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Friday, April 18, 2008

blogging & daffodils


I've been blogging for a little more than 2 years. I really love it for the immediate gratification of instant publishing, and especially for the relationships that have begun and developed with friends and other bloggers, including members of my own family. And how fun to have new blogging friends within the last few weeks, since Don began his chicken blog and they came over from there.


Two years ago, almost to the day, I posted these same daffodils and I've been thinking about that this week.



Blogs give us a chance to show the continuity of our lives through personal details. My blog is called Synchronizing, inspired by the little handheld device I use to coordinate my PC work calendar which says "synchronizing" when the data is being shared between the computer and handheld via a port hookup. I thought it was an apt word and concept for what I was going through at the time, which was learning to live in the moment.

Two years later, I'm re-reading Eckhart Tolle's Power of Now because I need reminding. I'm not worried about enlightenment, I don't strive for it. But I need to practice, again, letting go of judgments and labels that separate me from people.

I'm grateful to the daffodils for reminding me that we're all connected, all hooked up under the surface. I also love living on this farm and feeling Nature's cycles infusing me with a new rhythm. Well, I guess it's a very old rhythm, isn't it.

22 comments:

Sharon said...

Ruth, I am always looking for something to read and will have to give Tolle's book a try. I too am not striving to attain enlightenment (isn't that kind of the antithesis of being in the now?) but am always grateful for any work that encourages mindfulness and helps center me.

Oh, and those daffodils make me want to weep I am so jealous!!!!

Ginnie Hart said...

Your farm, Ruth, like our woods in Atlanta, is a constant reminder of the Old Rhythms that really teach and mold us...if we take the time to watch them. And listen. Right now the early morning birds are singing as the day dawns here in Sydney (Saturday). I have been listening to them all week. Kinda like watching the daffodils!

Ruth said...

Sharon, if you pick one book in the metaphysics section of the bookstore, I'd pick this one. It's so simple, really. It's all there inside us, we just forgot it. I hope spring will come to you soon. I didn't realize how long winter can go there.

# # #

Boots, ah, so nice to see you here, from down under. The rhythms there must be a little different. I guess you were in the Southern Hemisphere long ago, so you already saw the Southern Cross. Does the toilet flush the opposite way? Hehe.

freefalling said...

Yes, that's exactly right - "the continuity of our lives through personal details".
Sometimes I worry though that I need to have a blog to validate my existence!

I love your nickname for Don's blog - the chicken blog.

BTW - I accidentally posted that rock photo on Freefalling - it was meant to be on AraratDailyPhoto.

Anonymous said...

Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Dieta, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://dieta-brasil.blogspot.com. A hug.

Ruth said...

Letitia, I know what you mean about blogging to validate! This is a strange new age, I think. No doubt we will be psycho-analyzed.

How funny that when I mentioned the DP blog, you had meant the pic for that one. Hmm. I'm glad you posted it there though, the one I go to. I needed it today.

Gwen Buchanan said...

The whole thing is just so exciting to me... listening to the people I have met share their ideas and inner most feelings is such a connective and touching space to be in.

Sometimes I feel as if I am in such a tiny piece of the world... in my own little world....isolated and far from any large centers and conveniences .... and then there on my desk... is all the world I need... I look forward to squeezing it in everyday... sort of feels like a dream and almost too good to be true

It is a pleasure to see your daffodils Ruth... and your beautiful photographs and your writings... We are all very lucky...

Anonymous said...

Your thoughts are enjoyable to read
and put to think more, thanks Ruth!
And our daffodils are trying very hard to win cold nights now :)

Ps. next Saturday we will fly to Istanbul. Do you want to send greetings, I can carry them :)

alice said...

A very old rhythm, yes, all over the world...I do like to read your words here, Ruth, even if I have to check many of them to understand, even if I don't always dare to write because my own words seem too clumsy in English. I often think of you and the farm when I'm working in my tiny garden, cutting the faded daffodills for example...
And don't worry about our windsurfers, they go out all the year long to play with the wind and the waves!

Ruth said...

Gwen, I agree completely, it is exciting to witness other bloggers' thoughts, ideas, inspirations, cares, beauties. And funny how 'the grass is greener' since Don and find the Bay of Fundy exotic and alluring. But yes, I'm sure you must feel a bit isolated at times. I sure would love to go up there, I hope to some day. Thank you for your very kind words.

