consejo tranquilo

There is so much poetry that I would love to write lately but I find myself surrounded by scenes whose beauty refuses my words. 

So I have been living in the words of others. 

Rumi might be the reason that I am not simply still standing, but purely living at the end of this week. 

"“And still, after all this time, the Sun has never said to the Earth,

"You owe me."

Look what happens with love like that.

It lights up the sky.” 

I wish I could write like that. 

Even after all this time, it is still difficult for me to first conjure words on the computer. 

I don't know where to begin so I will begin anywhere. 

Maybe some advice to myself. 

There is a lot to be said for a good cup of coffee. Let no one tell you otherwise.

But there is more to be said for a good night's sleep. A solid, stretch your worldly limbs across the space of dreams and free fall into their peace kind of sleep. 

It will never be wrong to pick up litter when you see it. It will haunt you when you don't and have you re-tracing your steps just a few minutes along your way. 

Let both dogs and other people dig. The earth loves to be turned up, let the soil have a brief affair with the air and realize that grass doesn't mind after all. The same goes for your heart - you can truly feel the weight of your worth when you let it settle into another's hands. 

Be mindful of what you set off with the wind and thankful for what you receive from it - the breath of those who finally inhale the love you exhale after it travels the many miles between you.

You don't always have to wash your hands. The dirt in the lines of your palms has something to say. 

Oh, and you don't always have to shake hands. 

Hug people. Some people go whole days without one. Let it not be for lack of your effort. 

Fighting for something is far different from fighting against something. 

Think the protection of clean water vs. curly hair. 

Choose your battles.

Never leave being kind to the next person. 

Run.

When you need to, when you don't want to, 

in the pouring rain, in the middle of the night, in the morning with the sun, 

with reckless abandon, without a watch, without music, with intention, 

outside whenever possible, without apology, when you're crying, when you're laughing, 

feel free to add some singing but then run harder, until you're sweating from your knees, 

until the salt of your sweat dries in its path -- your body's tears telling the story of your journey, 

even if it's for five minutes, even if you shouldn't when you leave the bar, 

with your best friend - in sync, harmonious, steady and sure, 

on the beach, up a mountain, 

when what hurts the most is what you're carrying inside - keep going until your breath is ragged, your legs are screaming, and the only sound is your heart in your ears.

Run.