The blogger am recently commented on my turtle masthead. She is an artist and a women of power. When she speaks of images, I pay attention.
This photo represents a creature with fears and anxieties, but who pokes her head out of her shell from time to time with great hope and with as much energy as she can muster. She is small and seemingly insignificant. She is slow, but she is steady. Despite being restrained by a giant, she is curious and takes a chance by coming out of her shell to see what is going on. Who knows where that small act of courage might take her?
I came late to blogland. I started writing in 2012, when I went to help my daughter for a few weeks after the birth of her son. I blogged to share the experience with my large extended family. They probably didn't read it.
Many of the original posts have long since been deleted because they revealed too much about me. I retreated back into my shell. I let my writing slide when I went back home and returned to work.
As I prepared to retire in 2013, I started blogging again. This blog became my lifeline as I adjusted to a new and considerably less productive life. This is where I think out loud.
I hope you have noticed the other turtle on my page. She lives on the bottom. She is swimming in full glory. If the little, tentative turtle on the top of my page is where I started, then the big one at the bottom is the one I hope someday to become.
Yes, our Blog Journey takes us to unexpected places doesn't it, not only inside ourselves, but in contact with the World at large. I for one never expected Blogging to have so many surprise benefits to me that it has created. The connection that it has had with kindred spirits has been such a Blessing, if I'd lived several lifetimes I doubt I could have or would have come into actual contact in Real Life with so many of my 'Tribe' as I like to call us. That camaraderie has uplifted me, the Voice my Blog has given me I felt has been Heard on so many Topics I've Posted about. It fulfilled my Need to Write, to expand my interest in the Art of Photography and to cover my World and Share it with others. I Hope this Journey takes you everywhere you ever Dreamed of going with confidence and a strong Voice in Sharing the Topics that mean most to you.
ReplyDeleteWell said! And so true, for me as well.
DeleteDon't let her fool you, folks. This is not a turtle but a half-grown dragon here. The breathing fire thing has already been mastered.
ReplyDeleteLove!
DeleteI love this, the analogy and that you see yourself as a a turtle and all of it. And the courage, yes, the courage!
ReplyDeleteI have a thing for those big land turtles that lived around us in paradise, stubborn massive ancient creatures who slowly parade through the undergrowth, totally oblivious to any obstacles.
They only make a noise when they have sex (and that's not just the clanging of their shells). Couldn't be bothered other times. Totally aloof.
I have a photo I took of two turtles having sex. Really, I do.
DeleteI think blogs appear differently on different computers, or reading devices. You have a label column that's at the end of the current post, and under that a list of followers. The followers list is as irritating as mine and others; it's not complete, and some folks show up as silhouettes. There's a little 'Next' icon after the word followers, and once I clicked on it to see if a complete list of pictures would appear. Lo and behold, the screen flew to the bottom of the page, which I'd never scrolled through, and there is Madame Grand Turtle. So, I did know she was there, and I'm pleased to read the connection between the curious little one at top and the strong one at bottom.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you noticed her.
DeleteThey're so brave to keep travelling every year to their nesting sites in spite of how, since our invasion of their habitat, they have to risk life and limb to get there, crossing highways and overcoming all manner of manmade obstacles. Gopher tortoises are the most common in our area. They wander through our gardens and most people defer to them when they're trying to cross the road. Of course not everyone does and it breaks my heart when one gets hit because it takes them a long time to grow and a long time to die.
ReplyDeleteI always go to the bottom to see that beautiful turtle in all her glory swimming confidently through her blue and green habitat...I have no doubt you'll get there!
Thanks, Molly. I have often wondered if anyone ever saw the one on the bottom.
DeleteA lovely description of the turtle. There is a bit of turtle in all of us.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely.
DeleteI love both turtles! Thank you for writing about your kinship with them (-:
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving me the idea to do so.
DeleteI like this thought. I had noticed the turtles but didn't understand the meaning.
ReplyDeleteLove this post. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome.
DeleteI started my blog as a writing assignment as I went through some tough therapy. I was very much the turtle just tentatively sticking my head out. Like you, the blog connected me with others who had shared experiences and that connection made me stronger.
ReplyDeleteI love your analogy and I too hope that you will someday swim in your full glory. And thanks for pointing out the second turtle which I hadn't noticed before but will now enjoy.
I'm glad you have seen the second turtle. She is one of my heroes.
DeleteI love reading this post and knowing the history of your blog and the story of your turtle photos. I'm so glad that you continue to blog and share your world with us. Thank you for that.
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