Same old Bluebells?

That phrase, "Same old, Same old" implies to me that a certain contempt is implied regarding the object of the sentiment. Do you grow tired of the same old things or do you seek new joy, new opportunities, new angles, new insights, new appreciation of what you receive or do.

I'm sure I am guilty of that on many occasions and yet, I do feel, I do like to see the joy in something.

Someone said, when I said I wanted to go and see the bluebells in the woods again,"But why? Surely they are the same as last year?"


But no, no, no, that is not true.  Every bluebell is unique. Every year is different.
You are in a different place in your life, you see things differently.


Spring is fresh each year. It never fails to delight after the cruelty and interminable nature of Winter.
Spring is a gift.


Do you see these photos as identical? Do you think I have shared too many different pictures, capture too much of the same?



Or like me, do you see that light hitting those hues in different ways, the alternative hanging of those tinkling bells. Do you appreciate their subtle nuances and individual glory?


Having seen other bluebells, do you grow contemptuous of yet another set of 'identical' photos from a blogger here, a blogger there? Or do you revel in seeing that beauty represented in different times, places and through different perspectives?


Having selected only a few from a myriad images, I wanted to represent the gift of as many of these proud blooms, their fleeting beauty shared and immortalised here. This is their time, let us delight.

They stretch, thousand upon thousand in random groups, never uniform yet achieving an overall community.

Along the margins of a treeline.

Seeing this beauty through the first time eyes of my niece.  Teach them the continuous appreciation of something young. Never allow those words of contempt for the 'same old, same old' to form.

Appreciate, rejoice, grow nostalgic and anticipate these annual occurrences.

Engender a love and appreciation for seeing the uniqueness of each form.

For appreciation of this type helps appreciation of the individuality of others.


Happy memories are associated with this place, this time.  Past bluebells memories intertwine with present, building a joyous tapestry of memories of blue bells, past, present and future.




Say those words with alacrity: "Same old!  Welcome same old friends!"


"Come and enlighten and enrapture my life!"


And perhaps you will see something new in those experiences each time. Surely, this is the most important facet of healthy living, a healthy heart and mind and soul.


And a joy of these familiar practices we continue each year.




"See you next year, Same Old friends!"

xxx

BEDM for today was 'Healthy living'. I firmly believe appreciation anew is a crucial facet of healthy living.

Once insecure, always insecure?

On Saturday, CBC and I travelled to Watford for a day and night of Swing-dance courtesy of JiveSwing, our dance class, which is a big organisation of classes, ours being just one. It was a great day, we had some super classes- the day was held in honour of Frankie Manning's 100th birthday (if he was still alive)- the Father of bringing Swing dance back to the UK in the '80's.

We had two lindy-hop classes, learning a Frankie lindy-stroll and then a dips and tricks workshop. CBC decided he wanted to do some authentic jazz instead so I had to find another partner to dance with and managed to dance with a fun, young guy I met in the queue- it was hilarious as we learned to do these dips. I got the giggles as I had to spend a long time hugging him as we learnt a dip and then a move where I had to swing under his arm. I am suffering today though as my quads are really aching as the move involved rotating in a squat position!

In the evening, I wore the above outfit. I didn't take any photos-crazy for me! CBC just got this slightly blurry one of me- I wore the dress I picked up a while back, worn with my birthday petticoat and a wired headband- I really like these!

Anyway, in the evening, apart from many enjoyable dances together,  CBC was asked to dance lots by lots of ladies. I was asked to dance a few times by some guys although not as many and felt a wallflower at times. It's so silly but the pair of us are so insecure about asking people to dance just in case they think we are rubbish! Everyone else seems perfectly happy to ask other people to dance (it's the way your dancing improves). It's silly because I did spend a some time standing at the edge wishing someone would ask me to dance but like my teenage-self, in my stupid subconscious, didn't want anyone to think that I really wanted to dance, so I didn't get disappointed if they didn't dance.  I am an idiot- I am 33 and should just get on with it.  It's funny though, sometimes I feel much more confident.  Last night, I found myself thinking that the reason is because I always want to do something well and never want to be thought to be bad at something and I am not an expert at lindy and probably never will be, I just love it.

Yet, this morning, I played in my new church for the first time (9am rehearsal after getting to bed at 2am!!!!! I was KNACKERED!).  I KNOW that I am a a capable flautist and I know I play well and I know that when I am in the spirit at church, I will play and worship with my heart and soul. I know from 10 years of playing at my old church that my playing really helps people to worship.  And yet, I was worrying to myself that people would be judging me and didn't want people to say nice things to me just in case they were just being nice, not meaning it! Of all the ridiculous things to think!?!???!!?! Of course they're not, it's just my stupid mind.  Of course, once I started playing, I felt myself fill with the spirit and felt the insecurities fly away.

It's interesting that Stuart, a guy was being baptised today and he talked about how he had faced anxiety in his life and couldn't seem to snap out of it until he gave his life to God. And it struck me, when I feel most insecure and lacking confidence is when I stop praying, speaking to God and reading the Bible, when I've left tiredness and laziness get in the way, just let slip and then all my insecurities come back.  So today, I will reclaim my confidence and be strong in the knowledge that I do have talents that God has given me and I can do well and be strengthened by him in my prayers.  And there may be things that I am not talented at, but they are things I should enjoy because they are God-given and I've been given the freedom to enjoy these! Be the best that I can be but accept that I will not always be the best but I can have the most fun!

Linking to Visible Mondays with dear Patti

Among the vines, obscenely short?

Every so often, I end up wearing something quite short- like these shorts.  Two things always seem to coincide with this occurence:

a)  No matter how warm it seems in the morning, it ALWAYS seems to get cold as soon as I am out, past the point of no return and I freeze

b)  I am mocked or everyone comments on it.

Take today.  I roasted at school yesterday so today, I wore my little rainbow dress (you know the short one I wore here. I didn't do much different with it,except for different accessories and wearing an orange fluttering butterfly on one side so I didn't bother taking piccies) though this time without leggings. You know, I thought I'd make the most of it being sunny and no children.  And would you believe it- EVERY single member of staff I met commented- some politer than others! (credit to my kind headteacher who didn't mention it, but after my taking umbrage to the 15th person, who told me she wasn't going to tease as she was quite sure everyone else would do it anyway, decided to spare me!). I did feel a little chilly on the walk in.

I wore this outfit on the Thursday in France.  We had the most wonderful walk through the vineyards to go to Taillecavat to go to the Boulangerie to buy the bread.  It was a perfect day for it.  It was supposed to be a short-cut though we got a little lost.  Can you believe the entire cottage was surrounded by vineyards! 



Hat: Tiger, Blouse:  H&M, Shorts: Forever21, Necklace:  Faith,hope&charityswap gift from Helen, Earrings:  Market in Monsegur, Sandals:  Clarks.

I just admire farmers and those who work with crops so much. They work with the beauty of the nature and they give it order, dignity, pleasing mathematical layouts to enhance what is already exquisite. I am always so amazed by how fantastic and artistic fields of crops look. They work so hard to ensure we have food to drink, wine to eat, they battle against the weather and they work so hard. That advert that says, "Do I buy Countrylife to support our hardworking farmers. No, it's their career choice. I do it because I love the taste on my crumpets' (the power of advertising: I know that off by heart!): well actually, we'd be a bit stuck without their career choice- so thank you farmers!


Here were some of the delightful vines we walked through.

And here's my lovely CBC- the perfect accessory with his red shoes!  An ideal companion for a meander through the vineyards...