Saturday, August 31, 2013

T. H. I. N. K.

Way back in 2011 I posted the photo (below) of me taken in my senior year along with a poem I came across in a box of old high school memorabilia.


Today as I was sifting through old posts' on La Bella Vie I came across a disturbing comment in that particular post with a time stamp of June 8th, 2012.

The poem in the post had been written on a very yellowed with age piece of binder paper which was more than likely pulled out of my "Pee-Chee" folder we carried around back in 1975. 
The handwriting in my own script, was all cute and flowing with lots of little curlicues. It looked exactly like what a 17 year old girls' penmanship would look like. But truthfully I really had no recollection as to where those written words came from on the little yellow piece of paper.

Did I write them in English lit. class or maybe my writing and poetry class, did I hear it in a song or read them in a book? I didn't really know or recall, but since it was in my own hand I was sure I had to have written it and it was never a priority to research it, it was just five lines from a young girls' past.

The poem itself also looked exactly like what a 17 year old girl might write in high school in 1975. It was moody and emotional and could have easily been written either before, during or after some "traumatic break-up" with whatever high school jock I was dating at the time.
As time marched on, that little piece of paper was tucked away in my little box of memories for safe keeping. 
Fast forward to 2011 when I came across that little piece of paper again with that poem during a very tumultuous time in my life and posted it along with the picture [above] never thinking twice about its origin, just that it seemed as appropriate that day as it did thirty six years prior.

Today as I was sifting through comments a person by the name of "Anonymous" (I'm confident I know who "Anonymous" is) left a comment informing me the poem was from the song, "Conversation Love song" by Roberta Flack. Then "Anonymous" proceeded to post the full lyrics and the copyright date of 1973. The comment appeared as if "Anonymous" was accusing me of stealing the words when in reality, a 17 year old girl jotted down something that a 55 year old women had no recollection as to where it came from!

So the whole point of this post is for when "Anonymous" does go trolling and lurking again (and she will) she will see what my intent was which was not stealing! For the record anything I have ever posted, a photo, a poem, a song lyric, anything that belongs to someone else or is copyrighted material, I have always given credit for in my blog.

Thankfully because of my own moral compass, I would never, ever take credit for another person's work knowingly.
Oh and just for the record, if I have something to say or a point to make, I have the courage to use my given name and not hide behind a fictitious name like "Anonymous". 

I still have that little yellowed with age piece of paper written by a teenage girl from 38 years ago with those few lines of what I now know to be song lyrics. 
But as of today that post has been omitted. Not because of a mean-spirited person that cowardly goes by the name "Anonymous" but because my life today is so richly blessed in a way I could never have imagined and there is no need to have dark shadows lingering where there is now lightness and joy...

I'll end this by simply leaving you with something a dear friend shared with me. It's an Acronym that we could all be reminded of;

T. H. I. N. K. is it Thoughtful or Truth, is it Helpful, is it Inspiring, is it Necessary, is it Kind?

7 comments:

  1. You know my sweet....it is a tough lesson when one is climbing to heights that others will never see, that Anonymous lurks there just looking for the right opportunity to shake you down. I have come across a couple of these kind. I do thank them for making me humble and know I have made such an impact that they would even comment...even if it is anonymous.
    Happiness can never be purchased...YOU come across as such a happy lady, I was told very early in life. Those who do HURL, for a better word, are really very unhappy individuals. They want so much to make others unhappy to match their sadness, they do terrible things....So you just get back on that ladder my sweet and shine as bright as you are..

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    1. Dear Madame Samm, You are very kind and I thank you for commenting in such a sweet and thought-provoking manner. Please stop by again, I promise my next post will be more of what I've actually been up to lately and believe me its nothing like what this post has been about :)

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  2. Hi Terry! I just caught your post today which is amazing because I've pretty much stopped blogging. There are so many "haters" out there that waste precious time of life on negative thoughts. I know for sure, I would never remember something I did from high school IF I could even find it!! I hope you are doing well and keeping busy. Life has gone on here with two boys now in college and me working almost full time. I would love to get back to projects but haven't found the time yet.

    Take care and keep marching on!

    Bonnie

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  3. Oh Terry! I can't believe the things people can take issue over. Snarky people are unhappy within themselves and it spills over.

    I sooo remember 17 and the absolute heartache of breakups - feeling like the world was crashing down. Tears that wouldn't end. Words of sorrow, no matter where started, were just the expression of how you felt.

    I rarely hit blogging these days but I'm so glad I saw this post. You are so kind and sweet. Don't take the words of Anonymous to heart.

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    1. Thank you Marla, You are so sweet and I hope all is well with you my Oregon friend!

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  4. Mean Anonymous people suck! Yes, I said it!!!

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    1. Love it Kathryn and yes you are so right girl, thank you for your honest opinion my sweet friend I couldn't have said it better myself!
      :)

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A penny for your thoughts...