Last month, I wrote here about retiring from the past and embracing the future. The thoughts sprung from the decision to retire my website.
But before I could move forward, I reined in the memories from its inception to now. In 2013, I created a website, developed from writerly beginnings on Blogspot where “Magical Thinking” took me to places of reflection and meaning, all the way to writing my first book, Under the Birch Tree, a memoir of discovering connections and finding home. Later, I would share my second book, The Wisdom of the Willow, a novel, and other published essays.
The site has always been with me, like a best friend. We grew up together, learned about all things reading and writing. It was a place to share my work and news, to attract a tribe of like-minds and followers, and to nurture a craft.
It also became symbolic.
I thought about how we outgrow our spaces. Or do our spaces outgrow us?
But it was only after I read older posts that I realized yes, indeed, the site was getting on in years. My thoughts were bittersweet. It was time to move on and leave behind old essays featured on the posts, yet I wanted to hang on to that which marked my growth as a writer. I soon reasoned that the reflections and what I learned would always be there and the posts would be a trail of breadcrumbs, leading me forward, yet reminding me of where I came from.
Those crumbs are my writerly journey.
There is much to be said that encourages us to leave the past behind—“When you’re too focused on the past, you’re missing out on the present,” and “Don’t let the past keep you from moving forward in the present”—suggesting our past can be a foe yet, I say it can be an ally.
Our past is our supporter, our partner, our friend. It never leaves us. Don’t we keep the lessons the past has taught us and the memories we made from them?
I like what Canadian writer Charles De Lint says, “The past scampers like an alley cat through the present, leaving the paw prints of memories scattered helter-skelter.” What an image!
I think of memories just popping up willy-nilly from no prompting. And when those printed memories are reclaimed, we are reminded of their context, like dropped crumbs that once took us on our life’s journey.
Outgrowing our spaces means we have grown. And we couldn’t have gotten to be who we are today without the dropping of crumbs from the past.
I carry the spirit, once started long ago, to this new place where I welcome what has yet to come my way. Like any best friend, they never leave you, but will be there in mind, heart, and spirit.
And on this new website, a little Magical Thinking is still there with me, and always will remain.
Welcome to my new space. Walk through the new nooks of pages and photos. And let me know what you think.
Because I just love this quote!
“I realize there’s something incredibly honest about trees in winter, how they’re experts at letting things go.” ― Jeffrey McDaniel
PLEASE NOTE:
To my subscribers: This post came to you via MailChimp. It’s temporary and was required for migration to the new website.
To continue your subscription to this blog, (and I highly recommend you do!) you must sign up on the new site to get notifications via email for new blog posts.
MailChimp will be deactivated as of December 2024 and you will no longer receive email notifications.
My apologies for asking you to do this, but times have changed and it’s time I roll along with it all!
Leave a Reply