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Unique Times

Where I share my jewels of wisdom of life

The Garden at Filoli

With a little prodding from David, support from Chuck and Kumar, expertise from Goff, and all of my family, I entered a local haiku contest at Filoli. Mind you I am not a Haiku writer nor do I consider myself a poet although poetry, I write.

I saw the contest in an email and then with prodding from who other than my mom (my biggest cheerleader), I thought “why not”. I had zero expectations since I wasn’t even sure I knew what I was doing but that was part of the fun and took any expectation or pressure off. It was really cute because I had my family memebers vote on them and 3 even made up one of their own. Thank you all for the support.

Winter at Filoli is a time of quiet and reflection in the Garden. Submit a haiku inspired by Filoli’s winter garden to our Haiku Poetry Competition for your chance to win a Household Plus Membership and a beautiful gift basket of Filoli approved goodies. Please submit 3 haikus.


“short and dense hedgesfaded red, perfectly trimmedrun around the path”
Eli Schlanger, under 18 winner from Filoli’s 2020 Haiku Competition
Last Years Winner

My Enteries:


stroll the gifts of peace 
hearts heal strolling sacred grounds 
blooms burst hope and Joy 

respite found strolling 
pristine grounds open up hearts 
blooms burst joy and peace 

amid troubled time
gifts of peace on winter grounds
flowers burst, joy found

Enjoy moments of peace and beauty around the winter Garden while you listen to haikus from our finalists. Do you have a favorite? A winner is yet to be selected! Join our Instagram Live on the 14th to hear the announcement. Could one be me? Doubtful but now I thought “well, why not”.

Did you hear mine? Neither did I 🤣 because I didn’t win. I noticed that it wasn’t the traditional Haiku that I tried to follow in the
5, 7, 5 syllable format that I expected and this is a very formal garden. I emailed wondering about the guidelines and she said they decided to break suit from their usual traditional format. It’s ironic because I write much more free flowing as you might know if you read my work. The funny part that caught me by surprise was that I was a little bit disappointed. I knew this was a long shot and I didn’t think twice about it until I didn’t come up even placing.

I remembered back to all of the things I have ever entered and I only did so when I was so polished and every move was rehearsed in my mind and body until I knew I would win. It’s as though I dreampt it into fruition and there was no chance for failure whether it was cheerleading, pom pom girl, Miss Daly City, a job, being a dancer on broadway etc.

I did have one time I decided I didn’t want to win when I tried out for Miss San Mateo, and I didn’t win. I really did all of this for my mother and I’d had enough. My mother’s words were “it was rigged”. 🤣 Oh for a mothers love of her child. My mom asked if I won this contest and I said I did not and she said and I quote:

“Well that sucks probably the winners are long time members with clout. I thought your entry was worthy of winning” 😍

Oh for a mother’s love! Any disappointment I felt left because I won in my mothers eyes. Naive as she was, it is the heart of a mother that loves so deep and see’s her children in all of her glory (or should) and all of their disappointment, no matter what the world sees, loves you anyway and that is unconditional, skewed love.

I realized I had never let myself do anything without perfecting it, and it is ok just to try, without the pressure of having to win. That was the gift of entering this contest. I didn’t win and it was ok. The blessing of a mother’s love no matter if you win or loose, is a gift. In her eyes, I am always a winner and if I do one thing right in this world, if I can pass that down to my kids and the people I love, then I am a winner in the true sense of the word. “May all of your losses be wins of your heart”.

Copyright © Cindy Georgakas
All Rights Reserved 

Thank you once again to all of you who helped me in one way or another, reading and being a constant source of support in my life! I will be doing a Fri-Yay Funday here sometime in the near future and sharing it with you because it has so much rich history and is a beautiful place to write.

