Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Things That Are Worthwhile


Don't you love the spunky Maureen O'Hara in her role as Mary Kate Danaher in the film The Quiet Man, demanding to have her "things" about her? I would venture to say that all of us can connect with the need to feel secure through our tangible possessions, especially now with the current economic conditions. God only knows how I adore my nest of "stuff" about me.

This topic sparked quite a lengthy conversation at the manor this past weekend. I think it's safe to say that most of us out there are in "hunker down" mode. The trickle down effect of the massive lay offs has effected all of us. Ms. Jane Doe loses her job. What does she do? She cuts back on the extras, like salon visits for her hair and nails, music lessons for the kids, entertainment and postpones the extra tweaking to the car. This in turn, takes its tole on the hairdresser, music teacher, the arts, and the local mechanic, and on and on. Yes,
it's scary times, indeed. Many out there are losing far more than just the "extras"; they are losing their homes, as well.

But is the sum of our life based solely on material possessions? Can money actually buy true happiness or a loving relationship? How can you put a price tag on a kind word, a moving melody, the scent of wet
earth in the spring air, or the love of a child? This brings to mind another great Maureen O'Hara movie moment from Miracle on 34th Street when Fred Gailey gives O'Hara's character, Doris, some heartfelt advice. You might recall my mention of it during the holidays, and it is surely applicable today.


Look Doris, someday you're going to find that your

way of facing this realistic world just doesn't work.
And when you do, don't overlook those lovely
intangibles. You'll discover those are the only things
that are worthwhile.

So, in keeping with this beautiful advice, we are honoring St. Patrick's Day at the manor by celebrating all those lovely, lovely intangibles. Kick up your heels with me, dear bloggy friends! A good Irish jig will bring a smile to your face! Kisses and cheer to all, be ye Irish or not!

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
~
traditional Irish blessing

70 comments:

  1. And a blessed day to you! Your blog is one of those lovely intangibles!

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  2. Applause, applause, applause! And as intangibles go, your spirit and perspective on what we must really treasure is near the top! What a great post to set the tone for the 17th! I have my these two DVD's by my TV for tomorrow! Love'em, love'em, love'em!! Erin go bragh!!

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  3. I remember appreciating your mention of those lovely intangibles, Willow. I think focussing on them especially in hard times helps to reinforce one's determination to get through. And somehow attracts better times too.

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  4. I keep your blog on Susie's Heart in my list of favorite blogs...I check a couple of times a day for updates...and I love it when I see you're sharing something new. As always...a most enjoyable visit. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
    Blessings, Susie

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  5. Very true. I find myself feeling very grateful for lots of things these days. Happy St Patrick's Day to you, Willow!

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  6. Lovely thoughts, Willow! We all have many lovely intangible for which to give thanks.

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  7. Here's to the 'lovely intangibles.' May we always be able to find them. A Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!

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  8. That very Irish blessing hung in my English grandmother's kitchen. One of the intengibles; love. Another; creativity. We will make it through these times, with love and creativity, and a bit o hard work....

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  9. Lovely post...lovely blessing. Enjoy your St Patrick's Day, Willow...Mary Ann

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  10. Yeah, thank God for lovely intangibles and those able to appreciate them.

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  11. The Quiet Man has always been my favorite movie...makes me laugh; and a Happy St. Pats to you...

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  12. Tis a fine line that we must walk.

    Happy St. Patricks's Day to you.

    Thank you for the video.

    God bless.

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  13. Willow,
    There's a pot-o-gold in them there words.
    rel

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  14. A very wise post, which doesn't deviate from its beauty, but very wise words indeed. Your opening paragraph was a very concise and eye-opening explanation of the butterfly effect which is affecting us all. Many thanks.

    Greetings from London.

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  15. The soft green background is so soothing and pretty.
    And a happy St. Patty's day to you too!
    I'm married to an Irish/Czech - so we sort of celebrate.
    love.

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  16. I came home from a very hectic day at work today.
    Your blog really lifted my spirits! Happy St. Patrick's Day to you too!

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  17. I blogged about this irish blessing too! :D

    We used to sing it in the choir back in college.

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  18. I think you got a thing for old stuff. Compared to the whiz and glamor of a UFO, the porch swings of yesterday look good to me too.

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  19. I love that old Irish Blessing. And in the theme of lovely intangibles, I'm enjoying sprucing up my nest.

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  20. Happy St. Paddy's day to you.

    And I just can not, will not, give up my manicures/pedicures. I'll cut corners elsewhere...

    PS I want that hat!

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  21. Yet another wonderful post...

    Have a great St. Patrick's Day, Willow!

