Worth The Read

Worth the read.

Barely the day started and... it's already six in the evening.

Barely arrived on Monday and it's already Friday.

... and the month is already over.

... and the year is almost over.

... and already 40, 50 or 60 years of our lives have passed.

... and we realize that we lost our parents, friends.

and we realize it's too late to go back...

So... Let's try, despite everything, to enjoy the remaining time...

Let's keep looking for activities that we like...

Let's put some color in our grey...

Let's smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.

And despite everything, we must continue to enjoy with serenity this time we have left. Let's try to eliminate the afters...

I'm doing it after...

I'll say after...

I'll think about it after...

We leave everything for later like ′′ after ′′ is ours.

Because what we don't understand is that:

Afterwards, the coffee gets cold...

afterwards, priorities change...

Afterwards, the charm is broken...

afterwards, health passes...

Afterwards, the kids grow up...

Afterwards parents get old...

Afterwards, promises are forgotten...

afterwards, the day becomes the night...

afterwards life ends...

And then it's often too late....

So... Let's leave nothing for later...

Because still waiting see you later, we can lose the best moments,

the best experiences,

best friends,

the best family...

The day is today... The moment is now...

We are no longer at the age where we can afford to postpone what needs to be done right away. ~I have no clue who the original author of this is.

BEAR & RABBIT HUGS ~Collection

“Sometimes,” said Bear, “a hug feels like it’s mending all your broken pieces back together again.”

©Tara Shannon, 2022

“Memories don’t always last…” said Rabbit, “and it’s so hard to watch my loved ones forget…”

“Memories do sometimes fade, or seem lost or muddled, it’s true,” said Bear, “but your memories remain… And when you share them… the stories, the music, the momentos and the feelings… you might be helping to create a path for your loved ones to find you again for a time, brief though it may be.

But even if they don’t, they will still feel the love and kindness you give to them when you’re together, and that matters most of all.”

©Tara Shannon

“Never forget,“ said Bear, "despite your fears, your sadness and your uncertainties… you kept going.”

©Tara Shannon, 2022

“Make a wish,” said Bear.

“It’s just a weed,” said Rabbit, “It doesn’t grant wishes.”

“Who says it’s just a weed?” asked Bear.

“Everyone.,” replied Rabbit.

“If everyone said you were something that you are not, would it be true?” asked Bear.

“No,” said Rabbit.

“Well then, is it possible that a dandelion can be more than just a weed?” asked Bear.

Rabbit thought about this while looking closer at the plant. It was intricate and lovely, with shades of buttery yellow when in full bloom that faded into soft white before dispersing on the breeze like a kind of snow.

“Maybe I was wrong,” said Rabbit.

“I think you might be right,” said Bear.

©Tara Shannon

“What’s empathy?” asked Rabbit. 

“It’s the ability to meet someone— anyone — at a point in their journey, with understanding,” said Bear… “All the while keeping in mind that we can never really know what it’s like to be someone else.”

(T. Shannon)

"My life is so boring and ordinary." said Rabbit.

"How so?" asked Bear.

"It's the same thing every day."

"... You mean you wake up and see the sun rise, eat some clover, watch the birds and butterflies fly about, and fall asleep beneath the moon and stars?" asked Bear.

"Yes." said Rabbit.

"That sounds like no ordinary magic to me." said Bear.

©Tara Shannon

“I came back to find you.” said Rabbit, to their younger self. “Everything is going to be okay. You think it’s all your fault... but it’s not.”

©Tara Shannon

“What if my wish never comes true?” asked Rabbit.

“Don't worry yourself about that.” said Bear. “Make yourself so busy with life that you forget about it.”

“What's the point of making a wish then?” asked Rabbit.

“Because a wish can bring a sense of hope to a difficult time.” said Bear. “By saying your wish out loud or with conviction in your heart, you’re giving it life. And while you're out there living, your wish is there, conspiring in the background to come true.”

“But what if it still doesn’t come true?” Rabbit asked again.

