The apartment is in a state of #chaos, though not as much as it was before. I have a better grasp of where to find what I need but still go on at least one scavenger hunt a day. It is taking me as long to unpack as it did to pack. I don't know why this surprises me. #vss365

A taste of the forbidden #fruit May condemn me in their eyes Think what you stand to lose, they say You'll keep the course if you are wise But discontent has been my lot For longer than I care to think In fact, a taste might not suffice Juice up the lot for me to drink. #vss365

My mother's after-work ritual was to #tend to every flower in the yard before she set foot in the house. We would watch her ramble, realigning her equilibrium before starting her next job: us. Hunger and impatience made us learn to cook. Very astute of her, I know now. #vss365

Behold the #creation Of a new phase of life Where focus on well-being Turns the word "selfish" Into a positive trait Focusing on what Brings this self Peace and happiness Without guilt Without naysayers To hold back joy #vss365

I'm not able to save changes to my profile. Anyone know what might be going on? I have already uninstalled and reinstalled the app. Still no save button.

I yield to #temptation Of sitting up in bed 9:30 in the morning Drinking coffee And reading the words Of friends and acquaintances Who showcase their talents On a platform called #vss365 My brain turns busily To come up with a piece As worthy as theirs But this time falls short

I introduced Bonny to our new apartment yesterday. She did not #arrive a happy cat. Riding in a car always causes her anxiety. So far, she seems to be settling in just fine, if more clingy than usual. I assembled our bed, to her delight, and will tackle boxes today. #vss365

No time now To tap the #brake The start of My new life's at stake Momentum Has me in its grip Cannot falter Cannot trip Soon enough The dust will clear Though no one Will be there to cheer I'll know it's A job well-done And turn to well-earned Rest and fun #vss365

A simple cottage On the #coast Minimal worries The would boast It was the dream They lived at first Until reality Their bubble burst The salt air meant Constant repairs Hurricane warnings Caused untold cares They had to relent Move inland And leave behind The sea and sand #vss365

Their evening ritual Glass of wine in hand Watching the sun #descend Into ocean waters One final display Of multicolored magic Before night takes its turn To rule the island sky #vss365

Sometimes, the views are spectacular. Sometimes, they're obscured by clouds. But the clouds are beautiful in their own right, seen from an angle only achieved at the #summit. Keep climbing the mountains, but don't forget to appreciate where you are. #vss365

So much of life is taken up by the mundane and it's easy to let the brain wander in those times to the shoulda, coulda, wouldas of what never was. I find a counted #cadence helps keep me focused on the task at hand and rooted in the now. #vss365

There was no warning. As I felt the express elevator #ascend, my knees nearly buckled. The descent after had me terrified. I exited that swaying building grateful to be from a small town where buildings stayed put and elevators were leisurely conveyances. #vss365

My descent into mental illness was a slow process. If I'd sought help sooner, the worst might never have happened. As it was, I spent years in a state of terror, too afraid to ask for anything. When the #shift occurred, it was nothing less than a miracle to me. #vss365

My father preferred a two-lane country #road to any interstate highway. As he drove, I would wonder at the sparkles in the pavement, listen to the radio, and wave to cars going the other way. I usually got waves in return. #vss365

They set straight into the stiff breeze for that trip's first walk along the beach. Beth's hair rose and fell as if it had a life of its own. A shell hunt yielded treasures as the surf tickled their ankles. Finally, the #tailwind gently pushed them back to the cottage. #vss365

Whenever my daughter played magical pretend, she would never just #turn a thing into something else or make it disappear. She would always wave an imaginary wand and "poof" the thing into whatever she wanted. You couldn't have magic without the "poof". #vss365

In one hand A cup of coffee In the other Affirmations For the day ahead In my mind Apprehension For moving day Soothed by The knowledge All will be well #Balance Outside and in #vss365

I'm headed into the final #sprint now. Less than (fewer than?) two weeks remain until my move is official. Last minute packing remains to be done. Then I say goodbye to my home of 32 years and step into my new adventure. It's time. #vss365

It wasn't her chosen career, but it paid well and kept her comfortable, so she applied herself and played the game. She was doubly frustrated, then, when her efforts failed to gain #momentum. In hindsight, she knew the frustration had not been worthwhile. #vss365

Sometimes a challenge is just a #headwind to be maneuvered around and overcome. Sometimes, it's a sign that we have strayed from our true path. Part of adulting is learning the difference. No one said it was easy, but the journey is oh, so worth it. #vss365

A flurry of activity When I #depart Movers and boxes Deciding what goes where Assembling and reassmbling Setting the stage For what comes next But when the dust clears And I'm left on my own Will I know what next stage is #vss365

With dreams bright and shiny, we set out to #conquer dragons and heap glory on ourselves. It is as it should be, or so we believe. Time, eventually, shows our foes to be but windmills. Our true glory is never outside of us, our rewards much closer to home. #vss365

Because she knew how it felt to be a #patient, she wanted to be a nurse. Over the duration of hospital visits and tests for a condition that eluded doctors for years, the one shining constant was the care she received from teams of dedicated nurses. She joined them. #vss365

She sports each new tattoo with #unabashed pride. Her parents don't approve and she's sorry for that, but she will express herself in her own way. They look glorious. Her mother wonders how they will look in 20 years. #vss365

My grandfather had a toy of two little Scotty dogs. When nose to nose, they seemed content, but if one tried to face the rear of the other, the rearward dog would scoot away. They worked by #magnetism, of course. For the children he entertained, though, it was magic. #vss365

I #embrace this day This morning This moment Knowing there is joy In simple things Lessons to learn From challenges And peace within me Whether sunshine or storm #vss365

While she could appreciate the beauty of a long-stemmed florist's #rose, she preferred the clusters of climbing roses on her trellis. Their fragrance was a combination of memory and longing that eclipsed any need for perfection in form. #vss365

In that neighborhood was a hill that called to every child to #frolic and roll down its grassy slope. I answered that call even though I knew how allergic I was to its sweetness. My skin would break out in itching madness, but the lure of short-lived bliss was too strong. #vss365

She entered this world with #defiance in her heart. Even though it drove her parents to distraction, they were grateful for it. Her will kept her alive and vital when the odds were stacked against her. Better a child who goes her own way than no child at all. #vss365