Bare Reflections Of The Heart

Since I was a teenager in grade school I was writing poetry and short love stories. It was during the brake-up of my marriage that I took to writing again. All the feelings of abandonment, betrayal and humilliation gave me the inspiration to write what my heart, my soul and my mind was feeling during that awful time in my life. For me, writing was my therapy. Having no one to talk to, I would sit down with tears in my eyes, with my broken heart and my lonely self, the words would spilled out of me in a torrent of emotions that would leave me empty and drained. Everyone of us go through this kind of pain at one point or another in their lives, but not everyone takes time to write what they feel. I did. I hope that anyone who buy this book will share the same feelings I once felt.

Life has a way of bringing out the best in us, the good and the bad. The main poem, Tree Connection will leave you asking yourself, Will you sway? Will you stay rooted? Who's tying you down? Who's poking you? Will life cause you to be crooked? Will you flourish? Will you die? Will you lean? Will you bend? Is there truly a connection between trees and a person? Some will doubt the connection of a tree to a live person, but this poem will answer their doubt. It will challenge you to look at where your strength comes from in relation to that of an actual tree planted here on earth. Reflect on your life story of testing who you really are when life challenges you with raining cats and dogs, clear skies ahead, to sleeting and hailing all over. As you continue to inhale and exhale while reading this poem, the next few poems will have your heart racing and excited to read more. If you have ever lost a loved one, a friendship, a relationship, or even a job, you will and can relate to the poems in this book. These inspiring poems will take you on intimate thrills in and around relationships. A path of emotions--through love, turmoil, struggle, identity loss, and society trying to define you. But through it all, the poems will touch your heart and leave you with real life encounters of encouraging uplifting words. Don't stop now, read and enjoy the ride.

The heart unlocks our humanity. The heart is the central driving force in defining our character. You will discover the gifts of your heart that you can share with others. You will understand who we really are.

Stories carry the seeds of our humanness. They help us, teach us, heal us, and connect us to what matters. As Far As the Heart Can See is an invitation to be in relationship with deep and life-giving material. Many spiritual gurus present dense metaphysical theses with an intellectual approach for "working" a spiritual path; poet and philosopher Mark Nepo reaches people through their hearts, bringing something fresh and new to the field by stimulating change through reflection of thoughts and feelings. The stories he shares in As Far As the Heart Can See come from many places—from Nepo's personal history to dreams to the myths of our ancestors. Each one is an invitation to awaken an aspect of living in relationship with the sacred. Following each of the forty-five stories are three forms of an invitation to further the conversation: journal questions, table questions, and meditations. The questions, whether reflected upon in a journal or discussed in deeper conversation with friends or family, are meant to lead the seeker down unimagined paths and back into life; the meditations are meant to ground the learning. These stories and parables about universal concepts and themes offer a poet's sensuality and a philosopher's sensibility to personalizing the journey of the human experience in the world.

Final words and heartfelt remembrances from bestselling author Pat Conroy take center stage in this winning nonfiction collection, supplemented by touching pieces from Conroy’s many friends. This new volume of Pat Conroy’s nonfiction brings together some of the most charming interviews, magazine articles, speeches, and letters from his long literary career, many of them addressed directly to his readers with his habitual greeting, “Hey, out there.” Ranging across diverse subjects, such as favorite recent reads, the challenge of staying motivated to exercise, and processing the loss of dear friends, Conroy’s eminently memorable pieces offer a unique window into the life of a true titan of Southern writing. With a beautiful introduction from his widow, novelist Cassandra King, A Lowcountry Heart also honors Conroy’s legacy and the innumerable lives he touched. Finally, the collection turns to remembrances of “The Great Conroy,” as he is lovingly titled by friends, and concludes with a eulogy. The inarguable power of Conroy’s work resonates throughout A Lowcountry Heart, and his influence promises to endure. This moving tribute is sure to be a cherished keepsake for any true Conroy fan and remain a lasting monument to one of the best-loved masters of contemporary American letters. Praise for A Lowcountry Heart “A fascinating look into the mind of one of the South’s greatest authors . . . something to remember him by and cherish for years to come.”—The Clarion-Ledger “Fans of Conroy . . . will relish the chance to spend more time with him in this glowing valedictory to his life and writing . . . Eloquent, folksy, and sometimes brutally honest.”—Publishers Weekly “A moving and proper tribute to a true Southern icon.”—The Florida Times-Union “Elegant essays [that] will not disappoint.”—The Washington Post “Resplendent . . . As always, his storytelling, word choice and rhythm are gorgeous, almost lyrical.”—USA Today