the wind is blowing
to make warm english muffins with cold cheese for breakfast.
to take a nap on the porch under my favorite blanket.
to wait.
to sit next to the warm cat.
to breathe in deeply and feel how cold the air is.
to take 10 minutes to brew “joy” tea (my current fave).
to panic over a slow time.
to turn off the email and finish one thing on my to do list.
to call my sister.
to day dream about our next house.
to not beat myself up for missing a meeting.
to celebrate over really bad sushi.
to laugh about it.
to check email right before bed and therefore not be able to sleep.
to compare myself to a person who has something i want.
to focus on what I do have.
to not watch that movie because I know those scenes would play in my head eternally.
to blog.
to choose comfortable clothes.
to feel judged.
to not care.
with each of these choices I create my life. No one else does this. And I have been thinking about all these things lately… my choices. Sometimes we say one thing is important, and yet we do another. So is that really important to us? Or is it trumped by our actions?
Maybe it’s like steering a ship… you have to keep readjusting the sails to keep on course. And sometimes you have to put down the anchor and get the map back out to check your coordinates.

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[...] penelope Share [...]
thanks for the brain juice. speaks volumes of truth.
ohhhh warm english muffins with cold cheese…..
…..made me think about the times i sailed….
so so good…
xo
jen gray
Hi P,
Reading your post makes me think of how much I relate to the things you mention how I fall into some mistakes knowing they´re mistakes, how I try and take pleasure out of the good, small things in life, how my insecurities speak through my actions and get into my brain.
Well, here´s loads of positive energy and remember that, no matter what, you´re not alone. There´s always someone who feels about the same as you.
Have a good weekend!
So true. It goes hand in hand with the fact that everyone is responsible for their own happiness. When things are good or bad, it’s really only up to ourselves to choose how we’ll handle things.
Oh, I love the sailing metaphor! “Adjusting the sails to stay on course” is just beautiful. So simply and so perfect!
Almost everything is a choice and owning up to that, believing that we choose who we are and where we go in life, gives an incredible sense of power. Makes the world seem not so scary.
Jer 29:11 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Just what I needed to hear at this moment. Thank you for sharing!
I saw your cover of Skirt magazine! It was so great, I was walking with my boyfriend and I immediately said wow, that’s such a Penelope rip-off, went over, picked it up and then laughed b/c it was yours.
It looks amazing!
I really LOVE your work!!! The best I’ve seen in a long time!! Really, it’s pure poetry… I love it!
your post made me really think about my own choices. in my mind, i want to do the best for myself but… i fall into the realm of self-sabotage so often. i wonder why i keep doing it… the same “mistakes” and negative thoughts over and over again.
Man am I glad that I’m not the only one who choses not to watch the movie because the scenes will play over and over in my head for an eternity. Thanks so much for sharing!
TT
Your words were a great reminder for me. I just finished the worst week of my working life, and feel adrift. Your words remind me to make careful choices about my own attitude and keep adjusting my course. I know the wind will pick back up again soon and I will be back underway. Thanks for the wisdom.