The boys and I are home sick today - nothing serious, just a sore throat and head-cold. My heart has been racing again, too, so I’m just going to stay in today and try not to get worked up.

I think my blogging abilities may be related to my caffeine intake.

I want to write, but I can’t think of anything to say. My head’s in a kind of fog.

Writing, for me, is a lot like breathing, and I feel like I’m just holding my breath.

I have so many thoughts, but I can’t seem to put them in any kind of order.

I’ve spent some time again reading quotes, poems and writings of others. I love to do that. I don’t even know why.

It kind of gives me an insight into how other people process things and deal with the situations in their lives.

This poem, in particular, struck me:

Comes the Dawn

After awhile you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul.
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
And company doesn’t mean security.
And you begin to understand that kisses aren’t contracts
And presents aren’t promises,
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head held high and your eyes wide open.
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.
You learn to build your roads
On today because tomorrow’s ground
Is too uncertain for plans, and futures have
A way of falling down in midflight.
After awhile you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate
Your own soul, instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure,
That you really are strong.
And you really do have worth.
And you learn and learn…and you learn
With every goodbye you learn. -Veronica A. Shoffstall

This has been a learning time for me. Of course, all of life really is, but some seasons have a way of completely changing our perspective, our attitude, and our reaction to whatever situations arise.

So, I’m learning - with all the hello’s and goodbye’s, I learn.

With every high and every low, I learn. And, hopefully, my tomorrows - and the tomorrows of those around me will be different for those lessons.

Helen Keller writes: “Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.”

Learning, growing, and becoming more content in whatever season I’m in is a major part of my personal journey, especially lately.

So, here’s to learning, changing, growing…and remembering to breathe. More peace and contentment can come with every breath.

Just breathe.

Peace.