This OSJ practice is inspired by One-Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large (2018, Riverfeet Press) by Métis Storyteller & Poet Laureate of Montana, Chris La Tray.
L & L taking some R & R
2/28: There is a chainsaw growling, gnawing through a tangle of fallen firs, there is snow on the ground and the sun is shining when I take a cue from Sweet Boy and join him to relax on the deck of our shed; he confirms my taking a pause is a good idea with his paws placed firmly on my shoulder.
2/27: I felt myself slow my roll and “soften” body/mind/spirit today to Let the Lovin in [YouTube, KT Tunstall, Stoppin the Love]
2/26: Time to lighten up, sweet pea.
2/25: Aha moment on paradox from an Esther Derby article: We are hard wired to work together in groups yet our Western culture focuses on & celebrates individualism.
2/24: Sometimes you have to shift the energy.
2/23: A mid-morning walk, the blinding sun and shapes of trees and plants, with Mike & sweetboy along a frozen lake makes me drunk with a desire to draw and paint.
2/20: A googleMeet visit with a friend in Maine is a nice way to start the weekend.
2/19: Writing is a muscle I want to keep in motion.
2/18: Mike breaks our trail with skis, Lary breaks the powder with his legs swooshing and body zig-zagging, and oh the quiet, the fluffy blanket of snow so peaceful.
2/17: Dreaming I am asleep at the wheel with a gas tank on empty and by Grace I have remained safe on the road.
2/15: There is nothing comparable to dancing in community with live drumming.
2/14: It’s important to pay attention to signals & what they are telling me.
2/13: Dreaming of navigating crumbling roads; what we are all doing.
2/12: Learning and self-discovery through painting is beckoning me again, so it’s back to index cards and tempera.
2/11: Neck pain nauseousness, tears, overwhelm, legs up the wall to calm myself, a hug from Mike as he sings softly to me “High Hopes” by Frank Sinatra [YouTube] making me laugh and cry at the same time.
2/9: Hot freshly ground dark Montana roasted coffee in a banged up beloved seafoam green insulated mug purchased in Alabama and made in China.
2/8: Riding home I consider my privilege, my luck, to even be able to travel.
2/7: Fried cheese curds, please.
2/6: Hiking across the snow to geothermal features with newish friends, I felt the truth of this quote from Rick Steves, “With travel you get all three qualities that make you fully experience being human: beauty, community, mystery.”
⅖: My friend did not know when she planned this bucket list trip to Yellowstone that it happened to coincide with my birthday and to this I say, “Bonus!”
2/4: On my birthday, my prayer, Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu: May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.
⅔: My body is telling me that there is a propensity, an addiction to overworking that I must make an effort to break out of.
.2/2: As we drank our LMNT electrolytes and admired our windstorm cleanup work he spoke the very thoughts I was having, “I wish we were 20 years younger so we could have longer to enjoy seeing things on this land take shape and grow.”
2/1: “If it’s one sentence for a one sentence journal, why is it taking so long?”
sheteststhewater 