Theme
The theme for this episode is joy.
If you liked what you heard, share it with a friend. Thanks for listening. See you on your next visit to the pond.
My Haiku & Reflections
Drifting butterfly
Visit to the river’s side
Moving at life’s pace
I once heard joy described as something akin to farming. It’s something you have to cultivate and work at on a regular basis for it to bloom and bare fruit. In other words, joy can happen spontaneously, but it can also be created.
I’ve found that cultivating joy is a mindfulness practice. It’s being present, noticing big and small things with curiosity and without judgment.
Lately, I’ve been finding joy in taking mindful walks where I observe nature. To my fortune, most of these walks have taken place in Chiang Mai, Thailand where there is an abundance of nature, even within the city. There are plenty of butterflies, geckos, frogs, snakes, lizards, trees, bushes, and flowers.
As I walk I observe these creatures going about their day. Butterflies flutter about. Geckos perch on walls, hunting for their next snack. And plants reach for the sunshine.
It’s a pleasant reminder of how life is everywhere. And that joy can be found everywhere. These moments are free for the taking, no bank account or credit card required, we just have to remember to slow down and take note of them.
This seems especially true when you consider our own short-lived lives. We see the butterfly as having a short existence, but so too does Earth see us as having a short existence. Aiming to cultivate joy as often as possible will make this short existence feel like an eternity.
That’s the lesson I take from this haiku. I’d love to hear how you cultivate joy in your daily life. Send your thoughts to thehaikupond (at) gmail (dot) com.
Featured Haiku & Poets
From David Thorndale on IG as davidthorndale:
yellow umbrella
discovering so many
wonderful puddle
From Zahra Mughis on TW as ZahraScribbles & IG as instalogbyzahra:
retro beats
remembering
how we laughed
From Mona Bedi:
reunion
the way you touch
my scars
From Lisbeth Ho on Facebook as Elisabeth Holidaya:
sit at mom’s lap
gazing at the full moon
a heart warmth
From Staci b on IG as staciinyourpocket:
Give way to chaos.
Find the magic in the mess.
Lean forward in joy.
From Kati Mohr on IG as pi.and.anne:
the little bare-bum
scoops water with its shoes
spills water with its shoes
From Haiku Nocturnal on Twitter as HaikuNocturnal:
Your beautiful curse,
Only you can’t see your smile;
But I can share mine
From Linda Hawkins on TW as lindamayhawkins:
Everyone is fed
Supply is manifested
Grateful hearts applaud
From Charissa Hooyman on TW as CharissaHooyman:
A tiny body
Born of sweetness and beauty
Innocence and love
From Christina Chin at haikuzyg.blogspot.com:
so much laughter
old schoolmates
gather in zoom.
From Michele Wong on TW as meaning_filled:
children are good fruit
with glassy eyes & rhyming songs
skies of laughing kites
From Mark Hitri on TW as HitriMark & on IG as the_cellopoet:
it is a true joy
to plant a tree in who’s shade
you will never sit
From Linda M. Crate on Twitter as thysilverdoe & on IG as authorlindamcrate:
as the chaos dies
the warmth of love circles
close friendship saves her.
From Foal Poetry on IG as foalpoetry:
You will never know
No words could ever express
what you mean to me
From Melody Wang on TW & IG as MelodyOfMusings:
alluring soundbath
accompanies me
on this meditative path
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