A Beautiful Noticing – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw

Precious is the quiet morning when I sit to breathe, just breathe. The highway hum in the distance, accompanied by a faint unknown rumble, and the caws of a bird, are heard in this stillness. How often does the environment around me go unnoticed as I am going about my day? The box of my mind has me doing and going. The senses of my body are left behind. Every time I stop, and return to my breath throughout the day, I return to a conscious noticing. It is then that I return to my body. My arms, my legs, my heart, and my mind are one again. There is a relief in just breathing.

When I first tried meditation is was unaccessible. Stillness did not feel safe. Letting go was scary. I lived in protection mode and this surrender to motionless living was a foreign land. Bit by bit I have found peaceful connection and I am grateful for all the guides who have helped me along the way. 

constricted muscles
seek winter sunlight, birds perch 
pause to exhale pain

© Ali Grimshaw 2024

Join me at dVerse Poets' Pub for
Haibun Monday 1-29-24: Breath

Photo taken during our most recent ice storm. It is a close up of the beautiful frost on my bathroom window.

25 thoughts on “A Beautiful Noticing – Poem by Ali Grimshaw”

  1. I have yet to learn to be still and embrace the art of non-doing. But I am slowly getting there because as we all know, it can harness the benefits of reduced stress, increased enjoyment, and a calmer pace of life. This mindful practice helps you become more engaged with the present moment and begin to experience its vast richness. But just like you, I found that stuffing each moment with a distraction or trying to cross something off my to-do list, was quite difficult at first. Thanks for sharing. Aiva xx

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  11. A “conscious return to my breath” — perfect description — “My arms, my legs, my heart, and my mind are one again. There is a relief in just breathing.” So profoundly hard given the “The box of my mind has me doing and going” and so profoundly necessary. I too found that breathing is the pathway to meditation, making “letting go less scary.” Perceptive thoughts, beautifully written, Ali.

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    1. Thank you for this thoughtful reflection back. I hadn’t thought much about this journey until I started to write about it. Isn’t it wonderful how writing allows us to take our learning deeper?
      Wishing you many deep, full breaths today.

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