Monday 12 September 2011

Change and Reflection

The Cobbler at Loch Long
I missed my swans, so I've brought them back and changed my photo again, partly because I can't find a decent one. The dear husband of a good friend passed away suddenly the other day and we were fond of him, so I'm in a more reflective mood today. When I suddenly lost different members of my family some years ago, I always turned to writing, preferring to work out grief in creativity.

It certainly makes my husband and me more aware of our own passing years, and the things we still want to achieve. I'm not overly ambitious, never have been, but once again I'm looking at all the stories, poems and novels that lie in various levels of completion on the computer and in files. And I think it's long past the time that I finish what I started, send out those seeking publication, and rewrite the alarmingly long list of those to be worked on and improved.

Autumn and winter always seem ideal for writing, when we can stay indoors more (if we're lucky) and enjoy darker, cosy evenings which lend themselves to any type of creativity. The writing group also begins this week, with a full programme to inspire me. All I need now is to limit my television viewing - I love all the dramas at this time of year. Maybe I should start setting goals down on paper, instead of keeping them vaguely in my mind. But the main thing is to finish what I've started, before time runs out too quickly.

Mark Twain summed it up nicely:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Rosemary

16 comments:

Janice said...

Thank you for this post today, Rosemary, and for the Mark Twain quote.

Janice xx

Frances Garrood said...

So true, Rosemary. And I'm so sorry about your friend.

Vikki said...

Love the quote and something to live by! x

Rosemary Gemmell said...

You're welcome, Janice!

Thank you Frances.

You're so right, Vikki!

Lorna said...

Beautiful pictures, Quote and an emotional blog post. Thank you for sharing. My thoughts are with you all at this awful time. Take Care of yourself :) xxx

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thanks a lot for that comment, Lorna.

Carolb said...

Mark Twain certainly knew what he was talking about with that quote and a good reminder to us all.
Sympathies on the loss of your family friend.

Joanna said...

Thank you for this lovely, reflective post, Rosemary. And I'm sorry for the loss of your friend's husband. I agree with all you say about the winter evenings - a good chance to tidy up all the loose ends. I don't make lists now because I always ignore them anyway. It's less stressful for me not to make them in the first place!

I love your swans too. x

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thank you, Carol - a reminder indeed.

Nice to 'see' you, Joanna - hope all is going well for you. I haven't made lists for ages, so I'm not sure if it will work or not. Glad you like the swans - I'm happy they're back!

Diane Fordham said...

Sorry for your loss. We are fortunate that we have something positive to turn to when grief and those other hard times life throws at us, hits us in the face - our writing. I actually do keep a goals list, it helps me be more disciplined as a writer and I enjoy that sense of achievement when I complete one of the goals on 'the list'. I agree with Mark Twain. Thanks for the post Rosemary.

joanne fox said...

Sorry to hear your sad news. Every day is precious isn't it, and while all days can't be happy ones it's good if we can feel we've spent the time well.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thanks Diane - I'm glad to hear you list of goals works for you. I think I partly need one to save me keeping so much in my mind, as it feels quite overloaded!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thanks Joanne - you are absolutely right about every day being precious. I just feel guilty about those I waste!

K.C. Woolf said...

I'm sorry for your loss, Rosemary and you're right about writing as a good way to process grief - or any emotion for that matter.

'Explore. Dream. Discover'. Thank you.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thanks for the comment, K.C - quotes are so inspiring, as you know from your own blog!

Anonymous said...

I love that quote, Rosemary. I've been waiting all year here on the bayou for the cooler drier to get here so I could sit outside and write. Now it's here and the mosquitoes are too mean.

Hope you enjoy precious memories of your friend.
Martie