No retreat

There's a reason why I haven't been writing much lately. At the moment I think it's too complicated to explain it personally, but as usual, I give it a go with music. With a song that sets the right atmosphere. With lyrics that tells you how it feels.


I think I should stop thinking lightly about coincidence, by the way. After reading DW's last post, considering what I am going through, I believe there's a reason, or a meaning, for this.
DW, stand your ground...


J

I just know there's no escape now
once it sets its eyes on you
but i won't run, have to stare it in the eye

Stand my ground, I won't give in
no more denying, I got to face it
won't close my eyes and hide the truth inside
if I don't make it, someone else will stand my ground

Though this might just be the ending
of the life I held so dear
but I won't run, there's no turning back from here


Stand my ground

Lost

What I can't, is looking at photographs. It hasn't always been like that. But the last few years it started (from getting this vague, melancholic pain flowing into a sharp scratch on an already wounded soul), and it slowly got worse. So these days, I can't even look at a certain photo without having this like automatic need to curl up, shiver, cry, wanting to dissappear, far, far away...

At this moment, I know I am at an alarming state in that matter, 'cause I noticed that the only two photo's in a frame that I've got, I have turned around. So all I see is the back of it. I can see they're still there, but I cannot face them. Literally. I cannot see their faces. The pain is too deep, the guilt is killing me, and I cannot find the right words to tell myself it's going to be alright. Whatever I do, there is no sense, no real sense, to explain why this all happened, how it got this far, and for which benefit it was needed.

So I feel waisted. I feel lost.

Have I waisted most of my years? And have I waisted most of my precious time with them? Have I lost many opportunities in my life? And did I loose some of the most important moments with them? Have I lost the chance of being there for, and with, them?

I usually have no trouble coming up with some sort of solution, clever statement or what have you. Not that I always have the wisdom of putting words into action in matters on my personal, emotional state. But like I said, I can't even find the proper words now, let alone doing something with their meaning.

I feel lost. And fear that I am.

J

Renewal

~ prompt of Writers Island - wk5 ~

Renewal of the soul - 4 by *nusbaum on deviantART

Renewal...
They say your renewal can only take place when you have been very close to death. Like nearly touching this cold, hated but so common "friend of life". So close, it's frightening; only 2 options remain and that is to flight or fight...

Fight...
It's when you fight that you gain the chance of renewal. Renewal of that piece of you, that is so badly damaged, that with all of the little life that's left in there, it screams desperately for help. No one can hear it though, apart from you. For it is you, and only you, who can answer the question, supply the demand, fill in the needs, make the u-turn.

Pain...
The pain may seem unbearable, your soul's severely injured but the hurt, this time, won't be like a companion of the enemy, but your friend. For it is so intense, that it provides you with a source of energy that nothing and nobody else can give you. It is a boost nearly too hot to handle.

Chance...
But it's a chance and you grab it: simply because you already choose to fight and that is exactly the one and only reason why this chance is here, right in front of you and there is no way that you'll let go.

Heal...
Wounds take time to heal. The tissue of your skin is remarkably well capable of creating new cells and forming a new layer of protection of your body. Sometimes the wounds have been so bad that this new layer may not look like what was there before. Scars appear and they can be a horrible reminder of what happened there before. But no matter how ugly, they are there and protect you.

Overcome...
For me, renewal of the soul can take place when not only having been so close to death, but also by to overcome the fear of it. You need fear to fight, but never fear fighting.

Renewal....
Sometimes, life's renewal isn't what you expected it to be. Sometimes the renewal of your soul is showing a complete different side of you, unknown before. But, take a closer look. Feel it, can you feel how thick this new layer of skin, this renewal is? The scars may seem ugly, look so different than what was there before.... yet, it may do one hell of a better job of protecting you.


So drive me out, yeah
Out to that open field
Turn the ignition off
And spin around
Your help is here

J

Live - Overcome
Uploaded by Live-official

Tired of being sorry

For a thousand reasons that I know
To share forever the unrest
With all the demons I possess
Beneath the silver moon

Maybe you were right
But baby I was lonely
I don't want to fight
I'm tired of being sorry

Forgive me my mistakes, for I sometimes don't realise what I am doing wrong...

Forgive me for being unreliable, for I sometimes can't even rely on myself...

Forgive me for the smile on my face, for it is sometimes just the mask I wear...

