Hi Lesley, remember me from the old teaching circuit days? I always wondered how you could do so much and have all those children. I'm downsizing, both my living space and my art, ending up with sketchbooks and fabric books, nothing more than 12" in any direction. Something is making me think about making dolls again...small ones for sure. One can never stop being an artist.
Of course I remember you. Dollmakers were my first group of art friends. They were wonderful times. Good for you on downsizing. Yes, make some small dolls. I think of doing that one day, too.
Yes, to both points and shifts in perspectives over the years (OK --- decades!)
I have attempted some book & supply "decluttering" in my latest 69 y/o stages, and a number of times questioned (or been questioned about) why I am still keeping so much of it.
Find I go in circles --- no, spirals --- w/ my mixed media arts & crafts, so for me much of that is straw waiting to be turned to gold and then shared.
And my potential uses for all of it have shifted over time as I look at things w/ new eyes or latest skill sets/additions!
I do donate Jeep loads of clothes, shoes, kitchen supplies, furnishings, electronics, and all kinds of other things for people or services who can use and family who will not want to have to deal with later.
Yes, it is a spiral, isn't it? Sometimes tightly wound with seemingly little progress and other times bug upturns. I think we need both. Keep creating upward.
I have gone from thinking of it in terms of circles and cycles, to spirals, and lately more like 4-D spinning torus or vortex energies. Love & Light...
This post is just beautiful. As I read it I could hear myself saying, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” in my mind. I’m the same vintage as you and I’m so happy to be able to “connect the dots,” so to speak. Thank you for your beautiful words, and an important reminder. I’m sharing this with my sister, an avid reader and a beautiful writer. She will be entering our decade really soon and will be nodding her head I’m sure.
What a wonderful way to start the week. My shoulder muscles are scrunched up tight around my neck and as I read, they begin to loosen and drop. I relax and know that this will be a great week.
I didn't realize that I send it at the beginning of the week. Thanks for pointing that out. I'm glad it got your week off to a good start. I hope to be able to continue to do so.
I love to read. I've weeded thru my books and only save the ones I want to refer to again. The books I choose not to keep I donate. I established a Little Free Library in our community mail house and maintain its contributions. So fun. As a library trustee, I value the importance of reading.
I'm on the same path, just 20 years behind! Love and resonate with everything you said here. I'm not a big reader of books, but love quotes, posts, radio programmes and podcasts. Also now enjoying audio books. I have a big collection of art books, mostly journaling or mixed media projects, but never seem to have time to try anything as I'm too busy doing my own thing, which I guess is how it should be :) x
I too have miles to go before (the big) sleep. As I grow older, part of me grows bolder. In some ways I more daring now than I was in my 20's. In my mid 60's I feel like I am no longer tied down so I can fly in any direction.
This sounds so familiar! The gathering of quotes and wisdom over the years. Definitely 'yes' to books. I shed a lot of books over the last few years through several house moves and so on, only to find myself hunting for then buying the same ones again. You're right, some just need to bide their time and mean so much more or such a different thing 20 years later. Now I find myself stockpiling them to pass on to my daughter.
I already make a bunch of small dolls that can be used as ornaments for the holiday show at our local gallery. ..but I'm thinking about small soft sculpture...Stay Tuned!
I went to college to major in computer science (1976) I was an artist but computers would be practical. I even volunteered in the department. I hated it. I left the school and got a job at Barnes and Noble bookstore. That was the best education. I got to read everything that I was interested in and didn't realize I was interested in. I worked there for 7 yrs.
Since employees got 40% off books, I was basically working for free since most of my check went towards books. And after work, I would go down the block to look at books in a spiritual bookstore.
I have to laugh, one of my stints in college was computer science, too. Early 80s. I even got a job as asst. to the Human Resources manager at Computer Data Systems, Inc, and was admitted to their in-house programmer training. Then I quit to go into the real estate appraisal business with my husband. BUT, knowing how to code served me well when I decided to make myself a website in 1999. And here we are. I love that you said "everything that I was interested in and didn't realize I was interested in." I, too, want to know everything about (almost) everything and certainly would have spent my pay on books too. I still love going there. Drug of choice for sure.
I dream of words, spelling them repeatedly, savoring their sounds in my mind’s tongue. Books have always been my friend, my savior, my passport to the world. I relate to your wisdom-seeking quite well. Color, texture, and pattern are always knocking at my door. Be well.
I love what you have to say. You continue to expand your universe and are an inspiration. I have to say though, I don't like this platform. I assume you use it for a reason but it defies my understanding.
My primary reason for choosing this platform is that it is free and easy. Another reason tht I can now say, is the wonderful community of writers here on Substack. I can focus entirely on the writing. Because my mailing list is so large (relatively, speaking), I had to pay $60/month to Mailchimp and it was a solo venture, as opposed to the community here. I hope you will continue to read Further to Fly.
I have let go of some books periodically, but most I keep. I like to revisit them, and as you wrote Lesley, relearn from them. Thanks for this wonderful post.
Hi Lesley, remember me from the old teaching circuit days? I always wondered how you could do so much and have all those children. I'm downsizing, both my living space and my art, ending up with sketchbooks and fabric books, nothing more than 12" in any direction. Something is making me think about making dolls again...small ones for sure. One can never stop being an artist.
Of course I remember you. Dollmakers were my first group of art friends. They were wonderful times. Good for you on downsizing. Yes, make some small dolls. I think of doing that one day, too.
Yes, to both points and shifts in perspectives over the years (OK --- decades!)
