Gifts of Time

Gifts of Time

This year, I am feeling very grateful for the gift of time,

for I have been softened by her grace,

strengthened by her shadows,

and enriched by an appreciation

only she can bring,

thankful that my weathered heart

is now drawn to the little miracles 

 and has come to understand

 that the journey is one of love, 

grateful, that I am awakened to the beauty and richness

that we, like perfectly ripened fruit upon the vine

time does bestow...

With an inspired and grateful heart,

Happy Thanks Giving!

Penny Bowman

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...

. 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

Imagine...if You were the Love of Your Life

                                                           

 Loving Ourselves

If you were asked to give your best relationship advice, what would it be? Most experts would tell us we should work on our communication skills, but when Viola Davis was asked, her response surprised a lot of people when she said " You should be the love of your life." 

Perhaps Viola's advice was surprising because most of us were raised to believe that we should be selfless, and not only take care of others, but put them first. Prioritizing ourselves was considered selfish, so many of us turned our efforts towards pleasing others. But, what if we took Viola's advice and we were the love of our lives? What would that look like? What kind of impact might it have on the relationship we have with ourselves, and all the other people in our lives?

Making ourselves the love of our lives would, I believe impact all of our relationships positively, because it implies a level of self awareness, compassion and acceptance that most people don't enjoy, Imagine if we were loving, kind, and patient with ourselves, imagine if we supported our dreams and passions, accepted ourselves unconditionally and cultivated a deeper spiritual connection. I am sure that would influence the way we feel, what we might accomplish, and how we could love and support others. It makes perfect sense that the stronger, more accomplished and happier we are, the more compassionate and supportive we could be with others.. Everyone would benefit.

I firmly believer that we are here not only for our own personal growth, but to be a light for others. What better way to do that than by understanding and nurturing our own light, for we cannot share what we do not possess. Being the love of our own life enables us to shine in a way that not only helps us to flourish, but all the other people in our lives as well. So if you are not already the love of your life, I urge you to consider embarking on a beautiful journey of self discovery and growth. It just might be the most satisfying and empowering journey of your life.  

Shine on my friends!

Love and light,

Penny 

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