A daily affirmation about "your" life

who couldn't use that?

Image by Jacquelynne Kosmicki from Pixabay

Travel with me to the bottom of this post, if you will. The story unfolds. I think you’ll be glad you did. You can listen to me reading my version of Jeanette’s poem above.

NOURISHED by Jeannette Encinias

I worry seriously
about only a handful of things.
Eyes to the ground
furrowed brow
beating heart
sleep.

Then I remember
that I am here right now.
Here-
with good work and a big, bright love.
With a dog who just had a bath
after running in the mud.
With a mother who gardens and does yoga
and a father who makes rosaries and reads books.
And my brother, my friend, with a sweet baby daughter.

And I have my legs
and they walk for miles when I worry.
And I have my soul
and it is vast and kinder
than this wild world.
And I have books
with their strong spines and medicine.
And music, all the music
and there is the mailman
who delivers mail almost every single day
bless him.

And the market with wine and radishes.
And the flowers falling through my hands
trusting me to make bouquets.
And there is the green earth and the tall mountain
the water birds, seedlings, snowfall, the sound of rain, sun finally
spring!

The bed and the water.
The paper and the pens.
The bathtub and the salt.
And the food he made me
and the letter she sent me
and Spain, San Francisco
your bedroom, this kitchen.

It’s all been so much beauty among
the worry.
And I have kept nourished
and alive
this way.

I take no credit for this lovely gratitude poem, except that I took enough time to read my friend Tracey’s Sunday posting a few weeks back, where she shared Jeannette Encinias’s words. 

Jeannette titled this perfectly because “nourished” is what I felt when I read it. I found myself revisiting the poem in the following days. While the majority of the words are my reality, without even realizing it, I began to insert my descriptives in places where our paths divert. Within a few days, I had a gratitude prayer that felt precious to me, which I have revisited daily.

There’s no need to reinvent the wheel if someone has created something of perfection. My gratitude prayer now hangs on my manifesting board, a reminder to always keep in mind what I already have before I ask for more. 

Because it’s been such fun for me, I thought I’d share this with anyone who might want to adopt Jeannette’s lovely words as a daily reminder.

Here is my version.

I worry seriously
about only a handful of things.
Eyes to the ground
furrowed brow
beating heart
sleep

Then I remember
that I am here right now
Here-
with good work and a big, bright love
Blessed with sister kitties that bring us comfort and joy each and every day
Days I get to garden and teach yoga
and a husband who cares for me and our home with the attention and heart of an artist.
And my kids, for which there are no words to describe the connection

Afternoons spent with my MahJongg maidens exercising our brains delighting in the comforts and ruminating about the discomforts of aging

And I have my legs
and they walk for miles when I worry, but often I’m accompanied by my walking buddies lessening the burden

And I have my soul
and it is vast and kinder
than this wild world

And I have books
with their strong spines and medicine
And music, all the music, my father’s and my new son-in-law’s
And there is the mailwoman
who delivers mail almost every single day
Bless her

And our local tasting room with the most delicious wine and our tiny market with its locally grown mushrooms
And the flowers falling through my hands
trusting me to make bouquets
And there is the green earth and the tall mountains so close we can reach them within the hour
Our birdhouses which entice at least one family of birds each year, snowfall, the sound of rain, sun finally
spring

The bed with its comfy blankets and the water
The paper and the pens

A computer where I spill tiny bits of my soul onto the screen daily

The bathtub and the salt.
And the breakfasts he makes me
and the email she sent me
and Hawaii, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe
our bedroom, this kitchen.

It’s all been so much beauty among
the worry.
And I have kept nourished
and alive
this way

The way of simple pleasures

And of magnificent treasures

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one, especially if you create your own prayer, with or without Jeannette’s help. You can find Jeannette’s work here.