Sunday, September 22, 2013

Where I've Been...

Unknown Artist


It’s the first day of fall. Yes, it really is! And though I’ve been back from my summer break for a while, now, I haven’t been back to my blogs. Truth be told, I was aching for an extended separation from technology. So, I took one. I’ve been doing the bare minimum, in that respect, i.e., sending and responding to important emails, taking care of educational and professional needs, and other such things.

On the personal end, I’ve just been so beautifully inside my world… so embedded in the realness of it. It’s almost as if I’ve been rediscovering the world I live inside… and the world that lives inside me. That’s not to suggest that these two worlds are separate from one another. They’re not. And so, I’ve been reconnecting with myself… and with my world. What a delicious dance it’s been!

How spiritually massaging it was to distance myself from my everyday existence, and take a break, for a while… only to return to that existence with freshly etched dreams and expectations. But, there’s just so much to do! So, while my break is truly over, I continue to inch my way back into all of the usual and habitual activities I like to engage. My coursework. My clients. My clinical papers. My students. And, a research study. But then, there’s room for pockets of free time, as well. There must be…

And so, on this first day of Fall, 2013:

I stop and watch the dust in the air swirl around… and settle.
I observe the leaves as they morph from green to gold.
I feel the cool nip of the morning air against my arms.
I smell fall... and winter in its trail.
I find pockets of empty space... and here I rest.
I allow the empty space to remain… empty.
I sit inside myself… and stay… for a spell.
I write… and write… and write some more.
I breathe… and breathe… and breathe some more.
I recline… inside the unknown.
I open myself up to the moment that is here… and now.
I lean into the enchantment this moment delivers… and it leans into me.
I am in this moment.
I... am... this moment.

As the ever inspiring and ever stirring poet, Mark Strand, once wrote:
Each moment is a place you’ve never been.

Now, that’s a truth!

Oh, and by the way… it’s lovely to be back!

Now, that’s another truth! :-)

30 comments:

adriana said...

Must likely because of the time zones difference I have the privilege of being the first one to see your words. I so missed them. They are, as always, so intimate and enticing.
You writing makes me feel I could write too if I only I stick to the description, but I am maybe not close enough to myself?
I long forever to sit down and hold a long conversation with you.
Love from Tallin, in Estonia.
A.
ps You will love Riga and Tallin.
ppss Ah, for some reason, I receive your presentation banner in your color and Green...

Nevine Sultan said...

Adriana, what a lovely surprise! And... I don't know about you just "feeling" you could write. You can write. That is something I know for certain. And, you're one of the closest people to yourself I think I've ever known... which, by the way... it takes a lot of courage to be so close to oneself.

I hope you're enjoying a delicious time in Estonia. I wish you beautiful days, nights, and moments there.

One day, we will sit down and have not one... but many... conversations.

My warmest hugs to you, dearest! Take care... and enjoy!!!!!!

Oh, it's so wonderful to be back...

steveroni said...

Living with my Pop--deaf-blind--we learned (osmosis?) to smell earthy, earthly odors, and taste substancesno more motive than habit.

Each description sensuous I followed carefully, experiencing, while reading this post...though I've not left my perch!

Thank you, Queen Nevine!

Nevine Sultan said...

Thank YOU, Steve, for sharing your stories with your father. It's those precious moments in life that always stay inside us... and that we never forget. I'm delighted to see you here. Thanks for swinging by...

ConTemplate said...

So very lovely to have you back, Nevine - and to take a few moments to enjoy this wonderful place you've created.

Man Named Kim said...

ahhhh, and thank you for returning to us. even the act of reading your words...is refreshing...you brought some goodie back to us! btw, i launched a new look and combined a couple of blogs: http://kimewilliams.com

Nevine Sultan said...

Thank you, ConTemplate. It's wonderful to have you here... sharing the space... the place... and the journeys to and from. Your thoughts are always invigorating!

Nevine Sultan said...

Thanks, Kim. I'm just thrilled to be back. And I look forward to seeing what you've created in your new look. I'll swing by soon. I want to take my time seeing what you've been up to these past few weeks. I'll be popping in...

Pat Tillett said...

Very nice to see your post Nevine. Although I haven't always lived here and know what the changing of seasons is all about. I am more than happy to be here. Where the biggest difference between the seasons is the number of daylight hours.

Nevine Sultan said...

I completely see where you're coming from, Pat. I've lived in tropical climates, where there were no seasons but one. Even then, I enjoyed having the experience, knowing that there are many more meanings to the word "season" than the usual meaning. Thanks for coming by, Pat.

GYPSYWOMAN said...

how wonderful to find you back again - and especially to have heard from you on my blog recently - your words always beautiful - beautifully inspiring - wishing you a beautiful and bountiful autumn ~

Nevine Sultan said...

Thank you, Jenean. I'm so happy to be back! But you know just how energizing it is to take a break. It's so delightful to see you here. Thank you for stopping in. A happy and festive fall to you, lady!

