Sunday
Jan162011
We Write
January 16, 2011 * * * * * Posted by: Marcie 
Overnite – the world has transformed itself from shades of winter grey..to the purest and whitest of whites. A warm winter blanket has wrapped itself around the sleeping earth..enveloping and embracing it..keeping it safe and warm. Awaiting spring. When life will re-awaken and emerge again. Anew.
Silence.
The wind in the trees. The song of an occasional bird who – I imagine – to have gotten itself lost and left behind. Forgotten. Nothing but the sound of my breath..the steady rhythm of my heart softly beating.
I write.
It was one year ago today – that I first made that declaration. That affirmation. That promise to myself..and to all of us others – that this would be a journey worth taking. Without any sort of pre-planned destination. Without knowing anything about one another. From all parts of the globe – we had only one thing in common – and that was our apparent love of photography and image-making. We – on this day – signed an unwritten pledge to travel this particular road together…wherever this road may go.
While walking in the newly fallen snow – I thought about the metaphors. That we were once silent…buried beneath this heavy blanket….awaiting our spring. It was from there that we each found ourselves our voices. At first – hesitant…anxious…worried that we had nothing relevant to say..to contribute..to write. What might others think? What might others – in this world of constant comments – say? How might we be ‘regarded’? How might we measure-up and be ‘graded’ for our efforts..for the choices we’ve made..for the lives that we are living?
As the winter ice and snow melted…and the earth began to warm – we each emerged stronger and clearer and more confident in our self-expressions. We dared to share our thoughts..our opinions and points-of-view. Some shared bits and pieces of past lives and childhoods..while others have shared their hopes and future dreams. Some write poetry. Others – prose.
We write…each in a style and voice and expression that was and is uniquely our own.
And throughout it all – we’ve supported one another. We’ve cheered each other on. We’ve encouraged. We’ve applauded. We’ve discovered that we are all one and the same. Altho we’d never met..we began conversations that were truly personal. We dared to speak…to crack ourselves open..to reveal parts of ourselves that we never thought we ever would. We found the extraordinariness in each of our ordinary days. We found new inner strengths. In one another and ourselves.
Some of us have been together since the very beginning. That first day. That first post. That first seed..emerging from its long winter rest. Others have joined us along the journey..jumping right in and meeting us all along our way. We’ve grown. In strength. In numbers. In our collective voices. In our visions and our verbs.
Today – in spite of the blanket of white that is silencing the world..we speak loudly and clearly. No longer waiting for the right time..the right place..the right season to emerge. Right here..right now – it is springtime. Our time.
From the big cities..to the smallest of small rural towns. From the plains of Africa to the suburbs here in the United States. Daughters and sisters and mothers and wives and now – friends. Thus far – it’s been an amazing journey…a road less-travelled…unexpected.
Together - we write.
Reader Comments (24)
What a contradiction in this photo; daisies representing spring and snow as for winter. Love the idea Marcie
What has happened in one short year, Marcie, is almost as miraculous as your image. We've become a family of choice. 2010 was the year of planting seeds and watching them grow. Who knows what will happen in 2011! For one thing, you can bet that some of us will meet. And if you have your way, we'll actually touch tangible mementos from each other. Thank you for wrapping up the essence of our first year for us, like a present. It has truly been a grand adventure. Astrid reminded me last night how I almost said NO because I wasn't sure of myself with such a group. I'm so glad she encouraged me to say YES because I feel like I have found a Home I didn't know I needed. Thank you. Thank you.
I'm proud to be a part of this although I'm not writing any longer. But I Read!, feel, think and love to be a part of this beautiful community. Keep up the good work ladies! -I'm with you all the way...
It's a lovely look back and forward. Well done on a year of writing together and apart. I have really enjoyed the words and images here and look forward to seeing what 2011 brings.
from "i write" to "we write," my head swirls from the comments and the ideas and the collaboration that has bubbled up so many ideas and images. marcie, you have filled several coffee cups this morning with thought and the pleasure of your company has been liberating. applause for a great post.(s)
I have been stopping by sporadically at first and now more regularly... I have enjoyed reading about the women of V&V and am especially fond of reading Ginnie's posts. For 2011, I have promised myself that I will read more from each of the other women of V&V... the notion of using a photograph as inspiration for your contributions is marvelous.