Forgive me for being complicated, for I have trouble myself to gain peace of mind...

My "demons"... They're not an excuse. They're not a scapegoat. I wish I could say I have an explanation for my behaviour. But to be able to explain, don't I need to have 'full understanding of the subject'?

And what if I haven't got that yet?

Forgive me all, for asking so much patience...

(Who would have thought that he could hit me with this song (and lyrics) right on the spot?)


J

Writing

(Sunday Scribblings)

Sometimes, when I speak, people don't seem to understand what I say.
Sometimes, when I look, they don't see what I observe.
Sometimes, when I think, people have no clue what's on my mind.
And sometimes, when I cry, they don't know what it's all about....

What can one do to be heard? To be seen, to be understood? To be comforted?

I cannot expect people to know me. For it is difficult enough to know 'me' myself.

But sometimes, it makes you feel so alone. All by myself....

and that's the reason I write.
Because then, I can speak, look, think and cry as if I am not alone out there...

J

Trouble

O no, I see,
A spider web is tangled up with me,
And I lost my head,
The thought of all the stupid things I'd said.

O no, what's this?
A spider web, and I'm caught in the middle,
So I turn to run,
The thought of all the stupid things I've done,

And I never meant to cause you trouble,
I never meant to do you wrong,
And I, well if I ever caused you trouble,
And oh no, I never meant to do you harm.

O no, I see,
A spider web and it's me in the middle,
So I twist and turn,
Here am I in my little bubble,

Singing out loud, I never meant to cause you trouble,
And, I never meant to do you wrong,
And I, well if I ever caused you trouble,
Oh, no I never meant to do you harm.

They spun a web for me,
They spun a web for me,
They spun a web for me.

J

Dear Diary, I want to be Forever Young

(Sunday Scribblings)

When I was young, I kept a diary. I think I was roughly at the age of 14, 15 when I started writing in it. I remember very well what my first diary looked like: a little but thick book, of which the outside was covered with Chinese silk, mainly red with a green and black pattern. Unlike most diaries, it had no lock. And that's what, in the end, caused its death.

I used to poor out my heart in that way. Being a teenager, and a girl (which makes a difference generally, as girls at that age can be quite over the top with their emotions), I thought writing about my life would help, expecting a huge change soon to come. Why was that? And what was I expecting to change?

Looking back, I so much more understand why I kept the diary, why I mainly wrote about boys, boys & boys and how disappointed I quite often was. At first it may sound silly. A diary is supposed to be secret, if only a little, right? It's yours and yours only and for no one to be read apart from you. And if the hypothesis is that writing it is going to help you sort your (love-)life out (or at least create a clearer view on it), it is a very good thing to do. But somehow, I wrote my diary with a sort of weird hope that others would read it, and of course would act on it and then, everything was going to be alright....

Childish behaviour, but then, I still was one. Nowadays, I know what I was hoping to achieve wasn't silly, but the way how, I got it all wrong. You write a diary for yourself. And if you are honest and true, you get a pretty good look at yourself. And if parts of that don't make you happy, or pleased, or whatever, you can maybe track back the if's, why's and how's so you learn from your mistakes, miscalculations, misunderstandings...

But you can never expect someone else to be responsible for your downsides, bad habits, weak points or ignorance. Even when you think they caused it, it is still you who is able to stop or change it; and if you can't you'll have to work on your emotional response and act on it, or (depending on the matter) don't act on it.

The last half year or so, I have been more and more convinced that this is the path to follow on your way to happiness. To love and be loved. Maybe it was coincidental that I started to write this blog? Isn't a blog quite often an adult version of a child's diary? Again, this "diary" is written with the hope others read it. But now, I do not have the expectation that someone else will act on it and "clear up the mess I've made". Now, I want to do that myself.

It's just that sometimes I wish I was that child again. And that somebody would have shared this knowledge with me so I would have had a complete different diary. One I would have kept, so I could read it again when I would be older. Then, afterwards I would close it and start a new diary.

The opening words?

Dear Diary, I want to be forever young….

J

Take It Easy with Decisions

Relax
There is an answer to the darkest times.
It’s clear we don’t understand but the last thing on my mind
Is to leave you.
I believe that we’re in this together.
Don’t scream – there are so many roads left.

Relax, take it easy
For there is nothing that we can do.

