Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Art of Living


“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling
of letting go and holding on.”

Quotation: Havelock Ellis
Painting: Ride, Don McAfee

21 comments:

Reya Mellicker said...

Love the synchronicity of your quote today. I am a big Havelock Ellis fan, so - even better.

Let's definitely have a coffee or something when you're here in May, if you have time. That would be so fun.

Email me if you're interested, ok?
reyasdottir@verizon.net.

Khaled KEM said...

Thanks for introducing Havelock Ellis to me peggy.
I am impressed with your blog and your posts and I do not know how I missed it?!

Peggy said...

Reya, I'd love to meet you for coffee while I'm in DC in early May! I'll email you once we get our plans made!

Khaled, welcome! Thank you so much for stopping by.

Joanne said...

What an amazing photo, custom made for the quote.

Peggy said...

Joanne, I've always had a visual of this kind of carnival ride when I heard references to hanging on and letting go. I ran across this great painting by Don McAfee a few weeks ago and tucked it away in my notebook, knowing exactly what kind of quote I was looking for! Don't you just love it when things come together like that?! :)

Meri said...

Joanne's right, it's an amazing combination of quote-o and photo. The quote sent my mind racing, thinking of where hanging on is necessary and where letting go is the only sane option.

By the way, dear book lover, yesterday I bought Sea of Poppies;
America, America; Sing Them Home, the new novel by Stephanie Kallos; The Girl With No Shadow by Joanne Harris; and one other. Obviously my upper respiratory virus is telling me it's time to cuddle up with books.

Peggy said...

Meri! Your book list is almost enough to make me wish for a virus myself... although I rarely need an excuse to read! Cuddle up, get lost in your books, and I hope you're feeling right as rain soon.

Unknown said...

Hello Peggy,

I also like this picture and the clouds! I have been on this type of fair ride and it is exhilarating! I'm not sure we could take life if it were always like this though!

Cynthia Pittmann said...

I absolutely love the photo quote combination! Clever and insightful, Peggy.

Tess Kincaid said...

The balance of letting go and holding on is often so difficult on so many levels. Especially in relating to adult children. I love this painting!!

Tom Atkins said...

The quote is perfect, and oh so true!

Bee said...

I feel like I don't have anything new to add to the comments (was going to mention synchronicity of fab photo and quote; was going to mention how the quote relates to the "art" of raising teenagers) . . .

Wonderful!

julie king said...

ah yes, that is the real battle isn't it? to know when to hold on tight and when to relax and just let it go. i find that challenge much, much easier at my age and i'm loving it so much!!

delightful painting!

take care!

Peggy said...

Kat, how funny that these rides always scared me, too!

Derrick, I agree. We couldn't sustain the exhilaration! Hope the weather on your holiday is cooperating!

Cynthia, it's so nice to see you again!

Willow, do you know what? I wasn't even thinking of my young-adult son and daughter; I was thinking of personal issues I'm grappling with. But you're absolutely right about the balance when dealing with older children. Thank you for that insight.

Peggy said...

Tom, it's nice to meet you. I'll drop into your blog later this evening to return the visit!

Bee, isn't it nice to be reminded that we have so many kindred spirits in Blogdom? Sometimes we bring a new insight and sometimes the same chord is struck in all of us. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :-)

Julie, I think you're right about this getting easier. As an "older" mom of a seven-year-old boy, this is a whole lot easier. I'm picking my battles and making sure of the more important things.

Elizabeth said...

A wonderful quote - and something to ponder.

Babette Fraser Hale said...

A fine combination of art and words. No one said the art of living would be easy, did they?

Peggy said...

Elizabeth, I love ponderable things! And there are so many things I can apply this to in my life. I'm sure that's probably true of all of us. Thanks for stopping by!

Bdogs, it's so nice to see you again. Your words are so true, and there are those who never master the art of it. I keep plugging away... :-)

Anonymous said...

You did it again, Peggy. You get an A in reading comprehension! I, too, was thinking, as I read the words, that fine-tuned mingling fits with parenting as well as living in general.

Funny thing, my comment pop up screen is just the size to cut off part of the photo and part of the quote. What I see in the cut down version is 'art of living lies' which fits as well, since truth and lies have to often mingle.

thanks

Anonymous said...

Love that painting to pieces, and perfect choice of a quote to match. I went on that ride at the fair when I was pregnant. Sounds like a recipe for barfing, right? But it was so much fun. Great post!

Peggy said...

Chelsea, while pregnant! You are brave! Loved your comment. :)

Kat, I'm back from the circus! Did you miss me?! :D