Of all the forms of guilt, some
of them perfectly legitimate, feeling
guilty for not blogging often enough
is possibly the most absurd. It demonstrates
an inflated view of one's own importance and also,
since the creation and upkeep of a blog is entirely
self-determined, there are no rules dictating
what the correct blogging frequency must be. Neverthless,
guilt is what I feel and I am apologising, in a roundabout
way, for a blogging blank of seventeen days. My excuse
is having been otherwise engaged, busy with things
which take priority over posting blogs and reading
blogs. Of course everyone is always otherwise engaged
yet it is such a joy when you, dear loyal readers, take
the time to stop by here and leave some words, a signal
that we are connecting, however briefly. Maybe my guilt
is mainly a sense of neglecting friends, interrupting
a cyber-flow of friendship. Perhaps that's an illusion
or delusion but it's one worth nurturing.
The private view at Café Rustique
on December 1st was well attended and the small space
cheefully filled, as you can see in the photo below,
taken by the café owner on his phone. The low lighting
and terra cotta coloured walls create an intimate ambiance
which suits the pieces I'm showing but on normal working
days, café customers are intently focused on their laptops
and rarely look up at the walls. Still, I'm glad to see
these works away from home.
Amidst the sadness at
Mandela's departure, the thought struck
me that he was one of three extraordinary men of our
time who created tidal waves of positive transformation
and inspiration which will not cease to transform and
inspire future generations: Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther
King, Mahatma Gandhi. Is it a coincidence that these
three men were not white? Perhaps a coincidence, perhaps
a signpost that the only colour which truly matters in
human relations is the incandescent light of truth and
compassion, radiating from the heart and the conscience.
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19 comments:
Nice to see a new post and whether I always comment, I always notice. Looks good on your show :)
It seems to me that there is only one purpose in feeling guilt, and that is to address a subject that needs to be examined. Once that is done, guilt can be binned. Now I, for one, always look out for an incoming post or email from you. Just think of all the pleasure you have given us today with your latest post. Guilt expiated. :)
And now to be serious awhile. I think you may well be correct that the only colour that truly matters....is the incandescent light of truth and compassion, radiating from the heart and the conscience.
Rain, and it always makes me happy to know that you have been here. Do you wear perfume? You leave behind a particular fragrance.
Tom, I agree. Like pain, guilt is a signal that something needs examining, even if it's imaginary.
Just to hear that you look out for posts from me makes me want to communicate more often
A blogging blank - quelle horreur! We are always pleased to find a now post, dear N - a little lift of the heart.
"The low lighting and terra cotta coloured walls ..." - your works best seen in a low light? Your show looks lovely in the fine space.
Perhaps the three men of colour came from particularly oppressed backgrounds? I don't know enough to know if that is so.
I wouldn't feel guilty - I think "slow blogging" is good for the blogosphere. I think "take time to post, take time to read, take time to comment" is a good philosophy.
As for Mandela, I was very much struck by the poem "Invicta" by William Henley, which I didn't know and which he was fond of quoting.
Adam,thanks. Glad to be an occasional heart-lifter.
Low light isn't really adequate for viewing artworks, but the general ambiance and coloured walls of the cafe make it a pleasant place to hang them all the same.
As for the three late great leaders, their biographies are readily found online and/or in books.
Dominic, that's true but how slow can slow be stretched? I think I often overdo it.
The Henley poem is stirring, often quoted, and Mandela certainly lived every line nobly. I'm not so fond of it though, it's too much like Sinatra's "My Way", the bragadoccio of it.
Natalie, how fine to read your words and see your show so delightfully displayed. I, too, have a "fear" of not blogging enough. Then there is the "fear" of blogging too much, mindlessly.
So..whatever you do, however you do it, your posts are blessed and greatly appreciated.
Many thanks Bruce, and that's not just a cliché way of saying thank you. I like to think of Arizona skies and Arizona light coming in through this virtual window, via your presence.
As for blogging fears...feel the fear and do it anyway!
I just lost my comment. One more time....
I read few blogs and each new post
is a gift to me. I don't count them, just appreciate them and feel guilty for not always taking the time to make a comment.
I do not feel guilty about not
posting.
We have a similar Café nearby.
Interesting art works to see and artists to be met.
Dear Ellena, your comments must not be lost! If there's something I can do about the Blogger set-up to stop this happening, I'll do it. Thanks for persisting anyway, you are always so welcome here.
I sympathise with your guilt, I frequently experience something similar, but in fact you've really been a very conscientious, creative, uplifting and friendly blogger for a very long time, as well as all the other awesome things you do, and for myself I'm simply pleased to see you as and when, be assured.
Expo looks grand!
That's really good to hear, Lucy, and modifies my self-image as the opposite of a conscientious blogger (whatever word fits that description). I'm simply pleased to see you too, whenever and wherever.
That looks like such a nice occasion. It seems as if London combines the coziness of small town living with big city pleasures. I do envy that.
I'm past the guilt now, having lost all of the momentum that for years had me posting daily. My readership is down to a handful now and I'm in contact with nearly all of them personally or via Facebook. The rest is silence!
Hattie, this cafe is indeed a cosy place, attracting mainly locals who spend hours there totally absorbed in their laptops. I don't know if they're writing the Great Novel or just twittering but they're certainly in another world.
Come and browse around London!
Dick, I know your blogging momentum has cooled down but as I hardly ever look at Facebook, I hope you'll rekindle your blog-fire some time.
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