Here.
Laundry is being folded and the last 
remnants of the holy days are placed
gently into boxes.

Here.
I bring the fresh from the dryer sheets
to my nose and inhale their warmth. 
It's time for a cup of tea

Here. 
I listen as the water begins it's climb to boil
I move to the window and watch my son smash 
a geode with a hammer.  'Eureka!'  He's discovered 
the crystals hidden within.
I feel my smile touch my eyes.

Here.
A warm cup in hand, I step out onto my front 
porch. The swing invites me to sit for a minute 
despite the cold.  I breath in the crisp January air 
and shiver a little as it chills my skin.

I am here.

                                        *************

Happy New Year.  As the light has been growing stronger since the Winter Solstice, I find words are starting to come out of me begging to be shared.  I thought I'd start by sharing a few poem notes, a practice I learned from one of my favorite self exploration tools, Inner Excavation, by the lovely Liz Lamoreux).  Some of these scribbles from my personal journal are bits of writing I thought to explore deeper and some of them I have, but others remain as little glimpses of witnessing a day, an hour or a moment  in my life using the simple prompt 'here'.  I'm finding this practice very supportive as I work through my hopes and dreams for this new year.