'With and Alone' Now As A

1 2 With And Alone First Edition eBook: 03 October 2021 · Latest Edition: www.WithAndAlone.com Think This Today A reverse journal where a single thought is presented each day. With And Alone A thematic presentation of these ideas. Each thought is limited to five lines. I often write of beauty and love. You will come to know me through these words, but more importantly, as your mind rests briefly on the crumbs of language, something may resonate within you and encourage you to return. When I return in mind, calmly and at a different time, I deepen my understanding. The more I consider, the more I care, and as I care my actions change, more often for the better. Read from one thought to another, from back to front, or open a page and read whatever you find. I ponder on those things that are significance to me, that are personal, that inspire me, and on art, music, and with poetry. Apart from my artwork With and Alone that acts as an opening to this work, there are no images as my primary purpose here is to express my ideas using language. My thoughts often evolve as I return and try to improve them. Although I have completed a cycle of three years, my work is far from over. I fail to express myself well much of the time, and so my efforts continue to make what is said, better. Note the edition date above. I present this publication in two parts. The first Think This Today is a reverse journal where a single thought is presented for each day over a three year period. Reversing the order encourages me to think of time, my place, and my action within it. The second part and title of this publication With and Alone is a thematic presentation of the same thoughts and more that allow the reader to quickly locate and consider related ideas. The way I read, the context I read, changes how I read and come to understand. This work is free. You may save and distribute it, however this publication in part or whole may not be used for commercial gain. This work remains under copyright and is not released under a Creative Commons License. I hope you find something of value. Mike de Sousa www. artlover.vip All Content © 2021 Mike de Sousa 3 For you most rare, my thought for you... 1 Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind If the door is closed, like you, I wish to see inside. This urge to know, to explore and discover is at the heart of how I grow. There is danger in surprise, yet pleasure too. Whether the door is to the inner place of a person, or the outer space of the world, the door is made to keep things in or out, and I, like you, have the insatiable need to know what is not in sight, for there is where the greatest treasures of our lives unfold. I wish you well on your journey. 4 THINK THIS TODAY 5 THINK THIS TODAY Think This Today · Year Three My thoughts in time and place, of hope, what is, has been, and may become. YEAR THREE · DECEMBER 31 DECEMBER When Alone I marvel at these tiny differences of light I know as words. That such small things of little weight can move my life and love. That nations can be built or fall with them. That hope can dwell within them. I have the choice to read and write, and as I do I trust or turn away. Say or do not stay. I read and write in faith of fairer times, with passion for the earth, with chance to share my happiness, my sadness, wonder, love. When alone, as you are now in thought, what better else is there to do? YEAR THREE · 30 DECEMBER Heroism In the late 1870s a newly trained doctor set off by sea on the long journey from Portugal to North West India. A young woman also travelled who was to marry an older man, the Governor of the province. On their voyage the young met, fell in love, and married. In addition to his commercial practice and with the support of his new partner, the doctor offered his service freely to those who could not afford medical treatment. In 1889 the doctor died of cholera treating the poor. My great grandparents: my heroes. YEAR THREE · 29 DECEMBER Art and Simplicity The beauty of things of significance made for the eye, ear, and hand, is that not only do they appeal to my intellect, they touch my heart. The length of a word, the shape of a phrase, its tone and colour intermingles with what is meant, intended, or thought to mean. Beauty in art is a union of things I feel and think. As kindness is to love, beauty is most powerfully expressed simply, as when things are known and felt like the words: the warmth of sun on skin. 6 THINK THIS TODAY YEAR THREE · 28 DECEMBER My Hidden Voice Words are unlike anything else I know. As I write words I hear them in my mind, yet so very differently than when I speak them. I read the following, silently, then whisper the same: I keep this to myself, these words are mine alone. When read by mind they are shaped by meaning, when said out loud, they are coloured by my voice: its texture and force, by a person: declared, made new, made known, beyond idea alone. YEAR THREE · 27 DECEMBER How Long Does Love Last? I think of someone I loved when I first met them: their kindness, openness, their smile. At first my love appeared to ease with the ebb and flow of our parting, yet as time moved on, my love for them, who I have not seen for so long, lives on. As I treasure my love, all those I love, have loved, my love remains. Love bound by a person may be anywhere between a breath, and a lifetime. Love of art, music, and ideas may last longer still. How long love lasts may be of choice, and for some, a matter of their nature. YEAR THREE · 26 DECEMBER For Person, Place, and Idea When I undertake something, I do so for person, place, and idea. Take my intention of being somewhere at a particular time. I is the person, where is the place, and the idea is when. My obligation to person (whether myself or someone else), place (wherever this be), and idea (what I intend) is for me a matter of trust, honour, and respect. I do not lightly say I will to anything. Love is no different. To love I need the person that is the focus of my love. The place: where I do, have, or hope to love. The idea: how I love. 7 THINK THIS TODAY YEAR THREE · 25 DECEMBER Bubble Wrap I complete an image that reminds me to reuse packaging materials I receive. Bubble wrap protects, yet also harms. I easily forget the future of a thing. With 'Bubble Wrap' I wrap the image 'Winter' with a poem. Together, they tell of my relationship with nature and those I love. Bubble: the first word my son spoke. Wrap: to cover, enclose, to complete. YEAR THREE · 24 DECEMBER It Is Not Enough To Understand The volcano Anak Krakatau erupts. Many die. Many more are left injured and homeless. The tragedy is far, far away from me. I have no relatives, friends, nor people I know at risk. It is not enough that I understand. To act I must feel. To feel I must care through stories, pictures, words and sound. Whether small or great, near or far, acts of kindness cause my feelings to awake. To be kind is to feel then act beyond myself. It is the I that holds my kindness back. YEAR THREE · 23 DECEMBER With Words I Cannot Tell This day, each month, I set aside time to remember a moment of beauty a friend shared with me. They spoke of their experience of walking through woods, and how the trees above swayed in the high wind. With shy hesitancy they told me, quietly, how they were moved to tears. The beauty of that moment was to hear another feel as I. With love, much remains unsaid. With words the sway of trees subside. 8 THINK THIS TODAY YEAR THREE · 22 DECEMBER My Next Is Always More · The Same Is True For You The more I do or experience something, the greater my change. With art, the more I see, the more I touch or listen, the more intensely I come to see, touch, listen. With people, the more someone acts positively or negatively, the more I view them so. My history of a thing or person leads to how I come to feel. Ever smaller triggers ignite the flames of my dis/interest. My next is always more. My feelings form as much by what has passed as what may come. YEAR THREE · 21 DECEMBER On This Our Shortest Day At certain times of year, its end, I contact you, politely, not too frequently, too earnestly, for if I push the slightest bit too hard you say no more, you turn away. You make me better, good, well. In life I love, and those I love remain within. I contact you to share my love, not driven by desire, but for the sake of love. I love on this our shortest day, through longest night I love, alone, and with.

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