(this week's Sunday Scribblings)

Decisions.... how I hate them. Though I try to make sure that most of the time people think that I am the type that "knows what she wants", "goes for it" and all that stuff, the opposite is quite often more the case.

Well, it's not really that I don't know what I want and/or don't go for whatever "it" is... it's just that my lack of self confidence now and again wins and that's when the doubting hits me. Panic, worries, questions and lots of "what if's" fill my head and if I'm not careful I start playing hide and seek. Unfortunately, I'm very good in hiding....

I started to think what kind of positive twist I could give to this hiding business. I know I should try to fight this seemingly instant reaction (stop hiding, face the music, deal with it!) but that's easier said then done and knowing me, it will sometimes be too much to ask from myself. So why won't I take little steps at the time and have more chance of 'success'? The good thing about hiding is that you can allow yourself to take a look at yourself and the situation you're in, without having this feeling of pressure that you have to handle it right there and then, and oh by the way, don't make any mistakes!!

So I hide, take a step back and....

relax, take it easy.... all is so much different when you give yourself the opportunity to see where you are and what you're in without letting stress overtake the important moments of your life.

Mika has it right with his latest song, don't you think? Hey, I might even start appreciating the fact that I have the chance of making decisions...

J

Innocence

Outside ideas of right doing and wrong doing there is
a field. I'll meet you there.
~ Rumi

Innocence

is a term that describes the lack of guilt of an individual, with respect to any kind of crime, sin, or wondering.

(Children are usually considered to be innocent and to gradually lose this attribute through maturity by gaining knowledge of the adult world).
source: Wikipedia.

For I never want my loved ones to loose their innocence.

J

Old and boring? Forget it!

Now this is a cracker! And as I am nearly old and sometimes lazy, I'll quote Oskpeturs writing (from YouTube):

The oldest and greatest rock band in the world - meet The Zimmers and their amazing cover of The Who's "My Generation".
Lead singer Alf is 90 - it's quite something when he sings "I hope I die before I get old". And he's not the oldest - there are 99 and 100-year-olds in the band!
The Zimmers will feature in a BBC TV documentary being aired in May 2007. Documentary-maker Tim Samuels has been all over Britain recruiting isolated and lonely old people - those who can't leave their flats or who are stuck in rubbish care homes.
The finale of the show is this group of lonely old people coming together to stick it back to the society that's cast them aside - by forming a rock troupe and trying to storm into the pop charts.
Some massive names from the pop world have thrown their weight behind The Zimmers... The song is produced by Mike Hedges (U2, Dido, Cure), the video shot by Geoff Wonfor (Band Aid, Beatles Anthology), and it was recorded in the legendary Beatles studio 2 at Abbey Road.
Look out for the single being released from May 21 - with proceeds going to a good cause.
And check out more photos and info at:

www.myspace.com/thezimmersband

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the video, although it leaves me with mixed feelings... it's ab fab seeing those "old people" have such fun, even being naughty (the end bit is classic!). But at the same time it's quite sad that this is what they have to do to get a bit of attention... makes me want to sing along with Alf - I hope I die before I get old

So I hope everyone is going to be naughty too (again/as usual), and use this link to
copy&paste / publish / tag / post / and what have you
to create as many referrals so even the Google-people get nervous.

I mean, wouldn't it be great if this one hits the pop charts all over the world??!! They deserve it!
J

Introducing DW (and his part in my context creating)

The skill of writing is to create a context in which other people can think.
--Edwin Schlossberg--

Since I can remember, I've had this affection for writing. As a child I used to love putting things on paper and then watch to see what people thought about it (me). When they liked it, I felt great. Which is a good thing, if the written paper represents yourself, whenever it's a made up story or not. It motivates you to learn to create your own context.

But in my case, it was quite often about a "made up - me". Looking back, it was all about this little girl who only desperately tried to feel accepted. As I was far too young, I couldn't really put my finger on it, but there was always this feeling that, to others, I seemed not quite on their level. Somehow I just didn't fit in, and for a long time (in reality terms) I never met anyone whom appeared to understand.

But every now and again, I could find myself this match, this team member if you like, that made me feel "to be one of them". Unfortunately, "they" were never real. They were characters in a book. Like my "made up - me", they were just creations on paper, results of other weirdo's in their crying attempt for acceptance. When watching a film, it could have the same effect. If one of the roles in the movie felt right, I wanted to identify myself with it, even though it wasn't for real.

