Starry, starry night with a beautiful, full moon lighting up the dark winter night. Snow-laden branches climbing high up to the sky complete this picture postcard scene.
I look around and slowly take in all this natural beauty . Not too long ago the holiday season was one of great dread because of all the personal tragedies I've experienced. For years I avoided things like holiday decorations, making favorite dishes and even certain people during this holiday season.
Things are different now. I'm blessed to have family and friends who encouraged me each year to do as much as I felt comfortable with during the holiday season. This year I'm happy to say that I finally put up a Christmas tree and hung decorations. Grief didn't immobilize me for days on end because I took solace in the fact that my loved ones would want to see me enjoying my life, not avoiding it. I admit I cried a couple times and will probably cry some more before New Year's Day. But they're tears of precious memories which often bring joy.
I looked up at the sky again, closed my eyes and prayed for those holding the hand of a loved one lying sick in a hospital bed hoping for a miracle. I also prayed for the souls of the ones who left home and died today. My heart goes out to those who mourn that special person who's not there to make their signature holiday dish or tell the same joke one more time.
I hope the ones who are hurting find peace soon. Just take a deep breath and look at the beautiful stillness of a starry, starry sky. Hold tightly to faith's unchanging hand whenever you feel weak.
Marcie Eanes is a published poet whose book entitled Sensual Sounds is available at http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
To Much Is Given, Much Is Expected
I wasn't raised to rest on my success. Growing up with parents who expected much, I always know there's always something else to do. Since publishing Sensual Sounds last year, I've been hard at work.
I love the title of my next project, Passion's Embrace. The cover, which I can't wait to share with everyone,is a painting I fell in love with years ago by a very talented artist, Wendy Washington Quarker. That cover sits alongside the original picture used for Sensual Sounds. Both are beautiful reminders to not rest on one's laurels.
The content is another story. After talks with writers and friends, my plan was to use work which didn't make it into Sensual Sounds. Some are signature poems performed on various stages around the country. I've spent countless hours writing and getting feedback on new pieces since completing the manuscript for Sensual Sounds a couple of years ago.
But a funny thing happened within the last 24 hours. First, I finally found an essay I wrote for Seventeen magazine in August, 1982. Entitled "How I Became the 'New' Marcie", I talked about how I lost 128 lbs. during my senior year in high school.
My niece, Marlena, asked to see the article two months ago. I hadn't seen it since moving from Los Angeles nearly three years ago and feared I accidently threw it out. But there it was, along with other clippings from my days as a newspaper reporter at the Grand Rapids Press, Racine Journal Times along with those from Essence magazine.
Re-reading my first piece brought back so many memories. I was a journalism sophmore at Marquette University when I sold this piece to Seventeen. This was my first attempt at freelance writing.
As if this walk down memory lane wasn't enough, my dear friend Antonio, called just as I finished reading the last word of what 20 year-old Marcie had written about herself. Giddy with excitement about finding these gems, I told him about my discovery. We laughed before he thoughtfully mentioned how writing from my heart is such an important gift in this day and time. He added my next project should reflect hope.
So what does this have to do with Passion's Embrace? Stay tuned. As I said to Antonio, I'm mulling over everything he said to me. Essays, poetry, both? Don't know. But rest assured, I'm not going to waste my talent. Or sit still.
Sensual Sounds is available on http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/
I love the title of my next project, Passion's Embrace. The cover, which I can't wait to share with everyone,is a painting I fell in love with years ago by a very talented artist, Wendy Washington Quarker. That cover sits alongside the original picture used for Sensual Sounds. Both are beautiful reminders to not rest on one's laurels.
The content is another story. After talks with writers and friends, my plan was to use work which didn't make it into Sensual Sounds. Some are signature poems performed on various stages around the country. I've spent countless hours writing and getting feedback on new pieces since completing the manuscript for Sensual Sounds a couple of years ago.
But a funny thing happened within the last 24 hours. First, I finally found an essay I wrote for Seventeen magazine in August, 1982. Entitled "How I Became the 'New' Marcie", I talked about how I lost 128 lbs. during my senior year in high school.
My niece, Marlena, asked to see the article two months ago. I hadn't seen it since moving from Los Angeles nearly three years ago and feared I accidently threw it out. But there it was, along with other clippings from my days as a newspaper reporter at the Grand Rapids Press, Racine Journal Times along with those from Essence magazine.
Re-reading my first piece brought back so many memories. I was a journalism sophmore at Marquette University when I sold this piece to Seventeen. This was my first attempt at freelance writing.
As if this walk down memory lane wasn't enough, my dear friend Antonio, called just as I finished reading the last word of what 20 year-old Marcie had written about herself. Giddy with excitement about finding these gems, I told him about my discovery. We laughed before he thoughtfully mentioned how writing from my heart is such an important gift in this day and time. He added my next project should reflect hope.
So what does this have to do with Passion's Embrace? Stay tuned. As I said to Antonio, I'm mulling over everything he said to me. Essays, poetry, both? Don't know. But rest assured, I'm not going to waste my talent. Or sit still.
Sensual Sounds is available on http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Happy Holidays! Take Care!
I find myself watching so many people struggling as the holiday season kicks into high gear. Some are facing serious financial difficulties. Or seeing relatives cause more stress than joy. Those happy holiday families depicted in movies bring more pressure to pretend that all's well when it isn't.
There's no easy answers. But the best ones come when you tell yourself the truth. Admit to loved ones that all those gifts are draining you dry. Your confession might be the one needed to bring about different traditions like gift grabs or give homemade gifts.
The same holds true for family. What's the point of going to these get-togethers when all it does is leave you stressed out and frazzled? Or enduring endless questions of why you're single. The time to devise a sane, coping strategy is now. Maybe it's time to cut back on the number of hours spent together. If you're single, begin your own traditions with a mix of old and new.
The same holds true with those grieving. Allow yourself to do as much as you're mentally able to handle. It's okay to cry while remembering that missing loved one. For example, if decoring the house is too overwhelming, find another way to celebrate like listening to favorite music. Try not to isolate yourself. Doing so could lead to deeper depression.
Celebrate where you are right now. There's so many experiences waiting to be enjoyed once you let go of holiday perfection. Treat yourself tenderly and lovingly every day during the holiday season. The lightness might be contageous.
There's no easy answers. But the best ones come when you tell yourself the truth. Admit to loved ones that all those gifts are draining you dry. Your confession might be the one needed to bring about different traditions like gift grabs or give homemade gifts.
The same holds true for family. What's the point of going to these get-togethers when all it does is leave you stressed out and frazzled? Or enduring endless questions of why you're single. The time to devise a sane, coping strategy is now. Maybe it's time to cut back on the number of hours spent together. If you're single, begin your own traditions with a mix of old and new.
The same holds true with those grieving. Allow yourself to do as much as you're mentally able to handle. It's okay to cry while remembering that missing loved one. For example, if decoring the house is too overwhelming, find another way to celebrate like listening to favorite music. Try not to isolate yourself. Doing so could lead to deeper depression.
Celebrate where you are right now. There's so many experiences waiting to be enjoyed once you let go of holiday perfection. Treat yourself tenderly and lovingly every day during the holiday season. The lightness might be contageous.
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