…from Me to You xx
Friendship Hearts: At the end of their working day the Glass Blowers would use up the molten glass by blowing these small ornamental hearts to be given as tokens of friendship on special occasions. This ancient tradition is carried on today.
Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity.
Khalil Gibran
The Vision & Verb collaborative project (by women of a certain age) has now reached its conclusion. Marcie was our inspiration and guiding light, so I feel it appropriate to share her closing Vision & Verb.
Namaste
With palms pressed at heart’s center – we sound our voices. We begin with a deep resounding ‘ohhhhm’.
Some of us are tentative at first. Our voices are new to us. We’re unsure. We’re shy. We’re scared. We haven’t – yet – given ourselves permission to speak out loud…to sing.
Together – we grow strong.
We connect to our hearts and our heartsongs. We connect to the earth and its energies. We connect to one another…honoring our intentions and commitment to show up together in this one space…in this one time…in this one day.
We are all the same.
We have arrived here from all corners of the globe. We were strangers. We have become friends. We’ve shared the stories of our lives…and our life’s stories. We’ve dreamed. We’ve laughed. We’ve cried. We’ve challenged and inspired and encouraged one another to be the best selves we possibly can.
We’ve learned kindness and patience and gratitude and joy. We’ve held one another in times of sadness. We’ve celebrated our victories. We’ve honored our defeats. And – we’ve been there for one another as a reminder that tomorrow always comes. A new day will dawn and with it – another opportunity to begin. Again.
For me – our time here at Vision and Verb has been one long beautiful communal vinyasa practice. Our bodies and our breaths. Our images and our words. Quiet…soulful…deeply meaningful and powerful personal connection.
We’ve shown up. We burned brightly. And now – the time has come to let go. With appreciation…compassion… grace.
We honor the endings by knowing that every ending is really a beginning. We’ve shown up for ourselves and one another and done the best work that we can.
‘We’re all just walking each other home.’
Just as we began – almost 5 years ago – we close by bringing our palms together once and again at our heart’s center. We sound our voices in a longer and deeper and more resonant ‘ohhhhhmmmm’. We’re confident. We’re strong. What we needed – we learned – we’ve always had within.
We’ve felt the energy. We’re now feeling the release.
We bring our hands from our hearts to our third eye center. A reminder to ourselves to follow our heart’s lead. We bow our heads.
And together – we say:
Namaste’.
The light in me honors the light, love, beauty and truth and peace within you. In sharing our authentic selves and brave stories – we are united. We are one. We are the same.
In deepest gratitude.
* * *
Thank-you to all of our dear and loyal readers who have shown up and shared in our stories. Your presence and spirit and quiet encouragement has meant so much to us here. You can find links to our individual blogs by checking out who is gathered around Our Table.
When one door closes another opens.
We look forward to your joining with us in wherever our new creative adventures lead.
***
Some of the ladies are preserving and sharing their posts from the project, they can be viewed at the following links:
In January 2010 I was inspired by a new blog project of pairing of words and photographs/art (Vision & Verb). I followed the blog from day one and in 2011 I was honored to be invited to contribute to the project alongside the ladies who had inspired me with their thoughts.
The project is coming to an end soon (today was my last post) and I am feeling a little sad that our combined contributions will no longer be collectively visible.
My contributions to the group have been recorded on Cherry Elsewhere.
Shalom xx
The three images in this post are my latest contributions to the Vision & Verb initiative to sell greeting cards in order to generate money to be given as loans to men and women around the world who are starting their own businesses.
I know our time zones are all different so midnight will bring in the New Year at different times for each of us. But tonight, ‘New Years Eve’, as midnight turns in the UK is the perfect occasion for me to raise my glass to friends, old and new, and also remembering absent friends.
CHEERS!! I raise my glass to you. Thank you for sharing life’s journey with me, I hope that any troubles from 2013 will fade into distant memory and I wish you, your family and friends a happy, healthy and peaceful 2014.
xxx
A few minutes after I had settled down into the warmth I spotted JD arriving and being intercepted by the Concierge who, from conversations the previous night, I had realised had a wonderfully dry sense of humour 🙂
JD and I sat and chatted for a while and he gave me his painting of the ‘Cherry Pie Tree‘, which was inspired by a photo I had taken near to Flodden Field in 2009 ( I love the painting 🙂 ). We then ventured out into the sunshine, which had overcome the sudden drop in temperature that had hastened me back to the hotel. We took a leisurely stroll through the town to the frame shop to take his latest painting in to be framed. After careful consideration and with assistance from the lovely Becky a suitable frame was chosen.
We then strolled back through town to the Cathedral for a cup of tea and more conversation. The Cathedral tea shop closed so JD and I made our way back to the hotel and its temporary reception area to wait for Mr C to return from his day at work. I enjoyed our pleasant afternoon together.
Eventually I had to start my long trip back to the Midlands. Mr C and I decided to have a slight detour for a cup of tea rather than chance Leeming Bar again. We headed for Mainsgill Farm which also gave us the opportunity to say hello to Kevin the camel! He wasn’t immediately visible but then he was spotted inside and cosy with his back to us. Then suddenly when he sensed our presence, he started parading around his accommodation, what a poseur he is 😉
After the welcome cup of tea we continued on the long journey south accompanied by the alarming alert “Severe weather forecast tomorrow” on the neon signs displayed at regular intervals on all the motorways as we traveled home.
After the long journey back, take away fish and chips and a glass of wine were quite welcome and refreshing.
And then it started to snow…
PS: Thank you JD I had a wonderful afternoon 🙂
I am so sad to hear that Jams/Shaun passed away suddenly on Friday. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.
Let life be as beautiful as summer flowers
And death as beautiful as autumn leaves.
Rabindranath Tagore
A friend sent me this lovely heart-warming and thought provoking article. It brought a smile to my face, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂
I delved way back into my archives to find the accompanying photo, which also has a story of its own. I shall leave that for another time though…
A Dog’s Purpose?
(from a 6-year-old).
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa , and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker ‘s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.
He said,”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The Six-year-old continued,
”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you’re not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So, love the people who treat you right. Think good thoughts for the ones who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of LIFE…Getting back up is LIVING…
…taken from the Irish Wolfhound International magazine…
CHEERS!! I raise my glass to you. Thank you for sharing life’s journey with me, I hope that any troubles from 2011 will fade into distant memory and I wish you, your family and friends a happy, healthy and peaceful 2012.
xxx
Cherie's Other Place 