it feels like everything that came before has been a pretense, a false start. as I grasps for my reality this morning my serenity is devolving into a massive heap on the floor, like scattered dirty laundry, colorful but smelling of being worn to long. The endless weeks of being weakened by a cold, has left my plans and projects sitting collecting dust. Has caused loneliness and emptiness to seep into the fabric of my being. i have missed events I wished to attend to photograph and be part of. Willing to spend my last few dollars to do so.
Is this illness, this cold, the flu, the true culprit or the endless dreams and visions which seem to energize my being for short periods of time, that keep drifting off like a mirage, wafts of smoke from a conjurors magic spell? Am I truly lost, have a just been spinning narratives in my mind. Have I truly failed at my life’s purpose?
How do I keep going, when my dreams and visions don’t seem to fit into a world that no longer cares for magic for healing, for beautiful?
I surrender now, I let go. Right now I am fighting the demons of illness. My center has been blasted out of me! It is debris, it is trash. Is there still worthy pieces, can they be upcycled, reinvented? Do I just burn them all and scatter the ashes in the ground hoping natures has use for them?
Waking up, feeling like you have not slept, body sore, chest heavy, the head in urgent need of coffee. Coffee cold but drunk, like an achlie’s long needed fix to face the day.
Stark blank screen endlessly fills with words, streaming out some thoughtful, many just flowing from one place to the next.
Coffees fresh and hot now. or was when I started. Nothing changed since I sat down to write, or has it?
There is no blame, there is no what if’s, should haves, there is knowing that it is within me, to show up. I showed up, this is the present. Is the future I wish to have? Not at all!
Illness, attracts ego playing mind games, playing tricks, making fun. Well it is not fun. Ego, get out-of-the-way, we have better things to do that lay about feeling sorry for ourselves. Is one step at a time, one activity at a time.
Let the little glimmers of light break through. The world is created within the steps, moving forward while sometimes going around or over.
the reluctant bloger 
Seems you are on the mend as my mother would say Jeff. Keep going 😊 🌄
Terrill,
I hope so! I just have to push through!
Jeff, your depression is a normal response to the frustration of sickness holding you on the sidelines. You just happen to be one who instinctively thinks about it a lot. I am that way too with certain things. But be rest assured you will be over it, and will soon get to all the business you have lined up. I am sorry you have had this lousy stretch though. Think positive! 🙂
Yes Sam, I am aware of that process. The fact is that I sat down to blog/write first thing is a positive action. I accomplished more today than I have in a few days.
Thank you so much for your encouragement and support!
Trash can be beautiful and intriguing, as you have seen, Jeff. It sounds like glimmers of light are breaking through.
Kathy,
So seems I have captured that creativeness the ordinary into extra ordinary !
Yes, I am seeing the path again!
I have days like this, too. In fact I had quite a few this week. Lots of times I go through a whole period that seems like a big waste, like I just can’t be productive in even the simplest ways. But then all of a sudden one day, everything comes together and there is a streak of very easy productivity that just pours forth! I have no idea how all this works. All I know is just keep showing up, and whenever possible, do what you love doing. Big hugs!
John,
Wow! Thank you so much for you comments! Yes it seems to be as you say. It is just the stopping and starting doesn’t seem very productive at times.
Thank you again!
I’m so sorry that you are feeling ill Reluctant but I am so glad you are because you wouldn’t have wrote such a splendid piece of work together with those atmospheric photos .
I always find my best work is written when I have Issues – I think we need the drama to bring out the best in us.
I love the bit about the scattered laundry colourful but smelly from being worn too long …that’s how a cold makes us feel in a nutshell.
I do hope you’re feeling better soon.
Cherryx
Cherry,
I am still not through this ‘illness’ yet I am through the ‘poor me’ path, I hope.
You words make me smile, I am very grateful for them. Knowing I reached a place that atmosphere was created. Thank goodness I didn’t have a photo of dirty laundry! LOL
Thank you,
Jeff
You are the best, hence accept the life as it is.
Bala,
Yes I had to come to that conclusion, to accept life as it is, and move from there…
Thank you!
push, Push, PUSHING through. You’re WELL on your way 🙂
Laurie,
I see you found your way! As I have pulled back the curtains ! Time for a new show! I am not sure why you are not getting notice that I have posted? I will check on things.
I have been trying to write since this morning, roughly 10 hours ago. I hit the ground running, then grinded to a halt.
I hope you feel better soon. I gained a lot from reading this, if you can believe it.
Mostly, I am inspired because of that door. I am curious what is behind it.
Rose Red,
Thank you for coming over to the reluctant bloger.
I never struggle with writing, if I can not write I do not write. There are moments, mornings when all is flowing, the writing happens. I am touched that you found something within my words! Truly.
Photography has been my true passion for sometime now, a photo speaks in it silence. Behind the door is whatever story you wish to create from there.
So sorry you haven’t been feeling well, Jeff. “Spinning narratives in my mind.” I love that phrase, too, because finding a story seems to be an automatic reflex, to start looking for a reason behind an illness or difficult situation. May the glimmers of light breaking through keep renewing your spirit!
Barbara,
Thank you !
The eck is still not gone… emotionally and spiritually I feel better. Of course writing still has stayed its distance.
From Why The Ash Has Black Buds by William Fiennes –
The trees have always had some idea of what happens to them when they die. In forests they saw their neighbours toppled by wind or age and rot into earth, and their roots sent up descriptions of peat and coal in vast beds and seams. Later, when humans came along, trees saw the stockades, the carts pulled by horses, the chairs and tables set out in gardens, and quickly put two and two together. Trees growing beside rivers saw themselves in the hulls and masts of boats, and trees in orchards understood that the ladders propped against them had once been trees, and when men approached with axes to fell them, the trees recognized the handles.
Allison,
Two years later I find this message and or quote shared by you from William Fiennes which truly expresses the Oneness of our world!
Thank you!