Although never fully 'adapted' to nowadays society, I grew up and was more or less able to at least pretend that I did fit in. It was barely a choice though, it was more of an only option to keep my head above the water. I was lucky that on rare occasions I met such a 'match' in reality. They caused this extreme happy feeling, that I could be the real me, an existing me, not a 'fake J'. But as with all friends (the matching ones and the near), they come and some of them go. And when you're not able to deal with them leaving, you're left with emotions that frighten the life out of you.

Thank God that I've learned the ability to cherish these matches, also when they're gone, or not a visual part of your daily life anymore. I (try to) look back with gratitude, instead of regrets.
It also makes me realise that those people that are still part of my life today, are so important to me. I want to cherish them in the same way. And I do my best to show it, when I see them.

But what if you find another match, a written representation of one, but a grown-up version this time?

A while ago, I was trying to get an explanation about something, Google-searching on the net. I (of course) cannot remember exactly what I was looking for but I stumbled upon one of these rare occasions, a written match, for a change in cyberspace. In terms of the Law of Attraction again, this was right on the spot. What I do remember is that the next hour or so was spend on reading the entire site. (And believe me, with an ADHD-brain like mine, that is a real compliment)!

I won't go into details about what this perticular match means to me. The only thing that matters in my explanation for this, is that it just proves that we all have the right to be yourself. That we can enjoy other's lifes even though you're not 'a daily and/or visual part of it'. That opinions, confessions, values and meanings of others can be shared, accepted and respected, even though you sometimes might not agree on it, or think otherwise. It is something that is worth being cherished. There's no need for me to explain, you can find out for yourself.

So here's to DW, the person who matched my writing voice. Someone I've become very fond of, who's a great talented writer, and makes me just want to get to know him better. Letting him being part of the conversations between me, myself and I is an honour.

Kurt Cobain's "Rape me" is a good way to introduce him to my other matches.

J

Beautiful (what you discover whilst surfing YouTube without being judgemental)

As said before, I tend to dwell in moody music in an attempt to grab myself back together again, after something sad/painful/nasty/etc. has happened. I wonder what I did before when there was no Internet yet. Of course, I actually do know what I did. But gosh, how I was able to satisfy my needs then, compared to now, I have no idea. Most of the time I am quite an easy person for others to please, or satisfy, whatever. But absolutely not for myself.

My demands towards myself are high, if not too high. Maybe that's to compensate what I lack from what I get (= ask for) from others. Silly really, 'cause you just make life more difficult for yourself. If anyone of you thinks about writing a psychological book for the mentally challenged, here's a great working title: "The art of asking - how to get what you want & need, and create the life you've always dreamt of".

On second thought, forget about that, I may write it myself.

But what I'm actually trying to say is that I constantly find that I can't see how one is suppose to help "the self", without any help from others. No matter how deep I digg in this black, dark, muddy but interesting hole which is called (the emotional side of) my brain, I just don't get it. There's always this need, this craving for a helping hand.

It has a nice, warm touch to it; you're not alone on this planet, you live your life with millions and millions of "others" so why not share it, deal with it together? But it hacks me off that I am apparently depending on those, which at the moment feels like all my decisions and what I try to make of them, depends on how they feel about it and what they do (or don't do) with it. Maybe not for the full 100% but their influences are there, right?

So while I was digging away, I also did some digging at Youtube. Now you get a whole load of crap there sometimes, and when aware of that, you quite easily flick through the search results without having a proper look. For some weird reason I decided not to do that today, and it was worth it!
X Japan's "Say anything" made me shiver and forget about "anything" the next 8 minutes or so.

Whatever you think about when you watch the clip, drop your (if any) judgemental thoughts, sit back and give it a chance. Behind the ridiculous hair styles, make-up covered faces, sometimes plain weird or mad behaviour and the usual bits of funny Japanese-English translation, this is (to me anyway) a most touching song played by a very talented Japanese band. At the very last bit the following text is whispered, one of the most beautiful I've ever come across with:

"I believed
If time passes, everything turns into beauty
If the rains stops,
tears clean the scars of memory away
Everything starts wearing fresh colors
Every sound begins playing a heartfelt melody
Jealousy embellishes a page of the epic
Desire is embraced in a dream
But my mind is still in chaos and..."

J

X Japan - Say Anything (Subtitles):