The soothing Sunday thoughts: I refuse to go with the flow

On By Inese, visual artist, writer and life sciences bloggerIn appreciation, confidence, happiness, peacefulness, poetry, values

To sit in the backyard and watch everything growing,

To see how blooms come up and how tomatoes get red.

Do you have time for that?

I refuse to be caught up in the trap of the endless rushing.

I simply refuse to burn out myself chasing a mystery.

Must haves and must dos, must sees and must becomes:

It’s a lost competition for me.

Growing 4

I have to be part of the growing:

To watch children growing,

To see the garden growing,

To witness myself growing old and then older.

And growing becomes a part of me.

Growing 2

The greens of the backyard: are they ever soothing!

Plants have no growing concerns and no fear from their fate.

The greens: such a miraculous, endlessly calming quietness!

This must be the secret of growing:

At our own pace, at our own terms.

At the end, we all become ancient cities:

Lost somewhere deep under happily growing greens.

Somebody will be watching this growing.

Who knows whether they realize

How many hidden treasures are underneath?

Growing 3

66 thoughts on “The soothing Sunday thoughts: I refuse to go with the flow”

    1. Inese Poga Art plus Life

      Thanks Cynthia! You are the only one so far who read it. Well, I have a lot of published works in Latvian, when I skyped they told me there was something published again, although, I haven’t sent anybody any new stuff recently, but anyway, writing in English is a new area for me. So, I’m trying to achieve what I would in my native language, and it obviously is not the same. I’ve been doing medical writing and translations for 30 years, that’s different, it’s a medical language, strictly sticking to approved terms and regulations. It’s great you looked at it and read it because nobody normally does. I’m having first treatment day tomorrow, then on Wednesday and then surgery on Thursday. I hope doctor makes intelligent decisions so that nothing goes wrong. Have a good afternoon!

      Liked by 4 people

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  2. Reblogged this on Cynthia Reyes and commented:
    I’d like you to read and either Like or Comment in Inese’s post. English is not her first language, and she has written this lovely post and I know she’d like some comment on it. Inese is a Canadian artist.

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    1. Inese Poga Art plus Life

      Thank you Lavinia! It’s so nice you stopped by! You are probably a friend of Cynthia!
      I hope for the best, too.

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  4. Georgeina Knapp

    Cynthia posted this for me to read. The photos are beautiful and your words create such wonderful pictures. As I read it I felt quiet and relaxed as though I was in a garden. The last lines about the hidden ancient city were very meaningful to me also because I am quite interested in ancient history. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

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    1. Inese Poga Art plus Life

      Thank you Georgina for reading this! I am a visual artist who loves drawing, therefore I believe the only way I think about everything is in pictures. It is great that it feels. I love gardening, I have started at least 10 gardens, back in Latvia and here in Canada. I am very worried what will happen to plants because most likely after the surgery I won’t be watering them for a while. Well, I hope I am back on feet soon because all plants are doing very well right now.

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  5. I loved your poem too, Inese. I share your love of nature and I am sorry no-one takes the trouble to ‘like’ your poems or make any comments. I hope all goes well when you have your medical treatments.
    Clare 🙂

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    1. Inese Poga Art plus Life

      Thank you Clare! Well, it is not that bad, but this is my secondary blog. I have only arts blog, too. Secondary means that not that many people will see what I am writing here. I am very grateful to Cynthia since because of her good heart I get to know other very nice people. Thanks so much for stopping by and reading!

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      4. Inese Poga Art plus Life

        Thanks! Well, it’s going o be longer now since I got complications due to nursing stuff negligence (lack of knowledge or two trivial attitude?). Anyway, it wasn’t good at all, within 3 days I had to go to emergency two times, so that decreases now chances of good outcome. I hope there won’t be second surgery. Doctor took it way too positively, everything so fine, so good and no decent preventive measures were implemented. I’m returning to life at least.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Inese Poga Art plus Life

        It is. They found out that I was 100% resistant to antibiotics they were pumping in my veins for 4 days. I told them, I warned them, but I don’t think doctors do listen to patients in Canada, not even such patients who have spent 30 years in medical research. So, I lost 4 very valuable and critical day for recovery. It’s like I’m even lost for words. restarting new antibiotics tomorrow in vein, nd new adjustment surgery on Thursday. I told the doctor: it would be way too simple to do it right from beginning, wouldn’t it? He is unfortunately one of these overly and unreasonably positive doctors, and that resulted in numerous flaws, mistakes, mistreatment and finally it is decreasing the chance of good outcome tremendously. I am a very rare case, even in entire medical literature there isn’t any similar because I survived due to a Latvian doctor’s creative treatment, although nobody expected because with such degree of injuries it simply had not been possible before. And now they have to fix a tiny part and it goes so wrong. Carelessness, taking things too easy, having some kind of hope that something will straighten out itself, well, in severe cases that doesn’t happen. I will write about all this how doctor’s unreasonably positive attitude caused me insane troubles. I explained today what he missed and he had to agree with the most parts because lab is now proving it. I simply lost time, I will write about that more later when I can sit, stand, walk, write and normally be again. There is a slight chance I won’t need the second big surgery, doing everything to make that happen. That includes blood cleaning herbal tees and simply lots of herbs. Well, the canadian medicine failed to help so far.

