Fourteen little reminders.
I say each one out loud as
I ditch each circular tablet
that sits in my clammy palm.
Tossing them one by one
into the swirling toilet bowl.
They Brush into my mind.
Nudging me
in remembering that it feels good to be alive.
The saxophone solo in Ray Charles’s ‘Hard Times’
that feels like warm honey poured on the soul.
The sensation of the heat from the glowing sun,
kissing your skin for the first time
after the long and weary winter months.
A silly expression or string of words from my niece.
The inexplainable and overwhelming rush of completing an artwork—
and actually feeling proud.
The sound of shells turning amongst the oceanfloor when you float on your backside amongst the sea's surface.
A gentle warm breeze encountered during an April stroll.
The invitation of rest, movies and slumber a rainy day offers.
The fuzzy snuggles with a cat.
The scent that lingers in the air before rainfall.
The smell of hot dogs sizzling on the grill in July.
Gingerly stepping into a warm bath and the bodywave of heat and endorphins that flood the brain.
A good horror flick that vacations in your head
for days,
leaving you in a state of curiosity and wonder
as you attempt to unravel its plot.
An unexpected phone call from an old friend
that you didn’t know how much you needed.
The buzzing sensation when inspiration hits.
All these things
and more—
Become and are
Reminders
That it feels good to
Be alive.