In quiet celebration...
Of writing and 100 posts written.
Dear friends, dear beloved everyone…
Sometimes, we surprise ourselves at just what we are able to achieve. It is the why of my smile this evening.
Somehow, amongst the trillion other things I have to occupy my time on a daily basis - multiply that by three over the last five weeks - by the time I have finished writing this, I will have published one hundred letters on since I began writing eighteen months ago, wondering why the bloody hell I was even thinking of trying to wriggle my own paltry words in amongst so many brilliant others. Nevertheless, despite a head filled with fearful self-recriminations, cringing with embarrassment, I hit the send button anyway.
In truth these fears, the constant cerebral interrogations which end with a grand finale of ‘just hit the button, what have you to lose’ have never stopped. Grasping hold and not letting go of the confidence necessary to hit that damn button is still a traumatic exercise in self (dis)belief I could live without. But I do, and have done ninety-nine times!
So yes, I’m surprised, flabbergasted, just a little proud, all of that!
I am, and always have been, a distracted scholar. My concentration wanders away from the science resting more than often on the way the leaves of a certain tree catch in the light, the silvery green lichen on its branches, everything but the earthly goings on therein, the delicate filigree wings of moth and butterfly, the way the hare can twist in midair when in play, all of these are always more fascinating, more enchanting than the why. The places in me designed for filing astonishment are filled with a thousand memories of magical seconds I don’t want to forget. The explanations of these moments simply take up necessary storage for yet more and I’m not sure there is space, or time.
Anais Nin wrote;
It is possible I never learned the names of birds in order to discover the bird of peace, the bird of paradise, the bird of the soul, the bird of desire. It is possible I avoided learning the names of composers and their music the better to close my eyes and listen to the mystery of all music as an ocean. It may be I have not learned dates in history in order to reach the essence of timelessness. It may be I never learned geography the better to map my own routes and discover my own lands. The unknown was my compass. The unknown was my encyclopedia. The unnamed was my science and progress.
I echo these words… but regardless of any obvious flighty attention to scientific detail, I have diligently exercised the sharing of my profound, and ever growing passion for this wilderness of a hill I am so very fortunate to live on. I will never tire of its diversity and above all it’s deeply captivating, often mystical, ephemeral beauty. It is the reason I will continue to squeeze into the few scarce minutes I can steal from my day every moment of magic I am capable of. Not purely for the exquisite joy I gather from endlessly wandering this tiny patch of ‘La France Profond’ nor, even, the words it conjures but because in doing so and sharing these bewitching seconds, slowly, incredibly, something even more wondrous has evolved; a worldwide web of gossamer has been intricately woven, connecting me, the words and images I share with hundreds of kindred souls with similar — and yes, sometimes different — but always extraordinary words.
Now I am addicted to your magic as inextricably as I am to my hill.
“When one is writing a letter, he should think that the recipient will make it into a hanging scroll.”
― Yamamoto TsunetomoI found this quote yesterday whilst searching for something with sparkly letters, flashing lights and all the fancy trimmings to highlight having arrived at this, albeit small, milestone, my 100th post but the words stopped me in my hunt because I always try my very hardest to make each letter just such a hanging scroll.
I am eternally grateful to you all but especially to for encouraging me to step into this vast unknown and begin. I don’t know how to express sufficiently my gratitude for your presence, the time you take out of your busy days to read these letters and for your much appreciated comments, a mere thank you feels entirely lame and inadequate but I assure you, my thank you is huge and comes direct from my heart.
With love
It would be very remiss of me to leave this letter without mentioning a few amazing people without whose words of encouragement on days of utter despair I may not have continued;
- I have already mentioned, writes from her home in Spain, has published a book of her amazing light filled photography, you can buy a copy of Pipp’s meditative glimpse into the sanctuary of nature by emailing her directly via her home page, just tap below. - aka Barrie and JoJo for their relentless curiosity, smiles and tireless encouragement to all who cross their delightful zest for life filled paths. - for his always beautiful, well researched - often physically - multi talented writings on non fictional nature as well as mystical fiction. Both of which have given me vision in places I may not have thought of otherwise. Like me Alex writes from his home in France where he lives with his family at the foot of the French Alps. - for being the most beautiful and brave human being ever, ever, ever, for her unwavering faith, her empathy for all living things, her magical metaphoric prose, her ability to fly when all fight has flown, I could go on ad infinitum with my praise…
If you are ever faced with one of life’s frequent adversities read on…
for writing wonderful philosophical prose that keeps my mind young and active and being a philosopher I aspire to, for taking a walk with me even when the mood is grim and for always making me smile at the end even when my feet are wet and its still raining!
Also, an enormous thank you to everyone who has recommended my letters and publications in their own, I am indebted to you for you kindness and faith in my work.
Susie, congratulations, that is wonderful! Your writing is SO beautiful and I love sitting with your words in awe. So grateful for writers like you here! You inspire me. Don't stop and, more importantly, find a way to turn down the volume on that voice inside you that fears hitting the button. We need you here! XO
I surely don't remember when or how I landed on you hill, but I can tell you why I keep coming here. Because of your beautiful words and the kindness that emanates from you, Susie. And I am thankful every time you hit that button. 💛