“Well,” said Bear, “hopefully a long time from now you'll remember your wish and trace its journey through all your life's experiences; the ups and downs, the places you went, the people you met and how you grew. In the end maybe you’ll discover that that exact wish didn’t come true...”

“That’s sad to think about.” Rabbit interrupted.

“Is it?” asked Bear. “What if that wish was just the start of a journey to something even better? To destinations and possibilities, you never could have imagined? Life isn’t a straight path; it has many twists and turns and side journeys. While that exact wish might not come true, many others might in its place, bringing you right where you’re meant to be.”

©Tara Shannon

“There’s an ache you feel in your heart,” said Bear, “when you lose someone you have truly loved…”

“It feels like the ground beneath you has fallen away.” said Rabbit.

“Yes,” said Bear, “it feels just like that.”

©Tara Shannon, 2022

"There's nothing like the pain of being misunderstood." said Rabbit. "...That feeling when no matter what you say, your voice will not be heard, simply because hearts have hardened to it and refuse to hear it."

"And then to carry on despite that." said Bear. "That takes great strength, and courage."

"But it still hurts." said Rabbit.

"Of course it does. That's because your heart is not hard... try to keep it that way." said Bear. "Keep your heart soft in this world full of so much pain.

You never know who you might save because of it."

©Tara Shannon

"We often look at clouds, hoping that they'll soon pass," said Bear, "and they will... but before they do, watch them."

"Why?" asked Rabbit.

"Because like everything in nature, in life, they have a story to tell." said Bear. "Stories that are being forgotten."

"Like what?" asked Rabbit.

"The ever changing story of the earth and sky." said Bear. "They reveal their expressions and moods and predict the future."

"Magic..." said Rabbit.

"Yes." said Bear.

"...and when there are no clouds in the sky?" asked Rabbit.

"Look to the sun, moon and stars." said Bear.

"...and if one looks like a balloon?' asked Rabbit.

"Grab hold of its string," said Bear, "and let your imagination soar."

©Tara Shannon

Barefoot on fresh cut grass, early in the morning.

The dew glistening like diamonds as far as the eyes can see.

A symphony of crickets and a cacophony of birds greet this slow but steady new day.

There's beauty and hope on the warm breeze -- can you feel it?

Can you taste the memories that begin to flow?

Taking you back to a time that,

though now faded by the sun,

was perfect

and timeless;

seemingly endless.

You wish that you could go back.

But you can't.

So, soak it in -- the sun, the scent of the grass, the crickets and the birds and the dew on your feet.

It's medicine and it's magic.

And ever so dreamily you begin to wonder if they can be bottled and stored?

No, not really... but you can write them down,

these thoughts and feelings and memories that clamor at the garden gate of your mind

Hurry though and capture them

before they're gone.

They're galloping toward the fields at the back of the house.

Ready to launch and soar away into the afternoon sky.

Gone again for another day,

when your memories and senses may offer up something new

and possibly not quite so sweet.

***

"What are you going to do if you catch one?" asked Bear.

"Ask it how much darkness it had to go through before it was able to shine so bright." said Rabbit.

©Tara Shannon, 2020

#rabbitandbear #stars #memories #life #magic

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BEAR & RABBIT CHATS~Uncertainty,Hope,Change

"There's so much uncertainty." said Bear.

"What should we do?" asked Rabbit.

"There's no one answer." replied Bear.

"I know what to do." said Rabbit. "I'll make tea."

"How does that help?" asked Bear.

"It won't, not really. Only for a moment maybe. But in that moment we can catch our breath."

"And after that?" asked Bear.

"We'll think about that when we get there." said Rabbit.

©Tara Shannon, 2020

"Memories are magic." said Bear.

"I think they're sad." said Rabbit. "How can something sad, be magic?"

"Not all memories are sad. Some are happy and full of love." replied Bear.

"But they're still memories. They're gone, and that's sad." said Rabbit.

"Sad is if they never existed." said Bear. "Memories are proof that those we've loved existed. We can make them appear whenever we need them. That's magic."

