April Flourish & Flow

Notes on creativity, connection, and seasonal wisdom

“Poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence." -Audre Lorde

Happy April, friend.

Spring is bursting throughout North Carolina—shades of lilac, hot pink, bright green, sunny oranges, and mellow yellows.

It comes in with just enough rain to wash away the throat-choking pollen for a few hours.

It comes in with a whisper of new energy, new people, new places, and new projects.

I’m trying to hold everything gratefully, but carefully.

Because I also know the state of our inner and outer worlds can often feel like too much.

Wherever you are, I hope these words can offer a few minutes of comfort and peace.

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Creativity & Connection

It’s National Poetry Month—and while I had every intention of rounding up all my favorite poetry books and links and quotes, alas, it didn’t happen.

So, here’s a short list of poets that I’ve been reading over the last year.

• Victoria Erickson (I consider her a mentor and am grateful to know her).

• Yung Pueblo

• Rupi Kaur

• Amanda Lovelace

• Mary Oliver

• Maggie Smith

I wrote a poem called, “The Sludge” in class the other day.

What I love about poetry is the exploration of all the tiny pockets of my heart, mind, and soul.

I had to move through the sludge
it wouldn't budge
encircling me,
suffocating me,
squeezing the life out of me.

So insidious,
so sneaky,
so not obvious
to anyone who looked at me.

My insides, a cauldron of
chaos,
panic,
doubts.

The only thing that saved me,
kept me alive,
kept me going,
was slowly stirring the sludge 
with my wooden spoon of
joy.

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Practical-ish Magic

Well, I don’t know if this is magical or not, but I’m truly digging my new walking pad—it’s like a mini treadmill.

I’m a huge fan of walking, but I’m not always able to pop outside for a jaunt around the block.

Because I’ve declared spring as my radical self-health-care season, I need to keep things easy and accessible.

I’m trying to walk after most meals.

I’m walking as a moving meditation.

I’m walking and watching “Derry Girls” episodes for the 62nd time.

I’m walking because the practical-ish magic of moving my body makes me feel good.

And that’s enough.

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Rituals & Rhythms

To celebrate National Poetry Month and my love of haiku poems, I’m (gently) challenging you to write a few haikus this month.

Why? They’re a simple and creative practice that can be done in under five minutes.

A haiku, originally from Japan, is a short three-line poem that traditionally follows a 5-7-5 syllable pattern (5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 in the third).

I’m sure there are “Haiku Rules” out there, but, as my teen son likes to say, “It’s not that deep, bro.” (bless)

Need help getting started?

Here’s a list of inspirational spring words perfect for us midlife people:

• Renewal

• Bloom

• Awakening

• Unfurling

• Emergence

• Roots

• Wisdom

• Patience

• Metamorphosis

• Release

• Clarity

• Rebirth

• Breath

• Sunlight

• Softening

• Rhythm

• Nourish

• Flow

If you write one, I’d love to read it.

Staying creative during midlife, with all its ups and downs and all-arounds, is vital.

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Wishing you a vibrant April,

Vanessa 🦋