A dance today

I was in a second-hand bookstore yesterday looking for teeny little treasures to send in care packages to Afghanistan and I found this.

"The Girl's Pathway: Helpful Thoughts for Girls"

Three important things to know about this book.

1. It was compiled by a man (William H. Grosner)

2. It was given to 'Dora' on 10 January 1918

3. It was "prepared with the view of supplying you with some materials for thought as you travel along the highway of life"

I'm quite taken with it and plan to share bits and pieces with you here. I will start where the editor started. With the morning.

Morning

Every day which is born into this world comes like a burst of music, and sings itself all day through. And thou shalt make of it a dance, a dirge, or a life march, as thou wilt. - T. Carlyle

Today I found the tune early and made a dance of my day. It doesn't happen every day and I was certainly helped along the way by the generosity of my friends and family.

I was helped along by their willingness to give up a little of what they have to help people who need it more.

I was helped along by seeing the love pour in from all corners of the globe for a friend in need.

I was helped along, no doubt, by a yoga class focused on inversions. There is nothing like getting upside-down for changing my perspective on the tune.

One way and another it was a dance of a day today. I'm grateful for that.

Comments

[Sarcomical]

oh, this really is so lovely. i am in love with old books that have writing in the covers, showing a bit of the history of who held onto them at one time. seems like this came into your life at the perfect moment.

[susanna]

That really is a treasure of a find. And I'm so glad that you are having such a good morning. :)

[Swirly]

Well now I will have to be a great big copycat and share an old book I got in London...so keep an eye out for that. In the meantime, I am glad you found your tune early and are feeling surrounded by and filled and overflowing with love from all over the world. See how miraculous you are? You inspire people all over the globe, most especially this girlie in Santa Monica.

[[a}]

Aw, that would make a wonderful gift for some Emily-of-New-Moon-esque girl...
Non?

[I found an old book recently, too, on a visit to Pakistan. From my late grandfather's collection. It's full of detailed watercolours (if you touch the page, it'll smudge onto your fingers) of "Birds of Pakistan." It's got handwritten notes on each bird on the corresponding pages, too, all bound by a satin-y ribbon. I really wish I had it to scan in some pages but...I left it behind in Pakistan.]

Can we make requests on this blog? Keep sharing from this book, please!

xoxo

[Elspeth]

Old books are the best. THis one looks and sounds magical and probably has a great smell too.

[renkat]

you have no idea how much I needed this inspiration today. thanks.

[renkat]

you have no idea how much I needed this inspiration today. thanks.

[Eva]

How is your butterfly doing? What do you feed it?

[Alex]

Awww. I can't wait for you to share more... "some materials for thought as you travel along the highway of life"... That sounds like my kind of book! :) I'm dancing with you~ xo

[cath]

lovely to see you writing again miss frida.

your posts have me thinking alot about letting go... isn't it funny that some of the things that are the hardest to let go of are things we didn't think, or know we wanted in the first place... whether they're good for us or not??

hmmmm

[renkat]

Thanks for pointing out the problem. It was black with grey, but I never liked that. I think I've fixed it now.
- no one who will read this has a clue. . .

[Thea]

what a beautiful find.

[Di]

By the way, did I mention how good it is to find you blogging again. I missed you over your NZ Christmas.

[Katie]

Old books are the best treasures, and they smell great too. Thanks also for the links to those blogs from Gaza.

[Paris Parfait]

I cannot resist books such as this! Beautiful post, my friend. Yes, to the idea of making a dance of our day! xoxox

[Paris Parfait]

I cannot resist books such as this! Beautiful post, my friend. Yes, to the idea of making a dance of our day! xoxox

[Delia]

So sweet...yoga tomorrow for me and I hope some "inversions" can keep me in tune!
Love,
D.

[michelle/tangled wings]

what a great find...and i love that you know who it once belonged to...it's kind of a little reminder of how we're all connected...

[Alexandra]

Hello! I have had a thank you card/letter sitting on my desk forever but I need your address! I have been reading your past posts today- as always, beautiful, thought provoking, inspiring. What a find that book sounds like! And that chocolate raspberry cupcake doesn't sound bad either. Laini recently discovered a NEW cupcake place around the corner from where we met you for lunch. If I wasn't trying to be "good," I would have been there already several times this week. And I never knew you had lived in Gaza. I would love to hear more of your experiences. I moved to Israel when I was 24. I had a scholarship at an institute in the negev desert and it was a very eye-widening experience. Small country but plenty of room for peace nonetheless if the will was more widely there.

[Eva]

Hi Frida,
I don't know you, but miss your blog. I hope all is well and you will return to blogging soon.
Cheers,
Eva