Ten years ago I wrote a poem about appreciation. Today, I’m sharing it with you.
The morning air was already thick, promising another hot summer day in Vermont—even though it wasn’t even eight o’clock yet. Blargh.
I was sitting outside on the deck, lost in thought. As is normally the case in situations like these, I held a cup of coffee in my left hand and a pen in my right. My navy blue notebook lay open in front of me. A sip of coffee. Then another, followed by a few satisfied lip-smacks. Looking down at the words on the page, I cracked a soft smile. You know, the kind that sort of slides off to the side of your mouth… like it’s thinking about becoming a smirk?
There’s a lot I’m grateful for in my life.
In the day-to-day, it can be easy to overlook all the wonderful stuff. But I’m so lucky. Truly. In life’s stressful moments, I try to remind myself of these things. When I first started doing that, I used it as a grounding technique for managing anxiety. Then I found myself doing it more routinely, sans anxiety. Now, I try to add moments of gratitude to the daily morning pages I write in my notebook.
Like this poem, it’s a journey.
Ridgeline
By Derek MacDonald
There's something about a mountain,
and the way that it stands tall.
Its poised confidence and dominance,
as stubborn as a wall.
The first to see the sun,
and the last to see it wane.
The pensive isolation,
the welcoming of rain.
There's something about a mountain,
from the surface to its core.
Shaped by the footpath of the hiker,
and chiseled by the shore.
With its head amidst the clouds,
and its feet below the sea.
A bridge between land and sky,
creates perfect harmony.
There's something about a mountain,
and its iridescent air.
Home to the flora and the fauna,
and the comfort of the bear.
An oasis and a fountain,
for those that wish to seek.
Solace from the mountain,
and a companion in its peak.Climbing a mountain is an adventure. And those take time. They have a lot to offer along the way, too. So savor your morning coffee. Enjoy an extra breath before opening your inbox, and smile to yourself when you get lost in a memory from a place you love. That’s how the photo above made me side-smile into my coffee on this hot summer day.
Now’s a good a time as any to pause and enjoy the view, wherever you are.
onward.
P.S. I write a separate email series where I share daily snippets from building a life around creative work. If you’re making more space for creativity, too (or just curious about what it looks like), you can check it out here.
Beautiful poem and great reminder to stop and smell the roses—often.