Summer Returns

Life returns as the baby bluebirds start to emerge from their nest.

Lessons from the Backyard – Taking Flight Again

Life begins again – look closely you might see our newest additions to the backyard “Baby Bluebirds”

It has been a long time since I have felt the energy to create for the Backyard. It was not for a lack of desire to write, photograph, or create this dream – but – instead a life that got in the way – to keep going – trying to look and feel normal. Is it a lack of strength? A lack of creativity and smarts? What made being in the backyard and making my paradise a reality such a burden? I am not sure that I can answer that question yet beyond the label of living with a chronic disease full of daily medicines and brutal fatigue.

My hope instead as the summer tiptoes slowly (I hope) is to find a peaceful place where I can accept that the doctors can’t heal me and that I can learn to love and appreciate my body. I will putter around the backyard in the gardens – with the animals – cook some healthy meals (a new goal) and learn what I need to help my body find harmony in being. I love to write and share, so I hope some will find these thoughts and experiences, projects or recipes fun as we journey together in a world of unknowns. In a world where doctors are not sure what or why our bodies betray us – saddened that their schooling doesn’t have the answers to cure us or even answer our questions. Instead, we must take a hopeful path forward. To those out there with a chronic illness or the imaginary autoimmune that dodges all tests, we must travel this journey together.

Today, I am starting anew. I walked my backyard (a little in the front too) and started with my grateful moments. A wonderful family of humans and pets, nature’s miracles all around me, the sounds and smells of life with the sounds of the bluebird babies chirping for food ran through my head. Below are some things that caught my eye today as I walked. Be – I told myself; Be here – not in your fears, thoughts or what must be done but just be. Hear the wind through the trees and the girls calling you to come back to the coop. Just BE. Today, I urge us all to be where we are – give yourself a moment to just breathe in the air around, and be mindful of the nature around you that is springing to life – A life that we so desperately want to have spring inside of us. Until the next post – I hope not too long – be well.

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Life is all around us waiting to give us strength – we just have to stop and look around to see – to know you are not alone in this journey called life.