Lines rule the World

Posted on by Miriam

Nothing in life is straight forward, not completely anyway.  Maybe that’s why I have such a fascination with jetties and piers and bridges over water.

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I love the way they stretch out into the unknown.  And underneath lies a whole other world, one we can’t see but only imagine.  They’re straight, often not perfect, like a ruler that’s been moved on the page yet with so many different angles to it.

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The spaced lines in a jetty and the straight angles of a pier are hypnotic. Just like the view at the end.  We’ve strolled along some of the longest jetties in Australia, down straight lines that felt like they were heading into nowhere land.

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That’s how I feel about my life lately.  Going straight yet wavering.  In nowhere land. And I often question where I’m going, especially when the waters are choppy underneath.  I know when I get to the end I have to turn back. But I often second guess myself in my direction.

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It’s not easy to change, to move forward purposefully.  I think fear holds me back

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Sometimes I wish I was stronger, like this bridge.  It’s so solid. So safe and definite.

All I need to do, I tell myself, is hang on.  And feel the strength of my own conviction.  Like the firmness and flexibility of this bridge, which opens up to let vessels through.

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Perhaps it’s fear of the unknown.  Not knowing where I’m heading.  And of failing.

But as much as I fear the unknown what I fear more is not taking any chances.  And staying in the same place.  I know I need to take steps forward.  To have faith and follow those lines.  They won’t always be straight, they’ll veer off course.  But I have to move.

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Whether we look up or down, left or right, the lines in our world are always there, they’re part of our road map.   And I know, eventually, I’ll reach where I need to be.

But maybe I’ve already arrived.  And I don’t even realise it. This place of purpose is within me.  I just have to believe in it, in myself and what I’m capable of.

I know if I do a whole new world will open up.  Like it has in the past.

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Like it did in Sydney a couple of years ago.  There we were on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, surrounded by the iconic landmarks of the city and the majesty of the cruise ship that docked.   All around me was vibrant life, excitement and anticipation.

I want to recapture that feeling.  And I know I can.

It’s up to me, and only me, to embrace my life.  Lines and obstacles might rule the world but it’s my choice how I want to use that ruler.  How to define my life.  The lines have faded a bit but I want them back, stronger, marking my life with purpose.

This is my post for  Frank’s Tuesday Photo Challenge on Lines over at Dutch goes the Photo. and also for Nurturing Thursday at “On Dragonfly wings with Buttercup Tea.

May we all live life to the fullest, laugh hard, love even harder and dare to dream of what lies underneath all those lines.

109 thoughts on “Lines rule the World”

  13. Great jetty shots, Miriam, and I like the analogies. Conviction and purpose aren’t easy things to get a grip on. I think you’re doing a grand job. You’ll get there 🙂 🙂

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  17. Gorgeous photos as always. My favorite is the third. The words are inspiring, too. I hope you are better at putting them into your life better than I am! Fear certainly holds me back. I haven’t figured out how to overcome that. I think I might be like the walkway over the water to nowhere… or that rope bridge Indiana Jones cuts in half in the 2nd Indiana Jones movie. 😀

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        4. But a panic attack is possible if I look! Honestly, I don’t know that for sure… I might be okay. 🙂 But I was traumatized at the Empire State Building when I was a kid. Okay, traumatized is a bit of a strong word… but I didn’t want to be so close the edge, no matter how big, strong, safe the railing/windows were. But my parents held my hand and took me to right up to the window anyway. They wanted me to see the view. Now I’m so afraid of heights I don’t even like standing on a stool! 😀

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        5. Oh wow, I had no idea. Well, they say sometimes the best way to conquer your fears is to face them … but maybe a helicopter flight or Indiana Jones tightrope bridge might be a bit extreme … maybe you could just start by trying to tackle a stool! 🙂

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        6. I’ll do the stool…or a chair.. but I get nervous. I cannot go to the attic. I can pull down the stairs and anxiously climb up. But once up there, I cannot climb down. One time, I decided I could do it… and no one was home. I ended up sitting up there for a full 30 minutes trying to convince myself I could make it down. I finally did, but I haven’t been up there since! I think that was over 6 months ago… 😀

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        12. 🙂 Perhaps a little treat with that coffee. I have such a craving right now for something sweet and light and flaky. (Not describing myself… but I guess at times, that could be me!) I need a trip to the bakery. Well, I most definitely don’t “need” it… I just want it lots. 🙂

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        14. Ooh, that’s what I need… dark chocolate, wrapped in pastry dough… baked and melty… yum. I think I’m going grocery shopping tomorrow. (I suppose I should wait to see if someone comes through with a birthday cake for me on Saturday first…)

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        15. Ooh, it’s nearly here isn’t it? I’d bake you the biggest most wicked chocolate indulgence and hand deliver it straight to your door if I could. 🙂

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        16. Yes… I’m finally going to be 29! Hahahhaa! 😀

          Oh, the cake… I know you would! Because you’re so sweet. Unfortunately, I’d eat the whole thing. Well, after you had some. And my son… he loves anything chocolate… yeah, I guess I’d have to share! 🙂

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      1. Miri, I don’t think you realize how many people you can help/ encourage by your beautiful perspective of what matters in life. Your thinking aloud has the ability to reach others on similar journeys. I just LOVE that you write with everything you are.

