I’m going backwards a step this week, to chapter 26, because I think the lesson in it is important one for me to remember and perhaps for you too. (I have a feeling Laura already has a habit around this idea but I’m working to develop one.)

This chapter is all about small stones. Now that caught my attention right away because I am forever picking up stones. When we removed the lawns from our yard I had a field day collected little tiny no bigger than your thumb pieces of smooth stones. I have a pile of them in the yard I keep adding to.

The other thing that spoke to me in this chapter is that it is all about doing something that I am trying to get better at doing, slowing down and being in the moment so I can notice what is right in front of me. I am really trying to make the effort to do that because every single time I do, poetry and words just spew forth. It’s like they were just hanging around waiting for me to open my eyes.

This very short chapter talks about how another writer, Fiona Robyn, started a website (http://asmallstone.com) to record her small stone thoughts. On that website she says, “a small stone helps me pay proper attention to one thing every day. I hope it will help you to do the same.

I have tried more times than I can remember in the past to keep some kind of regular journal or something to record my daily thoughts and outside of this blog, that doesn’t work for me. But small stones, poetic fragments, perhaps that’s doable.

She suggests trying for three thoughts per day. 1, something in nature. 2, observe yourself in a relationship with someone or something and 3, seek out something you might not otherwise notice because you’re unconsciously filtering it out.

I really like this idea because it fits in with my idea of slowing down and being in the moment while also trying to train myself to observe the ordinary around me. It also goes hand-in-hand with the other habit I am trying to cultivate, ala Beth Kephart, which is to write 5 metaphors a day.

I invite you to share your three poetic fragments for the day in the comments below.

And a note from Laura about next week’s conversation. She’d like you to start thinking about a song whose lyrics really touch you. You”ll want to have one in mind for her post next week.

Okay these are quickies. I want to come back try to add to these fragments but here’s a first pass.

1. something in nature.

Wasps building holey huts under the eaves.
They work as hard as the bees but for much less credit.

2. observe yourself in a relationship with someone or something

Letting paint spill across the page makes me feel like I have just taken a humungous breath of fresh air.

3. seek out something you might not otherwise notice because you’re unconsciously filtering it out.

Dust on the white moldings reminds me beach sand.