Friday, January 22, 2021

Head Space

With the recent departure of a certain occupant of a house that is white, I've felt a shift in my brain function.

I can now think about other things 45% more of the time!

Get it? 45 percent?






 

What shall I do with my freed up headspace?

Create!

Along with so many, I echo the awe of Amanda Gorman's inaugural poem and of, well, HER! 

(Did you see her interview with Anderson Cooper? Swoon!)

The following line from her inaugural poem, The Hill We Climb, inspired my GOLDEN SHOVEL pledge poem:

"striving to form a union that is perfect" ~ Amanda Gorman

I will keep striving 

to write love and lightness into the world, to 

spread kindness in the form 

of my silly humor that only a 

goofball like me can create, to 'bridge'* a union 

between despair and delight that 

gives momentary respite as we continue to endure what is 

because what is is not yet perfect

©2021, Bridget Magee. All Rights Reserved.

*my name even brings things together!😉

Now if I could just free up the other 55% from worrying about Covid...








Mosey on over to this week's Poetry Friday hostess, Laura Shovan's blog for her profound insights on Amanda Gorman's brilliance.



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32 comments:

  1. Linda MitchellJanuary 22, 2021 at 1:16 PM

    Woot! Golden shovels rule the day. I love that the world and we poets are in conversation with Amanda Gorman. Your line, "write love and lightness into the world..." it's perfect. I'm happy for your head space. I'm enjoying my new head space too!

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 23, 2021 at 12:46 PM

      Thanks, Linda! There was so much good stuff that came out of Wednesday's inauguration, not the least of which is Ms Gorman's poem. I dig that we both dug into the Golden Shovel form! :)

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  2. TabathaJanuary 22, 2021 at 1:41 PM

    To "Bridge" a union -- love it! Your drawing of your brain made me wonder about mine...like, if I were to draw an emotional map of my brain, how much has been dealing with fear?
    I enjoy the fruits of your freed-up creativity!

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 23, 2021 at 12:48 PM

      Thanks, Tabatha! I think fear clogs a lot of the roadways in our brains. Hard to shake it, but love the feeling when it clears out a bit. :)

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  3. jamaJanuary 22, 2021 at 4:45 PM

    Isn't "Bridge" the best name? :) Thanks for the uplifting golden shovel. You are so right about the relief of having head space to devote to good things, like creativity. Finally, we can exhale . . .

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 23, 2021 at 12:49 PM

      Thanks, Jama! Yes, I've always been fond of my name. Alleluia to exhalation...finally! :)

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  4. Linda BJanuary 22, 2021 at 9:59 PM

    Oh, I love your name, too, BRIDGE - T, and your clever poem bringing us together for we do know "as we continue to endure what is /because what is is not yet perfect" & will continue to work so hard for better! We must not stop now that our new President is going to help, too. Thanks, and yes, my brain feels much better aligned with good.

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 23, 2021 at 12:51 PM

      Thanks, Linda! I'm all for continuing to put in the work to help this administration (and all of us) succeed. :)

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  5. Michelle Heidenrich BarnesJanuary 22, 2021 at 10:04 PM

    My dear kindness-bridging Bridget, this poem is such a beautiful reflection of your soul. Through and through.

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 23, 2021 at 12:52 PM

      Thanks, Michelle! Your words mean a lot coming from a soul like you. Here's to being a bit goofy around the edges! :)

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  6. Fran HaleyJanuary 22, 2021 at 11:51 PM

    In a word: gorgeous. I am so thankful for your words, Bridget.

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 23, 2021 at 12:53 PM

      Aw, thanks, Fran! I'm thankful for your words, too. :)

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  7. author amokJanuary 23, 2021 at 1:27 AM

    Aw -- there's so much joy and healing in silliness, in being a goofball. "What is is not yet perfect" has me nodding my head. Thanks for being part of today's link-up, Bridget.

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 23, 2021 at 12:54 PM

      Thanks, Laura! It's important to see what is (the not yet perfect) and keep moving toward improving things...one goofy thing at a time. :)

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  8. laurasalasJanuary 23, 2021 at 1:02 PM

    I love how you mashed up your silliness with such weighty words. So much more personal!

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 23, 2021 at 2:07 PM

      Thanks, Laura! Silliness is all that keeps me from going under sometimes. :)

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  9. KayJanuary 23, 2021 at 3:45 PM

    There are so many lines from Gorman's poem that call to become the base of a golden shovel poem. The one you chose and the pledge you wrote is just perfect.

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  10. Carol VarsalonaJanuary 23, 2021 at 8:24 PM

    Bridget, love what you created from Amanda's thought that you used as a strike line. Thank you for Cooper's interview. It was so interesting. Amanda's mantra is a powerful one.

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 24, 2021 at 10:54 AM

      Thanks, Carol! I just love Ms Gorman in this interview and Anderson Cooper is such a cutie-patootie in every situation. :)

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  11. Sally MurphyJanuary 24, 2021 at 6:37 AM

    Bridget enjoy the 'momentary respite' and may it lead to lasting change.

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 24, 2021 at 10:55 AM

      Thanks, Sally! Savoring the moment and looking forward to the future (first time in about 4 years... ;)

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  12. Mary LeeJanuary 24, 2021 at 1:27 PM

    I'm thinking that I'll have my students choose a line and try their first Golden Shovel using Gorman's words!

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 26, 2021 at 12:33 PM

      Yay! Great idea, Mary Lee! I hope you will share some of what they come up with. :)

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  13. Jeanette RebelloJanuary 24, 2021 at 3:16 PM

    Love it. You and your name are bridges to uplifting of spirits.

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 26, 2021 at 12:33 PM

      Thanks, Jeanette! Your comment uplifts my spirit, too! :)

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  14. Heidi MordhorstJanuary 24, 2021 at 3:46 PM

    I really love your graphic representations, Bridget (hee heeeee)--thank you for inhabiting the space "between despair and delight" and sharing it with us.

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 26, 2021 at 12:34 PM

      Thanks, Heidi! May we all live farther over in the 'delight' parts of our brains. :)

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  15. RuthJanuary 24, 2021 at 8:34 PM

    So great. Yes, what WILL we do with the freed-up mental space?

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    1. Bridget MageeJanuary 26, 2021 at 12:35 PM

      I have no doubt you will put your freed-up space to all good things, Ruth! :)

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  16. michelle koganJanuary 28, 2021 at 11:22 PM

    Thanks for brining us more light with your moving golden shovel poem Bridget–I especially liked your closing lines,
    "gives momentary respite as we continue to endure what is

    because what is is not yet perfect

    Perhaps we can make it a bit more perfect…
    And aren't you sneaky, filling in the 55% at the end, hope we work that down too.

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    1. Bridget MageeFebruary 1, 2021 at 3:21 PM

      Thanks, Michelle! Yes, let's work on bringing that 55% covid worry down to 0! :)

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