Peace of mind (haibun)

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She sat by the shore watching the sailboats and listening to the sounds of nature. So many decisions to make and each impacted on people she loved. Her mind echoed should and should not`s so loud that she finally took a few deep breaths and slowly turned to her breath. She closed her eyes in quiet contemplation and mediated soaking up the warmth of the morning sun. Feeling calmer, she looks out at the ducks and swans and nature provided her with an answer.

Lake Ontario, Oakville, On.
© Clr – Lake Ontario, Oakville, On.

white swan
opening its wings in flight
seeking solace

© Tournesol ’16/03/26

21 responses to “Peace of mind (haibun)”

  1. Bastet Avatar
    Bastet

    How peaceful is this …

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Cheryl-Lynn Avatar
      Cheryl-Lynn

      It really was is. What surprised me on that day was not seeing geese. There are many that stay all year long in the Toronto area. I remember driving to work and a family (Mother geese and her goslings) crossing the street just before getting onto the highway. I used to make the joke that the country may have cow crossings but the city of Toronto have geese crossings 😉

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      1. Bastet Avatar
        Bastet

        Wow you must have a lot of geese in Toronto!

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      2. Cheryl-Lynn Avatar
        Cheryl-Lynn

        Yes, there on beaches and parks it can be annoying http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/28/geese-police-use-dogs-oil-and-transport-vehicles-to-keep-torontos-beaches-clean.html

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Bastet Avatar
        Bastet

        Hmmm .. I read your article .. you know it’s funny in a not so laughing sense that in the 80s the stories were about human population encroaching into the natural habitats of migration birds – there’s something poetic about the tables being turned …

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      4. Cheryl-Lynn Avatar
        Cheryl-Lynn

        Yes, you’re right but they are staying because the people there fed them and they got so comfortable, they didn’t want to leave:)

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Bastet Avatar
        Bastet

        Same here with the ducks .. but we’ve nothing near a thousand five hundred ducks … yet.

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      6. Cheryl-Lynn Avatar
        Cheryl-Lynn

        They do have lots of ducks too but more geese. But downtown where I worked near Nathan Phillips Square the seagulls scared me if I got fries at the chip wagon, they would literally attack you. One time, one kept pouncing on my head and screeching ot his comrades to come on down…I ran up to the City Hall and a man held the door open for me. It felt like the old Hitchcock movie!

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      7. Bastet Avatar
        Bastet

        OMG … that sounds really horrific! We have gull here too, but I’ve never seen them become aggressive like that, although I’ve heard people from other places talking about this.

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      8. Cheryl-Lynn Avatar
        Cheryl-Lynn

        They wanted my frites!!!

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      9. Bastet Avatar
        Bastet

        I’m sure they did … the thought give me the shivers!

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      10. Cheryl-Lynn Avatar
        Cheryl-Lynn

        And THAT is something I do NOT share;-)

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Melinda Kucsera Avatar
      Melinda Kucsera

      I agree and I love that nature in the form of the swans is inviting you to partake of the peace on offer.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. Cheryl-Lynn Avatar
        Cheryl-Lynn

        I was supposed to send this photo to my aunt who lives there so she can paint it for me.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Melinda Kucsera Avatar
        Melinda Kucsera

        that’s wonderful that she can paint it for you.

        Like

      3. Cheryl-Lynn Avatar
        Cheryl-Lynn

        She has been painting for over 50 years…I should showcase some of her art…she is so funky …a woman I so admire. At 86 she swims almost a mile twice a week still…what a gal!! She and my uncle were like parents to me when I moved 6 hours away from home, starting a new life after my divorce. I am forever grateful to them.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Melinda Kucsera Avatar
        Melinda Kucsera

        Wow she sounds like quite a woman. You’re lucky to have her in your life 🙂

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      5. Cheryl-Lynn Avatar
        Cheryl-Lynn

        She is, I wrote about her and my uncle on my other blog https://tracesofthesoul.wordpress.com/2013/08/12/life-is-not-timeless/

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Melinda Kucsera Avatar
        Melinda Kucsera

        I’ll check it out! thanks for the link 🙂

        Like

  2. kaykuala (@hankkaykuala) Avatar
    kaykuala (@hankkaykuala)

    nature provided her
    with an answer.

    It is useful to go out into the open. The serenity of the surroundings can be helpful for inspiration.
    (Cheryl, Hank had difficulties in reaching you before. A twitter account was opened and it helped for some others. Hopefully, it gets through this time).

    Hank

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Cheryl-Lynn Avatar
      Cheryl-Lynn

      Thank you, Hank, I did get your comment…just did not check my blog all Easter Weekend.

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Your comments are like sunflowers beaming at me:Vos commentaires sont des sourires des Tournesols

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