February 3, 2016 at 11:51 am

      Me too. I’m a breath-holder:)
      When I remember, I get full up with air
      and all those constrictions just fall away.
      Cheers to a double portion of air,
      Jennifer

  8. Kathryn on February 1, 2016 at 6:21 pm

    …wanting to flop down into Finally… i am feelin’ that today. This week will be a whirlwind for me, but I will remember to breathe. Thank you.

    • jennifer on February 3, 2016 at 11:51 am

      yes, the flop into finally. the ultimate fantasy:)
      I find it in my daydreams a lot, too.
      peace to you in the whirling,
      Jennifer

  9. Robin aka on February 3, 2016 at 9:23 pm

    Your words…so much inspiration…thank you!

    • jennifer on February 12, 2016 at 4:12 pm

      Glad we get to inspire each other; it’s the stuff of community and I love it:)
      -Jennifer

  10. Kimber Britner on February 4, 2016 at 8:46 am

    Beautiful bit of breathing in and out and finding the pause! Thanks for the shout out, friend!

  11. Susan on February 4, 2016 at 9:58 am

    We all need these soft reminders and some of your sweet beauty always helps ~

    • jennifer on February 12, 2016 at 4:12 pm

      Soft reminders. I like that. Thanks, Susan:)
      I need soft reminders more than ever these days.
      Life can be so very un-soft.
      Thanks for being you
      to me,
      Jennifer

  12. jeanie on February 6, 2016 at 9:08 am

    Breathing. Always an issue. Oh, how I love to save coming here for those moments when I need a gentle spot to rest, reflect and be reminded of the very simple loveliness in the world and the power we have to take it in simply by stopping to breathe!

    • jennifer on February 12, 2016 at 4:10 pm

      So glad we got to rest a spell together, Jeanie:)
      I’ve needed it this week in a big way.
      Taking a deep one with you,
      Jennifer

  13. Donna on February 14, 2016 at 6:55 pm

    The breathe of life has so much meaning…deep healing breathes!

    • jennifer on February 15, 2016 at 7:13 am

      Deep breaths of thanks, Donna.
      Breathing and smiling,
      Jennifer:)

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