“Where can I find hope?" asked Rabbit.

“It’s always there,” said Bear, “waiting to be found. But a good time to find it is at night.”

“Really?” asked Rabbit.

“Yes.” said Bear. “It’s there, nestled amongst the stars, in the form of a promise.”

“A promise of what?” asked Rabbit.

“A new day.” replied Bear.

©Tara Shannon

"I'm afraid of change." said Rabbit. "I wish I could just hide until things are the way they used to be."

"I understand." said Bear. "But change comes whether we want it to or not. It's better to face it."

"Okay..." said Rabbit, uncertain.

"Remember." said Bear. "I'm here with you. You're not alone."

©Tara Shannon, 2020

“Everything isn’t fine.” said Rabbit.

“You’re right, it’s not,” said Bear,

“but somehow we’re going to make it through.”

©Tara Shannon, 2022

“Anxiety doesn’t make sense.” said Rabbit.

“Sometimes it comes out of nowhere when things are good.”

“That must feel scary and uncomfortable.” said Bear.

“It does.” said Rabbit. “At least now I recognize it for what it is and can try to cope.”

“Like taking deep breaths and listening to the birds sing?” asked Bear.

“Yes,” said Rabbit, “but the best, is like now,

when I can just sit and be with you.”

©Tara Shannon, 2022

“I want to do more to help.” said Rabbit. “But we’re so far away.”

“Start here, right now.” said Bear.

“We can’t fix everything everywhere, but we can improve things right where we are. And, if everyone does the same, right where they are… imagine how wonderful the world could be.”

©Tara Shannon, 2022

To just be...

"What's resilience?" asked Rabbit.

"It's getting back up when something knocks you down." said Bear.

"So, it's good to be resilient." said Rabbit.

"It is," said Bear, "but after a while it wears you down and you find yourself wishing you could be something else."

"Like what?" asked Rabbit.

"To just be," said Bear, "for a little while anyways."

©Tara Shannon, 2021

My story (like all of our stories) has taken me many places. Some wonderful, some not so wonderful.

...It hasn't been easy but I own my story.

Sadly, there have been some who couldn't (or wouldn't) continue the journey with me for one reason or another and it's been difficult to lose them. Maybe we'll meet again at some point, maybe we won't. I can't make them understand me in the way I want them to. I can only keep moving forward, living my life -- and writing my story -- as best I can.

***

“Others will open your book to whatever chapter, page, sentence or word they happen to land on.” said Bear. “You can’t make them read your whole book... all you can do is keep writing your story.”

©Tara Shannon, 2021

“What if?” asked Rabbit.

“Don’t waste your time on, ‘what if?’” said Bear.

“What is, is far more important.”

©Tara Shannon

"We are so different." said Rabbit.

"Yes." said Bear. "But our hearts still beat the same."

©Tara Shannon, 2020

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.” said Bear.

“And don’t forget a cup of tea.” said Rabbit.

“Ah yes,” said Bear, “and a good hot cup of tea.”

©Tara Shannon -- inspired by an #irishproverb

With every moment that passes

Every phase of the moon

Sunrise and sunset

There is hope

Look for it

Feel it

Breathe it in

Gives it time

“What seems impossible today may seem less so tomorrow.” said Bear. “Give it time.”

©Tara Shannon, 2021

 WHO IS TARA SHANNON?

"I have ADHD and autism, and utilize writing and drawing to process my thoughts and feelings about different things, including my own mental health and grief following the loss of my parents, a pregnancy, and my fears over a cancer diagnosis, and my late in life diagnosis with autism/adhd. I try to simplify my thoughts and feelings, making them visual and into a kind of small story. This process has brought me (and now others) comfort and greater understanding of myself and the world around me."

“You’re doing great.” said Bear.

“That’s all anyone can do… should do.

No worries about yesterday

or tomorrow. Just today.

Keep going.”

©Tara Shannon (updated from an image created in 2020)