26 Comments
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Mariam Ishaque's avatar

The "bloom again and again" analogy is so potent. Even when we bloom later, we have the opportunity to begin again every day till our last breath. Transformation is a continuous process.

Sabrina Y. Smith's avatar

Yesss!! I love thinking of each day as it’s own blooming 🌞🌼 thank you!

Susan Bremner Quarantello's avatar

Wonderful. I'm 71 and almost finished my PhD thesis, which is due for submission in August. I had to wait till my kids had grown up and I had retired before I was free to fulfil this dream.

Sabrina Y. Smith's avatar

I love hearing this Sue!! This is a perfect example of those, like you, who had to fulfill other responsibilities before reaching their creative dream! May I ask what your PhD is about? Best of luck on that thesis- August is just around the corner!!

Susan Bremner Quarantello's avatar

Thanks! Yes - August is zooming closer every day! My PhD thesis is about a topic in Scottish history - the Scottish diaspora - specifically, the Scots who emigrated to Peru in the 1800s.

Jillian Hess's avatar

Gorgeous, as always! And an important reminder about how socially constructed our sense of time can be. Thanks for linking to my postβ€”next to Jolene, no lessπŸ’›

Jolene Handy's avatar

I was thinking, β€˜ooh, I’m next to Jillian!” πŸ˜‚πŸ€—

Sabrina Y. Smith's avatar

A bundle of my faves! πŸ’›πŸ’›

Sabrina Y. Smith's avatar

Thank you Jillian! Time is such an illusory limitation! And you’re so welcome: I loved your notes on Julia Child! πŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ³

Anna Brones's avatar

I just read my first Sigrid Nunez book (I am β€œlate” to that game but happy to now be there!) and learned that she didn’t write her first novel until 40. Love thinking of all of us and our creative endeavors as various types of seeds ❀️

Sabrina Y. Smith's avatar

Ooo I haven’t read her! Adding to the library list πŸ“š! And yes to being seedlings. I love being a witness to your own creative blooms! 🌻

Chloe Hope's avatar

What a feast of delights! Norah Lindsay is such an inspiration. I daydream of one day finding the time to deck out our garden as I imagine she would have...

Sabrina Y. Smith's avatar

Ooo I’m so glad! I was originally going to feature Gertrude Jekyll but then discovered Norah Lindsay and found her story so much more fascinating! 🌸

Katya's avatar

Thank you for this. I've been working on training myself out of urgency. Out of acting on it, that is. And cultivating patience and appreciating the timing of life instead. This helps.

Sabrina Y. Smith's avatar

It’s hard training! Especially when society rewards speed, youth and growth at all cost.

Katya's avatar

Yes! I didn't even see the impulse, the habit, until a few years ago. Turns out my worship of urgency itself was a far greater force of discontent than I could have even imagined. Fascinating.. what we are and aren't able to see in ourselves.

Sabrina Y. Smith's avatar

I feel you! It’s ironic how we act out of urgency to avoid discomfort when really, like you said, the urgency itself is the source of discontent!

Katya's avatar

Yes, well said!

Jeana Ramona's avatar

I live near the mountains that Grandma Moses painted and visiting Noah Purifoys outdoor installation in JT is a favorite memory of mine. This newsletter couldn’t have landed at a better time. Thank you!!

Sabrina Y. Smith's avatar

I love that you get to see the Moses mountains πŸ”οΈ! And I can’t believe I didn’t know about Noah Purifoy’s JT museum until researching this topic - so excited to go see it!

Jolene Handy's avatar

Bloom and bloom again! Love all of this, Sabrina, and thank you for the shout out! 🌸

Sabrina Y. Smith's avatar

Jolene, you are such an inspiring example of someone who keeps blooming into different creative expressions! πŸ°πŸ“

Jolene Handy's avatar

That is such a wonderful compliment, thank you, Sabrina! 🌸

Interested Observer's avatar

Every one of these people almost made me cry. We humans want to express and explore and artificial cultural and societal boundaries with age should never be taken seriously. I haven't seen Noah Purifoy's work? Next time I'm in Joshua Tree tho :)

Sabrina Y. Smith's avatar

It’s so heart warming to see creativity at all stages of life. I haven’t been to the Noah Purifoy museum yet but it’s on my list as well!