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  22. Love the flick and love even ore Colconnan!! Top O the Mornin'

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  23. A friend who is a psychotherapist tells me she has been asking her clients to make lists of moments during the day when they are truly happy. Most of these moments do not involve spending money. Most of them center around time spent with people they love, interesting work that is well done, or time spent in nature.

    Recreating our way of life is of course chaotic and incredibly scary. Every person who walks through the door where I work is frightened. But we can't continue to live the way we have, consuming all the world's resources. And so things will re-align themselves.

    Unlike most folks, material things mean pretty much of nothing to me. I inherited nothing from my family, so I don't have any objects that hold family history. What I do value are good books, good food, and good company. That's about it.

    Sending love in the direction of you and your lovely nest of beautiful things. Happy St. Patrick's day!

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  24. HERE! HERE! and top of the day to ya! happy st. patty's day!!

    blessings,[irish or otherwise] :D
    Tracie

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  25. The Darby O'Gill clip is very cute. Oh and I see you're wearing green today.

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  26. Willow, Maureen O'Hara is another favourite...in any role. And you're right about the cutting back. I've had to do that the hard way. But I try to see a brighter side to it all :)

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  27. Maureen O'Hara always seemed to personify integrity, spunk, and enduring beauty..what a hero! Love her still!
    I will take the Irish blessing anytime, and return it to you.
    Have been jigging since dawn!

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  28. Ah, Willow, you came for the soda bread yesterday and missed the Irish Coffee Pie!

    I have never seen "Darby O'Gill - but for a few clips here and there. f"Finian's Rainbow" is another one that comes to mind (I haven't seen all of that one either). Have you seen, "Hear My Song"? That's a great one!
    "The Quiet Man" played regularly in our house. John Wayne did a fine job pitted against Maureen O'Sullivan's feisty character. It's a grand story!

    Love your green for the day. Hope you have a wonderful St. Paddy's!

    Kat

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  29. Hello Willow,

    Love the new green look! Hope the rafters are ringing at the manor.

    Happy St. P's Day to all of you.

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  30. As usual, you say it all with a few well chosen words.

    Love The Quiet Man, et al.

    Happy St. Patrick's Day.

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  31. I'm not sure I've seen the movie but I definitely like Maureen O'Hara!

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  32. You are wonderful and have brought a smile to my face! *clapping*

    We have also had the same conversation at out house. CNN this morning reported that women are spending less money on their "primping" ---and my first thought was 'duh.' I think they fail to realize how far it really does trickle down though. One way or another, we'll all get through this. I thank God every day that I have a job to go to and for the love around me. Material things are replaceable, but the happiness in my heart is PRICELESS.

    A great green day to you, my friend!

    Sarah

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  33. We used to sing the Irish Blessing in the university choir, it brings very special memories for me--very intangible :)

    By the way, I see that you have "Ryan's Daughter" in your netfix queue--it's a wonderful movie. For some reason they used to show it a lot on our national TV back home so I think I have seen it about half a dozen times but never got bored of it.

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  34. A beautiful post once again.....I am listening to the Celtic Women and enjoying this wonderful tease of a day in the 70's....I'll work in the garden and look for the fairies - hope you have a wonderful day

    Slainte !!

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  35. Oh, Darby O'gill and the Little People!! Such a favourite movie for me as a little girl!! Although...rather a bit o heresy for Scotsman Sean, I should think!

    Love your green celebratory colour, and outlook! Happy Day!

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  36. Many years ago I was told:
    "We spend the first half of our lives accumulating and the second half getting rid of it."
    I must say , I'm happy to be in the latter ..... JJjj

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  37. Happy St. Patrick's day Willow!Everything is as it should be:green!Have a great day!
    :)

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  38. Happy Saint Pattie's Day! Love your photos: both the self portraits and of your grandfather plowing-real!
    And the intangibles are our true riches, those are indeed the ones we take with us where ever we go- Salut du Midi!

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  39. Happy St Patricks Day me Willow and family....the Quiet Man......what a wonderful film.

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  40. Happy St Patrick's Day and congrats on what always proves to be a fine blog. Noticing your film recommendations I thought I might add one or two. Perhaps you could check out my blog -
    http://www.globalaroundtown.blogspot.com sometime for a few. Whatever you do, do not miss my favorite of the year Happy Go Lucky. Also Blindsight was absolutely amazing.

    Toodles,

    David

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  41. Always nice to chow down on some "green" fodder for the brain.

    Even when you don't have food, you have food!

    I like my things. But every once in awhile I don't want to see any "stuff." I go around and put up everything I worked so hard to arrange. And then I feel cleansed.

    In about a week it is all out again, just in other places.

    Nice post for any day of the week, Willow.

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  42. A thoughtful and thought-provoking post, Willow. And I always loved The Quiet Man.

