My very talented friend Jacqui McIntosh painted this a long time ago. It was to illustrate some pages in a school magazine which had a poem of mine amongst other things there- I wish very much I had the original watercolour.
It reminds me today of happy times in the past and of a friend I lost recently. All of these thoughts lead me to conclude I must get my contact with friends in a better place than it is just now. Life, especially with young children just speeds past and before you know it literally decades have past.
A reflective Sunday for me. But looking forward to what the week ahead brings.
Jo xx
Sorry to hear about your friend. I love the painting, and I'm glad it reminds you of happier times. This is a really great post Jo. x
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Jen, I really appreciate you saying that- it means a lot. I need to take a bit of time to bring people back into my life. The kids keep you going when you are sad but sometimes I forget about making time for my friends. And then all of a sudden it can be too late. So, some resolution from me for change which is good, Jo xx
DeleteWhat a gorgeous painting Jo and like Jen said so lovely that it reminds you of such happy times. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that life with little ones especially just seems to speed past so quickly.
Hope you have a good week. xx
Thanks Caroline- life goes by in a flash and I needed to think about it and make some changes. I'm an awful hermit sometimes and just keep my head down getting through the days. Its a lovely image isn't it- I'm lucky to have some of J's other work which is good and a print copy of this. Lets get this week started and you have a good one too, Jxx
DeleteA lovely painting, and a very moving and resonant post - time goes so quickly, and we never know what's round the corner, for us or those we love. Well done for feeling inspired to work harder on maintaining your friendships Jo - we all find it hard, especially when we are living in the moment of caring for little kids. Take care Jo, I hope you have a great week. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Rachel, I have been doing a lot of clearing out and sorting and came across this picture and I just thought how simple life used to be. I wouldn't change a thing about where I am just now but I need to put more out to others and hopefully I can move forward. You have a happy week too, Jo xx
DeleteA beautiful painting by a talented friend, and a really thoughtful post. I hear you - it's so easy to slip into the baby zone and forget to stay in touch with people. Before you know it, years have passed. Have a great week. x
ReplyDeleteThanks Gillian- I am very touched by your comment. My friend painted that picture a long time ago but it is still so fresh and immediate to me. I am really glad it has touched people. I am thinking so much more about friendship and sustaining it these days. I know now why little ones are called sleep thiefs and time thiefs! I hope you had a good monday, best wishes for the week, Jo xx
DeleteA beautiful painting, and post. It's true, life is essentially brief. I am reminded of that quote by Stephen Grellet: I shall pass through this life but once. Any good therefore that I can do, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it. For I shall never pass this way again. Have a lovely, fulfilling week :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you for the gift of that quote- Oh I am the master at defering and often neglect of those that love me. Whether its a physical absence or a mental withdrawal. Its a struggle with self but I will get there! Monday was a good hard working day so its all started well. Thank you so much Jo xx
DeleteHello, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend but I am glad that gorgeous painting reminds you of happier times. And it's so true that it is hard to keep in touch with friends when you have kids. I can be a bit selfish about my time these days so when I get a (rare) moment to myself I like to have 'me' time. But you are right about making more of an effort with friends. Life is just whizzing by! Big hugs, Col x
ReplyDeleteThanks Col and it reassures me that others feel the same about making time with small people about. I very much agree with you about 'me' time. Although sometimes even a visit to the loo on my own constitutes that in these busy hectic days!! Friends with kids who are up a bit yesterday told me your own 'bits' of life come back as they grow up a little. I want that but in other ways I love my children small- see never happy! Hope your week has started well today, Jo xx
DeleteHello Jo,
ReplyDeleteJust wrote a bit about a friend I lost long ago. Coming here now, reading about your friend while looking into those beautiful eyes, it's like a circle was completed.
Thank you for that, and sorry about your friend.
Lilli
Thank you Lilli- The painting is an arresting image and it wasn't until I looked through old papers at the weekend that I was brought back to happy carefree times when we were on the cusp of growing up- long before broken hearts, stress, adult loss and regret. Anyway it is good you found your way here and that the picture helped you in some way too. I will follow your advice and read Barbara's words and wait to hear of your lost friend in time, Jo xx
DeleteA beautiful painting, and a thought provoking post. I think we all get caught up in life at times, relying on long formed bonds of friendship to keep us attached to people until we can spend time with them again.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for you loss, and hope you can come to terms with it, and forge new bonds with people you'd like to be more in touch with. The best way to live life is to appreciate the good that comes with the not so good.
Lots of love xxx
Thanks Lisa-Marie that is really lovely and I appreciate it so much. You are very kind, have a lovely weekend, Jxx
DeleteHi Jo! Popping across from Caroline's Leibster post. Lovely to meet you! I know exactly how you feel about the friendship thing. I've recently moved back to the UK from Australia and with two children, reconnecting with old friends is tougher than I thought. Getting there slowly, but I also need to make a little more effort - so easy to get stuck in a rut with children isn't it. x
ReplyDeleteHi Anna- really lovely to see you here- I hope you are settling back into the UK ok. I need to work at it a whole lot more but I will get there. Will pop over to see you too, Jxx
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