Journey of the Heart

These past few months have been filled with change for me. After a long struggle with his health, I lost my dear husband, my best friend of 40 years. He was a strong and spiritual man, and even on his worse day saw the glass as half full. Knowing that inspires me each and every day to do the same. He told me once that I had an angel “sitting on my shoulder.” If I didn’t feel it then, I do more than ever now. For the past 10 years I have worked in a healthcare and rehab setting with amazing people who support me and lift me every day, and did the same for my husband the many times he was in their care. But recently, without even realizing I was even searching for a change, I had an offer come to me that I could not refuse. I will still be in healthcare, in a different setting closer to home. In my heart I felt both urgency and need to accept this offer. I’m sure it is the “angel on my shoulder” that led me here. This will be a big change for me, but I carry the memories and friendships ...

A visit from my brother recently got me thinking about the people who come into our lives.  You see, he is not a brother by birth, but a brother borne of circumstance. His family met me after a loss in my life, yet rather than dwell on that loss, I choose to acknowledge my “gains.” When I was a teenager I gained a family, four sisters and a brother, and their parents who welcomed me stay to finish school. Decades later, and I am still blessed to be in their life. Today, I reflected on the road that’s brought me here, the people who’ve molded me, and the glue that binds us together. Broken Pottery Ginny Brannan We do not know the direction life will take when we start our journey: who will stay, who will leave, who dies or who survives— Adversity creates the person we become. If I could’ve mapped this road I’ve travelled I might not have chosen the hardships I’ve borne, the  potholes and pitfalls I’ve encountered; yet I wouldn’t change who ...

 Just take a moment to pause... When life becomes rote, and frustration grows from being immersed in the same routine—different day, sometimes we need to remind ourselves that peace is still there—within our grasp— if we just take a moment to pause and enjoy the stillness and beauty around us. In the Stillness of the Night  by Ginny Brannan Late winter’s eve and all is still the lawn lies bathed in silver light— gray shadows race across the yard and climb atop the windowsill to draw my gaze upon the sight. I stare out to the moonlit night, across the deck and wooded path fresh–painted by new fallen snow. The scene infuses with delight; this gift inside storm’s aftermath. Half–buried now, the old birdbath lies shadowed deep in indigo— it waits on promise of the spring when arctic chill has finally passed and snow gives way to new green grass. With gratitude, I hedge to go; tranquility allays my soul… I turn ...

Letting the past interfere with the present is never a good thing...   Seven years ago my life changed, when after 18 years with the same company in a position that I loved, the economy took a downturn and I was one of 250 that were laid-off.   It hurt, physically hurt. I felt like my “family” had abandoned me. It brought me to one of the lowest points in my life.  Even though this was the catalyst that spawned my poetic journey, and I would eventually find another job in a position where I feel useful and appreciated, it seems the resentment from that day adhered and took on a life of its own.  During the past few days I have been reflecting on the events of the past year— how I almost lost the one person in my life that means the world to me. I have come to realize that life is too short to be carrying such anger. It does no one any good, especially me. I have decided enough is enough.   And so I surrender all of those “what-ifs”...

I would like to believe that my “spirit” animal is a dragonfly... I am definitely drawn to these creatures. The dragonfly, with protruding eyes and exoskeleton, is not nearly as pretty as his butterfly cousin, though in their lifetime both metamorphose, adapting, becoming something else.   I’ve learned that even youth, the dragonfly nymph faces adversity, and must learn to swim the currents to survive. Their delicate, translucent wings disguise their real strength. In this stage of my life, more autumn than summer, I too have changed— writing poetry, finding my voice. And in the past year have discovered a courage and inner-strength strength I did not know I possessed…yes, I am drawn to dragonflies… Dragonfly by  Ginny  Brannan Ever transforming stronger than you first perceive I am ‘dragonfly’ * * * * What is it about the dragonfly that attracts me… As a children we were told they were “darning needles” would “sew your mouth shut” …...

Autumn is an amazing time here in New England… I love the change of seasons—the maples, the oaks—all of the deciduous trees decked out in their brightest finery. But I often feel certain ambivalence with this change. We know from the moment the first leaves thru that the cold, harsh winds of winter are soon to follow. It stands a stark reminder of our own seasons, our own mortality. I am often drawn to the parallels of man's seasons vs. nature's own. This was written after one such moment of contemplation. Having lost my parents before my 17th birthday, I once obsessed on dying young. Now, having bypassed both age milestones of my parents' mortality, I share this introspective moment: my fear, not of dying, but of perhaps not living "enough…" Photography by the author, Ginny Brannan On Fear and Falling Leaves by Ginny Brannan The leaves drop steadily, as though last night’s frost released some hidden trigger; they race to hit the groun...

A young man I’ve known since birth is soon to be married... I wanted to give him a gift, and so am passing along some advice given to me by my dear aunt back in the days when I was still dating, on knowing if someone was the “right” one.  She said imagine the person you are in love with sitting across from you having coffee in the morning. Can you still picture that same person across from you in 10, 25, 40 or more years? And so with 34 years and counting, I share this secret of longevity.  In a life filled with constant change: joys, sorrows; ups and downs, many view relationships as disposable. It’s true that partners may not always see ‘eye to eye’ with the other, but at the end of the day—or I should say in those early morning hours when you still can’t imagine sharing your “coffee” with anyone else, you know you have made the right choice. The View Over Morning Coffee by Ginny Brannan I’ve yet to tire of the view refined by changes over time th...