Persevere.

Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out that they have a second wind.

-Wm. James.

Many people never even walk, too handicapped by dream-sappers.

Many people never crawl, too scared to stand and shout down those internalized nay-saying voices.

Many people travel wearily from job to meal to television-induced fog to bed. Yet, I wonder...no, I strongly suspect that in all of us, there the seed of a creative idea, lurking inert, waiting for even the tiniest pot of soil with a dash of water and TLC.

What creative spark lurks in you that you've never quite dared to bring out into the open? Sketching? Sculpting? Writing poetry or songs? Something that feels too humble to ever express to another human?

C'mon, take that seed out of the paper seed-packet and plant it--who knows what exposure to some dirt, water, and the light of day may lead to? You'll never know, will ya, till y'try? Why wait till you're old/tired/retired? Do it now...and keep going...

Here's where my title word comes to play...most of us only achieve excellence after countless tries. Did you know that the average number of times it takes to successfully quit smoking is five? Five serious efforts, defining "serious" as--enrolled in a program, took meds, had hypnosis, etc.

It is estimated that it takes 10,000 hours for a concert-level musician to arrive at that high level of accomplishment. We've probably all wasted 10,000 hours watching television...howzabout investing that time in...well, why don't you tell me? (comments section below?)

This is not to discourage us, but rather to say, "Hey! Let's start racking up the hours, NOW!" Turn off the TV/video games/Facebook/texting and start DOING/MAKING/BUILDING/CREATING.

== == == == ==

"The longest journey...begins by taking the first step."

Imagination

   Yesterday I was conversing with a catbird. She was being a bit shy, until her mother swept out of the bushes and cuffed her smartly, muttering something about talking to strangers. How did Mumsy know I was strange?
   Stranger things have happened. While I was basking in the warm sunlight, book in hand (THE BOOK OF MISCHIEF, by Stern, a collection of short stories--zany!) a complete stranger came up to me. Asking what I was reading, he riposted with not one but two books he'd recently devoured. How strangely delightful, to talk about books with someone whose name I don't even know! We wished one another good day, and as he toddled off with his curiously silent companion, I wondered if she was not a reader, or was she simply aware that there was no dishonor in surrendering to silence in the presence of two lads with the gift of the blarney?

   I love this graphic...almost as much as I love the punchy intent of the caption. Turn off that clamoring small screen and step onto this bookstrewn path--let your own imagination paint pictures for you rather than being force-fed pablum by the writers/producers/directors and advertisers.

   I typo-ed the above ppg to read, "I live this graphic..." Hmmm, I hope so!

   What are you reading now? I just started ESSAYS OF E. B. WHITE, 1977. These are delightful glimpses of a gone-by world whose echoes yet linger...but are fading with my generation. The writing seems effortless and fluid, which of course means that he polished his phrases in loving labor. The topics are whimsical and homey. Get your hands on this book if you like reminiscences that are both personal yet universal, drawing on life from NYC to small-town Maine.

   I'm also reading the afore-mentioned BOOK OF MISCHIEF, where dreams come true and whimsy turns to tragedy. Plus, I'm plugging through THE FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS AND WILDFLOWERS OF CASCO BAY AND PEAKS ISLAND...which describes the view out my front window! I'm also plugging away at the Great Books, which is a topic to be revisited anon.

   Elizabeth thinks I'm nutso to read two or three books at once, but I like to have something whimsical or fluffy to counter-balance a "chew-thoroughly-before-swallowing" book like the ESSAYS. (I think she's nutso to read the last page of a book before its turn, so, we're even!)

RESTARTING

 

The blogger has been "on hiatus" for a bit, due to relocation...some 2700 miles across the country. I rather missed this discipline of writing something with (I hope) a bit of substance to it on a regular basis.

While not a huge fan of the Bronte sisters, I find myself in agreement with the graphic!




RESTARTING

Restart.
   Closed door.
     Open door.

Ensconced in Maine once again,
   wondering what the future holds?

The future flows to the brave and bold.
   (Thus, per my parents told)
Fortune favors those who work
   Not the ones whose duty shirk.

This yr, I'll be working on marketing the books that are occupying closet space...
...anyone for a good book? Gifts? For yourself?

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-lTxbB6dhY711OvAcoP7JH7e7aKTqMcOeWd0dF0fXM0/edit?usp=sharing

and...
--working on more stories for my grand kids,
--continuing to write a poem a day,
--plugging away at reading "the great books" using the sample list toward the bottom of this Wikipedia page,
--working on a fictionalized biography of King Solomon,

and, listening to the Still, Small Voice.

Let Them Go Free!

In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends imprisoned by an enchanter in paper and leathern boxes.

 

--Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) --

Friends and enchanters, come to me!
   Wink your eyes and tap your feet
Come tell your tales of horror and glee
   I cannot wait for us to meet!

I'd write more, but I've gotta hot book to read, bye!

(Oh, all right. I'm reading something that transports me across centuries and across the ocean--historic fiction, set in Europe. The characters are believable, and the plot feels like real life--some things go well, and others are a face-plant into concrete ranging from wet to solid!)

Been transported by a book lately? A recent fav of both the Blogger and the Mrs. was Stephen King's 11/22/63. We traveled through time and space to a weird take on "reality" that had none of King's rather-common gore and guts...enchanting and just a little bit scary...that wonderful kinda book that was hard to put down.

How's that for a book criterion--"I had a hard time putting it down. Go, pick one up today"?

There are too many books I haven’t read, too many places I haven’t seen, too many memories I haven’t kept long enough.

--Irving Shaw--

There's something about that quote that I resonate with. Let's start with books:
--first, I keep a list of books to read. Some have been recommended by friends. Others I've read reviews. Others are continuations of series.
--then, there are the lists of "best books of..." the 20th century...the decade, etc.
--finally, there are the "Great books." A few colleges make this cluster of classics the foundation of their curriculum.

Last year I read 125 books. 37 were non-fiction, or so they claimed! This year I'm putting a bigger emphasis on classics of fiction/Great Books, and on non-fiction.




Next, today's quote laments places not yet seen...I know that tugs at a lot of people's hearts and minds. Mine too. We drive by a little copse of woods and I think, I'd love to go poke around and see what there is to be found--a stand of wildflowers? artifacts of yesteryear? a glimpse of wildlife? a memory to be stored away for a rainy day?

We drive over a stream and I wonder, what's around that next bend?

We go thru an historic town and I think--I'd like to mosey around, then read some of their local history.

=-=-=-=--==-= =-=-=-=--==-= =-=-=-=--==-=

I guess those are some of the reasons that I write: I can explore, analyze, and remember--some of it fictive, some factual, and all of it a feast for my God-given curiosity--may it lead me straight to the Source!