Saturday 31 March 2012

The Dash



I read of a man who stood to speak 
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line was worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars,
the house,
the cash,
what matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down long enough
to consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a while.

So when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
and how you spent your dash?

~Linda Ellis

Thursday 29 March 2012

Just Breathe

Take a deep breath in. Hold.
Take another bit in. Hold.
Exhale 50%. Hold.
Breathe in. Hold.
Exhale a bit. Hold.
Now try to breathe deep. Hold.

That has been my pattern. That has been my breath.
An overwhelming combination of drowning and suffocation.
An overbearing heaviness that weighs down on my heart and chest.
A relentless cycle of sighing and then the inability to draw in anywhere near enough air, like a blanket of doom that has cloaked my heart and lungs for more than a week now.

48hrs before that fateful day it's as though I knew something was about to go terribly wrong.

I've struggled with the decision to write about this most personal of personal events.
Grief & Death. 
While they're an inevitable part of life, some would say the only thing that is guaranteed, the line is fine as to what constitutes honouring a memory here and whether sharing such a deeply private moment is even appropriate. Especially somewhere as faceless and often fickle as the online world.

Surely the loss of a loved one is more complex and worthy of a better sound board than a mere Facebook status?

Not knowing when or how to move on I simply shied away.
I wanted to acknowledge what happened but I didn't want to seem tasteless or tacky in my approach.

I would have much preferred to pretend it didn't happen, to go on as if everything was alright.
But it wasn't and I couldn't.

So I did the next best thing.
Retreat.

Until today.
I know for a fact that the only thing she would hate more than having to leave us is knowing we weren't coping or moving on.
So since this blog is a space of mine to record all things both frivolous and intense in my life, I feel it's only right to acknowledge my darkness first before I can feel comfortable again in my light.


On March 20th heaven took it's angel back as without a doubt this beautiful lady truly was a saint on Earth.
She was the light in so many peoples lives.
She had a warmth that could radiate through to the coldest of hearts.
She brought comfort and love to all who were blessed to be in her divine presence.
Words cannot come close to describing her generosity, her kindness and love. Even though it's an understatement, it is safe to say she was an exceptional woman.

Having lost my Grandfather and only living grandparent at age 12, I would never have known the love of a Grandmother had it not been for this angelic of souls.
I thought I had found my soul mate when I met my husband but little did I know I would gain a second family as well.
Most importantly I received something I had never before known -
the tender relationship between a young woman and her grandmother, for I always felt like she was mine and I hers.

She always had a smile and a twinkle in her eye for me followed by a kiss, a soft hug and unconditional love.
From the first day I met her all those 12 years ago I felt enveloped by the love in her heart.
I knew, even then, that in her eyes I was special the way only a grandmother could believe her granddaughter to be.

I was very lucky to have known her, to have been loved by her and to have the honour of holding these memories of her in my heart.
While I couldn't be there in her final hours I can only hope to have brought her some comfort in her final days.
She always called me her angel but I know it is her who will forever more be my guardian angel.

Every day my breath gets a little less laboured.
Each day it feels slightly easier to breathe.

Just Breathe.
It's become my mantra.
Just Breathe… 

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Speechless

Source: panoramio.com via Linda on Pinterest 
                                                            
                                                             Sometimes there is nothing you can say.
                                                           Sometimes all you can do is feel.



Suddenly I miss everyone.

Monday 19 March 2012

Much Love Monday

Monday-itis is a serious condition my friends, which is why I like to combat it with a little injection of positivity every week.

Today some things I'm much loving are:
Gorgeous sunny weather.
    While Summer has been officially over for some time now Melbourne
     is blessing us with an unusually long display of warm weather.
     A last hurrah perhaps? I hope it stays long enough for Easter.
Spontaneous, impromptu visits from my parents.
    While often their inability to call before popping in can be a bit
    annoying (only because I'm usually working), this Monday I'm client
    free so their visit was perfect. Plus they came with offerings of roasted
    veggies and fresh figs. Mmm… I have the perfect way to enjoy these
    which I'll be sharing here soon.
Having a free day.
   A lack of bookings isn't usually a such a good thing when you're self-
   employed but when it happens to be on a Monday or when I'm still
   feeling a little weary from the weekend it certainly is.
   Gotta look for the silver lining :o)
   Taking the opportunity to get on top of some house work before
   retreating under the shade of a tree with a good book.

For more Monday Lovin' take a peek over at

Sunday 18 March 2012

Sunday Shuffle








I've spent the whole day feeling more than a little ordinary but all that's been made worthwhile by being able to lay in bed, day dreaming out the window to some very blissful tunes.

Hope your Sunday is a pleasant one where ever you happen to be. xx


Sharing todays tunes with Thea's Sunday Session

Saturday 17 March 2012

Consolation



As of now I have accumulated no less than 12 rolls of undeveloped film! Holly Hell, how did that happen?