"No longer waiting for the right time..the right place..the right season to emerge." This speaks particularly to me for what I'm facing in my life right now... thank you for your words! And for having the vision to start this wonderful blog!
Oh... I just went back and read your first post... "Needing to be ‘good’. Needing to be ‘perfect’." Again... your words spoke clearly to me... I know that so well. Sometimes, I don't comment on posts because I cannot think of the 'perfect' thing to say or the 'right' words to express how what I've just read touches me. Will 'he' or 'she' think I'm an idiot? SIGH... thank you again for your vision... I will be back to read more later.
V&V has indeed been a great adventure and I am looking forward to what 2011 will bring. I am proud to be a part of it. thanks
The courageous spontaneity and enthusiasm with which you share your images and words give support and encouragement to those of us who follow your collaborative work.
I have so loved being swept up in your family here and taken along for the best ride ever! It was very clear to me as soon as I found this place early on that it would be special and important and I have hardly missed a morning of starting it here with my first cup of coffee.
Thank you, each and every one, who has so freely put your thoughts, feelings and images out there for this world of like mindeds.
Terrific job, you gals!!
Well, in this smallest of small towns (although there really are smaller ones than this) the snow is all melted and the world around me is soggy. But! You've certainly brightened my day with your wonderful image and words celebrating our first year together. Bravo to all of us!!
I am coming up on the first year anniversary of my own blogs, and you were all so kind and supportive from the very beginning. It has been a wonderful year, I am so glad to be a part of Vision & Verb, so glad to be writing, so glad to be a woman of a certain age.(Although there are days I wouldn't mind being younger!) I am so glad to have gotten to know you all this year, and look forward to where we will go together in 2011...
{quiet applause) growing louder .... and a great big "BRAVO".
A standing ovation to us all and our readers. If I could whistle I could.
Year two - begins with me tomorrow - no pressure ;-)
xo
I love you all
I am proud to be a part of this group. And I have goosebumps from your words. Happy anniversary to all of us! It's been a joy.
Thank you Marcie and each and every contributor to V&V! You have all touched my heart at one time or another ... some of you with each post you submit.
There are few places where authentic, honest, genuine Truth is shared, this is one of those places and I will be forever grateful for those of you that had the original vision for this space and for those of you that took the chance to be part of something so new.
You have gifted those of us on the "other side" with wisdom and beauty - each image and word a part of another's Truth and place in life. Each entry a confirmation that we are all traveling along this aging journey together and one's experience very is often similar to another's - to mine - thank you!
While I have not commented for quite some time, I have read every word and marveled at every photo since my introduction a year back. Know that you are reaching others and you are positively effecting lives beyond your select group.
With gratitude and peace to you all ... Linda
I look forward to the next year of posts :-)
Congratulations on a wonderful first year, Ladies! I have thoroughly enjoyed tagging along for the ride and getting to know some of you. Write on!
I got goosebumps when I read this post, Marcie. And I am so glad to be part of V&V and of women who have become friends. Thank you.
it's been a wonderful ride, and i'm so happy to have been included in it all; my first real foray into getting images out there. and more and more, through V&V, the written word has been given a voice...which it didn't have before. doubt and lack of confidence that have now been somewhat swept under the carpet. thanks to all of you for helping me find that :)
We're such a great group of ladies! A standing ovation to us all! :) Although I've been away a while from V&V, I'm happy to be part of it again. It's been and will be a great journey!
a great big mazel tov to all of us!!!
Happy Anniversary Vision and Verb. It's been a grand year of sharing, learning, creating with such a talented group of women -- a sisterhood, of sorts.
Marcie and Toni -- thank you so much for bringing us all together.
To the contributors AND the readers, here's to another great year!
no longer waiting for the right time... oh gosh i've got so much that i'm waiting for this year... 2011 is going to be a banner year xoxoxoxoxoxox
Oh God, I am the odd late one again, so sorry!! But looking for a new house (again!) and starting a new job takes a huge amount of time :D
Ladies, I wish all of you a happy anniversary and it has been a pleasure to be a part of this incredible community so far!! I love all the writings because they come from women that have lived life to the full and will go on doing so for many more years to come, and I hope V&V will too!!!