Getting It Together

Assertiveness is an interesting thing.  Women are always being told we ought to acquire more of it (unless a woman already possesses as much as any man, in which case she tends to be labelled Pushy.)  But like so many blithe bits of Good Advice, the dark side doesn't get a whole lot of mention.  When you speak up and say "this has gone far enough, I can not allow it to continue", any number of things may happen.  The other party might say - "My goodness, I had no idea - I shall change my ways immediately."  And off you go, skipping through fields of daisies in the sunshine, humming a stirring feel-good anthem.  It might open a painful and exhausting, but productive dialogue - the end result may be good, but you could be in for weeks of living on the edge of tears, energy drained to the dregs, stumbling through your daily routine in a distracted haze.  And there is a very real possibility that the other party may not only deny the situation, but come back at you on the attack.  It's not that assertiveness is inadvisable, but it comes with significant risk, and it is easy to lose your way in the aftermath.

Which is a cryptic and roundabout way of explaining how it is that my creative mojo seems to have been pureed and scattered to the winds recently.  (Also my short-term memory - if I have forgotten to respond to a query, please please forgive the apparent rudeness and remind me!)

I think a key part of reclaiming my focus is a return to daily blogging.  For me, writing this blog is a bit like exercise (which I have also been neglecting) - it is a powerful energizer, but it also takes energy to initiate.  When I permit myself to believe that I am too sad and tired to pull together even one idea worth communicating, it is the first step down a slippery slope.

Speaking of slippery slopes, here's a wee bit of eye candy from our trip up Whistler mountain last week:

In spite of the heat wave, this year's record snow pack takes a long, long time to melt at the summit:

Little bare patches are appearing though, and the wee alpine heathers are finding their way to the sun:

It requires a great deal of tenacity to survive up here:

Taller residents of the high alpine were released a little earlier, and are making the most of a short but intense growing season.

A little further down the slope, the bears too, are making the most of the season:

Happy Tuesday!

Comments

[maryse]

great photos! and amazing how tenacious life up there must be.

[Rosemary]

http://miksang.net/miksang.html
This site has a great deal in common with your photos. A friend wrote about it on her blog a couple of days ago, all of us enjoy the closeup, details, etc.

[naomi]

Lovely pictures. Thanks for sharing!

[Kristy]

It's easy for so many of us to glibly give advice, and it's much harder for the recipient to actually carry it out. I've been thinking about this recently too (in a completely different situation I'm sure), and it's difficult to translate things into real life sometimes. I hope things get to be easier soon.

What amazing photos! It's hard to believe when it's so hot outside my office that there are still places that have so much snow :)

[LaurieM]

Sometimes you have to take a risk. I've always played it safe all my life, but I've since learned that I have to take a risk to find out just where my comfort zone lies. I have to cross that line to find out where it even is!

I'm glad you're posting. I hope it helps you with your mojo.

[Rita]

I'm sorry your life is playing hard at the moment. Your pictures are beautiful, you deserve something beautiful back.

[melmel]

Great post - and I can relate very much with some recent events. I hope your writing (which is very well done), and the hike helped. Those are some incredible pictures - especially the bears!!

[Joanne]

You continue to amaze.......photos of beauty amongst the angst and tears. My only thought from dealing with a tough up-close family challenge is twofold: hold onto honesty tempered with mercy and remember that you can only do your work. The work of others is theirs and theirs only. As is the timing, choice etc. I often wished for a magic wand to clarify and solidify......but not yet and perhaps never in some situations.
So, cheers to continuing to find beauty. Our walk tonight had coyotes, deer, bear scat and lovely sharp lightening with thunder. We were a little damp when we returned home.
Sending wishes for a peace-of-heart day.

[Kerri]

I love, love, LOVE that photo of the drop of water melting off the ice - absolutely superbly done! You are a genius with that camera, Ruth! But what...no close up of the bears' noses or anything??!! Come on...use your "assertiveness"! ;) (I think you'd be running pretty fast thru your field of daisies if you got too close to Mama bear!)

Seriously...as painful as it's been for you, good for you for standing your ground & asserting yourself - no doubt it will be worth it in the end. It's extremely unpleasant for some of us to step out of our comfort zone, but sometimes it's necessary. And each time you do it, it gets a teeny bit easier to do it the next time, with less aftermath. I'm sorry you're feeling so beaten down & disjointed, but your keen eye for the beautiful things around you & the ability to share them so well shows that your strength, fortitude and creativity are winning out over the dark side.

Let there be light, mojo & daily blogs again!! :) Big hugs...

[Lee Ann]

I'm so proud of you, Ruth.

[becky]

every thing I have ever read about creativity (twyla tharpe's book is one of the best) has one common element. Continuing to do the work in spite of the doubt. Going through the routines so that the inspiration will come. Allowing the sad to be rather than fighting it will make it easier for the not-so-sad to find it's way out-as long as you just keep doing the work. be well.

[Joanne]

This is an amazing group of women......I'm imagining all these thoughts and emotions and life experiences and creativity in one room.....Cheers to all!

[Judy G.]

I wish you strength to continue to do what you must. Peace will follow if you are true to yourself. If daily blogging is part of the prescription, I will gladly swallow all the pills you send.

Wonderful pictures- Mike's adventures with his new camera aren't quite as exciting, but he's making progress.

Cheers!