I was going to give one scholarship to the online Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style that I'm teaching (starts March 21), but the blog comments were so heartwarming and honest, I gave 3 scholarships! Send me your email address Carmen Taggert, Hope Amen, lbfreer.
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from one of my favorite poets:
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| A reminder from Patti Digh |
from one of my favorite poets:
For the Sake of Strangers
By Dorianne Laux
No matter what the grief, its weight,
we are obliged to carry it.
We rise and gather momentum, the dull strength
that pushes us through crowds.
And then the young boy gives me directions
so avidly. A woman holds the glass door open,
waiting patiently for my empty body to pass through.
All day it continues, each kindness
reaching toward another—a stranger
singing to no one as I pass on the path, trees
offering their blossoms, a retarded child
who lifts his almond eyes and smiles.
Somehow they always find me, seem even
to be waiting, determined to keep me
from myself, from the thing that calls to me
as it must have once called to them—
this temptation to step off the edge
and fall weightless, away from the world.
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Count your blessings/tell someone you love them category:
About our local, and beloved newsman. And his blog post.
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And you know, every time you leave a comment on my blog (or others for that matter) you are performing a kindness. Letting us know that we're seen. I thank you for that.
By Dorianne Laux
No matter what the grief, its weight,
we are obliged to carry it.
We rise and gather momentum, the dull strength
that pushes us through crowds.
And then the young boy gives me directions
so avidly. A woman holds the glass door open,
waiting patiently for my empty body to pass through.
All day it continues, each kindness
reaching toward another—a stranger
singing to no one as I pass on the path, trees
offering their blossoms, a retarded child
who lifts his almond eyes and smiles.
Somehow they always find me, seem even
to be waiting, determined to keep me
from myself, from the thing that calls to me
as it must have once called to them—
this temptation to step off the edge
and fall weightless, away from the world.
++++++++++
Count your blessings/tell someone you love them category:
About our local, and beloved newsman. And his blog post.
++++++++++
And you know, every time you leave a comment on my blog (or others for that matter) you are performing a kindness. Letting us know that we're seen. I thank you for that.
Jane, as you know from the last comment I tried to make, I have the blog-recessive gene. When I start clicking all these links to the ways that my favorite people's lives are scattering all over the "URLd" ... why, honey, I say to myself, where is that bag of breadcrumbs???
ReplyDeleteThat being said, you asked me to share my kindness story. MAYBE this is the right place to post it ... and then again, maybe not. But I am of that trusting-the-universe school of thought where my post will end up being seen by the people who need to see it. Here is the post of which I speak(eth)...
(Friday February 26)...So I was standing around last night in the fellowship of women, and hugging someone new who was crying because she was so scared about life, and because it was so hard to talk about it all, and feel so vulnerable. So a couple of us talked about something cool we had read which helped us in times like that, and she shook her head and said, I don't have the book, and I looked over at my well-loved copy, marked up with favorite passages, and dog-eared, and post-its hanging out, and said, here take mine! And I felt torn and sad that my old copy was leaving me, and I hoped she would really appreciate it, but also gosh it felt sweet that it might serve someone else.
Your generosity is as beautiful as your art, thank you for bringing a ray of sunshine to me this week! Blessings, Carmen
ReplyDeleteOh Miss Jane...thank-you sooo much for an opportunity to take your online workshop. I am very blessed. And then I read your post " For the Sake of Strangers". I am indeed counting my blessings. Thank-you.
ReplyDeleteI always love seeing your work. After taking your workshop last summer, I showed my sister how to do watercoloring the Jane way. Even more, I love your kindness chronicles. I've gotten to know about Danny Gregory and so many other fine artists from your writings. The gifts from you are shared with so many I know. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJane, I want you to know how much I enjoy your blog. It is so COLORFUL and uplifting. I love the way you share your sketchbook drawings with us and it inspires me to start my own. Sometimes it is hard not to critique my drawing but I'm trying to remember that sketching is a personal EXPRESSION and doesn't have to be perfect. Also, I love reading your Kindness Chronicles. This place is all around inspiring!
ReplyDelete