Thank you, Switter, for reminding me of Ehrmann's poem. I was one of those hippies who had the poster tacked up in my kitchen in the late '60s " ...Silence, truth, love, wisdom, compassion and the universe!" I am now a grumpy and cynical old woman. For everything, there is a season, I guess... I appreciate reading it again after all these years. We must constantly remind ourselves: I cannot change the world, but I can make a difference in ONE person's life
I too had the poster. It was an important time to have that guidance for me. And my I say, Sharron, you give a lot to people. Your leadership in the writers' groups, the prompts, the critique, is valuable to all of us. Also, none of us will ever know if or how we helped someone else in a very important way.
It is true, Sue. We never know the word or the one small gift we put out into the world that will make a huge difference in someone's life down the road. I had a teacher when I was 12, who looked at me and said out loud in front of the class "Sharron, you are a real smart cookie." I said to myself, "I am??" I believed her! I never knew it until she said it! And I never forgot it.
The comments you have held out to us readers are like those on leaves of a growing tree. Here in Mixhigan, the trees are bending with the lush weight of new growth. Some limbs have broken, but trees survive and some are blossoming.
They seem to be blossoming with colors of the words you write. Love. A necessity. Peace in our spirits. Slowing the ongoing rush. Leaves. The greening blossoms of each of our beautiful contradictory lives.
Such beauty comes to me as I have the privilege of reading your words.
Take heart my friend. You are part of the most prolific of the community of life.
It’s funny you mention the impression made on you by The Desiderata, years before. I first saw it hanging on someone’s wall years ago as well, and like you have thought of it many times since. Enjoyed reading this, thanks.
I love the Desiderata. It used to be up, a small piece of wooden engraving, a souvenir from some park in Indianapolis or was it Maryland (?) looking incongruous and lost, always on a random pillar in whichever house we happened to be in, in whichever city. The words still conjure up my Dad and his quiet smile. Thanks for the reminder. We need it.
…solid observation and call to action…seeking value in others is certainly a means of creating a larger pallet for whatever self we have as well…it might also explain better how so many of us are largely without social or personal value…some sort of reflective need to commune…
Your article today really hits home.I've felt unnecessary for years. In fact, most of my "career," I've felt like I was always on the chopping block ... the world's worst employee. And my relationship with my daughter is often based on availability for babysitting. That's why the following excerpt hits the mark these days: "But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness." I'm having lots of dark thoughts and arguments with past and present people when alone. I hear their voices in my head with their discouragements and I have to fight back. It's exhausting and counter-productive. Even if I stated my case to them in person, they wouldn't care anyway.
Sometimes, when we put things out there, they lose their power. And obviously, none of our readers think we are unnecessary, otherwise they wouldn’t read what we write. There’s a lot of comfort in that.
The monastic life with a vow of silence is not unappealing at times. Of course, I’d need a lot of books and maybe a Netflix subscription, but otherwise I’d be happy.
First, your tagline: "Trying to make sense of a really empty nest". Is the really empty part of that the realization that people can become unnecessary in our lives? Only if we let them, I imagine.
I can relate to your comment about adult children and how they get caught up in their own lives and we get put on the back burner. I suppose that means we have done a good job of raising independent and responsible human beings. But, I can speak from my own experience, and note that it hurts sometimes. It hurts when they are (understandably) wrapped up in their work, their small children, their spouses, their own self care . I was there once too and now I wish I had been able to lift my head a bit more and give more love to the ones who loved me first but , yes, hindsight is a too late teacher sometimes. What I know is that this turn of events is natural. They are in a different place in life. I can watch them and be there to lift them up (with child care, little surprises, a silly text message). I can find my own interests and entertainment and make that my focus rather than wonder if they have forgotten all the years we spent together. They will know I am available for them as I have always been.
In some ways, I do feel unnecessary in life now. The world can get by fine without me now. But, then again, that has always been the case. I just may have thought I was so important. Where's the laughing emoji? I can only hope that my presence has made even a slight positive impact on the world
And, finally, Desiderata.I was that person who had that poster up on my cell of a bedroom wall in a shared house in college. I liked hearing that song come on the radio. Sure, maybe it's trite and apparently there is some disagreement as to its validity as poetry, but it does make one reflect. This was a short and fascinating article about the poem:
Thank you, Switter, for reminding me of Ehrmann's poem. I was one of those hippies who had the poster tacked up in my kitchen in the late '60s " ...Silence, truth, love, wisdom, compassion and the universe!" I am now a grumpy and cynical old woman. For everything, there is a season, I guess... I appreciate reading it again after all these years. We must constantly remind ourselves: I cannot change the world, but I can make a difference in ONE person's life
I too had the poster. It was an important time to have that guidance for me. And my I say, Sharron, you give a lot to people. Your leadership in the writers' groups, the prompts, the critique, is valuable to all of us. Also, none of us will ever know if or how we helped someone else in a very important way.
