Do you at times find your mind wondering seemingly in random directions except they are really very connected? Jane Griffiths Jones one of the wonderful regular contributors to the Welsh Country website started with a book, well not really a book, and ended with a journal.
‘A Book’
This is not a conventional book; so if you don’t want to read any further thinking it’s an autobiography; a romantic novel; a historic epitaph; a murder mystery; a scientific discovery: then stop right now!
As I began to write ‘A Book’ – I had no idea where it would go. But I did hope and pray that somewhere along this journey, I would somehow find a way of connecting with you.
After all – we all are born of this earth.
This book is about being human; caring for others; and being kind.
It is also about being kind to yourself.
Something that we often forget.
When did you last put yourself first??
Chapter One
Let’s begin with ‘Childhood’.
Can you remember your favourite toy?
I remember mine. Playplax- A 1970’s colourful plastic set of translucent square and castle turret shapes with interconnecting slots. And I can even remember the azure dented blue biscuit tin that they emerged from.
Pure joy – and those thoughts strangely enough – ‘still’ bring me joy.
So this makes me think that memory is just as important in giving us joy as it is to remind us of giving us joy.
My husband being of the latter years of fifty – has suddenly rediscovered his joy of building Lego. I have found joy myself in seeing his reawakening of play and wondered why we as adults loose this simple form of playfulness as time passes by.
Chapter two of ‘A Book’
Jewellery
My late mother was a hoarder – this book would not be long enough to hold your attention to her hobby of collecting. But in her memory and hoping that I have inherited her talent for holding some of your human attention, I shall begin with my newfound mindful hobby of analysing my mothers and grandmothers collectables.
I have rings in front of me – some look like diamonds. I have googled – “How can you tell if your ring contains diamonds?” The answer clearly states – “Shine your iPhone torch on the gemstones and if the light bounces back and dazzles you, and perhaps radiates rainbows then they’re diamonds. And if the gemstones remain dull then they’re not diamonds.
Of course I want them to be diamonds.
But then I open a blue/ grey cardboard box- and in it is my old teething ring. And all my future thoughts of diamond joy reverse back to thinking about how my mother had kept my teething ring for all these years. What comparison could a perhaps diamond ring compare with the love of my mother who had kept my teething ring.
I have yet to take my ring to a valuer but I now know with certainty, which is most valuable.
An Artist’s Nature Journal
Rabbits twin down my garden and join me for a cup of tea.
Rabbit one munches quickly on a dandelion head. And rabbit two stops. Ears up sharp.
Then rabbit one runs bobbing white tail up fun like and free. And rabbit two stays munching on grass – head and back down.
Mum and Dad? Adult size rabbits emerge like magic tricks from nowhere. And rabbit one and two suddenly free themselves from fear and run wider and wilder than ever before around and around the garden like young children with not a care in the world.
Family gather together centre of the lawn. Fearless in their family circle. Together as one they gorge on grass and laze in the sun with joy.
I know of their fragility; and fear the predators that are never far away.
But today on this bright and sunny afternoon; not far from their burrows; and the warm kiss of God’s sunshine; I feel joy knowing that Heaven is rejoiced in my garden.
