Heather Tucker

Happy International Women's Day to all my sisters, daughters and friends, who juggle each day with grace, ingenuity and humour. I am inspired by your creativity, resilience and compassion.

To all my friends, readers and fellow creatives, may your 2021 be as spectacular as its first sunrise.

For those who ‘liked’ my glass garden When stressed, I push myself to the water. The rhythm of the waves deepens my breathing, the changing light calms me, and the hunt for beach glass centers me in the present moment. Past hurts and future fears are on pause as I look for treasures at my feet. When I get home, I empty my pockets into my garden. My intent was to one day make stepping-stones from the pieces, but now I think I’ll just let them be. I don’t have to weed them and in both sunshine and rain they sparkle, reminding me that broken is beautiful.

I woke to this spectacular gift from my daughter and granddaughter in my garden. Delightful, given 'Cracked Pots' is the title of my upcoming novel. Sweeter still, for a writer, it came with a metaphor. Sarah said, "Sorry, when we were carrying it, the bottom fell out." Well, isn't that a lot like life.... Thank you Sarah and Gemma for seeing the beauty in broken, discarded things.

Fascinating how the lake reflected my feelings this morning. The seahorse reminds me to curl my tail around something solid and hold on.

A friend challenged me to post a book a day for a week. How to choose from thousands of profound books? It was a good kind of agony. I could go on for years, I think, posting a book a day that has impacted my life. How utterly blessed I am to have so many books filling my shelves, my mind, my soul. How grateful are we readers, that in this time of isolation, whole universes are open to us?!

Where there’s hope, there’s life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.~ Anne Frank Wishing my tribe, and all of humanity, a day that is hope full.

Transformation doesn’t ask that you stop being you. It demands that you find a way back to the authenticity and strength that’s already inside of you. You only have to bloom. Cheryl Strayed, Brave Enough Thanks, Deb Stanbury for this great quote and for the journal challenge. It was a spectacular stress-alleviating distraction.... Hope everyone is blooming where they've been planted.

Since we can't connect in person right now, here's a challenge for all my visual journalling friends. Play with this quote in your journal and share with me what emerges. Inside the word "emergency" is "emerge"; from an emergency new things come forth. The old certainties are crumbling fast, but danger and possibility are sisters.- From Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Sonlit

One of the most courageous women I've ever met, Jenn, gifted me this poem, Sometimes, by Sheenagh Pugh. It, I think, is a fitting hope to share today.

Recently, I visited Yayoi Kusama's instillation at the AGO,'Let's Survive Forever ', with a new friend who feels like a kindred old friend. In that room, I felt the presence of all the women standing behind me, walking beside me and those ahead, paving the way forward. I know I'm a day late for International Women's Day, but I am so grateful for all the extraordinary women in my life. I would not be standing without your support.

Finding a foothold yesterday was difficult. So, there I was, stuck on the couch, until Calli shared her wisdom. What else could I do but get up, put on our coats and dance through the beauty of a winter world. Hope Calli brings a smile to your day like she did mine. I get up, I walk, I fall down, meanwhile I keep dancing. ~ Hillel

Perfect vision #1: First sunrise of 2020

2020~ Wishing everyone a year of perfect visions!

Wishing everyone a joy full day!

A letter landed in my mailbox. Looking at it one way, I saw alienation. From a different angle, freedom. Regardless of the intent with which it was sent, my shift in perspective redefined what it meant... Yes, I know, it's best I leave poetry to the masters. "As silence smiles on the other side of what's said, May your sense of irony bring perspective." John O'Donohue