Jana Remy
  • Writing
    • Disability
    • Making History
    • Digital Humanities
      • dayofDH
    • Canoeing
    • Creative Nonfiction & Essays
    • Feminism
    • Bibliographies
      • Pacific Worlds Bibliography
    • Social Media
      • Mentions/Links
  • Scholarship
    • Awards/Fellowships
    • Conferences & Invited Talks
    • Collaboration
    • Workshops
    • Conference Planning
    • Technical Skills
  • Teaching
    • Blogposts About Teaching

Jana Remy

  • Writing
    • Disability
    • Making History
    • Digital Humanities
      • dayofDH
    • Canoeing
    • Creative Nonfiction & Essays
    • Feminism
    • Bibliographies
      • Pacific Worlds Bibliography
    • Social Media
      • Mentions/Links
  • Scholarship
    • Awards/Fellowships
    • Conferences & Invited Talks
    • Collaboration
    • Workshops
    • Conference Planning
    • Technical Skills
  • Teaching
    • Blogposts About Teaching
this one’s for you
gardenworld

this one’s for you

written by Jana June 29, 2007

daisy yellows, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

I look at this petite little daisy and I see the strength of one. In a sea of people we sometimes wonder if one person can ‘make a difference’, or if we really even matter at all. But I think we do, each of us!

I’ve been thinking a lot about SL’s post , which was a riff on an earlier post of mine. I think we both struggle with wanting to know what our place is in changing this world.

For me, lately, I have come to understand that I should be simple-minded in my efforts. I may not come up with a world-wide program for combating disease. I may not be a Paul Farmer or a Dorothy Day. But I can take pictures of flowers, and grow vegetables, and give a kind word. I can aim to have a welcoming home, where all can join in the simple pleasures of a good meal. I often play piano concertos on my record player and eat fine chocolate and hold a purring kitty on my lap. It’s all good.

In speaking of the women’s suffrage movement, Alice Paul wrote:

“I always feel the movement is a sort of mosaic. Each of us puts in one little stone, and then you get a great mosaic at the end.”

My efforts are my own little stone and I like thinking that they are a part of something bigger and grander than myself. Like one blossom in a meadow-full of flowers. :)

Share this:

  • Share
  • Email
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Print
3 comments
0
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Jana

previous post
color
next post
gem

More Posts Like This One

amendment

you, too?

movie

most recklessly

for peace…

memories apart…

threads of memories

Corona Diary: Crap Day

arbor

to travel well…

3 comments

Brooke June 29, 2007 - 4:38 pm

I love that photo. And something encouraging to think about. Thanks, Jana.

Reply
catBonny June 29, 2007 - 6:43 pm

Jana: I just want to tell you how very much I appreciate this post and the idea that the simple things that we do can be a good part of a much bigger picture that includes kindness and good will.

I meditate on this idea a lot when I start finding my mind wandering into questioning/guilty places that cause me to think I am not doing enough to change the world.

And yet, I somehow always come back to the idea that it must be the little things that part of something much bigger. The simple things- just like you said.

I think what I am trying to say is that I feel like this post says something that I have felt, but have not been able to articulate for a long time, and I thank you for that.

Reply
SL June 29, 2007 - 6:43 pm

Oh Jana you always have the most wonderful material on your blog. Thank you. I like the idea of finding my own pebble to contribute. And I guess it’s okay that I’m still deciding what color it is or what shape it is or even if it’s really tiny and rough. The mosaic needs it, or else there’s a hole somewhere.

I think your contributions are incredible and so inspiring.

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me

About Me

Hi there friend, and welcome to my blog. I started writing on the internet two decades ago. Since then I've started and finished a PhD program, left the Mormon church and became a Quaker, got divorced, remarried, found full-time work in academia, took up rock climbing and outrigger canoeing, and traveled across the globe (China! Belgium! Italy! Chicago! Montana! Portland! Gettysburg! and oh-so-many points in-between). This blog is eclectic and random--it has poetry and cooking and books. And cats. And flowers. And the ocean (my ocean). But in that sense it's a good reflection of me and my wide-ranging, far-reaching, magpie curiosity.

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog.

Popular

  • 1

    A Room of My Own

    December 4, 2017
  • 2

    the post-post divorce Christmas celebration

    November 28, 2017
  • 3

    Reader, I married him

    March 22, 2017
  • 4

    open

    December 21, 2017
  • Ellycat

    January 2, 2019

Categories

Archives

Popular Posts

  • 1

    A Room of My Own

    December 4, 2017
  • 2

    the post-post divorce Christmas celebration

    November 28, 2017
  • 3

    Reader, I married him

    March 22, 2017

Calendar

June 2007
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930  
« May   Jul »
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Flickr

@2017 - PenciDesign. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by PenciDesign


Back To Top