I have attempted some book & supply "decluttering" in my latest 69 y/o stages, and a number of times questioned (or been questioned about) why I am still keeping so much of it.
Find I go in circles --- no, spirals --- w/ my mixed media arts & crafts, so for me much of that is straw waiting to be turned to gold and then shared.
And my potential uses for all of it have shifted over time as I look at things w/ new eyes or latest skill sets/additions!
I do donate Jeep loads of clothes, shoes, kitchen supplies, furnishings, electronics, and all kinds of other things for people or services who can use and family who will not want to have to deal with later.
Yes, it is a spiral, isn't it? Sometimes tightly wound with seemingly little progress and other times bug upturns. I think we need both. Keep creating upward.
I have gone from thinking of it in terms of circles and cycles, to spirals, and lately more like 4-D spinning torus or vortex energies. Love & Light...
This post is just beautiful. As I read it I could hear myself saying, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” in my mind. I’m the same vintage as you and I’m so happy to be able to “connect the dots,” so to speak. Thank you for your beautiful words, and an important reminder. I’m sharing this with my sister, an avid reader and a beautiful writer. She will be entering our decade really soon and will be nodding her head I’m sure.
Thanks so much, Eileen, It's always fun to read something that we so connect with. Kinda magical, too.
What a wonderful way to start the week. My shoulder muscles are scrunched up tight around my neck and as I read, they begin to loosen and drop. I relax and know that this will be a great week.
I LOVE my books too.
I didn't realize that I send it at the beginning of the week. Thanks for pointing that out. I'm glad it got your week off to a good start. I hope to be able to continue to do so.
I love to read. I've weeded thru my books and only save the ones I want to refer to again. The books I choose not to keep I donate. I established a Little Free Library in our community mail house and maintain its contributions. So fun. As a library trustee, I value the importance of reading.
Wise to donate and even wiser to establish the little free library. Thanks for commenting. Read on!
I'm on the same path, just 20 years behind! Love and resonate with everything you said here. I'm not a big reader of books, but love quotes, posts, radio programmes and podcasts. Also now enjoying audio books. I have a big collection of art books, mostly journaling or mixed media projects, but never seem to have time to try anything as I'm too busy doing my own thing, which I guess is how it should be :) x
Thanks for coming along, Debbie. It's a wonderful path to travel.
I too have miles to go before (the big) sleep. As I grow older, part of me grows bolder. In some ways I more daring now than I was in my 20's. In my mid 60's I feel like I am no longer tied down so I can fly in any direction.
Isn’t it wonderful?
This sounds so familiar! The gathering of quotes and wisdom over the years. Definitely 'yes' to books. I shed a lot of books over the last few years through several house moves and so on, only to find myself hunting for then buying the same ones again. You're right, some just need to bide their time and mean so much more or such a different thing 20 years later. Now I find myself stockpiling them to pass on to my daughter.
Exactly. I hope my 4 daughters will appreciate many of them.
I already make a bunch of small dolls that can be used as ornaments for the holiday show at our local gallery. ..but I'm thinking about small soft sculpture...Stay Tuned!
Oh, I will. Keep in touch!
I went to college to major in computer science (1976) I was an artist but computers would be practical. I even volunteered in the department. I hated it. I left the school and got a job at Barnes and Noble bookstore. That was the best education. I got to read everything that I was interested in and didn't realize I was interested in. I worked there for 7 yrs.
Since employees got 40% off books, I was basically working for free since most of my check went towards books. And after work, I would go down the block to look at books in a spiritual bookstore.
Books was my drug of choice.
I have to laugh, one of my stints in college was computer science, too. Early 80s. I even got a job as asst. to the Human Resources manager at Computer Data Systems, Inc, and was admitted to their in-house programmer training. Then I quit to go into the real estate appraisal business with my husband. BUT, knowing how to code served me well when I decided to make myself a website in 1999. And here we are. I love that you said "everything that I was interested in and didn't realize I was interested in." I, too, want to know everything about (almost) everything and certainly would have spent my pay on books too. I still love going there. Drug of choice for sure.
I love that you're writing again! I'm savoring every word as at 56 I am still learning and relearning, and have much to do!
Thanks for writing Natalie. You really made me smile big! Isn't it all fun?
I dream of words, spelling them repeatedly, savoring their sounds in my mind’s tongue. Books have always been my friend, my savior, my passport to the world. I relate to your wisdom-seeking quite well. Color, texture, and pattern are always knocking at my door. Be well.
Love your words, Helen. Thanks for commenting. I can relate to coming upon a beautiful word and savoring the experience.
I love what you have to say. You continue to expand your universe and are an inspiration. I have to say though, I don't like this platform. I assume you use it for a reason but it defies my understanding.
Thanks for writing, Toneybeth.
My primary reason for choosing this platform is that it is free and easy. Another reason tht I can now say, is the wonderful community of writers here on Substack. I can focus entirely on the writing. Because my mailing list is so large (relatively, speaking), I had to pay $60/month to Mailchimp and it was a solo venture, as opposed to the community here. I hope you will continue to read Further to Fly.
I have let go of some books periodically, but most I keep. I like to revisit them, and as you wrote Lesley, relearn from them. Thanks for this wonderful post.
Thanks, so much CeCe. We've been connected virtually for so long, I feel like you're my best friend never met.
Oh that means a lot to me Lesley. Yes, best virtual friends forever. Thanks so much.
Thank you!
Thank YOU for reading.
Love those poems, thanks for sharing them with us!
You're welcome, Elaine. Thanks for reading and your comment. Smiling here.