November 27, 2010

the art of longing (27/30)

there is an art to longing ... my friend mellie and i have discussed this.  longing is something different than the regular dreaming.  it takes on a life of its own and can move towards an ache - either in the heart or the stomach when we long for too long.  longing is the shy-er cousin of dreaming.  where dreaming are those things we hope for and work to make true... longing are those dreams that we dare not make come true.  they are the secret wishes of something that can swept us away from the life we are leading. 

i long for things that i can't whisper to myself (except in the dark of my room, late...late...late at night).  the dreams of say - taking off for a trip around the world with just my camera, a few books and whatever else an intrepid modern day margaret bourke white might carry in her backpack.  longings are the things that i feel that i've grown too responsible for...to old to do ... or too poor.  and (pish...pish) i know if that was truly a dream i would fight to make it happen.  so is longing a fear....or a crutch?

i say no... i say that longing in this way is a way to allow ourselves to take magical adventures.  a way to take the dreams we have for a test drive before planning the plans of action.  when dreams manifest, you can bet longing had a hand in that manifestation. longing is the beginning of the promise that dreams urge you to keep.  promises that you are scared to hope for....promises that secretly nudge at you until hope finally wins. do you long?  do you laugh them away?  does longing make you feel as though you settled?  longing makes me feel alive and as long as i yearn, i know that i will continue to dream.  and as long as i dream...i'm alive.

today's gratitude - i am thankful for the ability to long - to yearn - to dream magical dreams.  and as i long, i take the time make plans for dreams to become actions.  longing allows my practical side to take flight and roam free.  it is a beautiful time.

today on my i-pod - fly me courageous (drivin' n cryin'), desire (u2), here comes the sun (the beatles), building a mystery (sarah mclachlan), i wonder (chris isaak), beautiful (india arie)

14 comments:

  1. I must be careful with longing...as for me it can turn into obsession... I am getting over longing and it almost broke me to pieces. I think I will stick to dreaming :)

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  2. I try to stay away from longing and dreaming.
    Most of my life is behind me now...and longing never seemed to work for me. If I wanted something I just went and worked till I had the money to get it. Nothing has ever come easy for me.

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  3. I think dreaming is a normal and healthy thing to do. Without dreams, would we ever take the risks that lead to the best parts of our lives? How would we move forward or take the next step if we had nothing to walk toward? I am a thorough advocate of dreaming.

    xo Erin

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  4. oh I so understand this ..I love the way you describe it char

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  5. Longing.... dreaming of the attainable, yes I think I've longed, then dreamed, to finally make things come true! Nice post.

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  6. I love this. The words longing and ache go together very well.

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  7. beautiful. Hope you are having a wonderful holiday weekend.

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  8. Cool black and white photo! I've never thought about the difference of longing and dreaming. Good thoughts.

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  9. Right now those "promises I hope for" seem far, far away . . . still longing.

    Thanks for the post,
    Karon

    http://anewlifeunleashed.blogspot.com/

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  10. Wonderfully written, Char. Beautiful photograph.

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  11. oh wow....i've never thought it about it this way before. but longing i think can get me into trouble...fixated....obesessed...sucking the life out of me....i think i'm just a dreamer....for now :)

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  12. This is such a beautifully written post Char! Longing and yearning mean aching to me...and yes it is part of living...

    I have absolutely loved every single one of your gratitude posts!

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  13. Without our dreams and yearning...we would have nothing to look forward to...no goals. So I'm living the dream! Or at least attempting to.

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  14. Beautiful words, Char. I hadn't thought of the differences, but I see them now. Longing tends to bring a bit of heartache, me thinks. But it's my favorite when longing turns into a dream. :)

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i feel as if each comment was between us as we sat and sipped something warm....i love to hear what you're thinking.