Sunday 13 January 2013

Now......!!







You know how it is....
you're talking with a friend and suddenly.......
at the furthest corner of your mind....comes 
Wisp of Remembrance.

It curls itself
slowly around the corner of your thoughts
like the delicate tendrils of a sweet pea
half remembered....
almost like the ghost of a half remembered dream....
and....
while you are still talking
your mind tries to tease the verse to give away a little more of itself 
so that you can see whether it really does apply!




Having fluttered in your memory
the few fragments of words are loath to expose themselves further to the light of day
and shyly
flirt with your memory
until you say something like...
"Do you remember this verse.......?"
At this point
and because you're not sure whether
you've 'got it right'.....
you're taking a chance.........




This is what happened to me a few weeks ago...
I can't even remember the occasion....
but I do remember the verse
because
I finally nailed it and was able to look it up...
since then I've thought about it a lot...





It was "IF"

(by Rudyard Kipling)

and the little fragment that 
seemed to mean such a lot.....
and which I have tried to think and live in these
last few weeks
is

"If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run
Yours is the earth and all that's in it,"





I feel that.... with this post...
I'm taking a chance with you , my blogging friends...

as I am not showing you........ 
my glorious Pembrokeshire
nor am I sharing...
the china that I love to use....

This time I am opening up............ 
and sharing some of myself!!

These last few months 
as I have become more housebound
I have started to ask myself
'how fulfilling is my life?'




As a counsellor
both during my training
 and when I was training others
I used the Myers/Briggs Personality Types
to enable people to discover more about themselves
and also, when they were trained,
about their clients

Last summer
as part of a team building exercise
we used it again
and this time I was on the receiving end.
This time I took it, not as I can or could be.......

......but as I am now.


I knew I was really an introvert 
but could make myself
be extroverted

Now I decided to look at who I really am
and what I need out of life
right now

As the poem says...
"If you can dream..and not make dreams your master
If you can think..and not make thoughts your aim"




As I am here at home these days...
I am starting to dream again
and get in touch with what I need ....
and what pleases me.

I've been given these flowers I've shown above.. 
and really enjoy having them in the house
they touch something deep within..

Something to do with
Filling " the unforgiving minute"
Stopping to really look and allow their beauty
to touch a needy place within...

As I arranged them in the vase one broke off
so I found a little vase and went
into the garden
to find a little greenery
to go with it
as I cut a little Pittosporum
and a touch of the Winter Jasmine




I loved its colour against the deep red of the rose



I paused.....
in the winter sunshine......
and thought...

"What is this feeling
that I have
in this minute 
as I enjoy the crispness of a frosty day
the warmth of the winter sunshine
and the birds playing at their feeders....

and I realised.....
It was....

HAPPINESS!!



35 comments:

  1. It sounds like God gave you this opportunity to really slow down and see the beauty in your life and surroundings. Everything has a reason, whether we know it or not. Enjoy this quiet time. I have found that I reached my greatest spiritual moments when I was by myself with lots of time to think and ponder what life was really all about. I am so glad you are sharing your personal thoughts on your blog. Most of the time blogs are all about decorating, gardening, etc, and that is ok, but I always really appreciate the ones that share their thoughts as well.

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  2. Lana said it very well . . . I like hearing about your personal thoughts. And very happy about you feeeling happiness. Beautiful red rose!

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  3. I've been thinking (and acting) about the things that give me a pleasure. I had major surgery in the summer and now that I am making a good recovery I want to be able to answer the question, "What are you doing with the time given to you?" I've let myself dream and I'm happy with the ideas that have arisen.

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  4. What I do know is that your thoughts...your prose and photos...help to fulfill my life.
    Take care dear Joan. Be Happy!

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  5. gorgeous blooms. such vibrant colors. i always wondered how those tests worked ... never really like my results ... wondered who had taken the test to begin with. they were surely not my results???! ha. ha!! ( :

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  6. Oh Joan this is a beautiful post. I can truly feel your happiness. Sometimes it takes a step back to appreciate those steps forward. Take care my friend. Your flowers are beautiful. HUGS xxoo B

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  7. I love that poem too, it really makes you think. I also like 'what is this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare. We do need to slow down and enjoy what s in front of our eyes, instead of rushing about, trying to attain something else. Very thought provoking Joan, thank you

    Claire xxx

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  8. This was a beautiful post. I love hearing your thoughts. Taking time to enjoy. So important yet so easily forgotten in the rush of day to day life.

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  9. What an awesome poem & write, Joan. God brings us to places in our lives to enjoy & find peace ... the beauty you shared here is rejuvenating.

    TTFN ~
    Hugs,
    Marydon

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  10. Hi Joan. Gosh, that was a very profound post for us today. I just love that poem, "If" - the words are wonderful and very inspiring and uplifting. Your flowers are beautiful. How marvellous that you realized you were feeling "happiness"!. I hope you continue to feel a little better. Sending blessings your way.