        Liked by 1 person

      7. I pressed like though like is not the right word at all. You poor woman! There are some professional people (mainly men I must say!) who are so arrogant that they won’t listen to anyone and especially the people who are most concerned like you. I hope you can avoid more big surgery and that the new antibiotics and adjustment surgery works. My prayers continue to be with you xx

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      8. Inese Poga Art plus Life

        Thanks! I am putting huge hopes on this antibiotic switch, too. However, I can feel already it won’t address all issues. They are looking only at the surgical site, but I am clearly feeling it goes beyond that. It’s most likely the joint inflammation also and this particular antibiotic won’t help any small bit with that. What the medical specialists are lacking here is the intuitively creative approach hence you cannot fix health problems by the book, not when they are very complex and when they involve more than just one or two body systems. Surprising to me is that there is no attempt to prevent anything, but only fix, and I am used to straight the opposite: do everything in order something worse wouldn’t happen. Prevention is the missing link in this sort of technologically advanced country, but the flexibility of a human mind is totally absent. Medical specialists are just really way worse here.

        Liked by 1 person

      9. I am so sorry Inese. I have been finding that doctors here in England are getting like that too. We have to fight so hard these days to get the help we need. A lot of the trouble is lack of funding for research in medicine. If the big wealthy drug producers are not interested then the correct drugs are not made. Very short-sighted.

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      10. Inese Poga Art plus Life

        Completely agree. Doctor said they had to kick me out straight after the surgery because they don’t have enough government covered hospital beds. It also depend on the doctor’s personality and nature. Doctor is a human, too, therefore, they are not perfect at all, and they have to delegate lots of tasks to people who they quite frequently don’t know.
        England is a bit different from place where I am from. Latvia was never assumed as an extraordinary high class medical service country, however, I was lucky to get to the best physicians available, just happened that way. One is the best in the skin and bone injuries way beyond Latvia. He is fanatically devoted to his patients and does not actually expect any extra remuneration or so. It is rare, and such doctors are very rare: highly skilled, with huge knowledge and experience. He realistically saved my life. I can save the same about other Latvian doctors who were treating me: extraordinary skills and experience.

        Liked by 1 person

      12. Inese Poga Art plus Life

        … and real help is rare. Many would talk a lot how they can do this and that and, like you said, without a true love to what one does, it just doesn’t work. I find it here mostly a money issue and less of a genuine interest. The extent of care matches the level of payment amount. I have seen good nurses here and they are definitely underpaid, but skillful doctors are certainly rare and there is a huge lack of the good ones.

        Liked by 1 person

      14. Inese Poga Art plus Life

        It sure is. I’m looking forward to starting to feel better, to get back to what I so much want to do. Well, garden is unattended and in this 40 degree Celsius heat there won’t be much left. My priority is, though, to get the wound to become responsive and cleaner. It needs now to be really clean in order to proceed. Well, hopefully, medications work and no new complications arise.

        Liked by 1 person

      15. It is good to prioritize. A garden can be re-made, there is always housework however hard you work at it so that can be left too. The most important work is getting you healthy again. All my best wishes to you xx

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  9. Inese, I commented on Cynthia’s blog before I noticed your blog address. I really liked that poem. The feeling of calm throughout and how we must make time for witnessing the green calm of nature. I think I am already an ancient city! Beautiful image – thank you..

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    1. Inese Poga Art plus Life

      Well, reading these nice words was like honey to my tongue. I’ve been always a nature’s child regardless where I ever lived. Thanks so much!

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  14. Inese, this is beautiful to see and read. I believe everyone has “hidden treasure underneath” that can be enjoyed by those who slow down enough to notice. Thank you for sharing some of your treasure through your writing.
    Blessings ~ Wendy

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    1. Inese Poga Art plus Life

      Thanks Wendy! So nice to read these comments. Your words made me really happy!
      I had surgery in the morning, but had to go to emergency in the evening, I will post something more next week. We need rain and cool air big time here. My heart breaks, the garden was doing so fine and I cannot walk at the moment, I am looking for somebody to help. One of my art students told she would stop by. Well, it’s tough, need help with everything. I hope I can tell something better next week. I will also follow up on everybody’s blogs probably not sooner than a week from now.

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      2. Inese Poga Art plus Life

        Thanks Wendy! I feel this morning as if excessively beaten up. I hope there might be rain. First 2 weeks probably will be the worst and after 6 weeks I hope to be fine. It depends on a few factors. Thanks again!

