I’m sitting here, in the comfiest place on earth - my bed (actually its just a mattress on the floor – long story), the house is silent and there are no distractions. I’m just waiting for the creative juices to start flowing so that I can write the most inspirational and breath taking words for you… creativity doesn't work on a timetable unfortunately. My fingers are tapping nervously and I feel the pressure - I am writing my FIRST EVER blog post!!! I’m so excited but at the same time so nervous.
I’ve wanted to start a blog for many years, but something always got in the way and there was always a reason not to. Finally, in March 2018, I’ve aligned myself with the universe (or has the universe aligned with me?) and all is in place. I’m ready to commit to recording my journey and sharing it with the world - with you.
It’s not been easy mind you, particularly the technical part, over the last few months I’ve learnt more about programming than I ever knew before. By nature I am completely technologically illiterate – imagine the “stereotype” of the lady crying and freaking out because her computer won’t switch on and she thinks its broken, but actually its just not plugged - well that’s me, we do exist. But that was another era (actually it was a couple of weeks ago) and this is now. I now consider myself to be a technical wizarding genius (look out Bill Gates, here I come). Did you know that slugs are not just slimy freakish creatures that you find in the garden? Did you know that they exist in your computer? Did you know that they're important for creating a blog page? Well until last week I bloody well didn’t!!
The title of this post “Make it so” comes from one of my favourite series, Star Trek the Next Generation. It was one of the signature phrases of Captain Jean Luc Picard whose mission was to “explore new worlds” and “boldly go where no man has gone before”. Now I know this may sound a bit dramatic, but I truly feel that I too am embarking upon a new adventure into a completely unknown world.
One of the things that was really important for me when I first began working on this blog, was that I wanted it to be unique and beautiful - a work of art. I’m not really into using stock images or pinching other people’s photos from the internet… not really my scene. I wanted it to be personal and to bring together my love of art, nature and writing. So, all of the artwork you find on this site is original and unique. The main pieces, from the stunning bird on the home page, to all of the title pages, were hand printed and created by my incredibly talented artist and friend. As I post up new images, I’ll let you know where they come from. The image in this post is a photograph I took of a painting gifted to me by my sons fencing instructor (who is also an amazing artist). He painted it recently when holidaying on an island off the French coast, and I see in this painting an unending horizon of potential, of what may be.
The truth is that I was (and to a certain extent still am) brimming with uncertainty, and my mind is full of doubts - will I write well enough? Will they like it? Will it be interesting/intelligent/funny/relevant? Will I sound silly? My overactive imagination has been swinging between two pendulums, on the one hand, I have images of receiving adoring accolades and international recognition (I can dream can’t I?), and on the other hand I have images of this blog being a complete failure.
Ultimately however, how can I even measure success and failure when my commitment is simply to record my truth and to be real? So, in this, my first ever post, which I nervously present to you dear reader, I say - I am humbled and grateful. Humbled and grateful that life has guided me to this point and allowed me to be where I am and do what I do. Humbled and grateful that you have taken the time to be here and share my process. Humbled and grateful that I have a place where my heart can sing, a place where you will hear my authentic voice and, if you feel like joining me, we can sing together.
With gratitude,
Your friend,
BB