Journal Entry # 240 – I Second That!

Living between seconds adds years to your life. – Ash 

A Shade of Ash # 32 – I’ll Just Leaf This Advice Right Here

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This fallen leaf. A symbol that change is necessary sometimes to achieve further growth. – Ash 

Below My Surface

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I am in the middle of the ocean with no shore
at night when there is no day
wading in silence, not worth a sound
barely swimming above the darkness of my abyss
tired, weak… alone
the deep is calling
its black swallowing light
there are monsters showing beneath
I can’t tell if they feed or if they need
the pieces of me that sink here to the bottom
phantoms in the fathoms pull me under
I will see waves no more
if I drift down too far below my surface

Shade of Ash # 23 – Taking the Fall

When I get weak, I don’t fall. I run to it. – Ash

Ashfirmation # 2 – Seriously, Go Change

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The advice I give to people close to me who want to change their life is to start now for no reason. Control your goals, don’t allow them to control you. – Ash

Journal Entry # 239 – When You Make Time, You Take Time

Today, I spent some time between the seconds. Life around me filled me with wonder. I watched as a butterfly caught its breath, a flock of seagulls stretched their wings, and the ocean simply lapped the awaiting shore. Make up for your lost time by taking advantage of the free stuff. – Ash

Journal Entry # 238 – Life is Shores to Take

In a moment like this, life and a photo become right there for the taking. This picture is proof I grabbed for them both. – Ash

A Shade of Ash # 21 – Heart to Heart

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I mentioned my daughter today as I always do in conversation. Oddly enough, to someone the same age as her. The response, “If she is anything like you, Ash, I’m sure she is just as awesome.” My heart sank. Why does the rest of the world see what she cannot? Why do I try to convince myself that what they say is not true because it is not told to me by her? Why do I feel broken and all she did was just sweep away the pieces? Questions I ask all the time because I hurt all the time. Something must be wrong with me. 
 
But then someone comes along and suddenly, my reflection in the mirror changes. The questions disappear as I find another piece of me that was thrown away. Returned by a friendly face reminding me how my big my heart actually is.

Journal Entry # 236 – Cliff Notes

Today, I found myself between a rock and an awesome place. Seek mountains and enjoy the high – Ash

Journal Entry # 235 – Roped Back Into Living

I love experiencing something that I forgot I missed. Like the smell of the ocean, the call of seabirds, and standing in the picking rain while I drift. I call them triggers when they happen. Triggers that I’m not living my life the way I was meant to. Reminders that there are pieces of me that need replenishing. – Ash