There’s a dog sitting on my head when I wake. Maya must have been scared by the wind in the night but it’s calm outside our window now. It’s about 4:30 and starting to get light. There’s light cloud cover and not the oppressive gray we’ve been under for days. We haven’t had summer yet—or not the summer we’re used to around here. Two days ago we enjoyed the coldest Canada Day in recorded history.
Gerry’s bundling up and going fishing this morning. I’m not sure how I’ll fill my time. Painting. Writing. Gardening. Photography. Reading. There are plenty of options. There’s no reason to be bored.
A couple of writing projects are calling. I pulled out multi-coloured index cards yesterday to do some planning and outlining. We’ll see where it takes me. Some shorter work too. And book work, as The Presence of Absence makes its way out in the world. One thing’s for certain. I won’t spend any time on the deck with a book—it’s far too cool for that.
I set some intentions a week or so ago, needing to do something about the low grade depression I felt myself falling Into. They’re helping. On the outside they don’t look like much but, for now, they are part of my better work.
Gradually, you will return to yourself,
Having learned a new respect for your heart
And the joy that dwells far within slow time.
John O’Donohue, For One Who Is Exhausted: A Blessing
