Days and Memories – discovering quotations by Muhammed Ali and Cesare Pavese

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Copyright 2012 Randstad Canada, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

Copyright 2012 Randstad Canada, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

It fascinates me how a lone quote in my own notebook written about 5 years ago can lead me on an unexpected journey on the internet.  The quote was ‘Don’t count the days.  Make the days count.’  I discovered this was one of Muhammed Ali’s quotes.  Now in his 70’s, he has his own active website, Twitter and Facebook page with many memories and photos of his boxing days.

The quote must have resonated with me in the past, when I first recorded it, as it does now.  It’s not about how many days there are but valuing what happens on each individual day.  Live it like it is really important so that it means something.  At the same time, we may have something big to look forward to like a special holiday or life event.  We shouldn’t wish away the days between now and then, which in effect could waste those seemingly insignificant days.

This brings me on to another quote which my internet journey discovered.  In fact, on further research, it is two separate quotes by Cesare Pavese, award-winning Italian writer and poet who was born in 1908 and sadly committed suicide in 1950.  His diaries have been published following his death as ‘This Business of Living (1935-1950).

Copyright 2011 jessicahtam, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

Copyright 2011 jessicahtam, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

‘We do not remember days, we remember moments.’ (1940)

‘The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten.’ (1944)

These are both thought-provoking.  We have special days that we remember but do we really remember the whole day?  Are our treasured memories of the day itself or of particular moments during that day?

When it comes to the richness of life, if we have forgotten memories then perhaps it is because we have had so many special moments, and that they are not really forgotten.  My own personal experience is that many precious memories are triggered by photos and other memorabillia, things such as tickets, random notes, greeting cards, gifts – many things that I have thought it worth keeping and have stored away in a box or drawer.

Have a look around you.  Do you have a treasured ‘forgotten’ memory that you would like to share, including what triggers it?

Words – what would we do without them? Random poetic writing

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Copyright 2012 Denise Krebs, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

Copyright 2012 Denise Krebs, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

I have just stumbled across these verses written early one morning in the summer of 2010 sitting by the river whilst holidaying at Statford upon Avon.  The desire to write and getting stuck seems to have remained with me!

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Aren’t words the wonder of all

they bring such treasures our way

Without them we’d fall with nothing to call

and life would be dull day on day.

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We’d sing, no lyrics would come

we would hum, laa laa, dee dee

What would be the point, well ok for some

but for most so lost would be.

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So writers what would they write

no way to convey their thoughts

However they tried, as hard as they might

they would drift and be out of sorts.

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How would we share all our joys

that come bursting through our voice

Whatever we feel, whatever the noise

the message is not our choice.

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With no words no wonder is

unless an artist could be

With colour and light, some pencil and vizz

would say all there is to see.

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Words are the key to my life

without them what would I do

Be lost for a while, my thoughts would be rife

till vision could see them too.

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A lesson it is for me

to be the best that I can

A story will write, for all it will be

for children, for women, for man.

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A puzzle this has become

it didn’t set out to be

I will paint and draw, I will sing and hum

till the words they come to me.

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Ward Wedding – a lasting memory of a brave young woman

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Copyright 2007 Steve Jurvetson, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

Copyright 2007 Steve Jurvetson, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

I was recently back on the cancer care ward for three weeks (home again now, thankfully).  One day there was increased activity in the morning and it turned out a wedding was to take place for a patient.  My first thoughts, how lovely that this was happening, followed by the sad realisation of why.  So it was with mixed emotions that I witnessed the preparations, and the guests and bridesmaids going to and fro throughout the day.  I caught a glimpse of the young bride in a wheelchair on her way to the ceremony that was taking place in the day room, where guests could spill out into the private enclosed garden.

The happy atmosphere filtered through the ward until the evening, yet it remained a private affair.  It must have been such an emotional roller coaster for everyone involved.  I thought how wonderful it was that the wedding had been possible, providing lasting happy memories particularly for her young family.  I thought of the young woman being able to experience such a special occasion with her family and friends, knowing that she had little time left.

There is no doubt that my emotions were heightened on that day and It has stayed with me.  It has since caused me to reflect on how people spend months and often tens of thousands of pounds planning a wedding, yet the most important and special part of a wedding are the people brought together for the occasion.  A wedding is an occasion to be celebrated and enjoyed in the moment, with memories to last a lifetime for everyone involved.

The Impact of Place – Wellbeing, Inspiration and Creativity

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A short while back I talked about my creativity being blocked and trying to overcome this.  I’ve not yet overcome my inability to immerse myself in a creative zone but I will share my thoughts and progress.  Having spent two months in hospital, and a further month at home, mainly but not exclusively in one room, I have had little chance to get out and about and when I do most visits are for appointments at the hospital. In the past few days I have realised what is perhaps the obvious, the effect of place on my ability to relax, switch off and become entwined in my creative quest.  At a basic level, I have had to relocate my bedroom to a lower floor, losing the broad view of the sky and my cosy writing corner.  Then there is the effect of being restricted, not going out to walk and explore different places.  So I turn to my memories and love of water. Water in all it’s natural forms is inspiring, be it sea, river, waterfall, stream or lake.  In pondering this blog I recalled a holiday at Lake Bled, a most magical place in Slovenia.  When I visited many years ago I had not started writing but I recall how I felt when I surveyed the view from the hotel balcony on the night of arrival and the many hours enjoyed walking alongside the beautiful lake.  Perhaps if I can allow my mind to drift and recapture the essence of the special places I have visited – with a notebook to hand – I will be able to move forward with my creative pursuits. Even on a rainy day, Lake Bled is a magical place.

