100 Day Project 2021

Friday, February 12, 2016

What Does The Word Mean - Part VI

"Think, think, think" is a phrase often uttered by Winnie The Pooh when he faces a puzzling problem. I've been repeating that phrase a lot lately when it comes to photographing "the solace, nourishment and underlying meaning of everyday words" from David Wythe's book, Consolations. As an avid reader I love words, but so many times I read them quickly. This book has made me stop and really think about the meanings of a word and then I have to think of a way to photograph it! Yes, there's lots of things to think about!

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Longing


Longing is strong desire from deep within for something that is unattainable or distant. Longing can bring feelings of being trapped. Acceptance is needed when the situation cannot be changed.


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MATURITY



Maturity means fully developed. This is a status we earn as we "learn to live fully and equally in multiple contexts" which are our past, our present, and our future. Maturity takes work; much like this persistent little plant works to survive in a a rock wall. This plant needs three things: dirt, water, and sunlight. It can't mature without all three things and we can't develop fully without accepting our past, our present, and our future. (quote by David Whyte)


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MEMORY



Each moment we live creates a memory. These memories are stored and lay dormant until the time we retrieve them, then they flow back into our consciousness.

"Memory passes through an individual human life like a building musical waveform, increasingly virtuosic often volatile, sometimes overpowering." David Whyte


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NAMING



What is it?
What do you do with it?
My curiosity makes me want to identify and put a name to things, but sometimes it's better to just be captured by it's shape, color, and texture. Sometimes the mystery is better when it is not solved.

"The precision of naming
takes away from the uniqueness of seeing."
Pierre Bonnard


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Nostalgia





He is my father.
He was know as a Jack-of-all-trades
There was nothing he could not repair.
He kept screws, washers, and bolts.
He might need them one day.
They are now all forgotten.
He works no more.
He has Alzheimer's.

Nostalgia is a wistful desire or a yearning to return to a former time in one's life.
I yearn for the days when my dad knew how to do things;
when he enjoyed working with his tools.
I yearn for the days when he was happy.

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This post finally catches me up with the current word. Since I'm caught up it will be about five weeks before you see another "word" post. The five words above have been the hardest for me. Maybe my brain is getting tired to trying to picture words! I peeked ahead at the titles of the next few chapters in the book and I'm afraid they look harder than these!  I'm going to have to "think, think, think!"

In case you've recently joined me here. You can go back to this post and read about the project I'm participating in. If you are new, I'm so pleased you've stopped by!

9 comments:

  1. What a challenge this is! I can't begin to imagine how I would photograph these words. "Naming" struck a chord with me, because it's so easy to slap a label on something (or even someone) and not think about it or really see it at all. And "Nostalgia" - it must be so hard to watch your father struggle with Alzheimer's. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

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  2. I'm really enjoying the photo/word pairing. I like seeing how your mind works.

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  3. A lovely series to revisit, Cathy. Each one represents a profound part of you. The last image of your dad's nuts and bolts in the shiny glass jars, touches my heart!

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  4. That last one is such an awesome reminder of who you dad was, so good Cathy.

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  5. This post made me tear up when I came to the nostalgia photo, Cathy. That described my dad so well, too. Sending you a warm hug--I know that dealing with a dementia-ridden parent is just heartbreaking on so many levels...

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  6. Beautifully done. The one about your father touched me greatly.

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  7. first and foremost, whoever wrote for whine the pooh was AWESOME!!!

    whenever you share these, as i scroll...i always think the same thing, boy she nailed this. i often wonder what process you use...i love the thought of describing words with pictures!!!!!

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  8. These images of words... they're simply extraordinary. I can't begin to express how they've torn at my emotions, how each image melds with the word, to complete the meaning. They are just lovely.

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  9. Again this series you've been doing is just fantastic. I think you are really capturing the feel of the words quite well. I loved the one for memories.

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