For those who "Mother"

Mother's day is here, and it got me thinking about all the people who epitomize motherhood, but are not "birth" mothers, and I realized that being a mother is so much more than having given birth. Come to think about it, some of the most amazing moms and mother figures fall into a beautiful, diverse mosaic of inspired souls who have lovingly taken on the role. For me, to mother means to do our best to love, nurture, guide, protect, inspire, and empower another.

Being a mother does not come with a manual, and although it is blessed with many beautiful rewards, they come as we make mistakes, grow as we go, and come to appreciate the poetic nature of the role. It is a journey filled with tenderness, tears, tough decisions and reciprocal teaching. It is about listening, having tremendous patience, and learning to be present for someone else. It is an emotional roller coaster ride that brings great highs and lows as we experience our deepest joys, fears, hopes, and faith. When we are really fortunate, it can be about creating a powerful connection in which we love, and are loved, unconditionally. I feel very grateful to be blessed with experiencing this beautiful bond with my daughters.

Being a mother for some may begin with giving birth, but for many, it does not. At its core, it is about loving and nurturing the light in someone else.

So this Mother's Day, no matter the circumstance of your "mothering," you are to be commended. Thank you for  bravely opening your heart and sharing your love. I don't think there is anything more important you could be doing, for I don't know of anyone, at any age, who is not transformed by love ... especially a mother's love, for it is woven in in to the fabric of our hearts forever.

So for all of you who "mother,"

Happy Mother's Day!

With tremendous love and gratitude for my own mother, and all those who have knowingly and unknowingly "mothered" me.

P Bowman 

Gifts of Light ... Saying Goodbye to our Mothers

 

How do we say goodbye to our mothers...

If we are wise, we won't,

we will grieve deeply,

and over time, come to peace

with the depth of what we've lost,

and, all that we have gained...

we will long for the unconditional love we took for granted,

and with time, feel it's reassuring warmth again...

we will count our blessings

for the courage and strength we

learned through example

for the sacrifices selflessly made,

and the amazing resilience that was gift wrapped in smiles,

We will honor the lessons learned,

 smile when her words

randomly pop into our heads,

and savor the bittersweet memories that bring us joy,

We won't say goodbye, we'll move forward,

we'll honor her memory with pride,

knowing that she will always be 

 an integral part of who we are,

 a gift of light 

 we will carry in our hearts forever...

A friend of mine recently lost her mother, and although I never met her mom, I enjoyed hearing stories about her and had come to admire her, for like most mothers, she exuded extraordinary strength, courage and resilience. I know what it is like to lose a mother and I have felt the weight of many of my friend's losses, as my own echoed back in my heart. This poem is a tribute to all the mothers who have passed on, and to all of us who are left behind, longing for one more moment, while so very grateful for all the ones we were blessed with.  

love and light,

penny bowman

Love is always Calling

                                                          

                                                          Love is Always Calling

For a very long time I have been drawn to heart shapes, but until recently, I never gave it much thought. I just accepted that I could not pass by one without taking a look, which inevitably resulted in me either adding to my collection, or being slightly disappointed that I didn't. As a matter of fact, I spotted a heart shaped rock on the beach today and, yes, I brought it home with me. ( love it when they are free) I added it to a rather eclectic collection of hearts lovingly scattered around my home, all of which are my favorite, lol, and bring a little sigh and a smile when I look at them.

 Initially, I didn't think much of my preoccupation, but when I realized it wasn't so much the heart shapes themselves that I was drawn to, but the feelings they evoked, I began to understand their attraction. They were a sweet reminder from the universe that love is who we are, and when we connect with love, it makes us feel good. Like a magnet, love is always pulling us towards our likeness, and whether that likeness is in a symbolic form, or the joy we feel in the company of other people, animals, or nature, it doesn't really matter. Like an invisible thread that weaves her magic throughout our lives, love draws us in, unites us, and provides beautiful opportunities not only for us to connect, but to feel the inspiration, joy and peace that connection brings. Miraculously, love is literally and figuratively always calling out to us with little reminders and opportunities for us to give, receive, and appreciate her.

So the next time love calls out to you, when you get that urge to pick up a heart shaped rock, call someone you love, hang out with your dog, be with friends and family, or get out in nature, embrace the opportunity to enjoy more love in your life, and answer the call! Your heart will be glad you did.

love and light my friends,

Penny

Love's Call

I call out to you,

with the chickadees song

the lure of  peaceful waters,

and sweet kindnesses,

can you hear me?

I call out to you

so you might connect

via the common thread 

we weave

and know in your heart

who we are

is one and the same,

we are love

my darlings,

we are love...

love and light,

Penny

Honoring our Veterans...

                                                                         

Never again, we said,

never again,

let's honor our veterans,

let's learn from the past...

but it seems like never again

has become a distant whisper, 

and peace a pawn

for political gain,

the lust for power

much more lucrative

than our collective cries, 

suffering, and pain...