I know that two of them are filled with double exposure attempts, one is of my trip up at Lakes Entrance and another dates back to Christmas.
As for the other eight rolls of film, I haven't got the faintest clue what could be on them.

Remember that photo funk I've been complaining about?
Well I think this more than makes up for it.

The burning desire to run out and drop a sack load of cash to get them all developed immediately is so strong right now that had I the funds to do it I totally would.

But alas I don't and so the funk continues…

Keeping the message of this lovely link alive in my heart instead.

Thursday 15 March 2012

I've Gotchya Captcha

Source: brainstuck.com via Robin on Pinterest 


Mostly it doesn't really faze me when a few "anonymous" comments pop up in my blog stream now and then.
Mostly I can deal with the mild annoyance of getting all excited and then inevitably disappointed over a false message by simply deleting it out of my history and out of my life.
But mostly I just hate using captchas so much myself that I wouldn't want to impose this irritating add on upon you lovely people.

I can't tell you how many times I've gone to the trouble of leaving a note on a blog, deliberating over the wording or the right thing to say, only to notice the captcha at the bottom of the screen seconds after closing the tab leading my comment to nought.

Plus have you noticed how hard those things are to read sometimes?
I'm no robot but seriously, some are like deciphering hieroglyphics!

Well that was my stance, at least until this week when I received no less than 10 anonymous comments in a matter of 4 days.

WTF???!!!

So now that I've had my fill of spam from sites such as Bread Machine stating that they love my surveys and would I like more traffic to my blog I'm wondering dear readers, what is your opinion of captchas?

Do they help?
Are they a hindrance?
If I added one to my page would it deter you from commenting? 
(this last one is most important as I sooo love getting your comments - little attention hog that I am.)

I don't like the idea of making it that little bit harder to have your say here but the irritation of irrelevant spam is frustrating me to no end.
I'm not sure how much longer I can stand it…
To add, or not to add:
that is the question… 

Saturday 10 March 2012

Tripping

My latest Lust Have

NĂșvensLife...

End of a Long Day
Kingston Brew Pub
diva
And after showing you these results now can you see why.
Baby I'm hunting you down…



<Click on the images for more awesome examples
from these talented photographers or dive into the pool.>

Wednesday 7 March 2012

KONY 2012

Please, please take the time to donate a mere 30 minutes from your day to watch this… then spread the word and share it!
It's all it takes to make a change. A change that needs to happen NOW.


KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

Monday 5 March 2012

On a Day Like Today

All You Need Is Love ❤
There is so much to love about this particular Much Love Monday that I'm bursting at the seams to share it all at once.

I'm loving…
❥ Making the house more homely.
They say a change is as good as holiday… and they're totally right!
❥ Dinners in our newly renovated dining room.





























Don't get too used to it though as it's about to change again.

❥Thanks to some very generous friends we've adopted a few beautiful pieces of furniture including a display cabinet and the dinning suit pictured above.
We're overwhelmed with gratitude.
This weekend was the first time we'd sat down to a dinner table since moving in 5 years ago.

 Restructuring the bedroom.
I really wish I had taken a photo of how bad it was before then you'd know what a HUGE transformation this room has had.
Unfortunately old homes don't come with walk in robes, but ours didn't have any wardrobes at all.
This means a bit of eclectic clutter ensued but with some tweaking here and there we've managed to make this my favourite room in the house.
Our bedroom finally feels like a cosy little oasis.

❥ Gifts of love out on display.

❥ Our little munchkin on the end of our bed.

❥ And last but certainly not least… what I'm loving most about today is that on this day a year ago I was marrying the love of my life.
We may not be making a whole lotta hooha about it
(after 11 years together 1 seems like a drop in the ocean)
but we know we have what really matters.

Love…

On a day like today, love is all you really need ❤

Sunday 4 March 2012

Sunday Sessions // 24




Bombay Bicycle Club are proving to be a hot little favourite amongst my playlist lately.
There's just something really comforting about their sound - I don't quite know how else to explain it but I'm liking them more and more each time I listen to their stuff.

Hope these give you some cheer for the week ahead :)
xox

Playing along with Thea's Sunday Session.

Comparison





Don't listen to those who say, "It's not done that way." 
Maybe it's not, but maybe you will. Don't listen to those who say, "You're taking too big a chance." Michelangelo would have painted the Sistine floor, and it would surely be rubbed out by today. Most importantly, don't listen when the little voice of fear inside of you rears its ugly head and says, "They're all smarter than you out there. They're more talented, they're taller, blonder, prettier, luckier and have connections…" I firmly believe that if you follow a path that interests you, not to the exclusion of love, sensitivity, and cooperation with others, but with the strength of conviction that you can move others by your own efforts, and do not make success or failure the criteria by which you live, the chances are you'll be a person worthy of your own respect.--Neil Simon

Accept everything about yourself - I mean everything, you are you and that is the beginning and the end - no apologies, no regrets.
~ Clark Moustakas

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