A Message in a Bottle

39 Replies

Have you ever stood at the edge of an ocean, stuffed a heartfelt message into a bottle, corked it and thrown it into the waves? No, I haven’t either.  I wanted to but I didn’t have the courage to throw my words into the great unknown… What if no one answered? How many people have ever found a bottle with a message inside, let alone answered it? Probably not many. But isn’t that what we do now every day on the Internet.

In February 2013 I did just that. I tossed my words into the ether and wondered if anyone would answer. Four people did. Those four people gave me the courage to do it again. As I look back at the faces of the people that gave me ‘likes’ in those days, I’m recognizing familiar faces. Some people have been with me from the very beginning and now I think of them as my Internet Family. All because I had the courage to throw my bottle into the wind.

Every day that we leave our homes we are throwing ourselves on the mercy of the world. And that is terrifying. We have our routines and our safe places where we are comfortable but inevitably someone new or some new activity throws a wrench into our very comfortable existence. And that forces us to adapt, to accommodate and to change. I have always said that I don’t like change. And yet I kinda do. I like to be challenged and that usually involves change. Change for the sake of change is unsustainable but change to adapt or to improve can be exciting.

These past two years have forced us to re-evaluate our lives and the manner in which we live them. It is difficult to say how some good has come from this horrible time but I believe it has. We are learning about ourselves and we are learning about each other. It is my hope, my fervent hope that we will gain understanding from these horrific experiences and grow.

I have learned that I enjoy my hermit mode and that, while comfortable right now, will have to change when we can once again live fully. I think perhaps it is just my way of protecting myself from acknowledging the loss of the outdoors. The loss of restaurants and meeting places. I am sure that I will slide easily back into my old life when it is once more secure to live it. In the meantime, I’m going to continue to enjoy myself inside my safe place!

 

The image is from:  Vecteezy.com

39 thoughts on “A Message in a Bottle”

  4. delphini510

    Your post rings familiar bells within me – and smiles. Yes, I have been there as well and I actually sent two bottles with notes in them. Threw them in the sea. Waited eagerly….hoping. Even wrote a poem on Wordpres ‘ Notes in a bottle’ which very much show similar thoughts to yours.

    So WordPress became your bottle:), as it did for me. The first likes and comments are a treasure,
    how I agree with you. and subsequent ones naturally.

    You are right about events the last two years. We have come to re evaluate and find new ways to
    do things and be in contact. WordPress is one of those valuable forums. Private mails and phone calls. Also, there is even more time to think and yet avoid dark dips which could easily happen.
    I agree with you, many things will easily return, others maybe not. A new journey.

    Keep well
    miriam

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. quiall Post author

      Thanks Miriam! I think that’s wonderful that you actually threw bottles into the ocean. You know they could turn up somewhere. Wouldn’t that be exciting! I think we need to accept that we have a new reality and it will be interesting to see how it manifests itself in the future. Change isn’t just coming, it’s here.

      Like

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  5. Murphy’s Law

    Once again you’ve gotten inside my head. Lord knows there’s plenty of room for you….not too many brain cells taking up space!

    I too like my life as a hermit. I like the safety of my home, seeing the same neighbors every day, everything being familiar to me. I don’t do well with change, even when I know it’s for the better.

    But I also recognize that change is inevitable. People made changes to adapt to the pandemic, including me. So, I will grit my teeth and hang on tight when we all have to adapt once again to living without all the restrictions.

    I’m a big believer in ‘better safe than sorry’, but I also believe that we have to keep moving forward. Meanwhile, like you, my safe place is very comfortable. And I always have chocolate at the ready!
    Ginger

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. quiall Post author

      Well I think the accommodations are fabulous! And you have chocolate too! I know that change is in inevitable but how we deal with it is not. I too prefer little change but I will adapt as a future unfolds. It helps that I can share it all with you.

