Tiffany Painter

Power of Clocks
It’s that time of year again. I never know if we are starting Daylight Savings or ending it this weekend. I just know we fall back and borrow an extra hour of sleep. It’s harder when we have to give that hour back next March. The extra light in the morning is nice, but I don’t like how dark it will get in the early evenings. There is always talk about ending this insane clock changing, but it never seems to go anywhere. People grumble for a week until their internal clocks catch up and then it’s dropped until we have to do it again. I am in favor of ending the madness, but I don’t tend to like change in general. When you throw in the change in weather that seems to go hand in hand with the clocks, I know my mood will be changing as well. So whatever the cause – clocks, seasons, moods – it will be a dark few months until we can spring forward again.
10/23

birds flying above
golden leaves sing a welcome
clear lake reflects all
10/26

shadows underneath
heat of sun still pushes through
warms this cool morning
10/28

can you hear the sound
of leaves crunching under feet
autumn’s melody
11/1

before morning sun
path still hidden in darkness
beating heart guides me
11/2

quiet morning swim
fog rolls across tranquil lake
sun last to arrive
November 2, 2024

change, fall, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, seasons, Walks with Zephyr
Rise and Shine
My dog doesn’t understand Sleep-in-Saturdays. Once he started stirring, the cats were quick to follow. Since I’m clearly not the boss around her, I was up too. After making it down the stairs in the dark without tripping over any fur friends, I started the circus routing of feeding them their personalized meals. Once I had my shoes and coat on, Zephyr and I were ready to head out for our walk. I switched to my prescription sunglasses and had the door locked before realizing just how dark it still was. I assumed the sun would be making its grand entrance soon and decided not to switch glasses. It didn’t take long to settle in and take notice of the surroundings. Today I was going to have to use my ears instead of my eyes though. The trail was silent with only the two of us up and out this early on a weekend day. By the time we got to the high school parking lot we were greeted with the caws from the crows hanging out overhead on the lights. They were either asking if we saw any food for them or warning us against eating anything we found because they already laid claim. Further along I could hear the honking from the geese flying south early on their winter migration. When we got to the dirt trail by the lake the silence was interrupted by the crunching of the gravel beneath our feet. A few people joined us with a nod of their head or a whispered wish for a good morning. The sun was busy trying to shine its light on us but was hindered by cloud cover. As we came back to the sidewalk in the neighborhood I spied a pile of golden leaves under a tree. Thinking about a friend who told me she loves the sound of walking through the autumn leaves, I turned my feet toward them and crunched my way down the center of them. The final sound of our journey was the squeak from my kitten welcoming us back. The walk may have come earlier than planned, but it was worth it to enjoy the lovely morning concert.
10/8

watching from afar
sun making its grand entrance
light after darkness
10/10

truce at water hole
keeping eye on each other
rough-housing timeout
10/12

detained mid descent
before the fall was complete
caught in sticky web
10/15

colors of autumn
reflecting back this morning
lovely earthtone hues
10/19

watercolor paint
canvas waits for morning tone
splashes across sky
October 19, 2024

birds, fall, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, walking, Walks with Zephyr
Imposter Syndrome
Last week I attended my favorite writing conference of the year. The opening speaker talked about her experiences with imposter syndrome. Writers battle these feelings frequently. Since hearing her speak, I’ve been revisiting her speech and my own experiences of feeling like an imposter. My takeaway is that I have been fighting a war in my head for most of my life. As a child, I always questioned where I fit in. Was I good enough for one group or another? Did I deserve the grades I got, awards I received, friends I had? Notice I never thought I earned those things? These feelings stayed with me into adulthood. Even as a brand new mother I remember questioning the hospital for letting me drive away in charge of the newborn baby buckled into his carrier in the backseat. What were they thinking trusting me to know what I was doing? When I was teaching I never felt sure enough to just wing it like some of my coworkers. I spent endless hours planning lessons and reviewing content to make sure I was smarter than an eight-year-old. My masters degree did nothing to ease my insecurities. Now that I am attempting this writing thing, I worry about being too old or not passionate enough to break through the gatekeepers. I don’t seem to have the same need to write that other writers talk of. For a job, I enjoy writing, but I’ve never thought of it as a hobby I do because it’s fun. I’ve always had stories playing in my head and like the challenge of trying to write them down so they make sense, but it’s not a driving force. Does that mean I’m not actually a writer? After hearing a successful creative person talk about her imposter syndrome, I think it’s safe to say the one thing we all have in common is that we all feel like we’re not enough at some point. The good news is that if everyone is worrying about their own self worth, chances are nobody is taking the time to judge you.
9/24

