Day 311...

Allow me to direct your attention...here.

Day sixty-six - I love...four seasons

One of my personal favourites from my poetry collection Three Thousand Doors:

Four Seasons

I should take the time to

go back to California in the spring...

the orange groves

full of intoxicating 

citrus blossoms

the air laced

with warm promise.

I should make a point to

be in Washington in autumn...

walk through the orchards

at picking time, 

the heady scent of apples

hanging in the air like ornaments.

I should go back to

New Orleans in the summer...

Sultry mists form a steamy shawl

wrapped 'round my arms, 

and warm wind settles in

among the swamps, 

hangs softly; drips

like Spanish moss.

I should be in Kentucky

in the winter...

where snowflakes fat as fists

fall softly from the sky

creating mounds of white divinity

to be razed by tentative footprints.

Day twenty-nine - I love...branches of TIL

As you know, this daily was inspired by two people. Stephan's Thing a Day Project and Tanya's Things I love in 400 words blog post.

What makes me incredibly happy is that within the first couple weeks of starting my project, three of my friends hopped aboard with their own 365 daily project.

They are beautiful reflections of gratitude and celebration. The are witty, touching, thoughtful, glorious.

Mulligan, Sassy, Kai...I am thrilled that you three took up this challenge, and I  love every word you each write. Thank you, not only for making this girl feel like I started something really special, but also for sharing your days with me, through your words, and your love for the people in things in your lives. I don't comment every day, but I read every post!

Day fifteen - I love...Inspiration

The inspiration for this daily project came from Stephan Cox, who decided to run a creative marathon in 2011 in an effort to jump-start his creativity and push his creative boundaries. I followed the Thing a Day Project nearly religiously, looked forward to every post this creative man would make, even got pulled into the race with a collaboration or two.

It was his project that made me first consider doing a daily project of my own, even as I battled through the almost overwhelming fear of committing to something that big. (well...coupled with the fact that he straight up said "Karen, you're doing this in 2012!" to which I replied, "I'd love to! but maybe I'll just do thing a week, or thing a month." but I knew that it was all or nothing. thing a week or thing a month was a cop-out. it was me finding excuses and if I was going to do this challenge, I was going to have to go for the whole gigantic enchilada.)

The second part of the inspiration for this daily came from Tanya Geisler when she posted this blog, which prompted me to post this one to my weekly writing prompt. and as 2012 crept closer, a little light went off in me head...and the project started coming together. of course, I procrastinated. I considered turfing the whole idea.

and then Stephan posted his final TAD on December 31st. And when I saw my name, a small voice said "do it, Karen." so I hurried over to blogger to get this thing rolling, took a deep breath, and got ready to run!

And the absolutely amazing thing? to me at least...I'm doing it! I'm sitting at my computer every day and posting something. It's not just a challenge of my level of commitment, it is a challenge to me as a writer - I've never been a write every day girl (and I totally should be!) It challenges me to look for the good in each day, to find something beautiful or happy-making.

and...it's totally worth it!