Saturday, September 26, 2009

...gather life's honey...

nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
talent will not; nothing is more commonplace than successful
men with talent.
genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. ~calvin coolidge
this is the Tao of success--the way--and like every other truth, it's at once very simple and very difficult. not the understanding as much as the doing, because the Tao of success is patience and persistence. patience is the art of waiting. like all high arts, it takes time to master, which shouldn't be surprising, since patience is the knowledge of time. how to use time to your advantage, how to be at the right place at the right time, how to pick your moments, how to bite your tongue. patience is discovering the mysterious pattern of cycles that cradle the universe and ensure that everything that has happened once will recur.
perseverance in life is being steadfast; persistence is being stubborn. persistence is grittier than perseverance. perseverance is achievement's perspiration; persistence is its sweat. persistence is knocking on Heaven's doors so often and so loudly on behalf of your dreams that eventually you'll be given what you want, just to shut you up. for example, think of an eleven -year-old child who want to get her ears pierced sooner than her sixteenth birthday, the age her old-fashioned mother thinks is appropriate. the first request, even if it comes in a burst of emotion, doesn't succeed. nor does the second, the third, or even the fourth. but the child who goes at you, morning, afternoon, and night, week after week, month after month; this child's voice is water to the rock of your reason. this stubborn but patient child wears you down, which is why you end up at the mall on her twelfth birthday, shaking your head as you pay to adorn her earlobes with tiny gold balls.
the potent alchemy of patience and persistence, which together become endurance, must have been what the lebanese poet hoda al-namai was meditating on when she wrote:
i have not withdrawn into despair,
i did not go mad in gathering honey,
i did not go mad,
i did not go mad,
i did not go mad.
if you are determined to gather life's honey, to stick your hand into the hive again and again and again, to be stung so many times that you become numb to the pain, to persevere and persist till those who know and love you become unable to think of you as a fairly normal woman, you will not be called mad.
you will be called authentic.
~simple abundance:a daybook of comfort and joy
~sarah ban breathnach
so.
after that lengthy read...
don't forget about HEY HARRIET and SSS.
gather your honey.
just BE.
robin.

15 comments:

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

To drive the nail straight
takes blow upon blow until
hammer never errs.

My Shadow Shot

A Wild Thing said...

It is good to be mad...thanks for putting it into perspective for me, I always knew there was a logical reason for my drive...I want to do it all before I die...and what is death...just another door to open...

Thanks lil' sister for the coffee and the mood setting,now I'm gonna go play at my daughter's shop and make candles and stuff...

Have a great day...hey Tilda, got them shoes on yet...?

Catherine said...

what atransformation of quite ordinary objects...lovely shot..

Sylvia K said...

Terrific shot! Love the simplicity of it. I also love your words and I'm a big fan of Sarah Breathnach!

Have a great weekend!

Sylvia

Tom Hilton said...

Great texture in this one.

Ralph said...

This lone rusty nail is simple. The nail seems simple, but look how much strength is assumes as it joins two pieces of lumber. Strength is not a function of size alone, the smallest things can be mighty indeed.

I read your profile, and am impressed. As a power wheelchair user and one who works with elderly and disabled individuals. An unplanned career move for me, but with small rewards when you are able to assist those in even the smallest ways...

Chris said...

You nailed this picture!

What? You knew SOMEONE was going to say it:)

EG CameraGirl said...

Simple and effective photo! Well done!

Chubby Chieque said...

Oh my! I met poets today, huh? I can sit here and browse all you poems the whole evening.

As I told Sweet Repose, her shot is great with the additional of those fantastic words makes everythings perfect.

LOVIN URS too...

GREAT...

Enjoy SSS

admin said...

Beautiful simple shot!

The Summer Kitchen Girls said...

Hey....is that my daughter you're talking about?!!
Love your shadow today Robin...simple & rustic...and perfect with your post!

Hey Harriet said...

I enjoyed that lengthy read. And your photo. You hit the nail on the head so to speak! Wonderful as always :)

Deb said...

Thanks for this pairing. Gorgeous.

Unknown said...

I love how you combine your photos with fine writing. Nice blog! I'm glad I came by.

Gina

Evette Mendisabal said...

Simply beautiful.