Focus

from Out With Lanterns, a daily poetry practice

Let’s try this. Tomorrow morning,
wake up and say, The sun came back!
Then brush your teeth, and when
you turn on the faucet, gasp, say,
Look! Water! Then, in the kitchen, 
marvel that there’s coffee and milk
and fresh berries. Focus on all that
is here. It’s all a miracle! 
When the dog downward dogs
in the kitchen, join her. 
Marvel at her ease, her tongue-
out yawn. Focus on what’s here, 
what's good–right here, right now. 
No fast forwarding, no dwelling,
no worrying what could go wrong. 
Focus on the gift of warm coffee,
on the light that has yet again come,
on the dog’s ever generous love.

Photo by Jonas Brief on Unsplash

This poem was inspired by a Harvard study that showed that what you focus on predicts your mental health more than what actually happens in your life. Today I choose to focus on love, sun, coffee, poems, and dogs.

Also, Only three days until the free class!

Come try a Write Club class for free, August 13th, 10AM-noon PST. You’re invited to experience this pressure-free, intimate, poetry led style of free writing in community. All you’ll need (aside from a zoom connection) is a pen, paper, a dab of courage, and an open heart. You will be led carefully and thoughtfully through two hours of writing and poetry. By the end, I can almost guarantee that you’ll feel something in you has transformed. Then, if you enjoy the class, you can snag a seat in the regular session, five week Monday class that starts August 25. Classes are capped at 7 students, so consider signing up today. Email me with interest or questions. Would love to see you!