It’s Poetry Friday.  In 2024 I aim to post more regularly –  poetry is so integral not just to who I am as a writer,  or as an educator, but as a person, and the Poetry Friday community is one I really love being part of.

I started the year, as I do most years, by choosing a word that will hopefully guide my actions this year. My Word for 2024 is PAUSE. 

As you can see, I considered lots of other words, taking a while to select a word that really covered what I’m aiming for, but pause feels a good fit.

I plan to pause more to enjoy the small wonders in my everyday life. But also to pause to be more present when I encounter people who matter to me – family and friends. And, in moments of potential overwhelm, I want to remember to pause to breathe and refocus on what is truly important, and to consider how I’m going to meet a goal, or overcome a challenge.

It’s fitting too that pause is a homophone for paws, because George and Narelle both make sure I pause each day – George making sure I enjoy the great outdoors even on days I think I don’t feel like it, and Narelle reminding me that it is absolutely to just take a moment or three to sit and stroke a cat.

In honour of these two, I took a moment to draft a poem about what they bring to my days.

Paws

Busy days

Long days

Tough days and rough days.

Tired days

Wired days

Happy days or sad days.

Meh days

Bleh days

Feeling-not-so-sure days.

Any day

Every day

Is better when you paws.

(Sally Murphy, 2024)

In addition to a word, I have also spent some time this week  setting some goals for my work year, and getting clear on what it is that really matters to me in 2024. And, although I will post about some of those goals in another post, I do keep coming back to wanting to slow down, take time, enjoy my furry friends and my human ones, and pause.

Speaking of friends, Poetry Friday is hosted today by Marcie, who is also sharing her one word for the year. Head to her post to see what other poetry goodness has been shared.