Will You Be My Forever...submitted anonymously

will you be my forever?
can you love me to the moon and back?
will you keep me grounded?
can you brush away my fears?
will you hold me until everything is okay?
can you let me spoil you?
will you laugh with me?
can you understand all i need is you?
will you always be yourself with me?
can you blow bubbles with me?
will you grow old with me?
can you feel my kiss long after i am gone?
will you defend our love?
can you smile at our secrets?
will you let me shout from the rooftops how much i love you?
can you always be honest with me?
will you never break my heart?
can you help me be a better person?
will you understand when i am jealous?
can you embrace my children?
will you let me love your girls?
can you trust me with your soul?
will you dance in the rain?
can we be real?
will you be my forever?

This was an anonymous submission sent via e-mail. I love this poem, it's honest and heartfelt. Thank you so much for submitting, it means a lot to me and this blogs success.

Your Invitation (sticky post)

This blog relies on your submissions, and your willingness to share a part of yourself and your story with the world. You can send your submissions anonymously or add your name and a back story. This blog really is about how each of us can thrive when we learn by the experiences of others and how intertwined we all are. So, share your story...let your life speak and send in your letters, notes, drawings, pictures, e-mails or anything else to:

Lingering Words
c/o Treasa
162 North Maverick
Gordon, NE 69343

Restructuring

Unfortunately, I have not been receiving any submissions as of late, but I am not going to be discouraged, because it is, after all, the holiday season and with that comes the shopping, wrapping, hiding, buying, giving, planning, thinking and stressing over ever detail of gifts and meals and who will say that one thing to Aunt Barb that will send her over the edge and into the brandy bottle. So, no hard feelings here. I am committed to making this blog work, and am going to stick with it.

So, in an effort to encompass more people interested in sharing their stories and lives, I am expanding my vision. Originally, I wanted letters and the like that were passed on and changed the life of the one to whom it was given. In my restructuring I think that I want to incorporate an even more personal edge. Not only will this blog focus on the items that have changed lives, but will also give readers the chance to share their thoughts, confessions, secrets, longings, apologies, lust, loss and everything else and be able to share those words with emotional abandon.

This idea came to me rather unexpectedly. I am moving into a new house and was going through the crates that I have in the shed. I was looking for ways to slim down the things that need to be moved and came across my journals from middle school, high school and college and some years in between. My favorite journal is written in a military ledger which is about twice the length of a normal journal, so I began to read some of those pages. I came across many letters to people and to god that I never shared with anyone. Words that needed to be said but I didn't have the courage or the heart to say, so I wrote letters in hopes to quiet the storms in my heart. Reading those letters made me think that maybe all of us has a letter in us, a confession, a truth to reverse a lie, a secret, an anger over injustice or simply just a letter of apology.

When my step father committed suicide when I was in high school, I wrote angry letters, then sad letters and finally letters of forgiveness and laid them at this grave. Sometimes, I would write letters to god and tie it to a rock and toss it in the lake, kind of like a wishing well I guess. And sometimes, I would write letters to myself, questioning my existence, my future and my happiness and seal them away to open in a year or so. Letters have kept me sane. They have served as my secret keeper and my confessional. I am going to share a few on this blog in the coming days. And I will beginning to work harder on building traffic.

I think this blog can be amazing, I love the idea of sharing stories and I love the idea of sharing my life...maybe I am a romantic that way but, that is a letter for another day.

Letter to Readers

Dear Readers,

Sorry there hasn't been in posting lately, I haven't received any submissions of late but am thinking of maybe expanding the premise of this blog to cover those times of little of no submission rates. I think when I get more readers, then submissions will not be a problem, but it serves as quite a barrier right now. I am going to focus on promoting my blog and if you have any ideas, I would love to hear from you! If you have enjoyed my previous posts, please spread the word!!

-Treasa

Break-Up Poems...submitted by: Tasha

Tasha says, "These poems were written by my boyfriend after we broke-up, it's funny but by looking at him you would never think he would ever write poetry. By dating him I found out that people really can surprise you and even though we didn't work out I am really glad he was a part of my life."

