Carol is gathering Spiritual Journey posts today around the topic Blossoms of Joy. When I first typed it, I wrote “Blossoming Joy,” which slightly changes the blossoms into action. I have come to believe that we are all in the process of blossoming. We never arrive because life is hard and good and disappointing and joyful all wrapped up on any given day.
I’ve been listening to Untamed by Glennon Doyle. It’s a book full of quotable quotes. This is one that spoke to me.
“I am here to keep becoming truer, more beautiful versions of myself again and again forever. To be alive is to be in a perpetual state of revolution. Whether I like it or not, pain is the fuel of revolution. Everything I need to become the woman I’m meant to be next is inside my feelings of now. Life is alchemy, and emotions are the fire that turns me to gold. I will continue to become only if I resist extinguishing myself a million times a day. If I can sit in the fire of my own feelings, I will keep becoming.”
― Glennon Doyle, Untamed
My spiritual journey is the alchemy that keeps me blossoming. I’m in a constant revolution with my inner and outer selves. Outside I want to show I’ve got everything under control. No rocky roads here. Smooth sailing. I know what I am doing, and I am doing it.
Practically every day, someone in the halls will comment about my appearance. Whether it’s the cute Dr. Seuss “Teacher, I am!” mask or the shoes I’m wearing, someone will say something. I know. I know. This is how women interact. I find myself doing it every day.
In fact, one day a little kindergarten girl was rushing in the hallway. She said, “I have to go to the bathroom,” and rushed by me. Then I heard from her little sweet voice, “But I love your hair!”
Perhaps she genuinely had noticed and liked my hair. But it struck me that even our young girls are trained to greet another girl with a compliment about her looks.
I’m not saying this practice is one I would change so much as notice. Our society trains girls at a very young age that how you look matters. Is this healthy?
Lucille Clifton is one of my favorite poets. Years ago I had the privilege of hearing her read at the Dodge Poetry Festival. Her poem “roots” was the poem of the month for A Network of Grateful Living. I loved the voice and cadence so much that I wrote beside her. Literally placed the poem on a document and wrote my own beside her. Glennon’s words and my own inner thoughts led me to this poem.
wings
call it fire even,
call it anything.
it’s the desire in usto fly.
we hold our hands
above our heads
and call them
branches,
and grow on them.
we flutter them and make melodies.
call them stories, wild stories.
we are lost in the cumulonimbus
field of clouds.
call it lightning,
our flames.
call it wings.
it’s the wild in us.
it’s the wild of us.
it is the wild, call it
whatever you want to.
call it blossoming.
Margaret Simon, after Lucille Clifton
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret… what a beautiful post! The quote speaks to me also… as did some friends yesterday, echoing a similar thread. Our insides and our outsides do not always coincide, and for me there is always tension there. And challenge. What a good quote to ponder! And your poem is lovely… call is blossoming. I love it! Thank you… you have helped my day to bloom.
Margaret, your comments blossom within a revolution of thoughts. I am enamored by how you crafted this post, using a strong verb to unfold like a flower, peel away the edges of self, and see within. You provide me with much to think about. Thank you.
Margaret, I love the premise that we’re all in the process of blossoming. Glennon Doyle’s quote is packed with words to remember. Her book has finally come to the top of my holds stack and is waiting for me at the library. Thanks for a beautiful poem and for your musings about bodies and our appearance.
Amen. What a lovely post…and Lucille Clifton. I’m new to discovering her but every time someone spotlights her I grow more in love with her. What a beautiful conversation you have with her and shared with us. I like the “call it” repetition and the acknowledgement of the wild. Yes to it all.
Your post is so full of power, Margaret – from the constant state of blossoming to the alchemy. We ARE in a constant state of transformation and becoming. Your poem is absolutely stunning – the desire to fly, the repetition of ‘wild,” and stories – yes! We are our stories.
Agree… We never arrive because life is hard and good and disappointing and joyful all wrapped up on any given day !! I also thought it was interesting that we have been conditioned to reflect on someone’s looks or what they are wearing. Great noticing…. haven’t noticed this as much because my year has been so small and at home, but how true it is! XO
Wow, this is just a wonderful post. Here’s to blossoming! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Your post reminded me that the moments when I have felt closest to people are when we are sharing our struggles. I don’t know why we all put on a “perfect face.” I don’t think it helps any of us.
We all mean well but deeper connection comes from deeper and real conversations.
I was holding my breath as I read your poem, letting out an “oh” when it was done. “we hold our hands/ above our heads/ and call them/ branches,/ and grow on them.” to me was an image of supplication and praise, of reaching out for Divine assistance/ inspiration and gratitude. I am a huge fan of A Network for Grateful Living; their emails inspire me every week!
Margaret,
Your poem is stunning and I’m grateful for your decision to craft short lines. As I was reading your musings, I was reminded of the Matthew West song, “Truth Be Told.” There’s a part that goes:
“Truth be told
The truth is rarely told, now
I say I’m fine, yeah I’m fine oh I’m fine, hey I’m fine but I’m not
I’m broken”
Thanks for telling the truth in your writing and your poetry. Always.
xo,
ruth
Your poem knocked me over. What a gorgeous post.
I call the word change to blossoming serendipitous. I have been struggling a little with my age and needed to read this, needed to believe that I am still blossoming!
What a beautiful message!
Wow, Margaret! Your whole post is so powerful and thought provoking. This quote “I will continue to become only if I resist extinguishing myself a million times a day.” makes me think how sometimes I am my own worst enemy putting myself down because I have depression and anxiety. I have to remember depression is a disease and the chemicals I lack in my brain are not my fault.
Your post also make me think of my daughters, who are 21 and 23. I’ve always taught them to be empathetic and caring of other people, but recently I have had to remind my oldest, “Don’t forget about yourself. You need to please yourself.”
Your post also made me me think of when I taught reading in a inner city School district. My students didn’t have a lot of anything. I gave them compliments to uplift them, to see their eyes shine.
Your poem is amazing! I especially love, “we are lost in the cumulonimbus
field of clouds,” “it is the wild,” and “call it blossoming.” Thank you for sharing! I was wondering if I could make a copy of your poem with your name to put in my binder to use as a mentor poem for myself?
Of course you can print my poem. I’m glad it inspired you. We do need to nurture ourselves. Who else will do it if we don’t?
Thank you and you are right.