Saturday Muses in Meat Camp

Today, like many of you, I'm dealing with feelings I'd rather not be dealing with.

Anger.  Sadness.  Confusion.  Fear.  

Usually I am able to write out my feelings.  Not necessarily to share with anyone other than myself, but a way to sort of connect the dots of my brain, my heart, and my soul in an attempt to get them all on the same wavelength.

Right now that's just not working out for me.  I'm struggling with expressing all this.

So I'm seeking expression from other outlets.  

As I struggle I embrace "home."

My home is, and has always been, my sanctuary.  Even back when I was young, divorced, poor, working two jobs, living payday to payday in a small apartment by myself.  Make no mistake - these were, honestly, happy years.  But more about all that at a later date . . . 😊

Home - Sanctuary

 Now more than ever.

If my tendencies toward reclusiveness take that turn into agoraphobia, it'll be now.  It could happen.

And, sometimes a picture truly is worth a thousand words.

 

And a little meme or two can sum it up, for me, quite nicely.

I refer to home as my nest, and I feather it with pretties.

and books (and stuff)

It's where Donald brings me little treasures.

It's where I dream.

It's where my heart lives.

It's where I can wear any hat I choose

It's where I remind myself to stand up straight, remember who raised me and start quoting, aloud, important life lessons

And remember to take breaks from life to feed my soul.

Today I'm choosing to feed my soul with beauty.

With the beauty of images and the beauty of words.  Art, music, poetry - you know - the important stuff.

I hope you all are doing a little of the same.

Take good care of yourself.

* * *

Ithaka

When you set out for Ithaka
ask that your way be long,
full of adventure, full of instruction.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
such as these you will never find
as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare
emotion touch your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - you will not meet them
unless you carry them in your soul,
unless your soul raise them up before you.

Ask that your way be long.
At many a Summer dawn to enter
with what gratitude, what joy -
ports seen for the first time;
to stop at Phoenician trading centres,
and to buy good merchandise,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensuous perfumes of every kind,
sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;
to visit many Egyptian cities,
to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.

Have Ithaka always in your mind.
Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
But don't in the least hurry the journey.
Better it last for years,
so that when you reach the island you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.
Ithaka gave you a splendid journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn't anything else to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what these Ithakas mean.

         - - - Constantine P. Cavafy