Friday, January 7, 2011

Diary extract No. 23


Keep a daily diary. Always take a ride on each carousel you see. Stop to give coins to every violinist you hear. Never pass a lemonade stand without buying a glass. Always have a drawing book and pencil handy. Take tea every afternoon. Scribble down your dreams at dawn. Take yourself to the cinema. Give a name to all the bumblebees you spy. Sleep in pretty nightgowns. Read your favourite poetry out loud. Write and illustrate your fondest memory. Carry your favourite sweeties in your left pocket. Wear a locket with faerie dust inside. Tie your hair up in ribbons.  
Remember always to be Brave.

28 comments:

iz said...

Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful ideas.

Anonymous said...

Must remember always.

Molly said...

I won't forget it, dear. That's for sure, ♥

Anonymous said...

Beautiful words, thank you! x

merricat said...

This reminds me that I've been wanting to write down my dreams when I can remember them. This also fills me with so much hope for the new year. Thank you xx

Rachel said...

such a magical list.
xx

Anonymous said...

I like the idea of giving names to the bumblebees. Thank you ♥

Anonymous said...

I don't have words, this is incredible, Elly xxx

Christina said...

Some of these are so nice and I was already thinking that this year I wanted to do most of these such as drinking tea every day,carrying around a notebook and write thoughts,dreams and wishes,read a lot of books,even if they don't look that interesting on the outside,read poetry,make bow for my hair and beautiful accesories,take much more photos,do my best at acting classes and try to enjoy every day...! :)

Keep up your beautiful posts dear!
Many sweet kisses!

Diana said...

I will. I promise.

Your blog is ever so lovely. xo

Julia said...

love. have missed you so much.

Anonymous said...

Have loved this list of yours for a long time now, I must remember to write them all down - I especially would like to start going to the cinema more and of course carrying sweets around which would definitely come in useful for when you are feeling down (or hungry!) xx

Joanna said...

How lovely this list is. Staying brave is one of the hardest things to do; wise words, beautiful words (I can never expect anything less from you, dear). xxx

Unknown said...

I hope you don't mind me saving this post.
I am taking it down for future reference. I will change my life this year.

Thank you for this, dear.

Anonymous said...

Oh yes, your magical list, I never forget it. Reading through it again makes me realise how many things listed here I still don't do. I must, I must make a concerted effort, I must. This year, make a little wish on a star for me, if you don't mind, that I may be even just a teeny bit as wonderful as you, my dear Elly. xxx

Liz said...

This is so wonderful. I will be brave. I promise.

Sara Downton said...

i love this, and i love your blog
it's beautiful here

Wild Keiki said...

I may have to tie some of these words into my own resolutions! So beautiful, dear. I wish you all the happiness in the new year!

x
Jess.

Sarah said...

ohhh... this is soooo beautiful. i love this words. i will remember! :)
have a lovely day!
xoxo, pink lady <3

Anonymous said...

ohh... i want to wear a locket with faerie dust inside :) your post made me think and smile dear! you have a new follower :)

♥haze
lifeendslovedoesnt.blogspot.com

lavender and honey. said...

i love this! your blog is lovely. i'll be following.

ida said...

hi there,
you've got such a lovely blog

MJ said...

This is wonderful. You are very wise dear, very wise. I should just copy this list and carry it around with me.
I so wish I was Brave all the time! xxx
p.s. Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog. Frances (and the scene in the movie) did inspire the key crown of my drawing :)

Melissa said...

I love it, I really do.
Your blog is delightful!

Athena. said...

Always: I will try and remember. Your blog is always such an inspiration to me; like a dream, gentle and eloquent and always relevant.
I need to be Brave now, more than ever.
I miss you, Dear.
xxx

Grace said...

This is the best kind of advice:) I do so need to be Brave right now, so thank you for reminding me. Your blog is a true inspiration and very beautiful. :) xx

herecomesthesun said...

these sentiments are so beautiful and so true. thank you for sharing and inspiring me today :)

Anouk said...

i agree, agree, agree with most of the things...

Keep a daily diary. - do you? i wish i would but the time, the time, the time is less... but i do it in some way... i take a picture (with apples photo booth) everyday and write some words... so i guess, i do.

Always take a ride on each carousel you see - no, but would be great fun. so i should try. do you?

Never pass a lemonade stand without buying a glass - sadly i never passed one.

Always have a drawing book and pencil handy - yeah, that's more than sensible.

Take tea every afternoon - yes.

Take yourself to the cinema - mhm, all alone in the cinema...

Sleep in pretty nightgowns - cotton and satin. light blue shirts and shorts.

Read your favourite poetry out loud - word.

On the calm black wave where the stars are sleeping
the white Ophelia floats like a great lily.
Floats very slowly, lying in her long veils…
--Far off in the woods there are hunters’ calls.

It’s already more than a thousand years that sad Ophelia
passes, a white phantom, on the long black river;
More than a thousand years that her gentle craziness
murmurs her romantic story to the evening breeze.

The wind kisses her breasts and arranges her great veils,
cradled softly by the waves, in a halo around her;
the shivering willows weep on her shoulder,
the reeds bend above her wide dreaming forehead.

The rumpled lotuses sigh around her;
she awakes sometimes, in a sleeping alder,
some nest from which a little shiver of wing escapes:
--a mysterious chant falls from the golden stars.

O pale Ophelia! beautiful as snow!
Yes you died, child, carried away by a river!
--It’s that the winds coming down from the mountains of Norway
talked to you quietly of bitter freedom;

it’s that a gust, twisting your long hair,
carried strange sounds to your dreaming mind;
your heart heard the singing of nature
in the wails of the tree and the sighs of the nights;

It’s that the voice of the crazy seas, immense groan,
broke your child’s breast, too human and too sweet;
it’s that one morning in April, a handsome pale cavalier,
a poor fool, sat mute at your knees!

Heaven! Love! Freedom! What a dream, O poor foolish girl!
You melted into him like a snow in the fire:
Your great visions strangled your words
--and terrible infinity appalled your blue eye!

--And the poet says that by starlight
you come looking at night for the flowers you gather,
and that he saw on the water, lying in her long veils,
the white Ophelia floating like a great lily.

--Arthur Rimbaud (1854-1891)


Tie your hair up in ribbons - i will, again.

Remember always to be Brave - yes, remember that.

Post a Comment

like talking to trees, your whispers hidden in the wind. only sometimes the trees talk back. like wishing on a star and having the star wish on you. say what you like; there's always someone listening.
a very merry thank you.