Friday, January 6, 2017

Cherishment ~ Celebrate 2017 (One)



Each week Ruth Ayres extends an invitation to share our celebrations. 

Photo by Leslie Ann


My one little world for this year has many dimensions to it.  I have such big plans in 2017 for this word.  One of them is celebrating the people who help me to rise, and who have influenced and inspired my writing life.  One of those people is Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche.

When I visit her small space in the world and read her words, I stand in awe of her brilliance as a writer.  Her words give me hope; they bring me joy; they encourage and inspire me, and they allow me to rise as a person and as a writer. 

As I was reading about her one little word, cherish, I was once again reminded of the impact her words have had on me since I have "met" her.  I told her that her words give me "cherishment" - a step above inspiration.  

But it is so much more than that.

Inspiration is creating a positive or creative feeling in someone. 

But "cherishment" is when you feel a movement, a stirring that is so deep, it can only be felt with the soul. 

I know I am not the only one who cherishes Margaret's words.  I took comments  from her readers and weaved them together in this celebration poem.

Cherishment

You are magical
born to weave words
a master of inspiration 
we are your benefactors

your care and attention you bring to life
capture the joy
awaken my senses

your sentimental ways
your desire to help others
tells a story of your heart

I am in awe of your way with words
you give your words so freely and abundantly
you teach us too, with your gentle example
your “Melody” fills my spirit

magic is always here
the world will be better
for your poetry is in it

Thank you Margaret, for feeding us and nourishing us through your words.

24 comments:

  1. This is beautiful. What a testament to Margaret and the lasting impact she has on people around the globe. May we all rise a little higher because of your poem and the cherishment of Margaret.

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  2. I am moved to tears, real tears, the kind that stream down your face. I always hope that my words inspire, but to actually have a whole post written in my honor is just above and beyond. To make a poem from the comments is incredibly thoughtful. We must meet in 2017 and have a good long hug! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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  3. Such beautiful and true words! We are all better because of Margaret! I just love that you took this time and space to honor her. ❤️

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  4. Beautiful. Margaret is someone to cherish. You, however, have your own magic way with words.

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  5. Leigh Anne, I love how you crafted this post to lift up Margaret! What a beautiful tribute to a lovely woman, teacher, and friend! You are certainly RISING this year, my friend!

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  6. A wonderful tribute to a beautiful lifter-upper. Look at you rising already!

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  7. Leigh Anne, this is the most beautiful tribute to Margaret. I am moved by your way of not only cherishing her, but in your own beautiful spirit in lifting others as well. You have inspired me.

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  8. Leigh Anne, you did an outstanding job of creating a celebration post for one of our friends of whom we cherish. When Margaret said that she cried real tears of joy I could imagine that moment when she opened your post. It is within a circle of friends that we can appreciate each other's gifts and how they impact our lives. You not only provided Margaret with an uplifting moment but all of us as well. And so your voice has risen today.

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  9. A beautiful tribute to a gorgeous soul!!

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  10. Using your own word, 'rise' to give tribute to others is a wonderful thing, Leigh Anne. Margaret's posts keep me ever inspired, and we are fortunate she is in our community. Beautiful post.

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  11. Lovely .... and shows the power of personal connections in this crazy, mixed-up, media-saturated world ...

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  12. Margaret is one of my heroes. Her love and generous spirit seem boundless. Thank you for writing what many feel.

    And I love your word. I feel we are like cousins this year with our one little words.

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  13. What a wonderful cherishment of a stellar member of our community. Margaret's words never fail to give rise to good things. And your tribute is lovely!

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  14. What a beautiful gift to show someone how much you appreciate them!

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  15. You captured my thoughts as I read through so many posts. I am so thankful to be apart of the community that celebrates our colleagues especially Margaret. Thank you Leigh Anne.

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  16. Your gratitude rises high and shines far. Beautiful.

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  17. What a wonderful and magical tribute!

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  18. I'm still glowing in the reflection of all these comments and hope you, Leigh Anne, are feeling the love, too. It's all we need, you know.

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  19. Love the way you felt yourself rise with your OLW, and the way you wove those comments into something very special.

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  20. Cherishment may just be my new favorite word Leigh Anne. I too am in love with Margaret's beautiful writing... and now yours as well!

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  21. What a wonderful celebration, Leigh Anne! I love your tribute to Margaret. I agree,"[w]hen I visit her small space in the world and read her words, I stand in awe of her brilliance as a writer." You did well weaving the words of others to craft your celebration poem!

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  22. I've always found so much to appreciate and enjoy in Margaret's writing, and there's so much beauty in your tribute, Leigh Anne. There's the beauty of your giving thanks and appreciation, the words you wove together to do so, the gift of your poem, and then the comments that reinforce the connections of this wonderful community. Your rising clearly lifts us all.

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  23. Thank you for honoring our friend Margaret. Your blog and hers, indeed all of ours, are testament to the positive power of not just words, but sharing and acting on those words. We must always remember the positive when we begin to make sense of the negative. Acknowledging and showing the powerful positives of our online connections help to overcome the negative; "We rise when we lift others." Let's do more lifting-- lots of it-- for all the good and kindnesses we see. Thanks for starting that here. You've made hearts sing.

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  24. Oh, my goodness, Leigh Anne! This is gorgeous, and what a lovely creation you made sifting though comments on Margaret's blog. I think of handmade gifts as the ultimate, but this is heartmade!

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