just be (a guest post from patty waite)
while we are awaiting the arrival of our little one or maybe by this time soaking up the wonder of a newborn in the house, a few of my blogging friends are sharing some guests posts...enjoy today's musing from patty waite.
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so often it seems i
look but do not see
listen but do not hear
touch but do not feel
sniff but do not smell
eat but do not taste
have you ever felt this way? like life is passing you by and you didn’t really live it? like a whole year just passed and you can barely remember more than a few really experiential moments? it was, in part, this realization that prompted me to choose my word(s)-of-the-year for 2010: JUSTBE.
it won’t surprise anyone reading this blog that a lot of what i’ve learned about “just be”-ing, i’ve learned from one of the best role models around – that would be the lovely liz lamoreux! i mean, reading her posts is like taking a little box labeled “this moment”, slooowly opening the lid, then digging into it with a little hand shovel, searching for jewels of buried treasure, pulling each one out and examining it, then putting each one back in the box, closing the lid and being that much richer for the experience.
so i’m making progress and doing better with the whole justbe endeavor. and while i could never attempt to take liz’s place in this regard, i will share a few of my favorite “justbe” images. my hope is that one of them might prompt you to pause and dig deeply into this present moment.
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About Patty: I am primarily a perpetual student of life. I would love to discover your take on things and would happily share mine with you. My goal is to be open in all situations and to see both sides of an issue (as well as the lighter side!) and hopefully spread a little love along the way.
Secondarily, I am a photographer, teacher, writer, mixed-media and digital artist, seeker, presenter, back roads traveler and hiker and, most recently, hospice volunteer.
links:
a guest
Reader Comments (6)
oh patty.....this brought me chills....CHILLS i tell ya!!! liz is amazing and you are right....its all about the experience as you say. the ritual perhaps of opening it up and enjoying the process. she is a master of words and thought. i love the photos patty!! they are so wonderful. thank you so much for sitting in. love to you both!!!
How great to visit you here, Patty. And what fun to be a guest blogger! Loved the photos and of course your wonderful thoughts. You express them with such elegance. Always, they are little reminders for me, to 'just be', to accept, to enjoy the moment, to really really be present in my body and be an observer. Thank you once again. Also ... love that photo of you!
Thank you for this lovely reminder.
I am getting better, but it feels like a life-long "project".
patty
i
love
this, as always, is so beautifully written and the pictures, as always, are amazing.
still in awe of you.
huge hugs.
c
Yes, I am feeling exactly that way this year and struggling to overcome and just be, as you say. Some days I succeed, other days, not so much. But I am mindful of my goal, and that is the first step.
sweet Patty....
thank you for this reminder....i love
"so often it seems i look but do not see".....all of those you expressed because so often it can seem that way and i think the best gift we can give ourselves in that aspect is awareness that we aren't truly seeing, touching, tasting, feeling, smelling......and do something about it!!!
this post will help me....it is a wonderful reminder!!!
i love your images, your words, your outlook!!!
xoxoxo
k