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        1. What a beautiful thing to say Jess. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said “your thinking aloud”. That’s what I feel half the time when I’m writing, like it’s just my thoughts pouring out on paper. Almost like a release. I hope it helps others xo

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  22. I was reading through and kept nodding my head thinking, ‘exactly’. Having gone through a whole lot myself, I tend to find it hard to be optimistic for myself. But, I’ve started doing so and it’s so freeing. It’s scary but freeing. I’ve a long way to go and sometimes I see life slipping by… but I will continue to fight for positivity till my last breath.I do not want to die a frightened, negative soul. 🙂 Posts like these just encourage me further on. Thank you for that 🙂

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  23. Yes, jetties and piers always hold a sense of adventure — maybe there’s nothing more at the moment, but it feels as if there might be at any time! Thanks for sharing this post with Nurturing Thursday. 🙂

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  26. You are right: it isn’t always easy to move forward purposefully, but I think you should be proud that you have found the strength to do it! The journey may not always be a straight line, but one way or another, you are traveling in the right direction. (And your photos are lovely, as usual!)

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    1. Thanks Ann and yes, I do feel as though I’m heading in the right direction, even though sometimes it feels like it’s one step forward two steps back. Have a great weekend Ann.

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  30. You know, those piers really are mesmerizing. It’s like they’re saying, ‘Come, walk on me, it’ll be like walking into forever.”

    Yes, you are stronger than you know! I have so much faith in you! I know that what you’re looking to achieve and accomplish, you can and you will. You have such a willingness to step out in faith, even if you don’t fully realize it yet, but you do. You will find what it is you’re seeking, and I have a sneaking suspicion that when you do, you’ll wonder how you didn’t see it before. 🙂 ❤

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    1. Your comment made me tear up Ness. Bless your beautiful heart. I hope you’re right. Sometimes I doubt myself so much. I truly feel like I’m just drifting through my days at the moment, like I’m in some sort of limbo. Heavy sigh. Just have to keep believing something will guide me forwards. Thank you for your faith in me. Hugs to you my friend. ♥ ♡ xo

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      1. No tears, only smiles, remember? 😀

        It occured to me earlier that you are seeking something, but I suspect you don’t yet know specifically what it is. For some weird reason, I feel like telling you, it’s right there, look under the rock. I wondered perhaps if there is a burden you are carrying, a private one of course, because you wouldn’t share such things on a public blog. But I feel like telling you that it’s okay to let it go now. Once you do, you’ll find the purpose you’re looking for.

        If that makes sense to you, yay! If not, then at least we’re in it together, lol. 😀 *hugs* Love you sweetheart!

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        1. How is it that you know me so well Ness? Your words cut to the core. Yes, there is a burden I’m carrying, a huge one that is extremely private and it’s tearing me up inside. But I’m not sure that it’s that easy to let go. But I have to believe that everything will work out. Thank you so much for your friendship and support. It means the world to me. xo

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  33. These pictures are great interpretation of the line challenge, as well as just being fantastic photos. I love piers as well, just staring down them, it’s like you could walk off the end of it and fall into another world of possibilities. All your problems would left behind for the wind to scatter. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Glad you could resonate with the pier shots Steve. They’ve always held a fascination for me. Thanks for your kind words. Hope you and Nikki enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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  34. Your vice is jetties, mine are old bridges. I dunno what it is but something about them just Intrigue’s me.

    Alas you seem to better capture the intrigue than I can. Great photos Miriam

    Cheers

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  36. A thought provoking piece and fabulous photos, thanks Miriam. It made me think of children for some reason. They rarely go in straight lines, they hop and skip along with a smile on their face. They go outside the lines and weave their way taking longer to get there but there’s usually joy on their face and excitement in their eyes. Perhaps we should forget about what’s waiting at the end of a straight line and sometimes just hop and skip and weave our way .. xx

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    1. Oh, I absolutely love that idea. Thank you for creating such a lovely visual picture. I must admit every now and then I get the urge to skip, and, though I don’t do it very often, when I do I feel as light and innocent as a child! Nice way to be. Have a great week 🙂

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  38. I love geometrical lines or figures in pictures, and with lines you have the feeling that the scene is not ending where the picture ends, but way beyond.
    Have a great day!
    Greta

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  39. Pingback: Tuesday Photo Challenge – Round-Up 8 – Dutch goes the Photo!
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