Copyright Maurice, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

Copyright 2008 Maurice, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

Memory triggers – Clouds (and Blogging)

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Copyright 2014 Patrick Emerson, CC-BY-ND, via Wylio

Copyright 2014 Patrick Emerson, CC-BY-ND, via Wylio

I am playing around with a blog I wrote a short while back.  No-one appears to have seen it so I am changing the title and photo and see if this makes a difference.  The text and poem remains unchanged.  It would be good to get some feedback and to hear from others their own experiences of what draws people to read their blog.

Prompted by a friend to write a poem on clouds, I reflected on what they mean to me. It’s fascinating how thinking about something like this can evoke memories from the past.

I recall when I was at school we had acres of lush green grass, tiered with slopes that we could roly poly down. The clouds made me think of when I would lay flat on my back on the grass gazing up at the blue sky and fluffy white clouds on a beautiful summer’s day.

I also remember how I enjoyed flying above the clouds for the first time when I was a teenager, looking down on them and seeing fairytale mountains.

The following are the words that have spontaneously come to me.

Clouds

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Stretched out on the emerald pillow

The light sapphire canvas blotched with stately mounds

Wishing I was up amongst the clouds

Gliding serenely o’er the world

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Zooming beyond the realms of living land

The magical marshmallow mountains

Bestow a safe haven in my mind

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Clouds are forever there, bumbling along

Swept by the whipping winds of fury

Today their blackened stains threaten

As the wands of wetness streak down

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A passing theme in our lives

A cloudless sky perfection seems

Yet without clouds, life would pass us by

Thank you for reading.  I welcome any comments you may have.

Creativity takes us to a special place

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Copyright 2011 Chris Wells, Flickr, CC-BY-SA, via Wylio

Copyright 2011 Chris Wells, Flickr, CC-BY-SA, via Wylio

Creativity takes us to a special place – a place where we become lost, engrossed in our chosen path.  The stresses of life melt away, solutions surface to be put aside for later.  We are blessed with frozen time in which to savour the simple gifts life offers.

Kay, wavesandpebbles.wordpress.com

The Orange Globe – Poem

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I wrote the following poem when I was attending a creative writing course and tasked with eating an orange and then writing about it. I chose to approach the exercise mindfully, which meant that I fully focused on every move. I had ensured that I had peace and would not be disturbed. I feel that mindfulness resulted in far more descriptive vocabulary than I would otherwise have used.

I previously shared this poem on my poetry page unillustrated.  Following my post on the use of images in blogs, thanks to another blogger I have now been introduced to Wylio and found the chosen photo which I felt was perfect.

image

Copyright 2010 Aurimas, Flickr, CC-BY-ND, via Wylio

The Orange Globe

Round and dimpled with a fiery hue.

Balancing on the shiny plate, aware of the carefully-placed threatening steely blade.

Light glistening through the window enlarges the pores, breathing life once more.

Almost perfect, it’s marks prove individuality.

Rough, bitter sharp rind tingles.

Soft grating renders the globe slippery, with a creamy and oily texture.

Thumbs pummel, pressing determinedly to squish open, testing strength.

The pithy coat yields yet resists.

Stabbed through the heart, crackling fibres torn.

Rough saw sound dissects, two halves fall apart.

Juicy pearls cradled within are savoured, sucked and dripping.

Shreds of that which remain discarded.

Fleshy nodules erupt in the mouth, flooding with tantalising golden nectar and a bittersweet lick.

Sticky and blessed, all that remains is a sunny mess.

Blog Images – how much difference do they make?

/ Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / 2 Comments

I am seriously lacking in images to go with my posts, whether it be photos or artwork.  I could hold back on sharing things that I come across but have decided to share them without images and come back later when I have discovered or created the right image.  I haven’t yet found my way around free online images and would prefer anyway to create my own when the opportunity arises.  So I am hoping people will still want to visit my blog and, when it is more colourful, will be interesting to see what difference this makes to my blog stats.  Would welcome comments on your own experience of this.

Random Ramblings: Vision and Happiness Quotes

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Going through some of my old notes, I came across a quote which resonated with me at the time, which I now discover is by American Joel A. Barker, Futurist, Author, Lecturer and Film Maker (www.joelbarker.com):

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Vision without action is merely a dream

Action without vision just passes the time

Vision with action can change the world

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This applies to our own personal worlds.  We can have dreams that lead to goals and by taking action we can change our own worlds.

Another quote I have stumbled upon in my files by John Butler Yeats written in a letter in 1909 (answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=89409)

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And happiness … What is it?  I say it is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing or that, but simply growth.  We are happy when we are growing.

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Growing involves learning, increasing our knowledge and having new experiences.  Does blogging make you happy?  We are developing our writing skills and learning new things from other bloggers, does this lead to personal growth and happiness?  Does it help us achieve our goals or does it distract us from them?