I have more Januaries behind me than ahead of me. Oh yes! I feel this too, not in sadness but in the realization that I must drink in these days ahead and make meaning with whatever days I have left.
So beautifully written! Almost made me miss winter in my home country of Norway. The short days can be lovely. Take a lot of pressure off always having to achieve.
Yes, that's very true Tove. It's hard to get out of a cosy bed when the morning's are so dark and cold. I think we should be allowed to underacheive this month!
Thank you for expressing the light and shade of this time of year, and helping us to focus on what we can do as individual and collective creative beings… a call to ‘arms’. X
...or a call to hands? We missed you today. I'm hoping things will be more settled from now on, after all my travels, and we can all get back to a regular Life Raft schedule.
What an enjoyable gentle read and perfectly timed! Love ‘Embodied intelligence over artificial intelligence. ‘
And
‘Deep, specific, relational learning over imitative, aggregated machine learning.’ Heading back to Orkney soon for more of the above! Nicholson’s idea of the ladder makes me think of the standing stones and how they embody the earth to air connection required for transcendent wonder…
Thank you Bex, I'm so glad to hear that my post resonated for you. Yes, the standing stones seem to powerfully connect people, landscape, sky, moon and stars, past and present too.
That's what I love so much about Substack - meeting fellow travellers like yourself, Helen! And yes, I love that Nicolson quote too. There was a wonderful exhibition last year at the Pier Art centre here in Stromness, of her paintings alongside Andrew Cranston's. It was an absolute peach of a show, with some great quotes from both of them in the catalogue. This one really sticks in my mind.
Samantha, OH! I adore your writing, painting, where you live, how you express what is felt from the inside--the wild as well as what is carefully placed and made. I end up sending your notes to my brother. (That's supposed to prove how much I love them :-).
You reached across the miles to capture my thoughts exactly (along with echoes from conversations I've had with long-time friends). I'll be seeing you on the life raft, even though I am a poet and not a visual artist.
''I have more Januaries behind me than ahead. Time is not infinite. I have to choose what to keep and what to leave behind''....what an arresting thought, and potentially the most effective reminder to get on with it that I've ever received 🙏🏻
“How all of this is always rising and falling away, moment by moment. Cultivating joy that’s tinged with loss and grief and foreboding but remains undiminished by these. The ache of beauty. Its seriousness. The sweetness of delight, however small. The bright, surging energy of enthusiasm. Devotion, care, craft.”
I think I’ll copy our these words and pin them up in my workspace. So wise, gentle and joyful. I’m looking forward to spring, this slog through January has hit me much harder this year for some reason. What beautiful images too. I love the pink Orkney sky and the aurora is absolutely stunning, despite living in Scotland I have never seen it. Our home is surrounded by trees and we see very little sky. Thank you Sam a wonderful piece this week.
You are so very welcome Liza! The Aurora is easy to miss - it comes and goes, and of course the sky here is often too cloudy to see it. But it is special when we do get a good one.
This helped me make a decision today about where I want to put my energy: I have more Januaries behind me than ahead. Time is not infinite. I have to choose what to keep and what to leave behind.
I have more Januaries behind me than ahead of me. Oh yes! I feel this too, not in sadness but in the realization that I must drink in these days ahead and make meaning with whatever days I have left.
Absolutely, Paul, even the short, dark days of January.
So beautifully written! Almost made me miss winter in my home country of Norway. The short days can be lovely. Take a lot of pressure off always having to achieve.
Yes, that's very true Tove. It's hard to get out of a cosy bed when the morning's are so dark and cold. I think we should be allowed to underacheive this month!
You're the best Sam. The two artworks from you hanging in my work space, Solstice and Breaker, looking at them always lifts me up, always
Oh thank you so much, Astrid. It's really wonderful to know that my artworks continue to give you pleasure and inspiration.
Thank you for expressing the light and shade of this time of year, and helping us to focus on what we can do as individual and collective creative beings… a call to ‘arms’. X
...or a call to hands? We missed you today. I'm hoping things will be more settled from now on, after all my travels, and we can all get back to a regular Life Raft schedule.
I much prefer a call to hands… more giving and gentle. Although arms give hugs..
I missed you all and the Life Raft space. I’ve made sure the next six month appointment is in the morning!
Have a good week.
What an enjoyable gentle read and perfectly timed! Love ‘Embodied intelligence over artificial intelligence. ‘
And
‘Deep, specific, relational learning over imitative, aggregated machine learning.’ Heading back to Orkney soon for more of the above! Nicholson’s idea of the ladder makes me think of the standing stones and how they embody the earth to air connection required for transcendent wonder…
Thank you Bex, I'm so glad to hear that my post resonated for you. Yes, the standing stones seem to powerfully connect people, landscape, sky, moon and stars, past and present too.
Lovely read, I feel we may be kindred spirits. And the Nicholson quote is marvellous
That's what I love so much about Substack - meeting fellow travellers like yourself, Helen! And yes, I love that Nicolson quote too. There was a wonderful exhibition last year at the Pier Art centre here in Stromness, of her paintings alongside Andrew Cranston's. It was an absolute peach of a show, with some great quotes from both of them in the catalogue. This one really sticks in my mind.
Gorgeous
You artwork looks incredible
Thank you Jen!
Samantha, OH! I adore your writing, painting, where you live, how you express what is felt from the inside--the wild as well as what is carefully placed and made. I end up sending your notes to my brother. (That's supposed to prove how much I love them :-).
That's lovely to hear Katharine! I am indeed fortunate to live here, even through the weather ican be...challenging.
You reached across the miles to capture my thoughts exactly (along with echoes from conversations I've had with long-time friends). I'll be seeing you on the life raft, even though I am a poet and not a visual artist.
Poets are very welcome Jean - we have as many writers as visual artists aboard!
''I have more Januaries behind me than ahead. Time is not infinite. I have to choose what to keep and what to leave behind''....what an arresting thought, and potentially the most effective reminder to get on with it that I've ever received 🙏🏻
I love Oliver Burkeman's book Four Thousand weeks for the same reason - it's as bracing and clarifying as a dip in the winter Atlantic!
I shall take a look at that one, thanks for the recommendation!
“How all of this is always rising and falling away, moment by moment. Cultivating joy that’s tinged with loss and grief and foreboding but remains undiminished by these. The ache of beauty. Its seriousness. The sweetness of delight, however small. The bright, surging energy of enthusiasm. Devotion, care, craft.”
🙏🏻🌱
Thank you Baird!
I think I’ll copy our these words and pin them up in my workspace. So wise, gentle and joyful. I’m looking forward to spring, this slog through January has hit me much harder this year for some reason. What beautiful images too. I love the pink Orkney sky and the aurora is absolutely stunning, despite living in Scotland I have never seen it. Our home is surrounded by trees and we see very little sky. Thank you Sam a wonderful piece this week.
You are so very welcome Liza! The Aurora is easy to miss - it comes and goes, and of course the sky here is often too cloudy to see it. But it is special when we do get a good one.
How I needed your words today, Samantha. Thank you.
I'm glad to hear it Carri. I needed them myself!
This helped me make a decision today about where I want to put my energy: I have more Januaries behind me than ahead. Time is not infinite. I have to choose what to keep and what to leave behind.
That's wonderful to hear, Kelly. Decisions, even tough ones, are so liberating when we finally manage to make them!
Really lovely post thank you 🙏🏻
Thank you Glyn, I'm so glad you enjoyed readxing it!