    Happy St. Patrick's Day.

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  43. Coming in here a bit late I know Willow, Saint Patrick's Day has been and gone, but belated best wishes for this day of green. My grandmother's grandfather was Irish, a bit of an alcholic rogue he turned out to be, but Nan always wore a little enamelled shamrock on Saint Patrick's Day.It meant a lot to her. When she died, it was given to me, and I wear it with pride for her.

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  44. Willow, I see you snatched the widget - it's great, isn't it? I must confess, I snatched it myself - from Pat at Mille Fiori Favoriti.
    I know it's Maureen O'Hara, by the way. What was I thinking? I guess the reference to Meet Me In St. Louis threw me off.

    Kat

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  45. Thank you for making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside on day that is so hard on me.

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  46. I love this new banner. So artsy. You go Willow!

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  47. I realized recently that my love of spending my lunchtime parked by the woods has saved me a lot of money. Instead of spending my lunch hour shopping at all of the nearby stores, I read, draw or sleep. I return to work refreshed and my bank account is healthier as well. These are scary economic days. I hope they end soon.

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  48. yes, the intangibles - a choice to choose them above all else.

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  49. Hey Willow. Thank you for the kind words you left on my blog today. I hope all is well. Ta ta for now! cheers!

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  50. I think one of the greatest things in life is the ability to be grateful - it is just the sweetest feeling, letting oneself fall into a moment or two of gratefulness a few times of day.

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this subject, I truly enjoyed reading it.

    I just spent a few days with one of my daughters in the city which was home to me when I was her age. I felt so grateful being able to share my world with her, again.

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  51. The pinch dear Willow is felt everywhere, I just wish more people knew how to make a nourishing meal out of nearly nothing. Sometimes I bless WW11 and the following famine that tought me so much.

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  52. i loved that !!!

    very beautiful and so very true.

    XXX's

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  53. A couple of posts ago you were talking about the Irish connection to the land. Have you seen the film "The Field" with Richard Harris? It's an interesting portrayal of the dark side of land lust.

    A belated Happy St. Paddy's to you.

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  54. Yes,this is a time of adjustment for many and a time to understand what really matters. We must be thankful for all that we have and be willing to share more of our self!

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  55. I'm sorry, I got distracted by the attractive lady in a picture hat. Did I miss something?

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  56. Wonderful Melody Beattie quote on the side panel (I needed that), and you look GORRRRgeous. :)

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  57. MLou, several have mentioned "The Field" and I've got it queued up for my next Netflix watch! Thank you. Can't wait to see it.

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  58. I hope you enjoyed your jig.It's good to take the time to smell the roses.

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  59. I hate that downward spiral of economic woe . . . but I think that almost everyone would agree that we needed to reassess a lot of things. "Lovely intangibles" is a beautiful phrase.

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  60. Happy St. Patrick's Day! I hope it was a great one for you!

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  61. Maureen O'Hara's acting has always been spectacular; and, I just love that big hat.

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  62. The Irish believe in "charms" as in "a charmed life" in "Lucky charms".Simple Superstition! Not sure where Irish charm concept orginated, but material wealth and the "dowry" are mementos of the past. Things about the "woman" let The Quiet Man's woman (Maureen O'Hara)to remember her deceased mother and father, I believe. It isn't so much the material wealth, but rather the connection the "things" past and the joy things bring when it comes to having a connection or a "touchstone cairn" to the past. In this way, things makes life complete. However, I am thinking about going Feng Shui...not sure if I can, really. Addicted to The Waltons (70's tv show)these supposedly poor mountain folk had lace curtains and stained glass. Irish were poor dirt farmers. The accumulation of things could mean "social" climbing, or a perceived wealth. All these things are very important to the Irish, but mostly it is all about Love.

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  63. The Quiet Man. One of my favorite movies. Pappy

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  64. I do visit often, as I enjoy you and all at Willow Manor. I love St. Francis, This past year I read another book on his life, HUMBLE.
    I wish to thank you for opening a new blog for me to visit. Poetikat's Invisible Keepsakes,WOW
    Have a wonderful week, Please visit me, I have you on my site favs. Blessings, Brook

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  65. I do visit often, as I enjoy you and all at Willow Manor. I love St. Francis, This past year I read another book on his life, HUMBLE.
    I wish to thank you for opening a new blog for me to visit. Poetikat's Invisible Keepsakes,WOW
    Have a wonderful week, Please visit me, I have you on my site favs. Blessings, Brook

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  66. Very good reminder. I need to gather things around me as I really don't have anything that stays constant other than furniture!

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  67. What an uplifting post. I've missed you this past three weeks, Willow. It's so good to be back.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)