I Want A Peace Of That #thoughtpiece

Posted on Feb 4, 2019 by TanGental
2015-12-19 21.56.10

We sat in front of this strange fire at a party tonight, our backs warmer than our fronts. Everything back to front…

As I look out into my garden I see evidence of what exactly? Life? Renewal? Climate change? It’s winter here in the UK and everything should be shut down. The earth should be frost-solid, the greens limited to the muscular evergreens, not daffodils and fushias. The lawn has already had a mow and pond skaters play chicken with the birds who’ve given up on all the hassle of migration and settled in for an unlikely early spring break.

I know there has to be a price. Cicadian rhythms demand we renew at night. Nature does the same over winter allowing time off from fecundity and fertility. Without a pause, there will be consequences. Not this year perhaps, or next. But diseases will not be killed off, stocking up strength will not happen.

I went shopping on Tuesday and dropped off a key to be cut. ‘Pop back when you’ve finished,’ the man said. I was only going to be gone an hour. But I only remembered today. Senior moment, maybe. But I’m not alone in needing my brain to be defragged to create more memory space.

In the run up to Christmas the operative word is ‘run’. Maybe, these days we should say sprint up or bolt up. It’s talked of as a holiday time but pretty much all one hears is rush and stress and more rush.

We cram. It starts so young what with play dates and one o’clock clubs where our little treasures are given sensory overloads and constant unremitting stimulation. We are all at it. Even the garden. Constant activity.

The world of humans is turbulent and we watch as lives tumble and twist seemingly out of control. We talk about wishing for peace, in the sense of an absence of conflict. But my wish is for a peace too, but in the sense of an absence of activity.  It’s what we all need.

 

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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24 Responses to I Want A Peace Of That #thoughtpiece

  1. derrickjknight says:
    Feb 4, 2019 at 1:58 pm

    Most profound, Geoff. I am so grateful that I do not have young children of my own to guide

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Mick Canning says:
    Feb 4, 2019 at 2:07 pm

    We do, indeed.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. noelleg44 says:
    Feb 4, 2019 at 2:23 pm

    Wonderful observation, Geoff. I’m with you 100% – now to find the time!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Ritu says:
    Feb 4, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    Very thought provoking 💜

    Liked by 1 person

  5. willowdot21 says:
    Feb 4, 2019 at 4:58 pm

    It’s not going to happen Geoff. Be big and brave and keep on plodding…. Or blogging or both even 😁💜

    Liked by 1 person

  6. thecontentedcrafter says:
    Feb 4, 2019 at 5:30 pm

    You are so right! But we need to find it within ourselves, not look for it from someone or somewhere else. If we all lived in touch with our own sense of peace, would that not affect our world?

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Elizabeth says:
    Feb 4, 2019 at 7:42 pm

    I never realized that I took normal climate for granted. We have gone from 0 degrees to 50 degrees in three days. Very disconcerting.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Charli Mills says:
    Feb 5, 2019 at 4:23 am

    We do need that kind of peace, a respite from activity, downtime, winter.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Widdershins says:
    Feb 5, 2019 at 11:53 pm

    Peace, as in the presence of stillness. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Molly Stevens - Shallow Reflections says:
    Feb 6, 2019 at 11:27 am

    Yes, Geoff! Well said. We all need downtime in whatever season we are experiencing. That’s why God made observing the sabbath a commandment – right up there with ‘do not murder.’ We are wired to rest and not enough of that is happening in our world today. I’m doing my part!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Gary A Wilson says:
    Feb 17, 2019 at 2:46 am

    I recall I think, when I could stack interrupted tasks like a computer and work my way back through them. Sadly this old computer has taken to dropping almost any interrupted task by magically marking it done, leaving me with half done chores. Where does one buy the needed upgrades?

    Liked by 1 person

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