Welcome to Morning Passage
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began.
Mary Oliver
Why is beginning so hard? Why is starting something so difficult? I know what I have to do. Well, not exactly what I have to do, but I know I need to begin, because I have a suspicion that until I start, the rest of the puzzle won’t come together for me. Until I stop making excuses, quiet the doubts, and put myself out there, I will not be able to continue my journey. Right now Inspiration has found me. She has taken her long, lovely fingers, laid them on my shoulders, and ever so gently, shaken me awake. It is time for me to respond.
So I am answering her call, with much fear and insecurity, but I must do it. I have lessons to live and to share, and I must trust that they might be worthwhile to someone, somewhere, even if I’m not sure that I completely believe that right now.
We live in a society that focuses on a busy kind of doing; the belief that we must fill our time with something. When I stopped homeschooling my children, the question everyone asked was, “What will you do now?” But I didn’t want to “do” just anything now. I had been “doing” my whole life, and I didn’t want to “do” anymore. Of course, I was still taking care of my family and home, so, in reality, I was very busy. But the underlying message was that that was not enough.
So I have been on a journey; one of acceptance, discovery, and love. Recently, Inspiration sidled up to me along the way, put her arm through mine, and whispered, “Maybe other people are on the same journey. Maybe, if you take the scary step of sharing your story, they will want to join you. Maybe someone can learn from what you have culled together up until this point and moving forward.” So I turned to Inspiration, and with a hesitant smile said, “Okay. I will try.”
Here I am, trying. Morning Passage is my effort to reach out to others who are also in a transition, looking for more meaning, tired of “doing.” Others who also want to wake with a secret smile in their hearts because of the wonders that await them; who want to burst through their days with love and flow and energy; who want to sink into their beds at night, exhausted, and sigh a deep soul-sigh knowing that they filled their days with intention, meaning, and connection.
Why “Morning Passage”? “Morning” because it is then that I am at my most spiritual and creative. The house is quiet, the night still lingers, and a magical quality enfolds me. This is the best time for me to connect with God and my inner-self. The word “passage” has several meanings that speak to me:
- a road, path, channel, or course by which something passes;
- the action or process of passing from one place, condition, or stage to another;
- death;
- a continuous movement or flow. (Taken from Merriam-Webster.)
Everything about that definition applies to my circumstances: a path I am undertaking; the action of moving from one stage of my life to another; the act of dying to parts of myself so that others may grow; and, most attractive of all to me, the continuous flow, the movement, the verb.
Thank you for coming along with me on this journey. Please chime in at anytime with thoughts, ideas, or beliefs that you might have and feel comfortable sharing. Before I sign off I would like to include Mary Oliver’s complete poem “The Journey.”
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.
Let’s begin . . .
Thank you so much for being so vulnerable! This resonates so much!! Beautiful blog and pictures — very soothing.
Thank you very much, Susan! I’m so glad it resonates with you. And thank you for all of your love and support!!
Of course! xo
What a beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I look forward to reading more
I know, I love this poem! Her work is just beautiful. Thank you for reading my post, Sabrina!
This is such a beautiful post. I absolutely loved reading it. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Emma! You are so kind to comment. Love you!
Wonderful! I love reading your words. They are always touching and meaningful.
Thank you so much, Anne! That means a great deal to me.
This is so beautiful and I am excited to watch you along your journey! 💛
Thank you so much, Chelsey! I really appreciate you taking the time to read it!
Sweet thing. Thank you. Yes. A big, fat, juicy, full of Inspiration YES! The stars are beginning to burn…
Love your words, Jill!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Waking with a secret smile and ending the day with a soul sigh. That is everything, Muffet. If I can replace my measuring stick of ‘doing’ with those two experiences, I will be transformed. Thank you for answering the call.
Thank YOU for your lovely comment, Marilyn! Thank you too for the many conversations we have had that have helped me arrive here.
Mufffet,
This is truly beautiful! I, too, find mornings the best time . I wake up with so many ideas and things to do . The time we are in right now is definitely a time for reflection and perseverance. Keep the good word coming!
Remember those wonderful walks on the beach at dawn. Those inspired me.
Love you
Thank you so much, Arlene! Yes — I love those early morning walks on the beach when you and I would sneak VERY quietly out with our cup of coffee so as not to wake any little people! Those definitely inspired me as well. Thank you for reading! Love you too!
Gorgeous beginning to a thrilling experience. I love this and look forward to reading so many more!
Thank you so much, Sally — I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Oh how I love this! I share many of these thoughts and am overjoyed you are providing some guidance for others on their path. With all my kids going into elementary school next year I have heard the dreaded “What are you going to do now?” phrase far too much. Sometimes I have an urge to fill the time and make myself busy but when I am able to sit with it I know that isn’t whats best. Thanks for sharing and I am excited to follow <3
Thank you for your comment, Michelle! Those feelings are what I tried to sit with — sometimes successfully, sometimes not so successfully — for over a year before I finally started to write them all down. Then I wondered if others were feeling the same way and started the blog to share — so I really appreciate that you shared with me that you too go through this!
This is beautiful and exciting! I can’t wait to see where this creativity takes you. I AM one of those who wants “to sink into their beds at night, exhausted, and sigh a deep soul-sigh knowing that they filled their days with intention, meaning, and connection.” Wonderful!
RUTH!!! Thank you so much for coming, reading, and commenting! I’m so happy to hear from you! Yes, those soul-sighs feel so good, don’t they? And, I find, they are a bit hard to come by — but a wonderful goal to have!