I think one remains the same person throughout, merely passing, as it were, in these lapses of time from one room to another, but all in the same house.
Yvette, have you ever read any of the classic stories by M. R. James? I think they remain among the most effective ever written. They terrify more by suggestion than by description. Two volumes in particular - "Ghost Stories of an Antiquary" and "More Ghost Stories" - are very much worth your while. In the former volume, "The Mezzotint" is one of the landmark horror stories, as a particularly unpleasant haunting turns up in a painting. "Lost Hearts," in the same volume, is truly ghastly. I recommend James to you heartily (I know, I know, just what you need - a bigger TBR pile).
We are the same person but can grow, broaden our thinking, learn, expand how we think of and deal with people. Our "consciousnesses" can be raised on all kinds of things.
We can learn so much as we travel through this life.
It's said that our personalities are set by the age of 6, but we expand so much more after that, all of the time, in my book.
That's the thing about aging. We can still learn and grow and expand continually and constantly.
Kathy: Yes, I agree. While we are, essentially set at 6, we grow and change because we must. Life affects us. It would be strange if it didn't. But we remain the same person deep within.
The older I get, the more I see the truth in this.
Yes. There are fundamental things within us but then again six is so young.
So much happens after six and we learn so much, interact with so many people, have so many experiences, read, reflect, work on ourselves to better our way of dealing with people and to rethink things.
The essence that makes us each a unique self is still there. But so much more is added.
Kathy: That's why, I think, it's so important for babies to receive tons of hugs and kisses and made to feel that they are loved and appreciated. Nothing is more important than that in a child's development, I think.
But there's always the role of enviornment, too. That's for sure.
Oh, yes, babies must be hugged constantly and feel secure and loved, and then children, too.
I see a neighbor who is 5. She has such self-esteem for a child because of what her parents have given her.
She's even fine with her little brother.
I've been thinking about this quote and thinking about how as one matures, one appreciates other people more and more, what they bring to the table, differences among us, seeing their positive attributes and smiling at their foibles--which we all have, and not getting aggravated, giving up the perfectionist stuff and enjoying the journey.
It is quite amazing how we keep on developing and working on ourselves.
It is me, Yvette. I had to use a friend's laptop when my monitor crashed and burned. And it didn't have various setting which exist at blogs I normally read.
Yes, self-esteem is so important for girls. This 5-year-old corrects her parents on facts. I love it. They may not always enjoy it, but it's good that she has the confidence to stand up for her ideas.
And another friend's little one is taking soccer, and she's fantastic at it ... a boon to her confidence.
Yes, working on ourselves, developing, expanding -- I hope; some folks get less expansive when they get older. I am so happy to go outside and see people from all over the world a block away, to meet people from all over in a park in the Village.
And learn what they think and about their cultures.
And the Internet opens up so much. Even book reviews bring so much incisive thinking to churn up one's mind, expand the thoughts.
So true! That's how I feel. My dad says he still feels the same inside. His childhood feels like only a little while ago while his children were babies just yesterday. As I grow older I am begging to feel the same way.
Kathy: Yes, we're in total agreement. Self-worth and self-confidence are essential ingredients for a happy child. I see that blossoming in my granddaughter and think, so far, so good. :)
wutheringwillow: Don't worry, you'll eventually get there. :)
I feel the same as your dad. More or less.
The funniest thing is when you look in the mirror and see the wrinkles and age and you know that inside you're still basically the same as you were ten or twenty or thirty years ago.
Yvette, have you ever read any of the classic stories by M. R. James? I think they remain among the most effective ever written. They terrify more by suggestion than by description. Two volumes in particular - "Ghost Stories of an Antiquary" and "More Ghost Stories" - are very much worth your while. In the former volume, "The Mezzotint" is one of the landmark horror stories, as a particularly unpleasant haunting turns up in a painting. "Lost Hearts," in the same volume, is truly ghastly. I recommend James to you heartily (I know, I know, just what you need - a bigger TBR pile).
ReplyDelete(Sorry - that should have been posted to the Ghost Stories entry. My apologies.)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is making me think.
ReplyDeleteWe are the same person but can grow, broaden our thinking, learn, expand how we think of and deal with people. Our "consciousnesses" can be raised on all kinds of things.
We can learn so much as we travel through this life.
It's said that our personalities are set by the age of 6, but we expand so much more after that, all of the time, in my book.
That's the thing about aging. We can still learn and grow and expand continually and constantly.
Don't worry about it, Les. I figured that's what happened. :)
ReplyDeleteDon't know if I want really want to read more ghost stories. Most of them are just not for me.
But I'll keep M.R. James in mind. I've written down the titles.
Kathy: Yes, I agree. While we are, essentially set at 6, we grow and change because we must. Life affects us. It would be strange if it didn't. But we remain the same person deep within.
ReplyDeleteThe older I get, the more I see the truth in this.
Yes. There are fundamental things within us but then again six is so young.
ReplyDeleteSo much happens after six and we learn so much, interact with so many people, have so many experiences, read, reflect, work on ourselves to better our way of dealing with people and to rethink things.
The essence that makes us each a unique self is still there. But so much more is added.
Kathy: That's why, I think, it's so important for babies to receive tons of hugs and kisses and made to feel that they are loved and appreciated. Nothing is more important than that in a child's development, I think.
ReplyDeleteBut there's always the role of enviornment, too. That's for sure.
Oh, yes, babies must be hugged constantly and feel secure and loved, and then children, too.
ReplyDeleteI see a neighbor who is 5. She has such self-esteem for a child because of what her parents have given her.
She's even fine with her little brother.
I've been thinking about this quote and thinking about how as one matures, one appreciates other people more and more, what they bring to the table, differences among us, seeing their positive attributes and smiling at their foibles--which we all have, and not getting aggravated, giving up the perfectionist stuff and enjoying the journey.
It is quite amazing how we keep on developing and working on ourselves.
yahoomail - is that you Kathy? I agree with everything you say. I also think that self-esteem is especially important for girls these days.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the results of low self esteem - it ain't pretty.
It is me, Yvette. I had to use a friend's laptop when my monitor crashed and burned. And it didn't have various setting which exist at blogs I normally read.
ReplyDeleteYes, self-esteem is so important for girls. This 5-year-old corrects her parents on facts. I love it. They may not always enjoy it, but it's good that she has the confidence to stand up for her ideas.
And another friend's little one is taking soccer, and she's fantastic at it ... a boon to her confidence.
Yes, working on ourselves, developing, expanding -- I hope; some folks get less expansive when they get older. I am so happy to go outside and see people from all over the world a block away, to meet people from all over in a park in the Village.
And learn what they think and about their cultures.
And the Internet opens up so much. Even book reviews bring so much incisive thinking to churn up one's mind, expand the thoughts.
Great.
So true! That's how I feel. My dad says he still feels the same inside. His childhood feels like only a little while ago while his children were babies just yesterday. As I grow older I am begging to feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteKathy: Yes, we're in total agreement. Self-worth and self-confidence are essential ingredients for a happy child. I see that blossoming in my granddaughter and think, so far, so good. :)
ReplyDeletewutheringwillow: Don't worry, you'll eventually get there. :)
ReplyDeleteI feel the same as your dad. More or less.
The funniest thing is when you look in the mirror and see the wrinkles and age and you know that inside you're still basically the same as you were ten or twenty or thirty years ago.
It's an amazing thing, actually.