ruined: 107/365

by | Apr 29, 2015 | 1 true thing, memory | 12 comments

Well they’re not ruined... but that’s what it felt like at first.

Right after I wrote the post yesterday, I had all my books spread out around me–on the sofa, on the floor, on the table–and I went to put my computer down on the table, except, because the screen was up, I couldn’t see my glass of sparkling water and I knocked it over on several books.

Each time this happens, although my initial feeling is that since the books are no longer perfect, they’re ruined, I try to combat that feeling by memorizing everything about the moment.

I was in Provincetown, in my favorite place to stay, I’d just finished a manuscript revision, just finished writing a post. It was evening, the tide was coming in.

And then each time I pick up those books in the future, instead of thinking ruined, I remember the moment…

~

 365 true things about me
why this daily practice

12 Comments

    • cynthia
      cynthia on April 30, 2015 at 8:10 am

      Thanks, Loretta! Nice to hear from you.

      Reply
  2. helena sorensen
    helena sorensen on April 29, 2015 at 6:52 pm

    Brilliant re-set, Cynthia… and oh, such beautiful ‘watermarks’… 🙂

    Reply
    • cynthia
      cynthia on April 30, 2015 at 3:50 pm

      Thanks, Helena!

      Reply
  3. bkraine
    bkraine on April 29, 2015 at 8:45 pm

    That is inspired thinking. I have never been able to see beyond the ruin to the moment. I will try that next time.

    Reply
    • cynthia
      cynthia on April 30, 2015 at 3:57 pm

      BK, born of necessity. The spills and tears were killing me. I have actually bought new books because of it. Plus I was feeding the perfection monster. Now I’m making memories.

      Reply
  4. kcecelia
    kcecelia on April 30, 2015 at 1:25 am

    I love this idea. My therapist says when a group of people see an event, they report varied sincere truths based on their physical and emotional view; she suggested that I imagine moving to a different mental corner for a different view of a circumstance in my life giving me pause. That’s what you’re doing here. It’s a powerful change.

    Reply
    • cynthia
      cynthia on May 1, 2015 at 7:01 pm

      Thank you, Katherine. And I like the image of moving to a different mental corner.

      Reply
  5. KM Huber
    KM Huber on April 30, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    Oh, what a great idea! Ultimately, I do this but to re-frame or re-set in the moment–change the view as it were–is just brilliant! Thanks!
    Karen

    Reply
    • cynthia
      cynthia on May 1, 2015 at 7:04 pm

      Thanks, Karen. I was letting the marring ruin the moment, and it just seemed so stupid. So I needed to turn it around quickly.

      Reply
  6. Anne C.
    Anne C. on April 30, 2015 at 8:46 pm

    Perfect reframing. And that sounds like a wonderful moment to be summoned back to whenever you pick these books up again.

    Reply
    • cynthia
      cynthia on May 1, 2015 at 7:07 pm

      Thanks, Anne. My husband asked me what I would have done if it had happened in the dentist’s office : )

      Reply

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