Betty Manousos said...

my dearest nevine,
so very LOVELY to have you back!

"i am this moment.." how brilliant, nevine!
what vivid mental images your words generate...loved the way you celebrated the first day of fall. a piece of such a great narrative inspiration. i love this revelation of feelings.
oh, how i wish we lived closer, my wonderful friend.

have a great fall, day, week ahead!

big hugs!
xoxo

p.s. sorry for only now commenting.

Judith Mercado said...

As you may know, I have been on an extended blogging leave. I am inching back, and it is wonderful to come across your gracious and light-filled presence on my return. :)

Nevine Sultan said...

Thank you for your sweet words, Betty. It's always a joy for me to share your thoughts. My deepest gratitude and appreciation, dear. Big hugs back!

Nevine Sultan said...

Judy, lovely to see you back! I'm glad to know you're returning to blogging. We all need our breaks for our different reasons. I'll be by soon to see what you're up to...

S. Susan Deborah said...

Dear Dear Nevine, it's always a joy to come by here and read your words. Hope you've been well and happy. Though I don't take blogging breaks, I find myself blogging less often than I used to. I write only when the urge is bursting.

And yes, the fall is a lovely time of the year and though we don't have a distinct fall, we still notice subtle changes.

Loved the quote by Mark Strand.

Love and joy,
Susan
xoxox

Nevine Sultan said...

Dear Susan, it's always a delight for me when you come by and visit. Thank you for the shared thoughts and kind words. They are always appreciated... as are you. My deepest gratitude to you...

Unknown said...

Interestingly...in looking for you, I found YOU.

Nevine Sultan said...

He he he... hiding in plain sight. It's great to see you here! :-)

Mildred said...

Cela fait un moment que je n'ai pas laissé trace de mon passage ici!
Et il semblerait que nous ayons décidé de faire un peu moins de blogage au même moment!
J'ai eu des choses à faire, c'est sûr, et j'ai essayé de passer un peu plus de temps avec mon compagnon car si tu ne t'occupes pas de la personne avec qui tu vis elle risque d'aller chercher ailleurs ce qu'elle ne trouve pas à la maison...et puis j'ai procrastiné et je procrastine encore!!!
L'année 2013 arrive à sa fin et je ne peux pas dire qu'elle a été très bonne pour moi. J'ai hâte qu'elle se termine en espérant que la nouvelle sera meilleure!
Le tableau que tu as choisi pour illustrer ton billet est vraiment superbe et c'est dommage que l'auteur ne l'ait pas signé!
Et tes textes sont toujours de très bonne qualité et toujours aussi agréables à lire!
Merci pour le partage, ma belle Nevine. Merci aussi pour ton petit mot chez moi. J'espère que tu ne m'en veux pas d'avoir manqué d'entrain pour te laisser un petit mot les fois où je suis passée par ici.

***
Je t'embrasse bien affectueusement et te souhaite une très bonne semaine. Donne mon bonjour à qui tu sais;o)

ps: as-tu reçu ma carte postale envoyée fin juillet? Houah! le mois de juillet est déjà si loin!!!

Nevine Sultan said...

Je ne t'en veux pas du tout, ma belle! On est tous tellement occupé avec la vie... donc pas de soucis. Je te souhaite un 2014 rempli de bonté. Même pour moi, 2013 était extrêmement difficile. Donc...

Oui oui, j'ai reçu ta carte postale... et je lui dirai bonjour. Merci merci, et bon weekend, ma belle. Bises!!! :-)

Unknown said...

...cara Nevine, finalmente sono tornato anch'io, e sono felice di rileggere le tue profonde osservazioni, come:" io sono questo momento"...tornerò presto..abbraccio nella notte...

Agathe Z said...

Je te souhaite le meilleur pour la nouvelle année qui ne tardera pas à venir!
Je l'entends qui frappe à notre porte! Laissons-la vite entrer;o)

***
Re-ROBISOU et passe le bonjour à qui tu sais;o)

Agathe Z said...

Oups! je crois que je me suis trompée de compte!
Hi hi hi hi hi hi!
Mildred n'est qu'un petit âne étourdi;o)

***
Mildred te laisse de gros BISOUS;o)

Nevine Sultan said...

Sono felice di sapere del tuo ritorno, Sergio. Passero presto... abbracci!!!

Nevine Sultan said...

Enfin... oui... pour nous deux! Merci, ma belle! :-)

Nevine Sultan said...

He he he... ;-)

Unknown said...

cara Nevine, ti lascio gli auguri di un felice 2014, che sia colmo di belle sorprese, e di tanti nuovi post, come soltanto tu sai realizzare; un sincero abbraccio da Imola...:-))

Nevine Sultan said...

Thank you, Sergio. I promised to be by soon, and I have not made it to your blog yet. My deepest gratitude for your warm wishes. :-)