It is true, Sue. We never know the word or the one small gift we put out into the world that will make a huge difference in someone's life down the road. I had a teacher when I was 12, who looked at me and said out loud in front of the class "Sharron, you are a real smart cookie." I said to myself, "I am??" I believed her! I never knew it until she said it! And I never forgot it.
If anyone can make or break a child's heart, it's a teacher. That is their power. Wow, what an experience.
Yes
It's important to be a little selfish, lest you be a cog.
The comments you have held out to us readers are like those on leaves of a growing tree. Here in Mixhigan, the trees are bending with the lush weight of new growth. Some limbs have broken, but trees survive and some are blossoming.
They seem to be blossoming with colors of the words you write. Love. A necessity. Peace in our spirits. Slowing the ongoing rush. Leaves. The greening blossoms of each of our beautiful contradictory lives.
Such beauty comes to me as I have the privilege of reading your words.
Take heart my friend. You are part of the most prolific of the community of life.
It’s funny you mention the impression made on you by The Desiderata, years before. I first saw it hanging on someone’s wall years ago as well, and like you have thought of it many times since. Enjoyed reading this, thanks.
I love the Desiderata. It used to be up, a small piece of wooden engraving, a souvenir from some park in Indianapolis or was it Maryland (?) looking incongruous and lost, always on a random pillar in whichever house we happened to be in, in whichever city. The words still conjure up my Dad and his quiet smile. Thanks for the reminder. We need it.
Seek happiness. No small task. Thanks Switter. J
…solid observation and call to action…seeking value in others is certainly a means of creating a larger pallet for whatever self we have as well…it might also explain better how so many of us are largely without social or personal value…some sort of reflective need to commune…
Your article today really hits home.I've felt unnecessary for years. In fact, most of my "career," I've felt like I was always on the chopping block ... the world's worst employee. And my relationship with my daughter is often based on availability for babysitting. That's why the following excerpt hits the mark these days: "But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness." I'm having lots of dark thoughts and arguments with past and present people when alone. I hear their voices in my head with their discouragements and I have to fight back. It's exhausting and counter-productive. Even if I stated my case to them in person, they wouldn't care anyway.
Sometimes, when we put things out there, they lose their power. And obviously, none of our readers think we are unnecessary, otherwise they wouldn’t read what we write. There’s a lot of comfort in that.
If we are only necessary to ourselves, finally, after a lifetime of nurturing, let it be enough.
We are kind of necessary only to ourselves, if one thinks about it, but!
I know.. philosophy just takes us different places..
The monastic life with a vow of silence is not unappealing at times. Of course, I’d need a lot of books and maybe a Netflix subscription, but otherwise I’d be happy.
First, your tagline: "Trying to make sense of a really empty nest". Is the really empty part of that the realization that people can become unnecessary in our lives? Only if we let them, I imagine.
I can relate to your comment about adult children and how they get caught up in their own lives and we get put on the back burner. I suppose that means we have done a good job of raising independent and responsible human beings. But, I can speak from my own experience, and note that it hurts sometimes. It hurts when they are (understandably) wrapped up in their work, their small children, their spouses, their own self care . I was there once too and now I wish I had been able to lift my head a bit more and give more love to the ones who loved me first but , yes, hindsight is a too late teacher sometimes. What I know is that this turn of events is natural. They are in a different place in life. I can watch them and be there to lift them up (with child care, little surprises, a silly text message). I can find my own interests and entertainment and make that my focus rather than wonder if they have forgotten all the years we spent together. They will know I am available for them as I have always been.
In some ways, I do feel unnecessary in life now. The world can get by fine without me now. But, then again, that has always been the case. I just may have thought I was so important. Where's the laughing emoji? I can only hope that my presence has made even a slight positive impact on the world
And, finally, Desiderata.I was that person who had that poster up on my cell of a bedroom wall in a shared house in college. I liked hearing that song come on the radio. Sure, maybe it's trite and apparently there is some disagreement as to its validity as poetry, but it does make one reflect. This was a short and fascinating article about the poem:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/70274/in-search-of-desiderata
I hope your weekend ahead is grand.