Pain...submitted by Anonymous

Anonymous says, "this is a sign that I had in my dorm room all through college. I was taught that I could never quit no matter how unhappy I was or how unsatisfying the job or task was. My major was picked by my parents and so was my life, I finally grew up enough to know that I had to create my own destiny and sometimes pain is good enough reason for stopping."

Child's Drawing...submitted by Shellie

This drawing was submitted by Shellie, she says, "I know this probably isn't what you want but this drawing was given to me by my son. I remember him running up to me and being so excited about it, we picked out the perfect magnet to put it on the fridge. Kids grow up so fast! Sometimes I really miss the little boy I read stories to but am proud of the man he's becoming."

Wisdom of a Father...submitted by: DT

I recieved this e-mail this morning and thought it was amazing how our parents can impact our lives and mold how we as children and adults see ourselves and our place in the world.

DT says, "Tre, just a few thoughts on something that I have been reflecting on lately. As a young man I was told many things by my father as he raised me. Two phrases that really stuck were "Don't think to much", and "Make life simple". I always thought he was a little off. Thinking to little seemed to point to possible failure,and bad choices. Making life simple in our world today would be impossible I felt. I think I finally understand what he meant now that I am older. While making many of my choices in life I have experienced feelings from my heart and thoughts from my mind. Feelings from your heart are pure, and reflect your true inner person. Thoughts from your mind reflect your inner person,and the outside influence of the world(good and bad). A person knows in his heart what is right and what is wrong as it reflects upon the person he/she is. The mind can allow us to confuse our true feelings by trying to rationalize our feelings/thoughts. Basically we know the right and wrong choices in our hearts,yet at times we choose to make the wrong choices. We don't follow how we truly feel which creates inner turmoil. When a person follows their heart and fails it is easier to accept,because you were following how you felt deeply. How many choices have you made in your life were the outcome was bad,and the first thoughts have been why did I do that.(I knew better) This is what those two statements truly mean to me. If you follow your heart in life you will make choices which help you inner harmony. Life is very simple,and beautiful. Appreciate life and all you have been given,don't complicate it. Thanks."

Thank you DT for your submission.

Brotherly Love...submitted by: Me!

This card is submitted by me. I can't really ask people to submit their stories if I am not willing to share a piece of myself as well. I will submit some of my letters, notes and pictures from time to time just as a personal thank you to all of those who are willing to trust me with their stories of triumph and regret.

So...this is from my brother Zack, he attends college in New York. He is not one to really put his feelings out there, so this meant so much to me. I know that he appreciate everything I do, but it's nice to be acknowledged as well. Love ya' Z!


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Your Newest EX...submitted by: Steve

This break-up letter is short and well...short. Steve didn't add any backstory, but the letter speaks for itself.


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Personal Post

While I was driving last night I was thinking about how wonderfully similar we all are. You and I, we don't fight the same battles but we are in the same war, we don't subscribe to the same goals or passions but we probably have the same big picture in mind: our own wealth of love and knowledge and friendship. I love how fragile we can be in one moment and how strong we can be in the next. I am constantly amazed by people and often surprised how much their stories sound like some of my stories. I know you and I are different in a thousand ways but I think we are similar in the most important ones and I hope that this blog speaks to the joy and sadness, the strength and weakness, the passion and the loss that trembles in all of us. The submissions I have received so far have expanded my awe of what people can take and what they can give. Thank you for visiting, and I hope you can find something in your life to share with mine.

-Treasa

Valentine's Day Card...submitted by: Anonymous

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Anonymous says, "My mom sent me this card when I was a freshman in college. Reading this card made me remember the sacrifices she made for me, and even though we have grown apart this reminds me of all the reasons we shouldn't have."

Break-Up Letter...submited by:Anonymous

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This was submitted anonymously. The letter is from an ex-girlfriend which was written after they broke up.

Love, Your Granny...submitted by Duff

Isn't just like a grandma to tell us exactly what we need to hear while also helping us to appreciate the small things that we take for granted? This letter was written to Duff when he was a kid, now he is 29 (and takes his grandparents out to dinner about once a month - proving she taught him well about appreciation).