A thoughtful blog reader told me she was concerned about my sometimes raging battles with trolls and annoying or intrusive people. She said the blog was a “place of creativity and gentle warmth.” I loved that description; that’s precisely what I want the blog to me.
I’ve gotten closer than ever before and am confident I will get there.
I am not close to being a perfect human, and I cannot always be creative, gentle, or warm. I want the refuge to be a refuge from the chaos and anger outside, but not a hiding place. I would make a lousy ostrich.
About four billion people have access to the blog now (most never see it); it has created a new and challenging climate for people like me to work in, especially when I am so deadset on being open about my life.
Although I often stumble and fail, this challenge has been good for me, making me more patient, forgiving, and empathetic than before. I am making progress, and I am doing better all the time.
I love the idea of the blog serving as a place of creativity and gentle warmth. I will work hard to make that happen.
Somehow, the flowers have helped me along this path. I don’t know how, but they are changing my life.
I might even live long enough to get there. But I’ll never stop trying, And I’ll never accept being told who I am or what I am by strangers or told what to write and who to be by people I don’t know (or even people I do know.)
People sometimes tell me I can be nasty and ill-tempered, and I know this is true. I also know I’m a pretty good person as far as pretty good people go. I reject other people’s labeling of me.
This is an important time for me, a time of learning, growth, and positive change. I am healthier than I have been in many years and happier than ever. I must be doing something right.
I thank you all for hanging in there with me as I continue to learn how to be a better person and share the journey with you. I am working hard on a spiritual life; the point of a spiritual life is not to be a perfect Angel, thank God, but to keep trying to be a better human.
I’ve got a shot at that. Thanks for coming along.
Being gentle and warm is a choice……….
Ooh, beautiful peony!
Hi Jon: I really enjoy reading the blog as it strives to be place of ‘creativity and gentle warmth’. And also by your writing of giving to others (the Mansion, Bishop McGinn and the Army of Good)…your example helps a lot of us to keep on trying to be better human beings. Thank you.
Thanks “B” read the kit from Joan C thanks so much for the books and the signatures and the letters I’m going to write about them tonight.
Thanks to you Jon.
Jon, I love all your flower pictures, but the peonies recently are especially beautiful. I’m so glad you can grow them there. I tried so hard to grow them in my yard over several years, but middle Georgia is just too far south – they simply do not do well here at all. But at least I can enjoy your pictures. Thanks so much for all your “creativity and gentle warmth.”
I’ve really enjoyed everything you’ve shared from flowers to authors, dogs to donkeys. I have learned a lot, so I have benefited.
I think it’s always best to be true to oneself, and you are that. You hang on the line as it is! You and Maria are wonderful people!
Thank you
Thank you for the blog! It’s perfect!
Your blog is certainly a haven of truth and creativity, especially with the flower photos. More than anything, you are true to yourself, a positive accomplishment in itself, for many others are not. They’re the ones who try to bring others down to their level. You simply don’t allow them to succeed. Good for you!
Thanks, Georgeann, a wonderful message…means a lot..