Patricia Sands

Author

August McLachlan

She Walks In Beauty ~ Beauty Of A Woman Blogfest

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Last year August McLachlan had an idea that seems to be growing into a movement in 2013 … a strong, positive, brilliant celebration of what it is to be a woman. I’m proud to be a part of it.

boaw-2013

Make a note to spend some time over on August’s blog to find links to the posts that are being contributed this year. Click right here to get started! It is so much fun, so meaningful … and even powerful … to see the variety of perspectives that come together in this extraordinary collection from women and men.

In my post last year, I mentioned how the aging process  sneaks up on us and how important it is to celebrate every day, wrinkles and all! I also talked about the pleasures of being a grandmother and how I think it is our joyful duty to help our grandchildren grow up in a world that is moving forward with equality for everyone, regardless of gender. Everyone should feel beautiful, male or female.

8747308This year I want to introduce you to She Walks In Beauty, a book described as “ a priceless resource for anyone, male or female, who wants a deeper understanding and appreciation of what it means to be a woman.” Compiled and edited by Caroline Kennedy and published in 2011, this diverse collection of poetry contains selections from the Bible and Shakespeare to contemporary selections.

The first time I heard of the book was when I saw Caroline Kennedy on The Colbert Report discussing (?) poetry with Stephen Colbert. Very cool!

This fine anthology examines many of the stages most of us experience: falling in love; making love; breaking up; marriage; love itself; work; beauty, clothes, and things of this world; motherhood; silence and solitude; growing up and growing old; death and grief; friendship; how to live.

Each selection was personally chosen by Kennedy. Each section is prefaced by her insightful reflections and at times she shares intimate family memories.

I slowly enjoyed this excellent assortment of poems over a period of time, liking some and not caring for others. That’s how words are, right? They don’t all hit the spot in the same way with each of us. However I felt one constant throughout:  the older we get, the more comfortable we are with the notion that our beauty comes from within. This is a book to be savoured at your leisure and many times over.

I was reminded more than once of the words of Kahlil Gibran ~ Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.

She Walks in Beauty makes a fabulous gift for any woman, any time. It’s beautiful! And you are beautiful! Remind yourself of that every single day.

Here’s a taste of what awaits you. This poem lends its title to the book and is found at the beginning.

She Walks in Beauty

BY LORD BYRON (GEORGE GORDON)

She walks in beauty, like the night
   Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
   Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
   Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
   Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
   Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
   How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
   So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
   But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
   A heart whose love is innocent!

Feeling slightly homicidal …

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I’m attempting to resist distractions like golf, grandchildren, and fabulous friends who are too interesting and/or too much fun to ignore. The reason? REVISIONS! As Stephen King would say, “kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.” His “On Writing:A Memoir Of The Craft” is one of my bibles.

Oh the pain, the agony! It gets messy at times! Trust me folks, it’s not easy deleting and reworking characters and scenes I thought were brilliantly, wonderfully, and abso-frickin’-lutely vital to the story. But that was just me …

I want to have my next novel published by the end of October *palpitations starting … body heat increasing … urge to eat chocolate almost overpowering* so I absolutely have to stay focused. I know all of this murderous behaviour wil only make the story better.

I have a talented, experienced, editor whose opinion I trust and respect. We worked together on the content edit of The Bridge Club  and his guidance is stellar … often difficult to force myself to follow … but stellar! And, yes, I did say “he”… half my age, devoted father of a toddler, who somehow gets what I like to write. I feel very fortunate that he is also available to meet or discuss a point as I know that’s an option not always easy to find.

Okay … I could go on … but my point is this. I MUST stick to my plan today. My Tuesday golf game was rained out and my dinner tonight with my bestie rescheduled. My husband is out of the country for ten days with our youngest son. I have no excuse but to have at least a week of super-productive writing and that means shutting down the social media to a minimum … or I’m in trouble, as it’s the biggest time-suck going!

I’m going to send you instead to Jenny Hansen’s blog which has one of THE most amazing collections of links about writing I’ve seen in a very long time. If writing is a topic that doesn’t call to you at the moment, there are other fab options. So do it … please … click right here and start visiting or bookmarking.

One of the awesome posts Jenny includes is August McLachlan’s “Plotting, Pantser, or Plantser:Finding What Makes You Tick”. I’ve always admitted I’m heavy on the pantser side of things but August, brilliant as usual, offers a compromise. Where do you fit?

Oh, and be sure to check out the always-entertaining Tameri Etherton’s post on self-hosting your own blog which also includes terrific links.

If you are a travel junkie like I am and have been following my posts about Drew and Christine Gilbert‘s documentary The Wireless Generation, take a few minutes to read this recent interview with Christine. All the links are also there for other information you might want to see about this creative, adventurous couple and the choices many people are making about taking their work with them as they travel the globe. As a senior *gulp*, I totally embrace the possibility. Would you?

Natalie Hartford, besides keeping her readers in stitches about topics most of us wouldn’t dare touch, is one of the most vocal advocates for the campaign against drinking and driving. Her family’s personal experience will touch your heart and hopefully encourage you to spread the word.

See what I mean? I could be on here all day just pointing you to other great spots to stop. As always, the blog roll down the side of my page here offers a wealth of fine reading. Alright … I’m outa here … see you Friday!