Blessings,

❤️

Cindy

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short-prose-fiction
2 years ago

What an inspiring post Cindy. The haikus are beautiful. Much luck to you.
xoxoxo

short-prose-fiction
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

My pleasure. Sending plenty of love ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

short-prose-fiction
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

Thank you for the love and for your beautiful words 🌹

short-prose-fiction
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

xoxo

joysmith829
2 years ago

Starry star vlog – Google Search https://swky.co/CEneKf

Nawazish
2 years ago

Nice Haiku Cindy. Would love to read more of your haikus!❤

Offshorewriter
2 years ago

amid troubled time
gifts of peace on winter grounds
flowers burst, joy found
This Haiku is my favourite. If I am the judge.. you know what!? You guessed it right… You will be the winner ❤️❤️ Good try Cindy. It’s ok to not win.. and I appreciate you for taking the initiative and winning your mom’s heart. Good job Cindy. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Offshorewriter
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

Awww… You are becoming my sweetheart. ❤️❤️ Thank you Cindy and don’t forget to nominate me next time. 🤣🤣🤣
I am sure your mother is more than happy. Keep up the great work Cindy. You always inspire me. Sending you ❣️❣️

Travis J. McRoy
2 years ago

Beautiful post!🤗

Travis J. McRoy
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

You’re welcome!🥰

Travis J. McRoy
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

You too!

Shelly DS
2 years ago

Aww sorry you didn’t win, but your haikus are really nice!

asthaisha
2 years ago

Niceee 😍😍😍😍

Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet
2 years ago

Wonderfully wise post, Cindy! Being willing to try without the expectation of winning is a way to find personal fulfillment. After a lifetime of succeeding at the things we have a talent for, we reach a stage in life that we want to try new things just for the joy of doing. My mother would have said to me if I lost a competition, “Don’t worry about it. Those who won can’t do some of the things you do well.” And you, Cindy, are one impressive lady! By the way, I liked all three of your haiku. <3

Ingrid
2 years ago

Congratulations Cindy, I ❤️ your haiku and you are a winner in my boom, because you took so many positives out of this experience! I stopped writing poems for 18 years because I didn’t win a competition when I was 20 😳 Even when I started again last year, I thought the only way to have success as a poet was to win a competition but that’s simply not true. The key is to write what’s in your ❤️

Ingrid
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

You’re welcome, Cindy, I meant every word 🥰

Soni Cool😎
2 years ago

Who said you are not good at writing haiku… Loved your lines cindy💖💖💖 keep writing my dear🤗🤗

Soni Cool😎
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

Anytime babes❤️❤️🤗🤗

vaniheart
2 years ago

You have written them so beautifully Cindy 💖💖👏👏
And how pure a mother’s heart is 😍😍😍

Mr Shayan Das
2 years ago

Lovely haiku. Really loved it. By the way, as far as I could remember, I just wrote a single haiku in my life. I think I don’t have a way with them. But you really nailed it.

inerro.land
2 years ago

Beautiful Cindy, thank you! ❤️

HappySoul
2 years ago

Those are lovely haikus and I just loved the write up on mom!!! ❤️
My haikus look like free verse and I dread attempting them 😅

Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections
2 years ago

AS a non-haiku person, I wouldn’t know a good one from a bad one. I salute your effort and attitude about it! After all, I believe you enjoyed writing them! I toast to you …. and your mom? Well, mothers are mothers – and that’s OK, too. 🙂

Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

🙂

Navin
2 years ago

Nice Haiku, Cindy….you must write more….inspiring post as well….have a good evening ✨

salsaworldtraveler
2 years ago

I think your mom is right. How can they change the rules?

Curt Mekemson
2 years ago

Woohoo. Mis Daly City. 🙂 And a haiku to boot! Good for you Cindy. About the only thing my mom ever pushed me on was out the door. Grin. But she was always proud of the things I accomplished on my own. And that’s support. –Curt

Curt Mekemson
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

Grin. Pretty sure it was!
Kind of always been my mantra. 🙂 I recognize it isn’t always possible but when I am having less fun rather than more fun over an extended period, I figure it is time to start looking for something else to do! 🙂

Curt Mekemson
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

Very long. 🙂 More fun than trouble I hope. Grin.

Ladysag77
2 years ago

The joy of participation, stretching past your comfort zone and creating something beautiful ❤ this us what you accomplished quite triumphantly Cindy 👏 I love everything about this post and most especially Y😍U ❤ 💖 💗

A Star on the Forehead
2 years ago

Hi Cindy
I agree with your mother! I love your haiku, You should have won. What do they know.
You won by entering, by sharing with us, and by having such a supportive mother!
Wishing you a blessed week! ♥♥

