Recently, I read a book about hard decisions at the late stages of life that moved me: Don DeLillo’s Zero K. In one passage that has stayed with me, a character reflects on the small, beautiful elements that make up a life. She describes a shower to her stepson: “I think about drops of water,” she says. “I think about drops of water. How I used to stand in the shower and watch a drop of water edge down the inside of the sheer curtain. How I concentrated on the drop, the droplet, the orblet, and waited for it to assume new shapes as it passed along the ridges and folds, with water pounding against the side of my head.
— Lora Kelley, P.S., The Atlantic Daily Newsletter (July 20, 2023)
Notes:
- Special Note. Friends, my apologies for the blog malfunctions in the past week, 99% were self inflicted wounds that I’m still working to resolve. I have lost my posts for the past week and a half along with all of your wonderful comments. My apologies. Thank you for your patience. (And given my state of mind in this repair progress, all maddening because it could have all been avoided, I thought this post was particularly timely for me. A big shout out to the WordPress staff for their patience, guidance and support.
- Post Title & Inspiration: Aldous Huxley: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them.
Such focus on those little things…that awareness is where the magic is.
Exactly…
At the end of the day, if blog issues are the biggest challenge you had to face, it’s been a pretty good day 😉
So true Ray. And such 1st World Problems.
The little things indeed bring the magic. Spent a good 45 minutes this morning mesmerized by the periwinkle blue waves breaking along the shore as seemingly translucent crabs skittered back and forth before me. A wondrous way to start the day…. Hope your blog problems are resolved soon, pal.
Beautiful, thanks for sharing Lori.
Ah-h thanks for sharing your mesmerization! So-o beautiful! I love the ocean, everything about it…
It only takes a moment to notice the little things … and change the projectory of your day. Sorry to hear about your blog issues. One post at a time, eh.
Smiling. Thanks Val!
Regarding blog issues: I ran across these wise words somewhere 😉:
Aldous Huxley: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them”
Cheers,
Paul
Laughing! TRUTH!
Sorry about the blog issues. We’ll all still be here when they’re sorted, though 🙂
Awwww. So kind Laila! Thank you.
Love this! Sorry about the tech issues, but this was lovely.
Thank you!
welcome back! your posts have been invaluable to me the last couple of years….<3
Thank you Judith! Appreciate you!
Yes! how appropriate for you…and everyone! Being in the present. Could be so easy, but we get SO distracted that we obliterate our peace. Here’s to peace in you and all around you…!
Thank you Valerie!
This is an excellent quote! And I completely understand the chaos of this last week. Be gentle with yourself and grateful that there is still more to learn.
Thank you Carrie.
Lovely. It’s funny (now!)(sorta!) but you had commented to my comment on the “exhausted by rancor/bring on the poetry” post, and I came back the next day to re-read the post because it so definitely had drawn my Amen from the first –but it along with your comment in my notifications had disappeared. When I later saw “private blog” I thought, “OMG, somebody must’ve thoroughly pissed off DK!” Soooo glad it wasn’t that!! 😊
LAUGHING. What a mess I created. Self induced pain and suffering. Thank you!
We have ALL been there, I think, in one cyber matter/glitch or another.
We have!
I was wondering if you had been hacked…or someone from Nigeria or Russia was trying to phish my financial information.
My condolences to you. One little button or click can cause great havoc. You’ve been reminded, again, that you’re human.
LAUGHING. One button click can cause havoc. So True. I think Nigerian hacker would have done less damage than my own efforts! Thanks Patrice!
Its not a total loss. I saved my comment for you. you said it was comment of the month. I don’t know about that, but it does appear to be missing.
http://srevestories.blogspot.com/2023/07/gangbangers.html
Thank you Steve! It remains Comment of the Month!
Glad it’s all getting sorted out. The trials and tribulations of a techy world. Sigh.
Thanks Darlene! Sigh is so right!
It feels like the dark ages with Live & Learn
Explain?!
Omg
I meant to type, ” it feels like the dark ages WITHOUT live & Learn.”
Sorry, so so sorry for the typo.
My God. You had me curl up in a fetal position after reading your first comment. Come on! Stress levels from this Blog are surging lately!
So sorry, dk.
Apologies !
Also, thank you for bringing the search bar back.
I need my unlimited lifelong access to the L&L Encyclopedia.
Smiling. I’m still working on the repair and design project here.
no worries, we’re all still standing –
Exactly!
Oh I remember doing that often as a child. A wonderful pass-time occupation.
And yes, of course you’re forgiven for this blog glitch ! Inly those doing nothing make no mistakes. I ‘m just glad that I didn’t have to ‘follow up’ those 20 supposedly new posts.
Laughing. Truth!