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May 24, 2022Liked by Kaitlin Curtice

Bliss.

There is a place

In my garden

Hidden from most

Under the willow tree

I sit

I read

I contemplate

I breathe

I hear

the birds

and the wind

In the trees

I see

the butterflies

and the bees

drink from

my flowers

I smell

the earth

The veil

is thin here

I visit often.

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A dozen Voodoo Donuts

with a dozen friends

at the Skidmore Fountain

at three in the morning.

Sweaty from the concert,

giddy with exhaustion,

tossing stories and maple bars from one person to another.

Tolkien poetry in the trailer afterward—

“I will not say the day is done,

nor bid the stars farewell “—

curled up on the couch

knowing belonging

feeling that life is a wide-open landscape of possibilities.

When memory fades, I hope this is the last one that remains.

When memory fades, I hope this is the last one that remains.

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Bliss is Waking Up Sans Alarm Clock

Saccharine sunshine

lights the room,

sealed eyelids

in synchronicity

rise like a stage

curtain, silence

save the birdsong

overture, honeyed

smile spreads

slow, contentment

lengthens each limb,

conducting time

as I please.

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May 24, 2022Liked by Kaitlin Curtice

Bliss is here there

And everywhere

It is certainly an experience;

There are moments of bliss

To be noticed and savored.

What are they for you?

Bliss is also, I think,

To be continually noted

And followed.

How do the moments

String together?

What are the the threads that

Lead us toward and weave together into a life, not of perfection or ease,

But of bliss?

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May 24, 2022Liked by Kaitlin Curtice

I find the most joy in the quiet moments:

an afternoon snuggled up with my partner,

my toddler whispering, "I love you, Mama,"

my infant's hand wrapped around my finger,

my dog's head in my lap,

the sound of my cat purring,

the perfect cup of morning coffee,

standing near the ocean,

a bath with some of my favorite music,

a nap that's just the right length,

a really good massage,

new growth on my plants,

finding unexpected flowers in the yard,

the warmth of candlelight,

getting lost in a book,

staring at my newest tattoo,

creating something beautiful,

uncovering pieces of my authentic self;

the small things are the big things.

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May 24, 2022Liked by Kaitlin Curtice

Bliss

must be a

kiss of

Blessing

from

God (or universe if you prefer)

a moment

maybe longer

when we're

fully present

to all of the

grace

of an

experience -

sights

sounds

tastes

feels

- in this time

all is right with the world.

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I usually find bliss by accident.

That cup of tea I rush to make while they eat

and steal sips of between cereal spills,

turns out to be perfectly steeped.

The surprise of sunflowers who voluntarily

stretch towards the sun after a winter rest

in the garden I didn't clean up last fall.

The swallowtail we find sunning on the trail,

watching them leap with laughter following its flight.

The chaos of pizza night in this house of six,

when whatever is left in the fridge yields

combinations you didn't know you were missing.

That kiss goodnight, a bit longer

and deeper than I expected.

A wave of good, good love.

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As an anxious person

bliss is something that I rarely feel.

However,

when I do,

it is a

thunderstorm, distant, at night,

where thunder rumbles and lightning flashes.

It is a windy day

where you can feel the Spirit

caress the world in love.

A cool drink of water.

The satisfaction of rest,

Bliss makes my heart light

and my inner child rises to meet her.

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Bliss

Blue skies and a long walk

Loving friends and family

Interesting books to read

Sips of hot coffee

Stillness

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Bliss

Bliss for me is in the exhale

In the flopping over in bed with no need to get up

In the morning garden walkabout checking in on the flowers and plants

In the hot cup of coffee with my favorite almond milk creamer

In the cold shower after mowing the lawn

In that feeling on your scalp after you leave the hair salon

That slow exhale

That for right now-in this tiny moment-

Life is good.

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May 24, 2022·edited May 24, 2022

For me, it just shows up,

Mostly attached to something else.

Can't go buy it, like a pu pu platter,

But it might be hiding in the flame.

Can't compose it down onto the staff paper, but it might come flying in, attached to the trumpet fanfare in the coda.

You just never know.

Shhh, there it is, don't move, don't

even breathe, you might scare it off..

Just let it tingle down.

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hot coffee

in the morning sun

on the porch.

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Bliss

When I see the spring coming in with light green colors

When I look into my cat’s eyes and feel her love for me

When we’re meeting outside in the yard, because someone was exposed to Covid, but we still want to be together

I feel bliss when we realize that the time on earth is very short and we need to let all know how much we love them

When my husband still kisses me goodby before he leaves for work, even though he’s running behind

When I watch my oldest daughter with baby Leo and see the absolute love

Those grandchildren and children and all the memories of life

The good, the hard and the in between

Bliss is here all the time mixed with everything else!

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The moment that follows a panicked glance

Peering grudgingly downward at the upturned wrist

The moment of the exhaled realization that

It is only 2 pm, not 3

The moment of gleeful receipt of an extra hour

Soaking in the glory of untethered time

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Bliss is the pulsing of energy within me

aligning with other energy.

A long hug

Baby giggles

Seeing love in another’s eyes

Dancing under the moon

Gazing at the stars

Rising a bike downhill

Feeling the dirt between my toes

The warmth of the sun on my face

Lying in freshly fallen snow

A cup of coffee

Some sweet dessert

Enjoying a favorite meal

Bliss is a moment when I’m only aware

of the life force in and around me.

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