Growing Where You Are Planted

"When you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance." - Lee Ann Womack

We can find ourselves in places, or positions, in life that are less than ideal. We are sure that life would be easier if things were different, and they probably would be. We bemoan our lot and feel down hearted and disadvantaged by circumstance.

Which is why I was so inspired when I saw this seed that the birds had dropped, it had begun to sprout in a drainpipe on the outside of our house. It really bought to life the saying grow where you are planted.

There was this little seed having been deposited in the most unlikely and unfortunate place, grabbing hold of life and beginning to grow.

No nice deep bed of fertile soil where it could put down its roots and reach for the sun. But never the less, it was doing its best, living its life... and growing.

I became attached to this little plant. I dribbled water at its roots and when we had really strong winds I tied a bit of twine around the drainpipe to give it support.

I willed it on.

And, though only a fraction of its potential size, it made it. . .

It opened its petals and blossomed!

Surely an inspiration for us! That wherever we are planted, whatever our circumstances, we all have the potential to open our petals, turn our faces to the sun, and bloom!

"Don't let what you cannot do
interfere with what you can do."
- John Wooden

A Brief Interlude . . .

Happy Summer Solstice - Let your Inner Sun - S H I N E

C O N N E C T E D
.
.
.

My
body
a conduit
. . a temple . .

Gossamer threads
connect me
with light

with stardust
with stories

Twin serpents
coil and weave
around my
sturdy spine

caressing bone
creating sparks

My being is
tangled with
all that is

The exhaling
of the universe
etches me
with its
breath
.
.
.

Image and words by Susannah Bec

Where shall we focus our lens? . . .

"Appreciation is yeast, lifting ordinary to extraordinary." - Mary-Ann Petro

Every Sunday over at my other blog The Streaming Now I have been posting snapshots of things I noticed during my week. Most weeks these include photos I have taken of my garden, or of the pretty village I live in. These often draw comments saying how beautiful the village is, or how lovely my garden is.

Now this prompted lots of thought. - You see, if any of these people visited my garden (or my village) expecting only to see the beauty that I show, then they may well be disappointed.

Because, with my camera, as with my life, I get to choose what to focus on.

I could choose to take a photo of the broken paving, the overgrown vegetable patch or the manhole covers in my garden. And around my village instead of taking a photo of the pretty thatched cottage with roses around the door, I could take a photo of the dingy house with a black sheet pinned up at the window in place of curtains.

There have been times when I have been overwhelmed by the glorious colours of autumn trees, lit up and glowing like works of art. While others noticed a drinks can thrown by the side of the road and launched into a rant about the state of the area.

I could choose to focus on the wrongs and let them stop me seeing all of the rights - effectively blinding me to all the beauty that is around me.

We are surrounded by beauty and can make a conscious choice of where we focus our lens. It is really worth considering. . . what are you taking pictures of?

"Keep what is worth keeping - and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away."

- Dinah Mulock Craik

Voices . . . Yet Another Tiny Tale

"Your gift will come as soon
as you are ready to receive it."
- Alan Cohen

She had such simple grace, like a blessing bestowed. Tall and thin like a reed, she swayed as she walked and her skirts swished around her ankles like a willow in the wind. She exuded a calm confidence and the aura of one who was grounded and secure in her being and when she spoke, the room quietened, hushed to a whisper as she held them spellbound with her voice. It was pure and clear, and as she sang, the notes were like a bird rising up into a brilliant blue sky.

When she finally fell silent the audience were all of a jitter, sensing they had been witness to something extraordinary. They were already mourning its loss as the reverberations of her voice disappeared into the ether and left them once again alone. These people, who for brief moments had been borne aloft, tranported by the magic that she had bought into the room, were left floundering. Clutching at the feelings that made their mundane world seem lifeless and without colour in comparison.

When she got to her feet to leave, in unison they began a mournfull chant that echoed and rang like a bell. Surging and pounding in its intensity, a dirge that accompanied her to the big wooden doors that marked her exit. One hand on the door, she paused and stood so still it was as though she had been cast in alabaster. Slowly she bought her graceful finger up to her rosebud lips and the ear splitting sound dropped like a stone. The silence was so heavy with expectation it had a palpable weight.

She turned to face them, and stood knee deep in the quiet that had descended. Her shining eyes returned their gaze as she whispered. . . "join with me."

From deep in her throat came a note that split the heavy silence, and energised the air with dancing light. She threw back her head and lifted her arms as the note increased in intensity.

One by one the assembled crowd became a choir, and the room and the people were filled with all they had sensed in her performance earlier, and they were no longer alone.

They were as one and they were magnificent.

She quietly opened the door and slipped away leaving them lost in their rapture, they had no more need of her. They had found their own voices.


For another tiny tale - click here

Images and words by Susannah Bec.

Shall We Stop Waiting For The Magic?

"It is always your next move." - Napoleon Hill

 

A few days ago I was returning a visit to someone who left a nice comment on one of my blogs, when I came across the post A New Year's Epiphany and I was amazed at the response it bought up in me. 

As I began reading, I found part of me screaming, "No, no, don't say that, don't shatter my illusions." But by the time I had reached the end, my initial feeling of dismay had dissolved into a feeling of excitement. I then realised what a profound and powerful piece of writing it was.

A New Year's Epiphany 

 

  I will never win the lottery and be able to quit my job. 

 I will never buy a chocolate bar and find a golden ticket inside.  

There is no knight in shining armor coming to rescue me.  

Prince Charming will not appear at my door, holding a glass slipper.  

Fairy Godmothers and magic wands do not exist.  

I am responsible for my own happily ever after. 

 For years, that used to terrify me. 

 But now, it excites me to no end.

- by VL Sheridan

 

When I analysed the feelings it had bought up within me, I began to understand that however 'together' I thought I was, that subconsciously some of my energy was still tied up waiting for the magic. Now don't get me wrong, I believe that there are moments of magic scattered throughout our journey if we know how to look for them. And that is good, and that is wonderful, and who knows we may well be one of the ones who does win a lottery, or finds a golden ticket!  

 

But what is not wonderful, is putting off the full expression of our life because we are waiting for something; because on some level we are hanging on for our lucky break, our prince charming or our fairy godmother. We may not consciously be doing that, I didn't think I was until I reacted to those words! Then I wondered: what if under the surface that hope is still lingering in other people too and using up vital energy like a tv on standby. 

 

We grew up with childhood tales of magic, fairy tales and happy ever after and part of us still clings to that, as a bright star flickering in the sometimes dark sky of our reality. Perhaps it serves some sort of psychological purpose - but it also disempowers us. While we are still carrying those feelings, those hopes and dreams tucked away under the surface, stashed in some secret pocket of ourself. Then we are functioning below our potential, we are waiting for rescue, for something external to fix things. We are not giving our all to our lives here and now. That is why the end of A New Years Epiphany is so empowering... 

 

"I am responsible for my own happily ever after."

 

We don't need fairy godmothers and magic wands. We don't have to wait for someone or something to give us what we need. We can stop stifling our energy and being good girls and boys awaiting Santa Claus. We can stand up, step into our own power and take responsibility right here and right now for creating our own happy ever after. 

 

 I am up for that! Are you?

"The key to your universe is that you can choose. " - Frederick Frieseke

Thanks very much to VL Sheridan - for the inspiring words and for letting me use A New Year's Epiphany it is much appreciated..