Just Life – Page 10

Beauty You Stumble Upon

I’ve lived in my city for seven years now.

As I’m about to move again I suddenly become aware of everything I haven’t seen and done. There are still so many things I could do, places I could visit…it sometimes feels overwhelming. There are streets I have walked so many times, places I’ve passed by on a daily basis – and yet you need the right mindset to see its real beauty.

This bike is parked in front of a coffeeshop I visit quite often to restock my coffee supply. It’s a well traveled street and I take it often to get from one part of the city to the other. My city is rather small and full of old narrow streets, there are not that many ways to choose from.
Yet, only a few weeks ago I stumbled across this bike.

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Coffee and flowers.
What a great combination.

At that moment I had to smile at my own busyness that so often chases me through the city and makes me miss out on so many beautiful things by the wayside.
So this bike served as a good reminder to stop and rest once in a while.
Plant flowers, plant beauty.
Enjoy some coffee, inhale some fresh smells.
Take a break. Slow down. Discover.

Welcome to Day 3 of 31 Days of Mundane Narratives! For the month of October I will be a storyteller. Together with a few friends we will browse the forgotten photos in our galleries and tell the stories that are so often lost in busyness.
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Get Your Feet Wet

It came out of nowhere.
On my way home from school I was surprised by a rainshower. Within seconds the summer sky turned gray and the heavens opened up.
It poured and, of course, I had no umbrealla with me.
So I was soaked. Continue reading “Get Your Feet Wet”

Coffeeshop Reflections

When I lived in the US, I spent incredible amounts of time in coffeeshops.
It was the place to be when you had to study, read for class, write a paper or just catch up with a friend. Continue reading “Coffeeshop Reflections”

Mundane Narratives

The world is full of stories.
We can read about them in bestselling novels and newspaper articles.
We can watch them on the big screens in full color.
We crave those narratives of success, heroism and perfection.
We long for cohesion in a world that seems to fall apart, sliding ever deeper in chaos and confusion. Things are supposed to make sense. Continue reading “Mundane Narratives”

What Do You Listen To?

I cannot remember the last time I was so exhausted.
I just survived my first week of teaching at the new school and I. Am. Done.
My legs are heavy from walking all these new unfamiliar ways. I go to bed like a grandma at 9 every night with no energy left for a life whatsoever.
My head is spinning and tired from hearing a lot of new information and meeting so many new people every day.
But I survived.

Continue reading “What Do You Listen To?”

We Cannot Heal All Wounds

Do you remember the times as a child when you fell down and hurt your knee? You would run to your mother, she would put a funny looking plaster strip on it and she would sing.
The pain was gone instantly and all that remained was that deep sense of peace.
It would all be okay. Continue reading “We Cannot Heal All Wounds”

What Transition Does to You

It’s been a few weeks of silence in this space here. The summer holidays are a slow time and sometimes you have to take a break.

BUT: I have been working on my writing, in a different form. More exciting news on that will come soon! Continue reading “What Transition Does to You”

A Shift of Perspective

Today is a special day over at Five Minute Friday: Kate celebrates two years of hosting this fabulous writing group! For the first time ever there will be Five Minute Friday book – and I will be in it! The book will launch sometime in September, stay tuned for more info! Continue reading “A Shift of Perspective”

Our Father

I wrote this piece two weeks ago, not knowing how much more important its message would be just a few days later…

Last weekend I was in London. I spent Sunday afternoon walking along the South Bank and watching people as they enjoyed the unusually hot summer weather.
So many people from all kinds of backgrounds.
So many faces I’ve never seen before. I cannot help but wonder what their stories are.
Do they live in London or are they visiting? What has their week been like? What has brought them here today?
And how can this world be so diverse? Continue reading “Our Father”

Our Business

He said, “Let there be light”, and there was light.
He said, “Let the earth bring forth crops and flowers and trees”, and the earth was suddenly green.
He said, “Let there be animals of all kinds”, and all the big and small animals started populating the earth.
He said, “Let there be”, and it came into being.
God’s business is to create. Continue reading “Our Business”