be courageous and brave.

I discovered a blog a little while ago and was inspired by a linky that i discovered. In a nutshell and there is a link here so you can go read about it yourself. But basically it is about connecting a song or some music with an image. This rings so many bells with me. Music is something that is so much part of my life, i listen to music all the time and i am one of those people who can watch a series of images or a video without music and not feel a thing but add a soundtrack or some poignantly worded lyrics and i will be moved to the next week and blubbing into a tissue.

I had stumbled across this blog just when her suggested song for inspiration was a song by Rod Stewart called Forever Young.

Kind of a advice type of song to his son it would seem and it made me think of the crossroads that my son is at right now..leafing through iphoto (does anyone use that still?) where i used to store my images i discovered this image

This is my little boy just before he started school. He is just 4 in this picture, it was the summer before his first year in reception. So little we knew back then, the years of school runs, parents evenings, nativity plays were all alien to us. I miss those days of innocence sometimes. When we were his world and the influence of the outside was so minimal. When the thought of an afternoon watching trains was the best treat EVER and when he still spoke with a southern accent and not a northern one!! 😉

Things have changed so much. His hair is no longer those tight curls. He won’t let it grow long enough to find out. 😉 But there is still so much of what is real about him in this image that is evident in the young man he is becoming. He is still pretty open about whats going on with him, he is a heart on his sleeve kind of guy and i hope that doesn’t change that much. Im not naive though and i know it will to some element.

We were speaking to him about the secondary school choices recently as we have been since before the end of his last term in year 5, his face suddenly crumpled and he looked so young and unsure. I guess he was just overwhelmed with the responsibility of it all.

He is still so young and whilst we can’t protect him from the future, we can help to arm him with ways to deal with the things that are to come and be behind him every step.

The words in the song are a little cheesey but the ones that resound with me..are these in particular. 🙂

“May you grow to be proud,
dignified and true.
And do unto others
As you’d have done to you.
Be courageous and be brave


-Forever Young (Rod Stewart)

Motivational Mondaythe ordinary moments

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23 Comments

  1. Louise Fairweather
    October 28, 2013 / 8:10 am

    Love your photos. Big man is already wanting to be independent at the age of 5!

  2. October 28, 2013 / 8:10 am

    That’s such a lovely photo. I know what you mean about tine running by so fast, but those words you chose are lovely and I would choose them for my son too.
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  3. October 28, 2013 / 9:19 am

    This is lovely Sarah. I assume this is your boy who will soon be departing for Secondary School? It’s a big milestone and brought about lots of nostalgic moments for me too. Great photo 🙂

  4. October 28, 2013 / 9:20 am

    This is lovely Sarah. I assume this is your boy who will soon be departing for Secondary School? It’s a big milestone and brought about lots of nostalgic moments for me too. Great photo and post x

  5. October 28, 2013 / 9:23 am

    A lovely look back on your boy, scary how fast time moves on!

  6. Luci McQuitty Hindmarsh
    October 28, 2013 / 9:37 am

    What a totally awesome idea, I connect so much with the concept. Lovely pix – as per! x #MagicMoments

  7. Karen Bell
    October 28, 2013 / 10:34 am

    Lovely idea. 🙂

  8. October 28, 2013 / 10:53 am

    You talk so wistfully about those days. My eldest has just started reception, and I already feel time is slipping away from us and before we know it she’ll be all grown up! Lovely pic of your boy and beautiful song lyrics #MagicMoments
    MummyTries recently posted…Meeting a newbie #MagicMomentsMy Profile

  9. October 28, 2013 / 12:04 pm

    What a wonderful post Sarah, music always adds a whole new dimension doesn’t it. Far too much emotion! Love the photo of your little boy and that video is awesome. Thank you so much for sharing with #whatsthestory

  10. October 28, 2013 / 12:04 pm

    What a really beautiful post and a fantastic concept, music always features with my too. xx

    thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments x

  11. October 28, 2013 / 1:39 pm

    I love that song, and I don’t care that it’s cheesy. I choke up every time I hear it. I associate it not just with my own kids but the children I teach too.
    My oldest is 4 and at nursery and I think often this year will be the end of this stage of our lives as we soon will have school and everything that entails along with it. But each stage has been exciting so far, so I’m sure this will be great too.
    I love the curls, gorgeous.
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  12. Over There to Here
    October 28, 2013 / 2:18 pm

    Lovely idea. I immediately thought of another Rod Stewart song ‘Sailing’ which made me think of my father.

  13. October 28, 2013 / 3:03 pm

    I am exactly the same Sarah and really listen to the lyrics of songs. I am not musical and don’t listen to the beat particularly, just the lyrics. I love quotes as well. Your post really resonates with me as although I am still a couple of years off this stage that your son was at, it is something that I think a lot about. I am well aware that my babies will grow up so quickly and I just want to treasure these moments with them. I know that every stage is great, but I know that there is a part of me that will feel sad when the innocence starts to go slightly. x
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  14. Becky Gower
    October 28, 2013 / 3:19 pm

    What a beautiful picture and I love this idea! I am going to be thinking of pictures every time I hear a beautiful song now!

  15. October 28, 2013 / 4:42 pm

    Such a beautiful photo! It’s incredible how quick they grow and change. Those days before school were so good! So much easier.

  16. Only Best For Baby
    October 28, 2013 / 10:01 pm

    Beautiful photo. I love music too, it evokes so many memories x

  17. October 29, 2013 / 9:23 am

    What a lovely picture of him! I totally get the time running past and wanting to prepare them for the future (whilst wanting to enjoy their childhood too).
    Erica Price recently posted…At The GymMy Profile

  18. October 29, 2013 / 5:04 pm

    Aww he looks gorgeous – wish we could keep them forever young. It’s such a big decision at such a young age isn’t it. Mine has currently decided he wants to go to a school that I already know I have to appeal to get him into. Good luck with yours.
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