Writing daily
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
I am told that I make light of things - well, don’t we all? Sometimes people accuse me of trivialising problems. I don’t. I just compartmentalise them and look for a lighter tone to carry me through. That’s along the lines of, ‘Laugh, and the world laughs with you, Weep, and you weep alone,’ and I’d rather not weep, thank you.
I do have an errant sense of humour, which is not always appropriate, I suppose.
My writing is entirely selfish. I do it to keep myself on an even keel and not let events overwhelm me. It takes me away from miseries I would rather not dwell on that would make the lives of everyone around me (that would be Barry!) miserable, too. As well as my blog, I keep a daily journal.
I wondered about the origin of ‘Laugh and the world laughs with you.’ The lines are from this poem by the American author and poet, Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919).
I find things hilarious at the most perfectly wrong times.
ReplyDeleteRather that than permanent gloom and despondency.
DeleteI write for myself too. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd finding the ironic or comedic is a way of navigating life's highs-and-lows.
The poem is terrific.
ReplyDeleteI can't recall you making light of anything serious. Perhaps I take what you write as the way I am meant to take it.
I liked the poem, too.
DeleteI read to keep my peace of mind, blogs and books, fiction only, stuff that takes me away to other places for a while. I've never kept a journal, I think for me it would be a useless endeavour.
ReplyDeleteYou write so well, though, that I would have thought you would write elsewhere.
DeleteMy daily handwritten journal is entirely for myself. The dog blog was originally conceived as an antidote to the straightjacket of writing up a PhD thesis in the approved scientific style. Nobby does attempt to entertain (and occasionally inform) his readers!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
Nobby's interventions are always entertaining. 🐶
DeleteI like the way you write.
ReplyDeleteSomething I read yesterday evening reminded me of the need to lighten up a bit, life is short, sometimes sad, making the most of any positives helps. (Not wanting to sound like Pollyanna 😀 )
Alison in Wales x
Pollyanna could be a little irritating, it's true, but there's nearly always room for amusement. 😁😂🤣
DeleteYou write such interesting blog posts, informative and accessible with just the right touch of lightness so they are never boring.
ReplyDeleteDon't change.
Ooh, thank you kindly. Too long in the tooth to change, really . . . 😎😟
DeleteI write for myself, but more like a journal, and I'm amazed people pop over to read (probably only some of it), I look forward to your post, they can be thought provoking which is good for my aging brain, or they bring back loads of memories. Be yourself, we love it.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's so kind, thank you. I enjoy your blog posts. - they are a good way to record events in your life.
DeleteI think we all write for ourselves, and our own sanity. I feel I've achieved something when I do, and not if I don't, although I don't post as often as most.
ReplyDeleteIt's always interesting to see how other people think and what they're involved in. What may seem mundane to a writer could be life-enhancing for a reader.
DeleteTesting can I comment, as blogger didn't allow me to yesterday?
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Isn't it annoying when Blogger does that?
DeleteSo far so good, will come back later to catch up with yesterdays and todays post.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Let's hope the gremlins stay away.
DeleteI write my little posts because it is a very small and somewhat creative outlet. It also puts me in touch with just a little bit of our great big world. Or is it a small world after all?
ReplyDeleteIt does seem as if the world shrinks sometimes.
DeleteIt's so true that the happiness in someone's life is more under one's control than we think. My blog is a kind of journal. Since I tend to be a glass half empty person, keeping a happy and grateful atmosphere in my blog helps me with that.
ReplyDeleteWell, you're certainly succeeding, because you don't come across as a glass half-empty person.
DeleteFalling down the rabbit hole of stress and frustration while taking care of two elderly parents, one with Alzheimer's and one with dementia, I learned you had to laugh or you'd drive yourself crazy.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, that's a burden for anyone to carry.
DeleteI have written daily for at least 30 years - cursive 21 books full of the stuff. You are so right about its contribution to an 'even keel'. How dare anyone decide you make light if they don't have full picture/the entire day/context... Every subject is just one thing in isolation
ReplyDeleteYour 21 books must make interesting reading and a good record of events, personal, private, public.
DeleteI'm back and thank goodness the gremlins seem to have stayed away!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the link to the poem which I enjoyed reading.
I always enjoy my visits to your blog.
You always have variety, and make it a nice place to visit :)
All the best Jan
I'm so glad the gremlins have departed. The trouble is, we never know when they'll visit again. 😎
ReplyDeleteI'm the same and have become a pro at compartmentalising over the years :-) And I too find that writing helps keep things in perspective. My daily journal has become essential! xxx
ReplyDeleteIt can be quite a calming activity.😇
ReplyDeleteYes, I write to clear my head, and my sense of humour doesn't always go down well - especially in my old church . . .
ReplyDeleteReligion shouldn't be grim and po-faced - it puts people off!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this poem. I don't think I have read all of it before.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you write, Janice and always enjoy visiting.
Thank you, Bev. 😀
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