Gorgeous prose. I forced myself to slow down and read each word intentionally, in the spirit of noticing.
I think about noticing a lot and how the art of noticing is something we choose; how richly it impacts our daily living! The other day, as my family walked the beach, we happened upon a stranded Portuguese Man o' War (jellyfish). Southern storms sometimes whisk them away and plop them onto Georgia's coast. I poked it gently with my foot and it retracted from my touch, so I scooped it up with a couple shells and placed it back into the water. The ocean was so far away from where it'd settled into the sand!
After depositing it in the surf, I watched the waves crash over it and slide under it, and marveled at how unable to resist the will of the waves this creature was. To be so wholly subject to the forces around it - so beautiful and so deadly to equally innocent marine passers by. I wondered if the jellyfish was content or resigned and concluded that perhaps it simply *was*. And that made me inhale, exhale, and smile.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and for your beautiful comment. Your story about the Portuguese Man o’ War is so vivid; I can almost feel the pull of the waves and the delicate tension of its existence. I’m glad it was you that found it and that you returned it to its home in the ocean.
Thank you for sharing this moment; it made me inhale, exhale, and smile too.
This was so beautifully written. It left me with such gorgeous imagery of the moments and landscapes you noticed.
I am also a noticer. Today it was the sound of blue jays gathering that caught my attention while I walked with a friend. The sound is so distinct. We stopped and looked around and found a tree full of the brilliant blue birds in stark contrast to
Thank you so much Wake for your kind comments and reading my very long letter! I’m so pleased to hear of your blue jays, there’s so much wonder to notice, somehow, im not surprised that you are a noticer, your soul shines with the wonder that you notice. I’m so grateful for you. Thank you for being a part of this wonderful creative community ✨💛
Oh Emily, this is such an extraordinary and beautiful essay! I had a lump in my throat from the very beginning and moved to tears by this at the end...
"So, I will keep noticing. I will gather the small wonders: a murder of crows, a fox in the fading light, swallows skimming the water. I will give them a place to rest, in words, in images, in whatever form they ask to be held."
I wish I could have seen the Pyramids with you!
I have never enjoyed sewing up wrist warmers as much nor shed tears while doing so... thank you for your words, and your noticing lovely - Happy in between days. 💛xx
Dear Susie, it is such a gift to have you here, thank you for listening and for being such an uplifting presence here. So many moments pass by unnoticed, or noticed and then forgotten, but in our writing we can give them a place to reside. I want to drink them into my soul and I am so glad to share them with you, sending Twixmas love to you and your family xx
Thank you for noticing and for telling us about it, dear Emily.
Happy new year!
Thank you for reading, dear Sara 💛✨ I appreciate you so much x
Gorgeous prose. I forced myself to slow down and read each word intentionally, in the spirit of noticing.
I think about noticing a lot and how the art of noticing is something we choose; how richly it impacts our daily living! The other day, as my family walked the beach, we happened upon a stranded Portuguese Man o' War (jellyfish). Southern storms sometimes whisk them away and plop them onto Georgia's coast. I poked it gently with my foot and it retracted from my touch, so I scooped it up with a couple shells and placed it back into the water. The ocean was so far away from where it'd settled into the sand!
After depositing it in the surf, I watched the waves crash over it and slide under it, and marveled at how unable to resist the will of the waves this creature was. To be so wholly subject to the forces around it - so beautiful and so deadly to equally innocent marine passers by. I wondered if the jellyfish was content or resigned and concluded that perhaps it simply *was*. And that made me inhale, exhale, and smile.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and for your beautiful comment. Your story about the Portuguese Man o’ War is so vivid; I can almost feel the pull of the waves and the delicate tension of its existence. I’m glad it was you that found it and that you returned it to its home in the ocean.
Thank you for sharing this moment; it made me inhale, exhale, and smile too.
This was so beautifully written. It left me with such gorgeous imagery of the moments and landscapes you noticed.
I am also a noticer. Today it was the sound of blue jays gathering that caught my attention while I walked with a friend. The sound is so distinct. We stopped and looked around and found a tree full of the brilliant blue birds in stark contrast to
the empty leafless branches of the winter maple.
Thank you so much Wake for your kind comments and reading my very long letter! I’m so pleased to hear of your blue jays, there’s so much wonder to notice, somehow, im not surprised that you are a noticer, your soul shines with the wonder that you notice. I’m so grateful for you. Thank you for being a part of this wonderful creative community ✨💛
Oh Emily, this is such an extraordinary and beautiful essay! I had a lump in my throat from the very beginning and moved to tears by this at the end...
"So, I will keep noticing. I will gather the small wonders: a murder of crows, a fox in the fading light, swallows skimming the water. I will give them a place to rest, in words, in images, in whatever form they ask to be held."
I wish I could have seen the Pyramids with you!
I have never enjoyed sewing up wrist warmers as much nor shed tears while doing so... thank you for your words, and your noticing lovely - Happy in between days. 💛xx
Dear Susie, it is such a gift to have you here, thank you for listening and for being such an uplifting presence here. So many moments pass by unnoticed, or noticed and then forgotten, but in our writing we can give them a place to reside. I want to drink them into my soul and I am so glad to share them with you, sending Twixmas love to you and your family xx
I’ve just popped a note up Emily, I would have added it for you here last night but sadly we can’t do that - I’ll nip back and tag you! I meant to! xx
I’ve just seen it Susie - there is always magic to be found, waiting for us to notice it. Thank you so very much ✨💛
Oh wow what an adventure you are on!
You take us from Swindon to Cairo, from grey to colour, from industry to nature.
This is such a gorgeous piece of writing Emily. Have a wonderful holiday! 💛
Thank you so very much for reading, Jo, and for your kind comments. I hope that you are enjoying the holidays too. Sending love x
what an adventure! How lovely. Your writing is sublime. Thank you for sharing. XO
Thank you so very much Danielle, for reading and for your kind comments ✨💛
Beautiful art and writing 💕
Thank you so very much 💛✨
Stunning, Emily. Your art and your words <3
Thank you so much for reading and your kind comments Melissa 💛✨
You’re welcome! ☺️
Wonderful verbal imagery. We will be landing in Cairo ourselves on NYE.
Our first time. And at our age probably only time. So looking to make the most of it.
Thank you for reading David and your kind comments. Have you been there there before? It’s spectacular! Have a wonderful time.
Your beautiful word work painted pictures in my mind. Thank you
Thank you for reading and your kind words Kath 💛✨
Artwork is so beautiful!
Thank you Jezz. I don’t often do landscapes, it was a bit of an experiment!