after meowing,
chasing, jumping, and climbing
comes time for resting
9/28

early morning view
painted sky pulls me along
into a new day
9/29

stories in the sky
like words meeting on paper
waiting to be told
10/4

glowing path waiting
guiding day filled with wonder
gift from closest star
10/5

morning light hiding
still rising above us all
leafage can’t compete
October 5, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, scbwi
Patience
I just spent a few days in Nashville visiting a bookstore on my list of places I want to see. This post could be about why bookstores are on this list, but instead it’s about an author event I attended. Parnassus Books, an amazing independent bookstore co-owned by the great Ann Patchett, hosted an evening with Elizabeth Strout. The award winning Strout has written several books over the years and introduced readers to quirky characters from small town, Maine. But the most interesting character that night was Strout herself. She could represent so many of us. Never quite sure she could make a life as a writer, she got a law degree, after a couple of attempts to finish law school, and briefly practiced law. Strout took a few writing courses but was told her work wasn’t good enough. In her younger days she thought the worst thing that could happen was she could end up waiting tables because her writing couldn’t support her. It was only after years of not really enjoying her job that she realized there actually could be something worse. It took years of practicing and trying and working at various jobs to pay her bills that Strout finally got her first book published. Since 2000 she has published many more with great success. Some call her an overnight sensation, but there are decades that happened before that overnight success. She had to put in the time and effort to reach her dreams. As a society we are used to success being achieved right out of the gate or never at all. We celebrate those who are great immediately and cast aside those who have to persevere. The Strouts of the world show us that we are all capable of so much more with a little patience and a lot of determination. Some dreams just come about slowly. We all need a reminder that the path might be a long windy one, but we should never stop believing in our dreams.
9/10

end of season bloom
time marks the end for a few
the start for others
9/11

notice books waiting
before heading to bookstore
to be read later
9/12

so many choices
how to pick just one
endless possibilities
9/14

my heart is fickle
madly in love every time
adore the indies
9/17

toes happy in sand
but just a block from the beach
place to please my heart
9/20

no longer needed
computers made obsolete
still enjoy seeing
9/21

interesting choice
carry-on bag limited
hope different flight
September 21, 2024

beach, dreams, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, joyful, Parnassus Books
End of a Season
It had to happen. The calendar was flipped to a new month and a new season. I know the official start to fall is not for a few weeks, but once a certain coffee company starts advertising the pumpkin spice again, I know summer is over. I will begrudgingly admit there are a few nice things about fall, just not that flavored coffee. The cooler mornings have some merit. Later sunrises trick my pets into a few more minutes of sleep. Watching people get excited over football is fun. Switching from shorts to jeans can be nice, maybe. I might be looking forward to mornings with a warm cup of tea instead of my iced chai. I never miss pulling weeds and think they may finally be going away. The changing of the leaves from green to yellow and orange is magical. All of these things are nice, but my heart is already counting down the days until next summer. There is a feeling about summer that no other season can capture. But I will stay open-minded and continue to search for the little things all the other seasons can provide. It’s a skill worth perfecting since I have to do it with so many people out there, especially during an election year. So alright fall, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.
8/27

morning sun calls out
let the light move you forward
away from darkness
8/31

behind wooden bars
looking for way to escape
obstacles sidelined
9/2

quiet place to rest
just minding his own business
hiding from kitten
9/4

lessons from the trail
whether hiking or living
simple rules to guide
9/7

just over the screen
a little face watches me
distracts me from work
September 7, 2024

cats, change, fall, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, joyful, kittens, seasons, Walks with Zephyr
One Step Back
Things were going well for my dog after his elbow surgery eight weeks ago, until they weren’t. He slipped on the wet grass and hurt the same area again. We have an appointment for the vet later today. He seems to have set himself back about three to four weeks. Watching him limping again brought back how hard those weeks of recovery were for everyone. Anytime we move backwards instead of forwards it is hard. It could be a recovery from an illness, a career setback, or relationship changes. Feeling like you are moving in the wrong direction is never fun. But we have to remember life is not a straight path. The direction is always changing. Going backwards might just be about finding a different, and often better, course. Sure, I would prefer my dog not be injured, but it’s going to be okay if we have to shorten his activity and give him more time to completely heal. And if he needs more meds, I’m sure he won’t mind having cheese balls again during the day. (We were wrapping his pills in cheese to get him to swallow them). Rest is a great time for reflection and appreciation, and a little extra cheese is always nice.
8/6

sometimes mom is right
I’ll just try out this new bed
perfect for my nap
8/8

picture perfect day
any way you look at it
sitting in the shade
8/10

before the darkness
last of the light inspires
dream catcher awaits
8/15

parking in the shade
bigger not always better
cool ride for the win
8/16

stuffed backpack weighs down
wheels spin with every pedal
headed back again
8/20

change of scenery
following watery path
under bright blue sky
8/21

time to do something
together we can unite
vote for a shared path
8/24

balancing life with
bag of rocks, slab of concrete
trying to stay dry
August 24, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, Walks with Zephyr
Olympic Firsts
I was watching the Olympic gymnastic competition this past week like everyone else. In between trying not to feel ancient as they referred to the twenty-seven year old athletes as old and in total awe of the gravity-defying tricks being performed, I wondered about their first times. The first time they let go of the bar they were spinning around and twist their body in a few different directions before catching the bar again. Or the first time they ran full speed at an obstacle only to use their hands to push themselves up and over it with a few somersaults thrown in for fun. Don’t forget about leaping all around on a plank that isn’t much wider than their foot. And in all of these things the pressure to “stick the landing” is always present. By the time we see them perform, they have practiced and mastered, mostly, these things. But what must have gone through their heads the first time they tried doing these impossible things? It kind of makes me rethink all the times I hesitated or doubted myself before trying something new. Most of my firsts didn’t involve life-threatening events. My firsts were more like trying something new at work, making a new dish in the kitchen, trying a new yoga pose. Watching these athletes puts it all into prospective. If they can be brave enough to literally fly through the air, I can be brave enough to try balancing on my hands in a crouched position. Maybe someday I’ll master that crow pose. If I don’t, that’s okay, but at least I tried something new. And I don’t have the entire world watching to see if I succeed.
7/29

