One Small Step


When I peered over the edge of the Grand Canyon for the first time, borrowed backpack on and a pair of shiny new hiking shoes tied in a double knot, it was intimidating, to say the least. I had never hiked anything this HUGE before. 

All I could see from the top was a tiny, winding ribbon of dusty trail that zigzagged across a flat shelf dotted with sagebrush and cottonwood. I couldn't see the bottom and the path appeared to abruptly drop off into a terrifying abyss. 

But, loaded up with Gatorade and Cheez-its, I started out, one small step at a time. Soon I forgot all about the pending chasm that lay up ahead and relaxed enough to enjoy the scenery and soak up the breathtaking views. 

An hour into the trek, I stopped to look back over my shoulder to see how far I'd come and was amazed to find the view had now reversed! The ledge that once appeared to drop off into a bottomless crack mysteriously smoothed out in front of us and each bend unfolded into a series of switchbacks carved into the sheer cliffside that made it easy to descend. 

Before I knew it, I was at the bottom of the canyon sipping ice cold lemonade and ready to do it again. Now we have returned many times. But, that first day at the canyon, when I faced my fear and did it afraid, I learned that we can do hard things that look really big. All that is required is we take one small step at a time.

One Small Step at a Time.

What's one big dream, goal, or new habit you'd like to accomplish?
And, what's one small step you can take to begin today?




With Love & Light, 
Doreen

Twins



TWINS
by Doreen Grace Kester


Two twins went to sleep one night.

One dreamed of the future.

The other dreamed of the past.



One twin jumped onto a cruise ship.

The other joined a battleship.

As neurons fired and wired on both vessels,

The twins began to shift and split,

New scripts created new realities.



On the cruise ship, one twin danced and sang.

New dreams filled the heart with hope.

Gratitude spilled over into joy,

Which made a life well-lived.



The other twin sat in ashes,

Wallowed in self-pity and blamed others,

They held on tight to injustice and bitterness,

Then grew ill from broken heartedness,

Until waves of regret swallowed their boat,

And the twin drowned in sorrow.



Within the imagination,

Parallel universes exist,

And I get to choose:

Which of the two twins will I be?

Imagine







When author and illustrator Eric Carle grew up in Nazi Germany, his art teacher revealed a secret trove of forbidden paintings he had stashed away for safekeeping. “Degenerate” this style of art was called, with its playful brushstrokes, whimsical colors, and exaggerated proportions. Abstract art was to be shunned and destroyed during this dark period in history. And, art teachers were only allowed to teach realistic art. But, as Carle studied one painting of an innocuous blue horse, he was awestruck by the image stretched across the canvas. It stirred his soul and later inspired the classic tale of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and more recently, his book The Artist Who Painted A Blue Horse. 

Artwork and stories have a powerful way of giving us wings. Through our imagination, we can sail to the moon in a wooden shoe or dive deep into the sea to hunt for gold doubloons. We can travel to fantastical lands filled with glittery wood nymphs and fairies or discover uncharted planets inhabited by aliens. Through story, we can become a ballerina, study ancient pyramids or even throw the first pitch at the World Series. Heroes and heroines, cliffhangers and comedies, romance and dramas, with each subtle plot twist or turn, the imagery in our mind takes on a life of its own. Whether fantasy, sci-fi, fiction, or true story, as we imagine each scene in living color, a spark ignites, creativity unlocks, and dominoes of possibility fall into place. 

When creativity is unleashed, we can access solutions and explore new ideas. We can dream up witty inventions, and solve world problems. Emancipated from coloring inside the lines, we soon realize that if a blue horse is possible, then anything is possible for us too! 


Imagine that!


with love & light,Doreen