      Liked by 2 people

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  7. joylennick

    Hola Pamela, I love your analogy of tossing a ‘bottle message’ into an ocean and exposing oneself on the internet, (I actually met a Dutch couple who met because’ he’ did the former .- whiie in the British Navy – and it landed on a Dutch beach and lead to the woman he married!) Meanwhile, our little messages bob, hopefully, on the Internet sea…and just look at how many worthy people we meet! A Very Happy New Year. x

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. quiall Post author

      Hola! What an incredible story of love! I believe that I am a better person because of the contacts I have made through my blog. I am so glad I took a risk all those years ago.

      Liked by 1 person

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  8. pensitivity101

    Good post Pam. I’ve never done a message in a bottle in the sea, but there are two bottles buried in the roots of a tree in the New Forest that have been there for over 30 years (unless the tree has fallen). We wonder if anyone would read the notes therein and think of the couple who wrote them.
    Happy New Year

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. bikerchick57

    Hi Pam and welcome to 2022! I hope this will be the last year of any of us living like hermits, but who knows. We have to be comfortable with where we are in the meantime, although the cold of January is already making me very lethargic (or perhaps it’s the holiday sugar high I’m finally coming down from). Anyhow, I enjoy your writing very much – you have an excellent way with words – and my challenge will be to visit you and other bloggers more frequently in the weeks to come, along with daily walks to breathe in the outside no matter the temp.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. quiall Post author

      Thank you so much! Oh we may not know what’s going to happen in the future but we do know that we are not alone. We are all in this together and together we will make it through.

      Liked by 1 person

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  11. rangewriter

    A great post, Pam. I hadn’t thought of blogging as tossing out a bottle with a message inside, but that’s a really apt analogy–and a whole lot more environmentally responsible!

    I’m still fairly secluded. I do ski with friends and have done a few outdoor adventures with people, but I do far more stuff alone. I’m a little worried that I may never fully reimmerse myself in social activities. I’m just so comfortable by myself. And let’s face it. I’m lazy. It takes a certain amount of effort to be sociable.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. quiall Post author

      Thank you kindly! I too am lazy and that is definitely contributing to my hermit-ness. Fortunately I have friends who refuse to let me hide. Besides I get my social fix here with my blog

      Liked by 1 person

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  12. John Hric

    Rather than hermits I would rather IMUs. Independent monastic units. The robes and beads can be delivered directly to your personal monastery. I am not at all sure what normal will look like. Except that some variant of covid-19 is likely to be part of the picture. That and vaccines and boosters and masks. I could deal with that. Especially if it keeps more of us in the picture. Until then that add caring about others, those vaccines, boosters, and masks – skip the bottle and share that message in public.

    Liked by 2 people

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  14. Dale

    When I read February 2013, I had to go to my own blog and find out that I started in August 2013. I then go lost reading the first 10 or so posts (Likes? Whazzat? Comments? Very few and far between. Took forever to get any audience and those who were there then are long gone now…)

    That said, you’ve got a very healthy way of looking at the world, Pam. I cannot believe how comfortable I’ve become with the hermit lifestyle. Never, ever, thought I would, to be honest It takes great effort to make the effort to go out. Not sure how I feel about that!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. quiall Post author

      I’m doing my best to only live in the moment, to feel the moment. I find the world overwhelming and I am becoming incredibly comfortable in my hermit nest. I know it will end and I know I will adapt to normal life again. But I do think I like wallowing in my hermit nest! I could invite some people over, fully shot it of course.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Dale

        That the best way, I think. Live and be present in the moment.
        I have no problem being with people, I just have become in need of more encouragement to get out there! And yes, fully shot only 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  15. Sorryless

    I’ve never sent a message in a bottle either, but I do love the idea. Just as I love how you used it as a metaphor for blogging. That’s so true! I also have become hermit-like over the last couple years, and pretty okay with it I might add. I know that will change, eventually. But I do so enjoy the time alone as well.

    Liked by 1 person

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  16. Dan Antion

    I retired in late 2019. I was looking forward to a bit of hermit mode, after 42 years of forced social activity. I’m not sure I wanted this much, but I can say that I’m kind of enjoying having an excuse to be me.

    Liked by 1 person

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