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    1. Inese Poga Art plus Life

      Thanks Margaret! I certainly hope I am over the worst part because it has been pure night mare all these days following the surgery. The surgical site is infected now due to the staff negligence and the infection was spreading out extremely fast. Attached to antibiotic pump currently. That’s also difficult, but I just hope this antibiotic will work. Thanks for visiting my blog!

      Liked by 1 person

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      2. Inese Poga Art plus Life

        When I’m able to type again, you will probably like some posts. I really regret now I didn’t go to Europe to do this surgery. I cannot even express how upset and disappointed I am with all the carelessness, negligence and watching money policy in Canadian health care. It’s terrible. I sort of knew that the health care here is way worth than in Europe, and I don’t know how I didn’t make the right decision.

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    1. Inese Poga Art plus Life

      Thank you dreamer so much! This is useful while I’m trying to recover. I hoped to post something new, but unfortunately energy levels are very low yet.

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  17. So beautifully penned and moving, dear Inese…
    We are so busy `running´ at time that we don’t even notice we are already trapped in the trap of the endless rushing, as you say…

    These are my favorite verses-excerpt:

    `This must be the secret of growing:

    At our own pace, at our own terms.

    At the end, we all become ancient cities:

    Lost somewhere deep under happily growing greens´.

    Great post… thank you… Sending love and best wishes. Aquileana ☀️

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    1. Inese Poga Art plus Life

      Thanks Aquileana! I am flattered you found these lines speaking to you. I’m sort writing in images, and I love imaging this happening: peacefully growing over with lively greens.

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  18. well earlier today I wrote a poem about NOT being on other people’s timelines – or the supposed societal ones that choke and rob! and I added a part about Thoreau’s “march to your own beat” idea – and well – this post is similar….
    my favorite line is “do you have time for that?”
    mmm – that is good!
    I also like what you wrote about growing and growing some more…. with the garden notes and I just really like your thinking – 😉

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    1. Inese Poga Art plus Life

      This is one more very heart-warming comment, thanks for that! I am trying to be honest with anything I write, I simply cannot tell one thing and later act in a completely different way. I actually love being an intact glass dish so that everything shines through and there are no dark waters hidden underneath. I am Leo and born in Dog’s year. You know what that means, right? I am for justice and truth and I will be guarding these no matter what. I sometimes get in big troubles because of that,
      Could please send a link to your poem? I will later ckeck out more of your blog, and maybe I can find it, but it wouldn’t hurt, you inserted the link.

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      1. hi – the poem is actually in a paper notebook – but I will post it and share it and come back and give you the link – ok?
        because I actually wrote one earlier this month that I wanted to share online too – it moved me and I think you will like it – it was for a student I was working with – and she liked it too-
        but a side note – I write very elementary poetry – it is my style and a couple of years ago a lady came to my blog offering tips on prose and what not – really! lol – and so now sometimes I give a little note with my poems – I say “listen up poetry police…. this is how I want it….”
        I am not too into astrology – but fellow leo Amiga – and the year of the monkey! ha!

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      2. Inese Poga Art plus Life

        I am always for freedom of our personal expression, and I certainly do not come to read poems in order to teach somebody what and how to write. It is just fair we leave it up to the writer. We might love it, hate it or have another feelings towards it, but it makes no sense to read a poem and then point out what they didn’t get, understood or thought as if not pleasing their taste.
        You should definitely post it and I will read it with huge interest because judging by your very insightful and distinctive from anybody else’s comments, I most likely will find it interesting and worth thinking about. I sometimes also haven’t posted writings because I’m afraid it is too distinctive. Please send the link if I have missed the post.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. well thanks for that – and I actually don’t post my poems because they are personal and that is really about it – I am also an open book ((love your glass analogy)) but online privacy is something I am still digesting –
        and the lady who was offering tips (Diana) well I saw her giving feedback (usually advice) on many blogs – it was in 2014 and i think it was her MO at the time – this mode of mentor – or advice giver – and whew – I did not take it personal – and now in hindsight I actually feel bad for someone in that mode -even tho some people soaked her up – but I digress – I will be in touch in a few days! take care

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      4. Inese Poga Art plus Life

        I’ve been teacher for very many years, especially back in Europe, I love teaching, but still: there is some kind of line which we shouldn’t cross. We should place online only that stuff which is really meant for everybody’s eyes. People disagree and people have other ideas, basically we cannot take anything very personally. Some people live only to tell others that they are wrong. Doing it anonymously online opens doors to all kinds of nonsense. It is scary to share some stuff. I have sort of overcome that fear, and I’m not even native English, so I cannot see why you couldn’t share some of your poetry.
        Well, I need to recover, too. One more treatment tomorrow.
        Talk to you some time next week and have a good weekend!

        Liked by 1 person

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