Skywatch Friday: same sky-same mind

To my loyal, kind, and patient blog readers,

Please forgive me. I have been absolutely horrid about responding to comments lately...my excuses being icky, overwhelming MS fatigue and gathering inner storm clouds (...feeling dramatic, dark, dreary...you know, like February on the inside). The extremely good news is the latest MRI I had last Friday did not show significant changes in my brain or cervical spine, so it must have just been the little virus I had a few weeks ago that confused my immune system and sent me reeling backwards a bit. My speech is extra odd, with "th" replacing "s" and "r" but a memory. Add to that a slightly nasal quality...and well, it is NOT my favorite of the various vocal patterns that have been passing through my voice since November. Although this would likely sound adorable coming from the mouth of a four or five year old child, it doesn't sound so cute coming from a 44 year old woman. It's frustrating when I know people don't understand everything I am saying, and I have to repeat myself...and damn it, I just don't like the way I sound. This whole MS business is like some twisted "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" thing. How's that for HONEST blogging? It's a lot to adjust to, and just when I think I've adjusted it changes again...but that does make life interesting. Ok, got that off my heart. More about this in a sec, from a kinder, gentler more contemplative perspective.

I want all of you to know that I do read and appreciate every single comment you leave. Please, please keep them coming if you feel called to do so...I love feeling connected to all of you through this miraculous world wide web of community. God willing I will feel more energized soon, and will spend more time visiting your blogs, returning emails and catching up with what is happening in all of your lives.

Onto today's entry...

I thought I'd give Skywatch Friday a try since it works so well with today's post.

Welcome to my internet lair if you haven't been to Shine the Divine before.
And if you are new to Skywatch Friday (like me) please click on the link and check out the exquisite photos of other participants, you'll be so glad you did :)

Looking out a window and into the sky is a lot like looking into my mind.

The very same sky/mind witnessed from a different window offers a new perspective.

Is it all real and true in the moment of perception?

One could say "It is what it is." And perhaps that's real & true right then and there, but what about right here and now? Is becomes was the second I notice time has passed.

The moment to moment shifts can be rather subtle. Often, close observation and a longer span of time are needed to see the variations that have been constant all along. Like the movement of clouds and light across the sky, the mind is in a continuous state of change. Even when one is feeling "stuck" in a mind pattern, a habit or feeling state such as sadness, grief, loneliness, longing or fear...these emotions do fluctuate. Photography, meditation, and journaling on this blog help me to see these ever present shifts, awakening me to the knowledge that I am NOT stuck, not really.

For many people change is scary for others it evokes freedom or curiosity about what's next. For me, I think I would check D, all of the above. What about you? I'd love to read your thoughts in the comments below.

gentle steps,
Laura

*A special thanks to my dear friend Barbara for allowing me to shoot these photos from her kitchen. They were all taken on the same afternoon, through two different windows.