Reviews from

Follow The String

We are responsible for our own happiness

41 total reviews 
Comment from R. Marc Goodson
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Great piece of writing. I liked how you started the work, nice set up for what followed. I particularly liked this paragraph: "Today, this hour, this minute is all there is in any life. Everything else is either the future or the past. I face this instant in my life to the best of my ability because the next one will come without any encouragement from me, but it will be altered by what I do now. When my goals are to love all, to tolerate differences by searching for common ground, and to create a better atmosphere for everyone sharing my 'instant', the rewards are abundant. But the Golden Rule does not always work every time for every person. "

 Comment Written 28-May-2022


reply by the author on 29-May-2022
    Thanks so much reading and the very encouraging review. ann
Comment from Cass Carlton
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

One sentence resounded with me in this beautifully penned piece you have posted. "She was lost in a sea of hurt from which only she could rescue herself".(I'm paraphrasing).The whole piece is inspiring in its content, but this particular point really reached me. It has set the little wheels spinning busily. Hopefully towards a peaceful old age and a life full of happy memories. cheers Cass

 Comment Written 28-May-2022


reply by the author on 29-May-2022
    Thank you Cass. I am so pleased you enjoyed this piece. I appreciate your time in reading and in reviewint. ann
Comment from Lobber
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

hello my friend,
well-writen.. I like your imagery of a )maze of life(, and the spots where you are planted, sometimes in a )sea of hurt(. If you grow in new spots, do you leave your roots behind?
- Lobber

 Comment Written 26-May-2022


reply by the author on 26-May-2022
    I am almost blinded by the light of those 6 shiny stars! Thanks so much and especially for the question you posed: 'Do you leave your roots behind?" My thought is that there may be 'root' shreds that get left and die -- just as a replanted bush. You take the good stuff and as much of the solid roots as possible and you start anew. Does that make any sense? Again thanks for the 6 stars. ann
Comment from Judy Lawless
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This is beautiful, Ann! You've hit on many of my philosophies, and I try to live in the moment as much as possible. You've expressed all of this so well, and I needed that reminder. I used to have a little book called simply "B" Every page was a reminder of just being - Be kind, Be aware of others, etc. I lost that somewhere along during my many moves. I wish I had it back.

 Comment Written 26-May-2022


reply by the author on 26-May-2022
    Judy it is so pleasant to hear that you and I share some of the same philosophies. I would love to see the book "B" - sounds like a wonderful daily counsel. One of my favorite mantras is "When fear knocks, let faith answer." I'm sure that phrase means a lot of different things to different people. To me, it just means 'Begin every situation, conversation, interaction, whatever, with an assumption that life has placed me in that position at that moment for a reason. It is up to me to learn from it.

    Geez!! I love these conversations. Thanks so much for the 6 stars and much more for sharing some of your own thoughts. ann
reply by Judy Lawless on 26-May-2022
    You are most welcome, Ann. It is great to converse with someone who looks at life much the same way I do. :) Hugs.
Comment from Mark Childs
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Very smooth flow to your story and more importantly, you captured the essence of a very important aspect of life, that of self healing. I too, feel for the victim, but to dwell on it for your entire life, is no life at all.

 Comment Written 25-May-2022


reply by the author on 26-May-2022
    Thank you for 'getting' my story. I appreciate your reading and your encouraging comments and I LOVE the 6 stars. Thank you. ann
Comment from Joanne Gill-Maddick
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

A very beautifully written story. I absolutely love this.
I am committed to following the string as I fully live my life and follow my goals. I will celebrate life as what happens in the 'instant' where I am now and acknowledge that is the only one I can change. I will grow where I am planted. God made a space for me right where I am - wherever that is today and wherever it will lead tomorrow. I will follow the string as I walk through whatever doors open today, without regret for any that closed behind me. All we have is the present moment the past is gone the future is yet to be so true. We can't look to other people for our happiness.

 Comment Written 25-May-2022


reply by the author on 26-May-2022
    Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts. ann
reply by Joanne Gill-Maddick on 26-May-2022
    Your welcome 🙂
reply by Joanne Gill-Maddick on 26-May-2022
    Your welcome
Comment from Lisa Tepp
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This was such an awesome commentary! I really was moved by it, and I think it changed my perspective ever so slightly. I will definitely look at things differently because of your words! Great work!

 Comment Written 25-May-2022


reply by the author on 26-May-2022
    When someone says that something I write causes them to think a bit in any other direction, I am blown away. Add 6 stars and I'm floating on air this morning. Thanks so much for your kindness. ann
Comment from Tpa
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Your essay gave good, sound advice. I liked the statement; 'string is the maze of life.' Those words seemed to be the essence of the text. Other such statement began with 'Stand.........' an enjoyable read.

 Comment Written 25-May-2022


reply by the author on 26-May-2022
    Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I appreciate your time and your encouraging review. ann
Comment from Paul McFarland
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I usually don't review prose, but the title intrigued me. Then the story intrigued me. What a great philosophy. I think I fit into your little cubby hole.

 Comment Written 25-May-2022


reply by the author on 25-May-2022
    WOW! Six stars - I'm pleased, honored and humbled. Thanks so much. ann
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Very nice writing, though for a piece as long as this, a more flowing font would be better (for me, anyway).
Of course, you are right about the rape victim girl being able to heal and move on. But... It sounds like she had no one to help her do that. That's the sad part. The other side is that the criminal with a long rap sheet who got a free college education, while his victim prob'ly couldn't afford it doesn't sound right. And if the 'rap sheet' included other crimes of violence, then a life sentence should mean life. And life should mean until 'death do us part'. The man's victims shouldn't have to worry about him getting out to injure others.
Sorry for my rant.
Best wishes.

 Comment Written 25-May-2022


reply by the author on 25-May-2022
    Rants are welcome!!! And you point out very valid issues. I do not know if the rape victim had anyone to help her heal. I do not know if she looked for help. It is sad situation. What I do know is we are individually responsible for our 'happiness' and 'peace'. Almost always help and assistance and caring are available, but sometimes we must take the first step. We must look for it and the first place to look is inside. I'm not taking sides between the victim and the criminal. I don't know his background either. I don't know his childhood or what encouraged him to become the criminal. I do know that he finally realized -- with help from the prison- that the only place he had to live was right now and that right now was prison. He took advantage of the opportunities available.

    I love good conversation!!!1 Thanks for sharing. ann