# # #

Leena, you and I have a sister connection, and I'm so grateful for it. I hope you see your daffodils bloom before you leave for my beloved city. Ohh, I would love you to carry my greetings there. I have to go back and see how it is now, so different I think from the '80s. One of the most beautiful cities in the world, I guess, even though I've only seen a very few.

# # #

Alice, you are so sweet. We use our translators back and forth. I'm sure something gets lost. But what gets found is the joy of friendship. Don't be afraid to write something, but also don't feel that you need to either. I'm glad your windsurfers are more experienced than I am. I can't believe it's warm enough, but maybe they wear wet suits?

sandy said...

Ruth, totally enjoyed reading this. Funny thing, I've attempted lately to try and stay in the "now".. I've let my spiritual awareness kind of dwindle over the past five years as the grandkids showed up and life got busy, but lately I've found "NOW is where I want to focus..

Enjoyed reading your feelings on blogging and the people you have met. I feel the same way ...

sandy

p.s..loved your interpretive view of Gwen's jewelry piece...really enjoyed reading that.

Bob Johnson said...

Hey Ruth well put, I was wondering how you came up with your title, very cool. I've learned so much about people and the various passions they have, even though it wasn't my intent, we are bascally adding and sharing knowledge with the rest of the world, adding to the world wide web, how cool is that?

Ruth said...

Sandy, it's funny, I have seen you over at rauf's blog for ages, and back when I posted about the bluebirds in the house, rauf sent you here, I think, and I went and saw your birds. Now we are regular visitors at each other's, and it makes me happy. Thanks for the nice comment about what I wrote at Gwen's. That pin is etched in my mind, I'm just stunned by it.

# # #

Bob, people used to get acquainted through letter correspondence. This is even better, with almost instantaneous commenting back and forth, and the photos. I feel so lucky to look into the sky through your lens and to learn from you about things I would not pursue myself. Yay for Drowsey for introducing us!

laura said...

Beautiful pictures. And you describe perfectly the wonder of blogging; it's so wonderful to be "here" with you!
I'll pick up the Tolle book. And I have a recommendation for you, a poetyr anthology (I'll have to look up the editor; I don't have it at hand) called "What Book?!" You probably have "News of the Universe," edited by Robert Bly?

Nathalie H.D. said...

Dearest Ruth
I really it's a long while since I last visited your Synchronizing blog. Nice that I visit on the day you reflect on two years of blogging. The repeated cycle of seasons, the power of now...
Lovely daffodils and thoughtful post, as always.
Take care,

Nathalie

Ruth said...

Oh thank you, Laura, I love having you here too. The world is just opening up. No! I haven't heard of either book! I do have an anthology of Bly's called "The Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart." I will look for them in the university library. Thank you!

# # #

Oh, dear Nathalie, yes we see each other in Avignon and at Flying. Thank you for your visit back here and kind words. Your photos and thoughts are always interesting and beautiful to me.

Anonymous said...

It is an very old rhythm, these daffodils are gorgious, I love them, this flower reminds me of a new start of the year, I breath the fresh air, always finding an excuse to be outside as much as I can.....I would love to live on a farm....but I am happy in the polder too...

Ruth said...

Astrid, you showed me some of your very old rhythm yesterday with the old windmills and sheep. What beauty there is in your polder, in that old place. Your photos are very special, and I learn from you.

sandy said...

I remember seeing you too, of course, over at Rauf's blog. But I think I had only visited your paris blog possibly. So glad I found you and Don's blogs..Great people you are.

and by the way I love Tolle, have listened/read him for years.

s

p.s. Can anyone's India photos be better than Rauf's...NO>>>...I just wish he would update more. haha.

Ruth said...

Sandy, oh, yeah, I can't post at the Paris blog until I go back, woe is me.

Oh, and you love Tolle too? Listening to him is quite an amazing experience, I must say. I go into a zone.

No, of course no one's India photos can be better than rauf's. Yes, I wish he could post more, but he has had a lot of upheaval with moving back to his old place. And now it is taking a month to hook up internet there! Hopefully in a few weeks he'll be back to blogging - and visiting us!! I miss him.

MYM said...

So glad you decided to start blogging 2 years ago...! Ah...those photos, just gorgeous. It really is spring!

Ruth said...

So nice to see you back, Drowsey. Thank you so much, it's been fun getting to know you too. Yes daffodils say SPRING! Do you have some yet up in the hinterlands?