well.balanced.

photo by Danielle Thompson

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty,
to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lately, despite life's general chaos, I feel quite balanced.

Success to all. 

xoxo

BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS: Kahlil Gibran

"We live only to discover beauty. All else is a form of waiting." 

-from a bench at the Kahlil Gibran Memorial 

"People...beauty is life when life unveils her holy face.
But you are life and you are the veil.
Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror. 
But you are eternity and you are the mirror."

-excerpted from "On Beauty" Kahlil Gibran 

KARMIC GOODIES: GUERILLA POETICS PROJECT

Preamble: Wow wow, I was actually featured on KIND OVER MATTER with a thank you about my last post!!
For some reason, that I am sure many of you bloggers understand, I was elated to see my banner up there and realized that was what spreading kindness is all about, giving and receiving thanks...and passing it on!

So, while perusing through my new favorite blog, I clicked the link and found another inspiring collective project: GUERILLA POETICS PROJECT  . In short, GPP is about redefining marketing and spreading poetry in sweetly subversive ways!! I love how they describe the concept here! The designs are also intriguing-- I love the mixture of DIY craft, art card, and poetry!!

I found this one so powerful! By Charles P. Ries 

To everyone out there spreading positive energy, love, art, and all around goodness and inspiration: YOU ROCK!! (and you are APPRECIATED!)

POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY!

HAPPY POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY!!!

For more information check here and here! 

One of the beautiful aspects of my school is the work that our amazing poetry teacher puts into "Poem in Your Pocket Day". I look forward to this every year because kids walk around the school with baskets handing out poems, post them all over, and go into classrooms to read and run poetry activities. So, in homage, here is the six-word self-poem I wrote for one of the activities:

Mercury and moon danced feverishly infinitely

And another I wrote inspired by my students and the event:

"We Become"

Those who can't

Don't

Those who teach

Learn

Open up their hearts

And let the voices of the youth

Permeate 

Grow

Become

That is what I do

Observe

Listen

Lead

The beaten path

Made fresh again

For tomorrow to

Beat

Again

And beat again

My heart

it led me here

to witness

and 

become

Through you 

I grow

so full i sometimes have to

close my eyes

and

listen

Those who can teach

Can

Those who can give

Give

And the future

we will get

I watch you shine

And I become 

you become

And I shine

Beat

Beat

Beat your drum

My soul will hear it

I listen

and

we become.

I am not much of a poem writer so I love doses of inspiration that drive me to express!! There is so much I could add here because I have so many favorites by others, but I would rather read your poems!! Please  share!