 

 what if,

 we stopped fighting

 the same wars

 again and again,

what if

we saw our common humanity,

respected our differences,

and understood each others pain,

what if,

with a new perspective,

 we realized that we, the people, are powerful,

 and what we, the people, united, might gain...

 

I write this with sincere gratitude for those who bravely fought and died, and for those who bravely fought and have been forever changed. To everyone who has lost someone, my deepest condolences, and to those who are supporting our heroes who return home, thank you! 

Although grateful for those who continue to fight for our freedom and democracy, like most people, I pray for a world where we are able to solve our problems peacefully, respect one another and feel the invisible thread of humanity that unites us all. I pray that some day we will embrace the wisdom that real power comes from our ability to connect to that humanity and use our "power" for the good of all...

May you find peace within,

 love and light,

pbowman

Happy Mother's Day to Those no longer with us

 

                                               For all the mom's who are no longer with us,

     For all the mom's 

     who are no longer with us,

     you will never be forgotten,

     for we carry you in our hearts

     and think of you every day

     in so many ways,

     when we hear your favorite song,

     or see lilacs in bloom,

     when a butterfly flits by,

     or we smell your favorite perfume,

     How could we forget you

     when so often you are the voice in our heads,

     and the source of our inspiration and strength,

     we miss you, and long for one more day,

     one more hug, one more smile,

     no, we will never forget you

     for your love is woven into the fabric of our hearts,

     and still brings us light every day...

     with gratitude,

      for your dedication, strength and love, 

            Penny Bowman

Love, Loss and Warm Fuzzies With love and in hounor of Michael

 

                                                                             

My beautiful brother in law Michael passed away very suddenly last week, leaving us all in shock, and many of us regretting that we hadn't been in touch more frequently. His death leaves a terrible void in the lives of those who knew and loved him for he was one of those rare individuals who had the gift of being able to light up every room he walked into. With his warm heart and great sense of humor, Michael had a way of putting everyone at ease, so it was always fun to spend time with him. A devoted father, husband, friend, and family man, it seemed as if there were no limits to his generosity and caring. Just thinking about him makes me smile, but also incredibly sad that I will never see him again, or be blessed by one of his big bear hugs.

I doubt that Michael knew what an impact he had on people, especially those who loved him, unfortunately, this is probably true for most people, which makes me think that perhaps one of the gifts that Michael leaves behind is a reminder for us to tell our friends and family what we appreciate about them, and what makes them so special in our lives. I think if we did, a lot of people would be pleasantly surprised not only by the way they are perceived, but the little blessings they are sharing without even realizing it.

 I often wonder why we wait for people to pass on before we sing their praises. When I was teaching, one of my favorite activities with my students was to have them share "warm fuzzies" with one another. This was a simple exercise where they would write down the things they liked about each other on a warm fuzzy note. I wish I had sent Mike a warm fuzzy.

This Christmas, or in the coming New Year, in honor of all the Michaels in our lives, I encourage you to give the gift of a warm fuzzy to the special people in your life. You could place the notes in Christmas cards or stockings, or you could adopt a new habit of telling people why you love and appreciate them. I promise you, it's a gift everyone will love, and one you'll actually be thankful for if it's returned. 

If you are grieving the loss of a loved one this season, my sincere condolences. I hope that in between the waves of grief and loss and pain, waves of joy, peace, and love wash into your heart as well. 

with love and light,

Penny

Michael,

You were such a joyful light

for us all,

every room you walked into lit up

with the enthusiasm and love 

you shared so easily,

I doubt you knew that,

and I doubt if you did 

it would have mattered,

for you seemed to care 

more about just living...

pursuing your passions,

helping others, 

sharing a laugh,

and taking care of those you loved,

Without knowing it

 you helped us all

 see the lighter side of life,

and one of your greatest legacies 

is not just the joy we felt

in your presence...

but the smile that will come,

and the joy that we'll feel

every time we remember you...

with gratitude and love, 

Penny

Resurrecting Hope

                        

                                                                                                          

I have spent the last two and a half years on a healing journey that until recently seemed to be going in circles. I was losing hope that I would ever feel like myself again. Living alone, I thought too much solitude was part of the problem, but, in retrospect, I think it served an important role and was a reminder to have faith in the journey, even when it doesn't seem to make sense. Just as spring encourages us to have hope, faith does as well, for it nurtures the belief that all shall be well.

The turning point in my journey quite literally, came out of the blue, and with the help of some eagles. After spotting an eagle circling above me twice in the same week, I saw it as a sign, and meditated on the message it might be offering. During that meditation, I became an eagle, ( highly recommend it!) and was able to look down on my life with a new perspective and clarity. Things that confused me for so long, began to make sense, and I could see the connection between the choices I had made, their consequences, and the patterns that I had been repeating. I also understood that patience and faith can be choices, but even more important, beautiful acts of self love and compassion. I realized that although I like myself, I still have a lot of work to do, to really love myself. The journey, as they say, never ends... 

