Lasting Landscapes

11/22/2022

I GOT MY HOOMAN TODAY 🥰

11/22/2022

11/07/2022

The 'Diamond Lady' was America's first riverboat casino when it first set sail over 30 years ago, but the paddlewheel boat sank during a storm last year. It wasn't seen again until now, with the Mississippi River receding to record-low levels amid a historic drought. STORY: https://bit.ly/3U6DSnw

11/07/2022

I have laughed.
Oh how I have laughed.
I have laughed so hard with so many wonderful people that I now wear the marks.
Mother Nature has engraved me as one, ‘who laughed whenever she could’.
I wear the tattoo of the joyful, and that makes me swell with pride.
How can I hate upon these lines when I remember the nights, the music, the dancing, the fun, the tears of laughter and the blindingly joyful light.
Give me a mark for every night I felt alive and I will show them to the world with pride.
I have laughed.
Oh how I have laughed.
I hope you have laughed too my friend.
And if you have not, start now.
It’s never too late.

Donna Ashworth

From ‘LIFE’ : https://amzn.eu/d/9Y6E6kz

Photo by Karen Walzer

11/07/2022

THE LOSS OF A MOTHER

Is an inevitable part of our life.

We know it will come around
and we know the day will hurt
but we are not prepared,
never prepared
for the tearing.

The tearing of a part of our soul
from its very seams
stitches pulled asunder
heart wrenched in half
soul split in two.

But that tearing is not what you may think
it is it is not her leaving you

it is the loss of her physical form
which you have been so very used and attached to.

And now she must remove that part
for it no longer serves you
and you no longer need it
despite what you may think.

Because she made you well
and she built all of her love into you
cell by cell
thought by thought
lesson by lesson.

And the split that you feel
is simply the new the new way
you will carry on your love
for your mother
with your mother
just in a different way

for she did not leave
mother’s cannot leave

they are in you
look inside
she’s there
and that is unable to be taken now
that is all yours to keep

for evermore.

Donna Ashworth
From ‘LOSS’: https://amzn.eu/d/fwIp4VX

ART BY Avigail Sapir Art.

11/07/2022

If you read one thing today…

NO WAITING ROOM

What if you didn’t wake up tomorrow and your soul is watching down thinking of all the things you didn’t get to do yet because you were too scared, or too shy, or too worried about money.
And all the things you told yourself you weren’t good enough for, swam in front of your eyes, fighting for a place in the line, beside the words you didn’t say and the joy you forgot to have.

My friend, there is absolutely no room for anything in your day, other than acceptance.
You will never have enough money, or time, and you will certainly never have that perfect body the world told you you need, to be happy.

And before you say it’s too late to embrace this thing we call life, no it is not.

You can do it right where you are. Right this minute.
Get outside, breathe, look at the trees, put your bare feet on the grass - hand on your heart to feel that pulse - and that’s it.

You’re living.

Keep that up.

Wait up for the moon sometimes or get up early to see a sunrise, just because you can.
Jump in the lake. Run, skip.
The things you need to feel alive are free and all around my friend.
You just have to see them.

Let in opportunity and say yes to the invitations that scare you a little, in a good way.
Say no to some of the things you force yourself to do, knowing they rinse you of your peace.

Life was never supposed to be a waiting room, it was supposed to be a hillside, with paths leading in every direction and mountains as far as the eye can see, hiding adventures and new friends behind them.

Don’t let yourself get to the end of this ride without having stopped to smell those beautiful roses.
That’s the only thing you need to fear in this life.
Everything else is all part of it.
It’s all just a messy, complicated, beautiful and terrifying part of it.

Chin up, throw your arms wide open
and let it be so.

Donna Ashworth

From my new poetry book ‘LIFE’: https://amzn.eu/d/9Y6E6kz

Art by The Ronald West Gallery

11/07/2022

When a group of tourists visited a crocodile farm, the owner of the place launched a daring proposal. “Whoever dares to jump, swim to shore and survive, I will give 1 million dollars.”
Nobody dared to move, but suddenly a man jumped into the water and desperately swam towards the shore while he was chased by all the crocodiles. With great luck he arrived, taking the admiration of everyone. The owner announced “We have a brave winner.”
After collecting their reward, the couple returned to the hotel, and upon arrival, the manager told him “he was very brave to jump” the man replied, “I didn't jump, someone pushed me!”
His wife smiled...
Moral of the story — Behind every successful man, there is a woman who pushes him.

11/07/2022

“Turn your face toward the sun and the shadows will fall behind you.” ― Maori Proverb

11/07/2022