Samreen Asad
2 years ago

Lovely haikus Cindy, all three of them, words chosen with precision and thoughts woven beautifully. ❤️❤️❤️ Your mother is right, i truly agree with her😍😀 Such is a mother’s heart for her child, her child is a winner for her always. I am sure your disappointment would have turned into happiness and warmth by your mother’s words. ❤️ Oh, I miss my mother so much,haven’t met her since 1 year.😕 Can relate to few instances 😄
And that’s how you are a winner already 💝🥰 Everything happens for a reason, is what I believe, now see you weren’t writing HAIKU, now you surely will 😀🤗

Samreen Asad
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

Always a pleasure Cindy ❤️ They surely do😊 Oh no no dear, she is alive, I am in Qatar, she is in India, I haven’t been to her since past one year, may be i missed few words in that sentence, I was a bit sleepy and reading your reply I just wide opened my eyes. I am sorry dear for the confusion. I Iost my father as a child 20 yrs back.
You will write wonders i know 😊❤️
So are you, always 😘❤️😘🤗🤗🤗

Samreen Asad
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

Yeah dear it was hard, for my mother especially, that now I can understand, but she never showed it to us. Strong woman she is. 😊
Yes, dear i am glad you asked. 💖❤️🤗 Love to you too always 😘🥰❤️💖🤗🤗

Samreen Asad
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

Hope so too dear😊💖🥰😘

Jeff Flesch
2 years ago

What a lovely post, Cindy. All of your haikus are winners to us; and, the last one is especially joyous. I also love “wins of the heart.” That is beautiful, my friend. Have a wonderful week! ❤️❤️❤️

Jeff Flesch
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

You’re welcome, Cindy, always! I did enjoy them greatly. ❤️❤️ Ah, yes, and that last line lovely, lovely. Thank you. Ah, yes, forthcoming. Today at 6 pm. 😊😊😊

PoojaG
2 years ago

It sucks you didn’t win because I really liked your haikus! Next time I guess!

Valerie Cullers
2 years ago

So enjoyed the post and the quotation from your mother made me giggle! I have never tried to write a Haiku poem…

Valerie Cullers
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

I’ll think about it….

Valerie Cullers
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

🤣🤣🤣🤣

zepiskye
2 years ago

Lovely words ❤️🙂

zepiskye
2 years ago

Lovely words beautiful ❤️

Kritika
2 years ago

Wonderful haikus. You did your best. Enter more such contests. They help to build strength. All the best! (Heart)

Kritika
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

Welcome (Heart)

akshita1776
2 years ago

🤩🤩

nitinsingh
2 years ago

not good at writing haiku? its wonderful a lovely Any blogger can understand how much hard work has been done on this post,

Maria A.
2 years ago

Good effort! We should never doubt our creativity and art is something subjective. Poetry is basically use of language as an art, so you’re free to experiment and express yourself as you like. You do have that poetic streak in you 🙂❤️

Maria A.
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

🙂 I admire poets, keep writing.

Maria A.
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

❤️

Goff James
2 years ago

Beautiful haiku, Cindy. All winners for me!! Those damned rules are always changing! Great video.

Goff James
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

Keep writing haiku. Happy Tuesday.

Goff James
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

look forward to them.

indianeskitchen
2 years ago

Nice job and aren’t Mom’s the best!!!!

Jonathan Caswell
2 years ago

Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
GREAT JOB, CINDY!

Jonathan Caswell
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

MUST BE MY BLOOD SUGAR’S TOO HIGH! 😀 DID YOU KNOW OUR FRIEND, RUELHA HAS A FACE BOOK PAGE? LEFT HER A COUPLE OF MESSAGES! HOPE SHE DOESN’T STAY TOO LONG! 😀 THANKS FOR KEEPING ME COMPANY! <3

Jonathan Caswell
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

YEAH, WE;RE BOTH ABANDONED—FOR THE MOMENT! WHAT i DID LEARN IS THAT REPAIRS TO HER APPARTMENT (TO MAKE IT LIVEABLE-?) ARE TAKING LONGER THAN EXPECTED.

Jonathan Caswell
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

I WAS JUST CONSIDERING THAT. 🙁

Jonathan Caswell
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

BUT—SHE’S BACK—BY EMAIL! <3

Jonathan Caswell
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

I will She made me take back the house warming gifts (money) I had sent.. As long as she doesn’t stop talking to me altogether!