just across the pond
past the smooth serenity
summer life reflects
8/1

shadows glide away
morning light makes an entrance
launch of vibrant dawn
8/3

adjustments were made
course corrections from living
sinuous timber
August 3, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, Walks with Zephyr, wondering
Finding Your Why
In another life this coming week would mark the end of summer for me. The beginning of August marks the start of a new school year for teachers heading back to the trenches of education. I have many friends who are making the transition back to the classrooms over the next few weeks. For those who still enjoy all the good things about teaching it is a time of new beginnings, but for those who have lost their why (those who know will understand this), it is easy to get lost in the despair of leaving summer behind. For my lost friends as you start a new year, maybe aim for a different why. Your why doesn’t have to be so grand as dedicating your life to all those children who benefit greatly from your tireless efforts. The establishment wants those kind of whys. But your whys can just be because retirement is only a couple years away, or because health benefits are a good thing for you and our family, or because you enjoy a job that allows you be the boss in your space for a few hours each day. It’s okay for your job to just be a job. Teachers do not need to carry the burden of society on their backs. It is hard enough without all that pressure. If you got into teaching, you have already proven yourself to be a hard working, caring, compassionate person. On that first PD day when you are asked for you why, it’s okay if it’s just because that’s your job. You teach because that is your job. Don’t let it be your everything. Let something else be your passion for a change.
7/23

standing all alone
pole’s line drops below surface
long wait for answer
7/24

cruising neighborhood
no need for rider today
enjoying the sun
7/26

on the trail again
half walks better than no walks
will be running soon
7/27

take in a deep breath
savoring the morning view
ready for the day
July 27, 2024

fall, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, teaching, Walks with Zephyr
Lessons From Max and Millie
Max and Millie are the resident cats. Max is about 14 1/2 years old and Millie is just 3 1/2 months old. As you can imagine, they have two very different approaches to life. Max likes to observe things and pick and choose what he wants to be part of. He very rarely chooses activities that involve lots of people and noise. His idea of a good time is a quiet evening in front of the television. Max is perfectly content to spend the afternoon hidden away in the dark storage room snuggled up in his bed. The only time he will give that up is if there is a warm lap to curl up on instead. His motto is less is more for living a good life. Millie, on the other hand, has a different philosophy guiding her. Wherever the action is happening is where you will find her. Life is best lived when she is going full speed ahead. Well, until she absolutely runs out of gas. Then she either climbs to the highest perch or under a chair to recharge. These rest breaks can last hours sometimes, and other times, she may only need a few minutes to get her second or third wind. Once she is recharged, she’s off and running again. She is determined to get the most out of life as fast as she can. Her only disappointment so far is she hasn’t convinced Max to join her on her adventures. So far, it seems these two ways of living are an either or kind of thing and they have not figured out how to compromise and merge their ideas. Some people are just the Maxes of the world and go slow and steady. Other people are the Millies and run full steam ahead afraid of missing out on something. It’s a good thing we have both types to balance out the world.
7/17

debating order
seniority should outrank
youth elicits change
7/18

just playing it cool
keeping a low profile
here if you need me
7/19

forgotten treasure
waits in the field to be claimed
soaking up the sun
7/20

eyes following me
watching every move I make
waiting for action
July 20, 2024

cats, change, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, kittens, pets
Go Slow to Go Far
I may have mentioned before that my dog is injured. The same dog who needs an hour walk each morning followed by several trips out to chase tennis balls, and that is still never enough. He now is on a six-week recovery plan that involves no tennis balls and limited walking. During this time of rest I’ve had time to reflect how so many of us live with that type of mentality. Always feeling like we must be doing more and going farther, and feeling guilty if we aren’t doing enough. When life steps in and forces a slow-down, sometimes we get the opportunity to reflect on things. I have been given this gift of time with my injured dog to think. Just because you are moving swiftly along, doesn’t mean you are going anywhere. Slowing down can give a person a new perspective that leads to new paths. It’s like riding a bike and you are spinning your legs as fast as you can but not getting up that hill. If you adjust the gears and change your cadence you might have better luck. As the vet says, go slow to go far.
7/24/23

quiet morning walks
before the heat of the day
with my loyal dog
8/31/23

dogs, sun, and dirt trails
few of my favorite things
guiding my journey
9/9/23

catching and fetching
hard work when done correctly
much needed rest break
A few throwbacks from last summer when Zephyr was able to hike and play.
7/13

calling me onward
while the streets are still quiet
before the chatter
July 13, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, thankful, Walks with Zephyr