What we leave behind

Years ago while traveling in Wales, I visited Tintern Abbey. It is one of the most picturesque ruins I've ever explored.
Worn stone walls and columns remain standing, with empty gothic windows that stare blindly into the past.
The bright green of the grassy floors under the blue vaulted sky ceiling had a surreal and magical effect.

Wordsworth was moved to poetry while overlooking this same place and I could understand why. The place inspired him to think of his life and loved ones.



There is something beautiful, triumphant and sad about seeing nature reclaim our mark on the earth.
Life really is fleeting.One of the reasons I majored in Archaeology for a time was my fascination with how people live--in the past and present. And what we leave behind says so much about who we are and what was most important to us.

Ruins are always a reminder to me that we shouldn't waste our time here--that we need to make our time count.I want to leave more than "stuff" behind. I want to leave stories and love. To leave my mark on people.
So in that spirit I intend to spend quality time with friends and family this weekend. Have a wonderful weekend everyone--make it count. (=


What do you hope to leave behind?

Comments

Wendy@FabNouveau said…
This is such a beautiful post Jo. I'm very fascinated by the past and I totally envy you having studied archeology. Whales is absolutely beautiful if this is anything to go by. Wow....
May 27, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Candyland said…
Gorgeous! I would love to visit in person. I hope to leave behind everything good about me, in my children.
May 27, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Johanna Garth said…
Those are beautiful pictures and a perfect reminder to be thoughtful of how we live our lives and what we do with our limited time here.

Thanks for the wonderful send off into the weekend!
May 27, 2011 at 1:08 PM
Bkloss said…
I loved those photos so much I clicked on them to make them larger. Gorgeous! Seriously, very inspiring.

I recently had an experience sort of similar, where I went somewhere and was reminded of how life is fleeting and time goes on. Mine wasn't nearly as glamorous. It was, well, the city dump (we're moving, okay?! lol). But still, you drive on the dirt, and literally throw trashbags of junk on the ground with all the other used and unwanted items, and drive away. It was a weird sensation, sort of left me feeling depressed. All those things that, at one time, meant something to someone. I know. It's the city dump, you say. :)

Anyway, I like yours so much better. I hope to go there some day. Thanks for sharing!!
May 27, 2011 at 1:51 PM
Michael Di Gesu said…
Stunning pic Jo.

This such an inspiring post. I'd like to leave a positive, helpful, and loving words behind to inspire others.

Our future generations needs all the love we can leave behind.
May 27, 2011 at 2:19 PM
nutschell said…
beautiful post, beautiful pictures! It must be awesome to major in archeology. I myself have an interest in history. I like to imagine how people must have lived before and how their lives have affected ours in some way.
have a great weekend!
nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
May 27, 2011 at 5:16 PM
Su said…
Lovely! I do love Tintern Abbey (although I've never been there-- but dozens of Travel Channel specials have to count for something, right?).
May 27, 2011 at 5:32 PM
Halli Gomez said…
Breathtaking pictures! That is somewhere I would like to visit. I've traveled a lot and seen some ruins wondering what story they have to tell.

You ask what I want to leave behind... through my careers as a mom, writer, and instructor, I would like to leave a whole lot of good kids that grow into great, caring, generous adults.
May 27, 2011 at 7:19 PM
Roland D. Yeomans said…
Your photography is truly gorgeous. We are fleeting in one sense. But in another sense, I like to think we are eternal. What did C S Lewis write?

You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.

Have a beautiful weekend, Roland
May 27, 2011 at 10:44 PM
Tahsha said…
Those pictures are beautiful! i want to go there someday. Do you know what makes me laugh? You said there is something beautiful about nature reclaiming our mark on earth--that's what my backyard looks like. Nature is totally taking it over! yikes!
May 27, 2011 at 11:39 PM
Susan Fields said…
Those are gorgeous photos - thanks for sharing! I hope to leave behind my stories and memories of me in my loved ones.
May 28, 2011 at 6:21 AM
Anonymous said…
I'm also in awe of ruins. Beautiful pics.

By the way, I tagged you on my blog.

Have a great weekend.
May 28, 2011 at 6:36 AM
Tricia J. O'Brien said…
Gotta go there! Those haunting photos really got to me. The closest I've been to Wales is the Devon coast (where I found an old stone circle on a wild moor). I get chills around old ruins.
May 28, 2011 at 8:01 AM
Julie said…
Looks like the day you visited Tintern was a much sunnier day than mine ( : Wales in the middle of winter is a bit more bleak! Still, I too found this place hauntingly beautiful, and could understand how it moved Wadsworth.

I have to admit, though, that despite the gloomy weather, I loved how my pictrues turned out! There was a low fog that day, which kept swirling and eddying in and out of the gothic windows. Like I said: hauntingly beautiful. Maybe I'll have to post my own Tintern post for you to see them ( :

LOVED this post! (I get so geeky about all things Europe!!)
May 28, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Robyn Campbell said…
Lovely photos. Lovely words. It makes me get all tingly, because in August we're GOING TO IRELAND. SQUEEEEEE We'll do a couple days each in Scotland, England, and Wales. :-) Can't wipe the smile off my face. Cannot!

Make it count. Everyday. Very wonderful words. I want exactly the same thing. To live every second. I see people who just exist. They always seem angry or unhappy. Slap me if I EVER get like that.

Super post. Thanks for the visit and comment over at my place.

Off to live. :-)
May 29, 2011 at 5:57 AM
Beth said…
I love your photos. Tintern Abbey is a place I've always wanted to visit.
Thinking about the passage of time, and how great sites like these can be reclaimed by nature, is very humbling.
May 29, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Unknown said…
Gah! This is BEAUTIFUL!!
May 30, 2011 at 10:11 PM
S.B.Niccum said…
Well said, and beautiful pictures! I share that passion for ruins.
S.B. Niccum
Author Website
Blog
June 1, 2011 at 5:03 PM
Shannon Lawrence said…
Those pictures are breathtaking! I love the green inside the ruins. I hope to leave behind children who are intelligent and good, and who leave their own mark on the world, and I hope to leave behind a few words.
June 4, 2011 at 4:00 PM
Victoria Dixon said…
Gorgeous pictures and sentiment. I'm struggling with doing what I love and need to do vs. working at a job I dislike with sometimes abusive bosses. I hate having to choose work just for the sake of keeping a shelter over my family's head and wish it could be otherwise! Or at least that I could find a better position. ;D
June 5, 2011 at 6:01 AM
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