It is with love and compassion that I share this story so those of you who are also struggling won't give up or lose hope. Our difficult times can be very frustrating and painful, but I urge you to keep an open mind, and have faith in yourself and your journey. The contrast in our lives can serve as a powerful catalyst for spiritual growth, which, in my experience, always comes with a beautiful gift. Whether that gift is expanding our ability to let go, forgive, or have compassion, it enriches our lives, brings us more joy, and deepens our ability to love. So, dear friends, if you are in the midst of a growth spurt, be patient and kind with yourself, stay open to what it can teach you, and believe that you will not only get through it, but reap some wonderful rewards. It seems that faith, like spring, doesn't always come when you want it but it does have the power to resurrect hope and give birth to beautiful opportunities.

from my heart to yours,

love and light,

Penny

 

Sometimes

we think we are the darkness,

the thoughts that drag us down, 

the hurts, the disappointments,

the loneliness...

but we are not..

.

We are the whispers from within,

that summon courage and strength,

we are the sun

that pushes through

on cloudy days,

we are the weathered faith 

that anchors us,

We are hope,

resurrected time and time again,

 we are not the darkness,

We, are the light,

pbowman

You Are Loved

You Are Loved

About Love

You can love someone fiercely

and they don't know it,

and you can think you're loved fiercely,

and you're not...

 you can also find happily ever after love...

 romantic love is 

something like a kaleidoscope,

beautiful, but always changing,

filtered through our minds'

triumphs and tragedies,

and often misunderstood...

but eternal love is unfiltered,

It is the pure joy, peace, and light

that lies within

our beautiful essence

that always loves us unconditionally 

even when we don't know it,

and even when we think we don't deserve it,

In case no one told you today,

you are beautiful,

and you are loved,

 just the way you are...

from my heart to yours,

love and light,

Penny B

Chasing Miracles

 

                            

The blues chased me again today,

and I was tired, so instead of running

I paused, closed my eyes

and took a deep breath...

and together, my heart and I

turned to face them,

and for awhile we listened,

their story was sad,

but it was just a story,

a story that was familiar, 

one made up to protect us,

but one that would only

keep us in the shadows

because it wasn't a true story,

  it wasn't who we were,

  or who we wanted to be,

So we thanked the blues

and turned to face the sun,

we inhaled deeply, closed our eyes,

and basked in her warmth...

and it was in that moment, 

we finally understood

we had a choice

we could focus on the blues, 

or choose the miracle,

and since the sun felt so much better,

with a sigh of relief, and some determination,

we turned our backs on the blues,

and feeling blessed, we gave thanks for the sun,

and the moon, and the stars,

and all the little miracles

we knew would be waiting for us that day...

Here's to choosing miracles... 

Sending love and light, and good vibrations,

Penny Bowman

Remembering Mac.... The Best Gifts We Can Share

 

Giving gifts at Christmas is a lovely tradition that brings a lot of joy on one day, but as I was wrapping my gifts the other night, I remembered something I wrote last year, "the best gifts are the ones we share every day, often without even knowing it," and I wondered if Mac knew...

Mac was a former neighbor of mine who recently passed away. On hearing the news, the first thing I felt was a sense of relief, thinking he would finally be at peace. Mac suffered from dementia and hearing loss, which created many challenges for him and his wife. After the initial feeling of relief, I felt sad for his wonderful wife Rose, who was a devoted caregiver and undeniable blessing in his life. Selfishly, I also felt sad because I knew I would never receive one of his big bear hugs again or feel the sense of peace I often felt when I was with him.

Mac was one of those people who had a way of making my heart feel lighter. From the moment I met him I felt a kinship, perhaps because he reminded me of my father in law, who I adored, or perhaps because he was just a very kind, intuitive man who had a gentle way about him that put me at ease. I felt seen when I was with him.

Mac was also a passionate man who openly expressed his love and admiration and for his wife Rose. She was, especially in the last few years, the wind beneath his wings, and he told me on many occasions how fortunate he felt to have her. Mac was also passionate about his beloved dogs and his vacations in Portugal, and no matter how many times he shared stories about them, it was a treat, for his enthusiasm was contagious. Being with Mac was like being showered in good energy.

Unfortunately, Mac, like so many others, has passed during a time when it is difficult to get together to pay our respects. I share this remembrance of him to express my gratitude for the blessing both he and his wife were in my life, something they most likely never realized, for they were words unspoken.

These little gifts that Mac, and all of us share everyday with friends and family and neighbors, really are the best gifts we could ever give, especially at Christmas when so many people are stressed by the season or struggling with difficult emotions. These little gifts cost nothing, but really can bring comfort and joy to hearts in need. So reach out to someone today and share your beautiful light, I guarantee it will make a difference in their day.

Finally, dear, sweet, Mac, I hope you know that even though you were not a big part of my life, when you were in it you made a big difference... just by being you. Thank you for seeing me, thank you for your kindness, gentle nature, and open heart, I felt uplifted every time we met, even when it was just in passing. My heart is so grateful for having known you, thankyou for sharing your beautiful light and reminding me how much that can mean to those we share it with. 

love and light back at you,

Penny

  

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