Khaya Ronkainen

The Joy of Idleness

Posted on 08/14/2022 by Khaya Ronkainen

The joy of idle unproductive spaces.

If you have found a quiet bench in a quiet park and sat down, be sure you had a very profitable day! ~ Mehmet Murat ildan

backstory: We live in a society, where idleness is frowned upon as it cannot be quantified and monetized. As a result, our modern lives are jam-packed with things to do. Constant productivity is celebrated and rewarded. But at what cost!

I could tell you about a million things I have to do or should be doing, but I won’t bore you. All I can say, the joy of finding quiet spaces amidst all the activities (offline and online) and being alone with my thoughts is one of the beauties of saying “Yes” to myself. It’s the discovery of the endangered relic that is idleness.

OK enough about me. I’d love to hear from you, too. What do you have to let go, from time to time, in order to make space to be idle? Please do share! We can all learn from one another. 🙂

Wishing you a restful Sunday!

Project Finding Beauty

Living a Little!

Posted on 08/07/2022 by Khaya Ronkainen

Summer is for living a little.

backstory: There’s a fine line between living a little and living dangerously. But after the health challenges and acute loss I went through this past winter, I decided I’m not postponing happiness any more. So, this summer, and despite the constant fear of contracting Covid-19 and other airborne diseases, I’m taking risks to live a little.

Just to be clear, I’m not talking about the “I’m over it!” careless attitude some people have adopted regarding Covid. The abandonment of masks, alone, is a huge let down. In any case, there are still things (for me) worth the risk of attending in person.

How are things on your side? Do you find yourself caught between caution and a desire to live? If so, how do you strike a balance? As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

P.S. Feature image captures a scene from the Pori Jazz Festival, this summer, in Finland.

Poetry

Midnight Cycling

Posted on 07/31/2022 by Khaya Ronkainen

Closest to midnight —
We swish past sleepy villages at full speed
coming back from the only bar in town.
Someone somewhere shouts:
“YOLO! You. Only. Live. Once.”
I’m filled with a sense of freedom as I grin widely,
my ears like wings flapping in the air.

An unexpected crescent moon comes into full view.
I throttle the brake so hard, the rear wheel
slightly lifts off the ground.
But I’m in unison
with my cycling partner as we simultaneously
come to an abrupt stop; exquisite is the sensation.
As a late bloomer
who came to cycling very late,
I feel like a pro.

Without a word, we gaze skywards.
After a while, I lower my eyes to take in the 360-degree view:
steadfast forest, quiet country road, field crops,
rising fog, blazing but subtle skyline,
the colour blue, before coming back to settle
on the astonishing moon.

For a moment I visualize a world without suffering:
no war, widespread disease, natural disasters, poverty, prejudice…just peace.
I sigh, because it all seems an impossible dream.
But for now, as we cycle through the night,
silence is limitless love and happiness.

PS. I hope you’ve enjoyed these summer poems and glimpse of my outdoor activities. 🙂 As you’re probably aware, my writing follows the ebb and flow of seasons. So, for the rest of the summer, I’ll continue with Project Find Beauty. But I’ll return to (dark) poetry in autumn. Thank you all for journeying with me. ♥ If you’re new to this blog, welcome and stay!