Welcome to the journey.
Imagine the bank of a mountain stream where we meet to inspire each other, read to one another, laugh. Wildflowers tumble down the narrow canyon. The high mountain air untroubled on a calm morning. Dippers dip from rock to rock. The cold, clear water rushes on. There is nothing we have to do except sit together and. . . bump up our NK cells!
bank of the Beckler River, Yellowstone National Park
I live in the Idaho mountains with my partner and black dog and I am recovering from lyme disease. Early in the illness words galloped off like wild horses. I couldn’t read. I couldn’t write. But that’s a tick’s story; mine is that I’m healing. If you’re like me, sometimes we get lost in confusing and frightening information, feel lonely. Great art, poems, prose have come out of similar struggles. Inspiration, creativity, curiosity, and just plain funny boost the immune system, can help us feel better, and may be as important as the IV or the herb. So I hope you find on these pages something that inspires you.
—Those of you not recovering from a tick bite—we’re not contagious. Have a seat. There’s room on the bank.
A Blessing for a Friend on the Arrival of Illness, by John O’Donohue
© 2008 – 2013. Susan Austin. Unless otherwise stipulated and so credited, all images and words appearing on this site are the work of Susan Austin. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Susan Austin with appropriate and specific direction to the original content at http://journeybacktowords.wordpress.com. All Rights Reserved – Any content reflagged from this blog Journey Back To Words must adhere to the terms of © Copyright
Thank you for stopping by my blog (http://smilekiddo.wordpress.com/), and liking one of my posts. I really appreciate it!
It sounds like we are both healing and blogging with a purpose. I’ve had some health challenges lately and hoping my experiences will help others. I have two blogs also, one on my experiences, and one for my creativity, which helps with healing. I am wishing the best for you on your healing journey.
Dear ‘bee and purple echinacea’, thank you so much for sharing with me your own challenges. I also wish you the best in your journey, and I’m going to subscribe!
good luck! I’m sure, writing can support hope and energy!
Thank you, Frizz. It can. . . it does. . . you know.
let me first of all say that the life you are leading, is a fantastic life! there are many people out there who’d sell their grandma to have a life like yours, which seems so independant and free.
secondly, about the ailment you have….i dislike it when we all say to each other “…im sorry to hear about YOUR disease…”
by saying that, we are making the disease ours, which we dont want! i truly believe we are what we say, and our lives are what we think….so if we say and think about an ailment being “mine”, then we are telling the body yeah..its ok to have this ailment….!
anyway, thats my opinion…nevertheless, please get better speedily and lets share some more of your superb photographs!
do drop in again at http://filmcamera999.wordpress.com
Life is wonderful and so are these photos. I took a quick run through and look forward to more!!
Thank you, Michelle. Glad you like some of the photographs. Your recipe slide shows are enticing!
Thank you for sharing. I hope this message finds you well and healed of your disease. I’m sure you have touched many who were (or are) in your same position. BLESS YOU!!
Thank you. I don’t know how many I may have reached with this ‘little’ blog but it’s been a great exploration for me and if it helps one person laugh, or write, or become curious about something new and especially if it keeps someone from getting bite by the tick, it’s worth it. I’ve ‘met’ so many interesting, creative, thoughtful and thought-provoking folks along the way, including you. Thanks so much for visiting the blog and leaving your comments. I appreciate it.
Your photos are great and it is good that you can do something so positive despite having this health setback.
thank you for your consistent support lately! i really appreciate the warm compliments! best to you, y
Thank you for your inspiration, y. Your exquisite photographs and your poems inspire me. I may even manage to write a poem to accompany a photo.
let me know when you do!! (smile) was the poem after the hopkins poem yours?
No. I have a few of my own scattered about, under Writer’s Studio. Inspired by you, I’ve thought about writing a poem for the new photos I put up but I’m not sure I can pull that off!
I hope you can fight effective vs. any illness – using daily the joy of inspiring internet ideas – created by yourself and friends …
Thank you, Frizz. The daily joy of creativity-that’s is the best medicine.
So sorry to hear about your illness, though I would love to know more about your Lyme disease experience.
Thanks for visiting the blog. I’ve written some pieces about my experience with LD on my other blog: http://www.journeybacktowords.wordpress.com. I want everyone to know about LD to keep safe! I hope Stir and Journey Back To Words helps spread the word.