new threads

"the way it is"

 

there's a thread you follow. it goes among things that change. but it doesn't change.

people wonder about what you are pursuing.

you have to explain about the thread.

but it is hard for others to see.

while you hold it you can't get lost.

tragedies happen; people get hurt or die;

and you suffer and get old.

nothing you can do can stop time's unfolding.

you don't ever let go of the thread.

 

(william stafford)

 

 

i first heard this poem when liz lamoreux read it at the your story retreat i went to in june. the poem really resonated with me. so many threads. so many connections. family (both immediate and extended). friends (both new and old). strangers who have never met me yet have been kind enough to send me happy mail to lift my spirits. coworkers. the list goes on and on.

 

i have been thinking about that poem a lot since i first heard those words. i am beyond lucky to have so many threads connected to so many amazing people.

 

one of the new friends that i gained at the retreat is kelly barton. i wish that you could all meet her. she is the type of person that you meet and immediately know that your life just got better. she is a new thread and one you can tell you are going to want to hold on tight to. kelly taught watercolor painting at the retreat, and it was her inspiration that has led to many recent watercolor sessions with malena. malena and i have had such a great time painting together, and i thank kelly for the inspiration to pick up our brushes and paint our little hearts out.

 

during one of our recent paint sessions, we both made some happy mail to send to kelly.  

 

kelly wrote a gorgeous post - including some awesome pictures of what was in her package - about how she felt when she received the package, and you can read her words here.

 

she also makes ah-maz-ing art and jewelry, you should check out her etsy shop and her society 6 shop. but you should also read her blog and follow her through facebook and instagram. you will want the magic she puts out into the world to be a part of your world. trust me (we have already established multiple times that you can, and this time is no different;)).

 

new threads. you never know when they are going to come along. and then they do. and then you wonder what took so long for them to show up. and then you decide that they came just when they were supposed to. and then you thank your lucky stars that their thread finally connected to yours.

 

kelly's light shines out from indiana ("the middle" as she calls it), and i am pretty sure that as the sun sets, you can see that light all the way out here on the west coast.

 

yes, it is just that bright.