Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Just some thoughts, and some more Rumi

It's the strangest thing, but sometimes there almost seems to be a collective consciousness on the blogs that I read on a daily basis. So many people are going through intense, life-changing times or are just taking a long, hard look at themselves and the people around them. Introspection is usually healthy, but it relies upon being able to go through that process in order to seek out the positives, and learn from the negatives. It can be a hard thing to achieve, but that shouldn't mean that we shy away from doing it.

When I look back at my life, I can track the changes in me as a person to the major changes that have occurred around me – either to me directly, or to people I’ve loved or been close to. Sometimes, just occasionally, I wonder what might have happened if circumstances had been different, but it's always only a fleeting thought... what is, is. There are opportunities around every corner, but if we go through life without the necessary awareness it's more than likely that we won't even see them. One of my favourite albums is called Curtains, by a hugely underrated band called Tindersticks, and to steal a line from possibly the best track of all, life's just going to pass us by if we spend all our time with our eyes on the ground, looking for the stars...

My podcast seems to have thrust Rumi deservedly into the blogosphere limelight, and quite a few people have asked for some more. I made a kind of montage in Photoshop for someone a little earlier today, and unsurprisingly it was one of my favourite poems that I used for it. I’ve cut that piece of the finished product out for my post today, and hope you like it as much as I do. If you click on the image it should come up on the screen a little larger.

21 comments:

Victoria Alt said...

You're right about not focusing on "what might have been". There is only now and where we want to go or be today and in the future.

TJ said...

That is a beautiful poem--I can see why it's one of your favorites. I've been doing a little introspection about the nature of love myself, as I wrote about on my blog.

I had never heard of Rumi before you mentioned him in your post--thank you, Anthony, for introducing me to his moving words.

Annalis said...

It's so difficult to not look back at the past and begin the "What if" game. I am learning...

Beautiful poem.

Blueprincesa said...

That's gorgeous. I read a poem by Rumi at my sister's wedding. The one you've put up here would have worked too.

Sky said...

As always, another wonderful post and an awesome poem. Your Photoshop skills aren't too shabby either :P.

I think blogging gets us thinking (at least me anyway) of what is going on in our lives, where we want to be, where we don't want to be and just basic life in general.

WDKY said...

KD, absolutely. Sometyimes it can take an iron will, but that's the way it is.

TJ - thanks, and enjoy reading up on him. He was quite amazing.

Annalis, it gets easier... I think. Well, maybe it's that the more you keep focused on what's ahead, the more habitual it becomes. Like if you think like you're smiling sooner or later you'll ber smiling.

Blue, thank you... but tell me what you read at the wedding... I'm intrigued.

Em... thanks as always! Sort but sweet :-)

Sky - thank you. I agree about the blogging thing... although I'm still surprised by it too.

positronic said...

Do you think reading each others blogs, which is in my opinion having a peek at another life, another place and another set of circumstances, besides having a look at what people you come to care about are up to, makes us want to change?

WDKY said...

Pos, I'm not sure I can answer that... I can say, though, that I have a great deal of respect for the writers of the blogs I read, and I like those writers as people. And often they're both enlightening and motivating, maybe setting an example for us all in one way or another.

Actually, maybe that was an answer.

Caterpillar said...

It's so beautiful, WDKY! I printed out a bunch of Rumi poems last night and have been reading them ever since!

WDKY said...

Have you checked your email, Cat?

Caterpillar said...

I did, and I just ADORE it!!! I thought I emailed you earlier but it didn't go through, so go check now!

Blondie... said...

I'm incredibly entranced by the poetry. Thank you for sharing...and WOW, you are very talented with photoshop.

Thank you for sharing. I know I've been "ruminating" about who I am and the pain, etc.

Thank you so much for the link.

NewYorkMoments said...

Poetry. Heh.

NewYorkMoments said...

My candle burns at both ends
It will not last the night
But ah my foes and oh my friends
It gives a lovely light

--Edna St. Vincent Millay

WDKY said...

Cat - you're very welcome!

Blondie, ditto. You're "stuff" will work itself out, so try not to worry,

NYM... ahem... nice poem :-)

NewYorkMoments said...

Ahem? AHEM??? Hey--I typed that from memory. *bows* Thought it was appropriate since it's nearly 3am and I'm STILL up.

positronic said...

The reason I said 'makes us want to change' is something Sara wrote eons ago. She said she was looking for that Sara shaped nieche in the universe. I hadn't quite seen it put that way, and it made a lot of sense.

NML/Natalie said...

NYM you never fail to surprise me! WDKY, I love the poem and the creativity :-) I owe you an email!

WDKY said...

NYM, we shoyld really get you to bed earlier :-)

Pos - I don't know if I susbcribe to that notion... I think we make our own niche (or don't) rather than finding that it's waiting there for us.

NML - Thanks. Go on then...

Networkchic said...

I love that poem, I also love this post. My dad used to tell me that the space between what used to be and what is, is called growing up. Sometimes we grow up even after we thought we already did.

WDKY said...

Thank you, NWC, and as always your words ring true!