A Word from Janey

Welcome to my website! Join me as I live my ‘ordinary’ life in this extraordinary world. Books have always been a huge part of my life starting with weekly trips to the library with my father when I was a young child which fueled my love of reading and learning and began an ever-growing urge to write things down. The library was like a treasure trove for me, a place of wonder and adventure. As I move through life I try to keep that wonder as I observe, hopefully with my heart, mind and eyes wide open, and write down my thoughts. I endeavor to greet each day with an attitude of expectation of something beyond the routine, something that I can write about that ‘awakens us from the trance of near-life’ as Maria Popova so insightfully puts it.

My musings are often about a word that pops unbidden to mind or is brought to my attention during my day. Emily Dickinson puts words to my thoughts when she says ‘I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.’ I try to write about that shine and maybe it will shine ‘the dull patina of habit’ (Maria Popova) that we tend to move through our days with. I claim no scholarly or profound insight; I just try to remain curious. Sometimes my musings take the form of a poem, while most are prose. Some have elements of my faith, while many others do not. You may resonate with me and, like my favourite childhood character Anne Shirley would say, be a ‘kindred spirit’, or possibly my musings will send you off in your own direction of thought and insight for your life, or maybe they will just be a momentary diversion or respite from your schedule. It’s all good!

FYI - My posts will be accompanied by a photo, many of which will be my own – so you can see the view that led to my musing. Also please sign up to be on my email mailing list for periodic newsletters.