good 'ol Ralph...

All this talk about journeys and paths reminded me of this great quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson.



image © held by AnnMarie Gitchell, 2010






The thing I love about all these amazing poets, writers and  philosophers is that they make me think new thoughts, question old ones and feel more keenly.


The thing I don't appreciate so much, is that I am left with all these thoughts, questions and feelings that I don't often know how to put into action.

My problem is that I have been expecting to blaze "my trail," when in reality it's more like seeing occasional sparks along the way.


But, I think that's the point of Ralph's statement here; take all that you have and all that you are and  just start making your own way.  If the course is authentic- it can't be wrong!

Pluralitas non est ponenda sine neccesitate

Maybe, because my children are getting older, maybe because I'm getting older (40 is not the new 30, no matter what anyone says!) or maybe just because we live in such a crazy media blitzed world (making it seem like so many other people inhabiting this planet have their s_ _ _ more together than I do)- but lately I've been feeling a bit lost, confused, dazed, indecisive about where to go from here.

I have a very clear picture of where I've been and I've got a handle on what I'm doing at the moment (mostly raising my boys) but I feel like I don't have a clue about what I should be focusing on for tomorrow.  Not because I feel I need to be, but because I want to be!  The end result is a lot of not so nice chatter in my head, which I logically know to be destructive, or at the very least a little obtrusive, but I can't help it!  Ugh!

Then I ran across a quote, what else is new, that made me feel just a little brighter.  It made me rethink my perspective on me- and that always makes me smile.  This quote is quite short, only seven words long, but it's profound in it's simplicity (most profound things are quite simple, Occam's razor and all that) and it's my new mantra:



image © held by AnnMarie Gitchell, 2011



Ok, so for sure I am wandering and maybe I am trying a bunch of different things right now, and maybe I am a bit fuzzy when it comes to my focus- but I AM NOT LOST!!!!!  And, maybe some of you out there can relate to this and I am here to tell you that YOU ARE NOT LOST EITHER!!!!

I always tell my children that the truth lies in the journey, not the final destination.  I just have to accept that my journey may be a bit longer than others.  But what I got from Tolkien is that this doesn't necessarily have to be pejorative in nature.

I have learned two things about my quest so far: 1. If my journey is longer and more circuitous and more arduous than others- maybe I will learn more along the way and 2. my path is my path alone.  The shape of it, the length of it, the obstacles along it and the beauty that it unfolds- is truly unique to me and that makes me smile too.

So, if you've found your purpose, your focus, your bliss- God love ya' and if you haven't yet- keep on wandering proudly along!!

noun /ˈbaləns/: Harmony of design and proportion

Let's be kind to ourselves



image and text © held by AnnMarie Gitchell, 2011



Something I'm counting on



image © held by AnnMarie Gitchell, 2011



New light

Wishes for my children..

I do not wish for my children to never know heart ache, But I pray that they may also know great love.

I do not wish for my children to never have their feelings hurt, But I pray that they never injure another.

I do not wish for my children to always win, But I pray that they are always good sports.

I do not wish for my children to accept my opinions as gospel, But I pray that they do believe in something.

I do not wish for my children to never know adversity, But I pray that they have the strength to overcome it.


I do not wish for my children a perfect world, But I pray that they try to make their's better.

I do not make wishes for my children, Rather, I pray that I've taught them how to make their own.



image © held by AnnMarie Gitchell, 2009



Wishes for others

I wish for R.G. to make a full recovery.  I realize that this probably won't happen, unless God and the universe step in, which is why I am asking for a miracle.

I wish for a safe surgery for L.F. tomorrow.  I also wish for a 100% full recovery. 

I mean, if I'm going to declare wishes, I am going to make them as specific and as big as I can!

Quiet gifts



image and text © held by AnnMarie Gitchell, 2011



Left or _______ ?

I wish for the strength and determination to not continue to repeat the same mistakes.  No matter how ingrained my behaviors are, I want to be able to push through and do the right thing, no matter what.  I keep telling my children- "It's not about being right, it's about doing the right thing."  It's time for me to really start living this, that is my wish!