BY JOELLEN COLLINS
I am preparing my house for some guests by cleaning out closets, an activity that does not contribute to serenity. I thought about the word while finding some items in a space where I keep my fabrics, writing, teaching, art materials, and anything else I can cram in.
I came across a coverlet I made many years ago during a difficult time. Probably because my mother always used her hands sewing or knitting, or even darning socks (a lost, frugal practice), I modeled her admonition, “Idle hands are the devil’s playthings.” In order to start healing from that particular trauma, I began sewing some counted cross-stitch images of spring flowers. Each time I finished one, I looked at the bright blooms and thought about how vibrant colors gave me joy. I decided to add a positive noun stitched on the bottom of each one. Serenity was the result.
Now I studied my choice of words then and was surprised that I probably would choose the same nouns if I created this piece today. Here are the 16 words that reflect my consideration of the most important forces in life: Imagination, Light, Courage, Grace, Loyalty, Friendship, Love, Passion, Adventure, Serenity, Simplicity, Freedom, Wisdom, Laughter, Beauty and Hope. If I asked my friends to list theirs, it would be interesting to see which of them we share, which ones are unique to that individual’s life and experience, in which order of importance we would place them, and which one defines the most essential quality of a successful, loving, creative, or other kind of life we would choose. For example, I have maintained that having a sense of humor is the prime requisite for a happy marriage. If I truly believe that, then of course I would find a person whose other values reflected my selections, and in order to achieve that, I would be with someone with similar life skills, able to laugh with each other from our shared viewpoints.
Writing them down and then talking to someone else about the words we choose might provide a beautiful and meaningful exchange. For example, in studying my list now as an older woman, some words were not in my earlier list that I might wish to include: Honesty or Integrity, or Compassion and Generosity. I am wondering which ones I would replace: I can’t imagine any excision. I do have one thought. My “new words” may reflect some on my living a life where I have encountered a few betrayals, hence the first two words, and the last two are words I have come to admire more and more as I live in a community that, blessedly, for the most part, embodies those ideals.
As a writer, I have always tried for the use of strong nouns and verbs. Perhaps it is time for me to think once again about how certain verbal combinations of letters (ah, the poet in me) have proven useful in trying to live my life by their meanings and connotations.
I’d love to see your lists.