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  11. Perfect combination----flowers and poetry! Thanks for sharing. Susan

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  12. Joan, you are an amazing woman. You teach us so much, be in the moment, enjoy this process, be the best you can be no matter what is happening.
    Thank you,
    Meredith

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  13. If there's anything I've learned about life, it's that it has a way of changing on us. It's much more enjoyable if we aren't resistant in adapting to those changes. I'll be the first to admit, adapting to some of them, is much harder than others. Sounds to me like you are not only learning to adapt to the changes, but that you are finding happiness in it as well! That's a wonderful thing!

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  14. Joan-This is just a wonderful post and I have LOVED that poem since I was a girl. It is amazing how life can change us inside AND out. I am glad you had moment of pure joy- it's a wonderful thing, isn't it? xo Diana

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  15. Your flowers are just beautiful!!! My husband used to give this personality test at work, does it have the numbers like type A and so on? Or is it the other one? For many years of our marriage, my husband was an extrovert and I was an introvert with extreme social anxiety disorder. Once I got older, it left. By that time, I was who I was and I knew that the world was not about me. I think there is nothing wrong with either introvert or extrovert, we all have our roles to play. And you play out yours so wonderfully on this blog!!! I always look forward to a new post. I find that happiness never comes when we look for it, but it sneaks up on us unawares.

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  16. This was a great post.. one that makes you think and in the end, realize how happy and positive life can be! Good job!! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  17. So inspiring, Joan, and I do love your flowers and how you are finding that feeling of contentment with being in the moment. It's a wonderful feeling and sometimes it takes a shift in our thinking to realize that we are the ones who choose happiness. It doesn't choose us. Hugs to you xx

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  18. What a lovely reflection, Joan!

    I am so glad you shared your happiness!

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  19. Thank you for sharing the happiness you are feeling. It is a blessing.
    Joy

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  20. Your happiness shared is magnified and multiplied. Thanks for posting, Joan.
    xx,
    Gracie

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  21. That is such a thought-provoking poem. Rudyard Kipling is so bracing and direct.

    So glad you are finding happiness and the ability to dream. Have a wonderful week! :)

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  22. Thank you, Joan, for sharing so much of your feelings in this post. Life had a way of throwing curve balls when least expected and it's how we handle what comes our way that determines our happiness or unhappiness. While being house bound has limited your mobility it has not dampened your spirits and has allowed you to give more to yourself and to we readers. Thank you also for sharing the lovely flowers and poetry.

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  23. what a lovely post. take care, enjoy your flowers, and may you find a little happiness each day x

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  24. This is a lovely post.Thank you for stopping by my blog, and for the nice comment.I always enjoy your posts and the beautiful pictures and thoughts.Wishing you many blessings!

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  25. This is a lovely post.Thank you for stopping by my blog, and for the nice comment.I always enjoy your posts and the beautiful pictures and thoughts.Wishing you many blessings!

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  26. It's a clichƩ perhaps, but I have always taken that poem (well most of it) as a tenet to live by. Only yesterday I reminded my son that there is joy in the smallest things if we just look for it, and I wrote something similar recently myself on my blog. I am so glad you are finding ways to fill your minutes with happiness Joan :D

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  27. What a time of it you've had! I'm so glad you're doing better. There can be such inspiration in beautifully turned phrases. A remembered poem can be such a gift. Many, many more happy moments to you!

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  28. Love this post... Thanks for sharing 'yourself' with us.. I have some blog friends who never ever share themselves with us.. Those are the ones I never get to know very well. I love getting to know more about people and their deepest thoughts...

    I went from working fulltime and having a life around people all of the time to RETIREMENT and QUIETNESS in my life. Luckily, I have a fabulous husband who fulfills me. My life is very different than it used to be --but OH how very happy I am. I have found so many things --including flowers (like yours)--that make me happy... Life is good... Glad you are finding that deep happiness.

    Hugs
    Betsy

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  29. Love it! Thank you!
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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  30. It's a reflective and thought provoking post.
    You have been through the mill lately, haven't you?
    Sometimes I wonder if we're put in those places for
    a purpose.
    I'm praying for you!

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  31. This is a wonderful post. I'm glad you opened up & shared yourself with us.

    Your flowers are lovely!

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  32. Great post Joan! Beautiful pictures too! Take care!!!
    xo Kris

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  33. Joan,
    I just reread this post . . . hearing your introspection in a new way. It is beautuul to read your thoughts, see your touches of color and treasured quotes. I came back here to find the quote to save into my collection. Thank you for "gift!"
    Love, Lynne

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  34. I read this more than once, too and have read some of the comments. We would sure enjoy a good talk over a cup of tea. You are indeed a kindred spirit. I read the entire poem, too...I googled it. Sweet hugs, Diane

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Thanks so much for commenting on my blog. I look forward to reading your thoughts and ideas!