There’s a certain glimmer around the edges of the world when my imagination comes to life. I love that feeling. It’s wonder and curiosity, and a sort of child-like hopefulness about what’s to come. As a writer, it’s a well that I dip into whenever I can. But the feeling is also like a temperamental houseplant––fragile and eager to shrivel up on itself with the slightest provocation. So, I hunt for ways to keep that tiny, trembling sparkle of wonder alive.
I often find help in books, music, and nature. Today, I’m sharing a few quotes that hold some of that wondrous sparkle for me. Maybe they will for you too.
“Look at that sea, girls–all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen. We couldn’t enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds.” Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables
“It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass.” Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings
“You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die. A spider’s life can’t help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.”
Charlotte the spider, Charlotte’s Web
I’d love to hear about the places you find bits of glittering joy and wonder.
Summer Rachel Short 