Photo by Marco Meyer on Unsplash
“Life meanders like a path through the woods. We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.”
—Katherine May
Life's path meanders through times that are, in turn, wonderful and challenging. We set out, when young, with some kind of plan, and perhaps some certainty and confidence, but never quite know what is round the next bend. Just when things seem to be moving forward swimmingly, the unplanned, or unexpected happens and it's easy to get thrown off course. It might be illness (physical or mental), the breakdown of a relationship, unemployment, bereavement or displacement.
When our 'bare bones' are revealed, it's hard to believe that we will flourish again, but we do. There is always joy, kindness, love and laughter waiting for us round the next bend.
Writing prompts:
- Think of your life as a meandering path through the woods. Draw it on the page, then mark down (perhaps at the bends) significant moments - good and bad. Write a poem about your path.
- Write about a season in your life when you flourished. What good things were happening? How old were you? How did you feel?
- Write about a time when your 'leaves fell' and your 'bare bones' were revealed. What happened? How did you manage to flourish again?
'who would have thought my shrivelled heart could have recovered greeness?' -George Herbert -( quotation may not be not be 100% accurate). (ML)
ReplyDeleteMost of the time, for most people, life is fairly regular with the occasional bump. However, almost everyone, at some time, hits a huge pothole, causing life as known, to stop. It's at such a point, that one's relationship to others is highlighted. Care and love matter as much as anything. To use the poetical analogy of this blog post, if one's attachment to the main branch of the tree is strong when all the leaves fall, recovery will be much better.
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ReplyDeleteMy body withers like a lilting flower
ReplyDeletethat sees no light and has no power.
My mind feels like winter full of darkness and rain.
Oh, how I long for Spring to come again!
The long cold nights make me feel so low,
but I know in the future the daffodils will grow.
The birds will sing and the sun will shine bright.
My mind will then feel joyous, carefree and light.
(Poem contributed by Sam.)