Reflections from the Red Kayak
The shore was kissed, by sea and mist, tenderly…
The picture below I call a snow flower. Little branches of a tree on a shore, its sharp edges are softly covered by mist in a shimmering glow of snow and ice. One of nature’s beautiful creations. Slowly, gently, tenderly, winter is lapping upon our shore.
Last year, I shared with you my red ornament of TRUTH, my word for the year and “To thine own self be true, in 2-0-2-2” as my mantra. Many of you shared pictures of your red ornaments on your tree, and I was touched that the red ornament caused you to pause and maybe think of your TRUTH, if even for a brief decorating moment. A friend in Michigan sent me a hand painted piece that read, T-R-U-T-H – Travels Right Under The Heavens. What a beautiful thought for us all, traveling with our TRUTH!
As I continue to work on my forthcoming book, Paddlin’ with Thoreau… my life was blessed and filled with many adventures following in his footsteps. I took personal journeys hiking his mountains in New England, culminating with the summit of Mt. Katahdin, the highest mountain in Maine with Dee in June. A trek with Dee and Joan to Highland Lighthouse on Cape Cod, where he stayed, climbing to the top of it to gain his perspective. Paddling his rivers in Concord. An overnight stay at Camp 19, a small 10’ x 12’ cabin in the woods owned by my friends Sandy and Parker. Parker built the cabin and after my stay there, I dubbed it “My Walden without the Pond.” It was fulfilling for me to experience many of the places and similar experiences of Thoreau. A man who was true to himself.
I paddled some new northwoods lakes and I was also back in retreat mode, facilitating two kayaking retreats this summer in collaboration with the Marywood Spirituality Center. I am doing a talk there In February on Thoreau and how he found his spirituality in nature. Two more retreats are planned for cancer survivors and their caregivers next summer. Those retreats are fulfilling for everyone in so many ways, and I am grateful that the opportunity to bring value has again landed on my shore. My family is good, my home in the northwoods is complete and there has been more time for writing in between the adventures. Stand by for the book…
As I write this newsletter, I am listening to Choir! Choir! Choir! with Rufus Wainwright, singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. I am Polish. We are a people who find meaning in melancholy. If you’ve never watched it, take six minutes and do so. It is powerful and I purposely wanted to listen to this because it makes me cry. That may sound strange to you, but to watch this YouTube of 1,500 people of all ages, races, sizes and shapes, singing together, breaks my heart. Not in a sad way, but breaks it open to tenderness. Everyone singing with one UNIVERSAL voice. Imagine that. The song takes us through brokenness to finding peace. It helps me to return to tenderness, because I worry sometimes that with all the brokenness in the world, my heart becomes hardened to the continued casualties of what we are doing. I do not want to lose the compassion and empathy that I have worked so hard to embrace in my life. We are all responsible for our part in ignoring how fragile our world really is. Our lives can change in an instant and we are reminded how fragile we all are. Life is fleeting. Every moment matters.
Which brings me to my word for 2023 – TENDERNESS. I decided that I need to focus on this. Beyond gentleness, deeper than kindness, lies TENDERNESS. The world has become a harsh and abrasive place. The news media is relentness in the negative broadcasting. Why, when there is so much good in the world that can be focused on? In order to soften my place in it, I need to soften my heart. I’m not a big poetry reader, but this fall I read this beautiful, gentle, poem by Mary Oliver. “In the deep fall, don’t you imagine the leaves think how comfortable it will be to touch the earth, instead of the nothingness of air and the endless freshets of wind?” What a tender way to look at the shifting of the seasons. Reading it helped to soften me.
In addition to a word, I create a phrase as my guidepost to rhyme with the year. In keeping with my word TENDERNESS, I will be “Paddlin’ on tenderly, in 2-0-2-3.” I think it will be a great reminder for me to softly touch everything with TENDERNESS. Like the little snow flower, softly touched by the frosty mist.
Please join me on the path of tenderness this coming year. Let’s all begin together, to be mindful about each thought, each word, each touch, each action. We can make a difference. Have a wonderful holiday season and New Year. Keep paddlin’ on…tenderly…
Mar
Hi Mar,
What a great read!!! The message this year is most appropriate for me as I struggle with my mom’s dementia. It is so difficult to see this abrasive nature in her right now. So I will take you “word” to heart and remember that tenderness is the way.
Merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy 2023!
Nina