Jonathan Caswell
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

Unattachment is HARD! I SO WANT TO BLESS HER!!!!! I DID PASS ON YOUR GREETINGS, SAYING YOU AND I HAD SHARED OUR CONCERNS WHEN SHE WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE. Sorry–been having a hard time with the SHIFT key, I did ask if she would tell me how best to “serve and love ” her as her cyber dad. Do you think she’ll answer that? I don’t know. 😀

Jonathan Caswell
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

everything you say makes sense. I can handle tall orders ’cause my Lord God is taller, but stoops down to help me. Yep, she’s in the driver’s seat and I don’t mean to forget the rest of you, either! 😀

Jonathan Caswell
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

AWWW SHUCKS! <3

Jonathan Caswell
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

HEY—I’M EMBARRASSED BY THE PRAISE!

Jonathan Caswell
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

YOU SEE THAT GLOW—REDDISH GLOW—ON THE HORIZON ?

Jonathan Caswell
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

YOU GOT IT! SO, WHAT’S COMING ON FUN FRIDAY-?

Jonathan Caswell
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

SOME IMPORTANT THINGS…I DO! 😀

Jonathan Caswell
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

I do know what’s blog-important! 😀

Loreeebee
2 years ago

so annoying when they change the rules you are trying so hard to follow

Amit Kumar
2 years ago

You realized it’s okay but I would like to say, you are winner.🏆😊

Megala
2 years ago

Beautiful post with inspiring words! You’ve already won many hearts. 🙂

Markus + Micah
2 years ago

It is a good try, and I did enjoy it – so positive!

M Jay Dixit
2 years ago

I enjoyed your haiku and after listening to the winners I think your mom is onto something!
It’s fine anyways, you’ve said everything there is to say to that, very nicely and it’s all true. ❤️🤗

the greatvincent
2 years ago

Well… lovely garden really good photos

Prior...
2 years ago

hi cindy !
don’t even get me started on how bias and subjective the selection process can be with any “finalists”
this is in any area but all the more when it comes to literature – short stories and poetry – etc

so often the bias of the reviewers and what they are looking for at that time is what leads to the finalist
– and you are solid in your thinking about the results
-love the fact that you do not need affirmation fro that contest to validate your ability or skill
too often folks do need that validation or want it for the wrong reasons

and as you know – the arts can be so subjective – whether it be paintings or music or writing
and i know an artist who had an art our entire rejected for two shows / he liked the piece and believed in it p
and finally had if “hung” and it even one honorable mention

anyhow – some people lose their way if they start entering their work into various “contests” or options for publication
you will know what you need to do for you

and while i liked you haiku –
njce job! you know how much more i orefer your very original and fresh free form!
in fact / i might ha e told you that some of the poetry that follows syllable requirements is my least favorite –


and usually the only times i like haiku is when it is paired with an art piece or when it is presented in a way where we can explore and savor it
the haiku is often one of those poetry forms that many of us can easily read fats and move on and miss its wonder and charm
anyhow- this awesome quote
“May all of your losses be wins of your heart”.
reminded me that winners have more losses than losers !
so let’s fail forward
and let us especially put forth energy into what really leads to our need fulfillment and goals for our art endeavors
😊☀️🙏

Prior...
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

yes – we are on the same page again with ideas and life insights!!
and to clarify – not sure if i used the quote right – but the
“winners have more losses than losers”
has a very special takeaway
it is not as if i would ever call anyone a loser A ha! it is not to over emphasize the “w” either

to me – that old quote is about embracing the losses and bruises – because we are active and engaged in trying things
those who play it safe have less losses or setbacks
or those who play it safe never have a rejection letter for their work –
and so when we take chances and dig deep for grit and do not get apathetic – the prize is ours because we are engaged and fully living

Lisa at Micro of the Macro
2 years ago

It was rigged! 🤣 How brave of you to try something like this out of your comfort zone. Most of us stick with doing only what we’re good at. I admire you, my friend! 🌞

Introverted Thoughts
2 years ago

Aw..that was so kind and amazing of your mother!❤️ I absolutely agree ‘our losses should be wins of our heart’. I once sent a poem about a cup to a journal once and it got rejected the next day😂
I think your haikus were wonderful!✨🤗

mickjscott
2 years ago

‘Amid troubled times’ for me. Nice haiku

mickjscott
Reply to  Cindy Georgakas
2 years ago

A pleasure

Sean Feezy
3 months ago

Thanks for thee post

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