Pressing pause, sharing a simple poem

I recently stumbled upon a poem that made me hold my breath as I read it. It became balm on a wound the way only just the right words at the right time can. It’s for when all of our best attempts somehow land us two more steps behind, and for anyone juggling their life or trying to figure out how much busyness is just too much, kids or no kids.

A Poem for Someone Who is Juggling Her Life

This is a poem for someone
who is juggling her life.
Be still sometimes.
Be still sometimes.

It needs repeating
over and over
to catch her attention
over and over,
as someone who is juggling her life
finds it difficult to hear.

Be still sometimes.
Be still sometimes.
Let it all fall sometimes.

Rose Cook, from Notes From a Bright Field (Cultured Llama, 2013)

Something I’ve learned as I’ve pushed through life, trying to do everything I’m supposed to and keeping up with appearances, is that I am a body with a soul. This soul needs moments of reprieve and silence or it will begin to protest. It needs a break from the social media juggernaut that can fuel anxiety.

 

I’d love to hear what kinds of things cause you to push the pause button- what soothes your soul, brings you fresh perspective and grounds you? For me it’s a good poem. Take a minute to comment on things you’d be interested in reading or seeing on this blog.

 

Stephanie