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Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Wild Woman Takes a Leap




There came a moment in time,
trekking the dutiful path
of Obligation and Responsibility,
when I felt my soul shriveling inside me,
felt like I existed only to work,
and bring brown paper bags of groceries
in the front door.

It had been too long.
I knew I had to choose: 
to follow my soul's calling
or learn to live without a dream.
And I knew I couldn't live 
without a dream.

I gathered my courage
and made a mighty, prodigious leap,
landing just right, at sunset,
beside the sea,
a whale diving and surfacing in the bay.

Since that one, terrified, 
but knowing-I-had-no-choice,
trusting-the-Universe moment,
I have never been the same.
I became the Wild Woman 
I was always meant to be.


- for my prompt at Poets United's Midweek Motif: watershed moments, a defining moment in time, after which one is never the same. That decision divided life before and life after. When I landed on that shore, I felt I had finally come home - to be the person I was meant to be. It was the best decision I ever made. Those were the most joyous years of my life. True, unequaled happiness. 

I only had ten  years there, in my heart's home, and have missed it every day since. But at least I had those ten spectacular years, when joy was my daily companion, in love with the beauty of the wild west coast.

I am working Wednesday, my friends, so will catch you at Midweek Motif as I am able to, in the evening at the latest. Wednesday! Hump Day! Yippee!

27 comments:

  1. YAY! for the leap! Yay for the whale surfacing ...

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  2. Sherry, I am glad you had those ten years; and in my heart I know that you will have more years of joy. It is just around the corner. I know it!

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  3. Yessss...you do inspire Sherry...I so resonate with this poem as I'm just standing on such a moment now... May you have many more joyful years to come...

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  4. That leap is always such a scary thing. Yet the rewards are wonderful surprises. Close your eyes and watch the whale surface. He dives deep, but always returns.

    Elizabeth

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  5. Oh what a joyful poem this is :D love the sentiments and the wild west coast sounds like such a gorgeous place to be :D

    Hope you have several more years of happiness and success to come ahead. Beautifully captured :D

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  6. A person is never so comfortable as when they are themselves in their own skin. Too many strive to be someone else and fail. May the wild ones always whisper to you.

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  7. You know. It is frightful to take those leaps of faith, but when we take them we are rewarded. We have to find our own way. We can not live the life others have in store for us or we will never be happy.

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  8. Oh what a wonderful thing to find the real you - never to be the same. You know we carry that place with us for the rest of our lives.

    Love it Wild Woman (and you)

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  9. There are those parts of our lives, the golden years, I hope everyone has them, maybe it is exactly what "letting go" means, it is letting go of the best. This experience is in everything you do.

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  10. And we are all so glad that you did!

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  11. Wise, gentle yet strong words. I love these lines:

    "I knew I had to choose:
    to follow my soul's calling
    or learn to live without a dream.
    And I knew I couldn't live
    without a dream."

    Yes, I've been there too ~ and I'm so glad you've put voice to this, so glad for the choice you made.

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  12. Clearly, you made the right choice. I know that's your dream again and I'm sure history repeats itself. Lovely write Sherry.

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  13. We are all so glad of the Wild Woman in you, and in your poetry!

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  14. The ultimate watershed experience ~~ we reap the benefits as well!

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  15. You are indeed a wild woman and you hear the call of your heart. Walk to your own drumbeat as then there is real joy...leap and leap some more my friend.

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  16. A wonderfully inspiring poem, Sherry. Agree with MZ/- glad you did! K.

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  17. You took a chance and got ten good years from it. Many get a lot less. Well done !

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  18. luv the freedom of this wild woman evolved

    much love...

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  19. 'wild', a relative term. r u my relative?

    nice piece mi amiga

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  20. This poem sent tingles of wow, Sherry. Such an amazing triumphant story. Thank you for inspiring! :)

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  21. Oh, man. I feel this, so deeply. It's our Empty Nest Exit Plan, too...only 6 or 7 more years...

    Beautiful piece.

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  22. As you were meant to be ~ I am glad you made that courageous move Sherry ~ Home is where your wild woman heart is ~

    Grace

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  23. Sometimes it is a leap --glad you made the leap!

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  24. It is a defining moment somewhat frightening at the initial beginning but a brave decision, Sherry!

    Hank

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  25. An excellent responce to the prompt and something we all must choose.

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  26. I believe, Sherry, that this will again come to you. Believe... ~

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  27. It takes a lot of courage to make that leap, Sherry. But often what we have been most afraid of becomes a wonderful watershed moment where the joy of the leap annuls the fear of what may follow when we land. Good one!

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