Life and writing are akin to me at times.  I struggle to get a letter on the page and taking a deep breath is difficult at times.  If I don’t try, the page remains blank, empty of the stories hidden within me.  And if I don’t take that deep inhale, my breathing is shallow, my chest tight, holding all the doubts and fears within.

I take the big breath, inhaling up the side of the imaginery square in my head.  Then comes the slow exhalation across the top, inhaling down the side of the square and exhaling across the bottom. I do this again, a little slower until I feel my self relaxing and expanding into the universe.  I am saved again.

Sheba and I are trudging along to our own pace through the desert of our winter.  There are so many ups and downs.  There are many twists and turns.  Life leaps and catches us unaware at the most inconvenient times.  But then, when is it convenient?  We have to buckle up, or is it buckle down – to grin and bear it.  I can feel myself baring my teeth into a sneer.  Best just to smile, nod and carry on.

We are both doing remarkably well considering. I have put both of us on a diet.  It’s difficult to make this journey with heavy hips and thighs.  A little less weight and a little more heart would be good.  I have added some Omega-3 fatty acids to give us more courage.  I hope it doesn’t make us burp and give us stinky breath. Wish us luck.  We have a long way to go.