Lens-Artists Challenge #365: Longing

lens-artists, Photography

Thank you so much to Egídio for bringing this feeling as a challenge, which has prompted me to reflect more deeply on the concept of longing and its various nuances. I invite you to visit Egídio’s site and be marveled by his wonderful post, as it beautifully encapsulates the essence of this emotion. Longing is such a personal and abstract thing, often intertwined with memories and experiences, and the object, thing—feeling changes as you age, evolving with each chapter of our lives. I think this is going to be a personal post, and as I delve into my own thoughts and memories, I find myself at a loss regarding how to pick the images for this one that will truly convey the depth of these feelings.

Let’s start with this: every winter I long for spring. Every spring I long for a warm summer. Every summer I long for it to continue for long. Every fall I long for beautiful colors and for the winter to bring us some snow that stays so the days are brighter. Always something…

When I was twenty years younger, in late autumn, I would say to my husband, “Where should we move?” I had this urge to go to places warmer and brighter than Finnish winters. It was not a certain place; it was a feeling of longing for something different, not anything specific—a restlessness that I had in me. Usually, the response to it was, “Send me a postcard when you get there.” I did not go, that is obvious. Longing at that moment in time.

A time before that when my boys were young… I will start with a short backstory. I was daddy’s girl; he was the one I spoke to when I had something in my heart that needed to be discussed or I needed support in any matter, really. He had this unique ability to understand me, offering advice that came from a place of love and wisdom. Sadly, he passed when I was nineteen, leaving a void that I still feel to this day. I got along with my mum fine, but we weren’t that close emotionally. We spoke about what was happening in my life, but those deeper conversations were missing, leaving me yearning for a connection that was meant to be there. Now for the longing part. My mother passed away six years after my dad, a little over a month after my wedding, and that was a time filled with both joy and sorrow. She never got to see my children, and I never got to talk to her as a mom, sharing the joys and challenges of motherhood. I often thought, would that have gotten us closer together, the shared experience of being mothers? Would we have bonded differently through the sleepless nights and the laughter of little ones? When the boys were young, I longed for my parents to have known them and vice versa, imagining family gatherings, the stories they would tell, and the love that would have surrounded all of us. That is a big longing that shadows my memories, a beautiful yet painful dream of what could have been.

A tender moment between a mother and her newborn, capturing the deep connection and love that defines the bond of family.

I have had a lot of pain-related issues in my life since I was a teenager, and I have learned to live with them; you deal with what you’ve got. Now the pains and aches are slightly different, more frequent, and I long for a good night’s sleep; they are not a given, so after a good night’s sleep, I am so happy. So, that is one of the things I long for. After hours of trying to fall asleep, I often say a prayer: Please let me sleep. I usually do not get a reply or help. I so long for a good night of sleep.

Time to go to sleep – watching the moon from my bedroom window

Sometimes I just longing for a nice glass of wine in front of the fireplace or a nice dinner at a restaurant, small mundane longings like someone preparing your meal…

Lastly, I want to thank you all for the warm response I got for my last week’s challenge. During this wonderful journey, I saw beautiful places that took my breath away and shared heartfelt stories about where to appreciate a moment of quiet. It was a delightful experience to connect with all of you and witness how we each find peace and reflection in our surroundings, whether it’s in nature, a cozy nook at home, or even a bustling café. Thank you for inspiring me to look deeper and cherish the little things that often go unnoticed.

Next week is Tina’s turn to host, Saturday 20th September. We can all look forward to her always inspiring post, which never fails to ignite our creativity. Tina has a unique way of sharing her thoughts that resonates with everyone, encouraging us to reflect on our own experiences. Until then, keep smiling and remember that each day is an opportunity to spread positivity and uplift one another .

Remember to link back to the original post and to tag Lens-Artists so we can easily find you.

If you’d like to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.

54 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Challenge #365: Longing”

  1. How sad that your parents were not there to see your children and watch them grow up.

    I can well understand your feelings of longing for the past.

    I too have trouble getting to sleep and then, staying asleep, but I do have a technique for falling asleep but it’s a bit too long to describe in a blog comment. You have my sympathy on that one.

  2. A very heartfelt post Ritva. Thank you for letting me have an emotional read. A lot of what you wrote resonates with me 🤗
    Your husbands “Send me a postcard when you get there.” made me laugh. The sort of answer I would give 😂

  4. Such a sad but ultimately happy post. I’m so sorry for your loss Ritva. To lose both parents when you were relatively young must have been hard.
    A year ago I started magnesium supplements and it’s worked wonders for my sleep. I can’t function without a good night’s sleep

      1. There are different types of Magnesium, Ritva. Ensure you find out the corrent one for you and your sleep. Everyone’s different.

  5. Ritva, thank you for these beautiful images and your personal stories. I can relate to some of the things you long for. I love how you ended with longing for simple, mundane things like a glass of wine or dinner in a restaurant.

  7. Ritva, your took a personal deep dive into this one. I loved your honesty and am sorry you lost both your parents at such a young age. You are right, we live with what we are dealt and get through it. The important thing is to love and laugh along the way.

  8. Thank you Ritva for being so open and personal with your stories of longing. The photos compliment them perfectly, especially the winter scene and mother with child. I concur with Anne.

  9. Hello Ritva,

    An interesting selection of pictures you have chosen for us. I like them all very much.
    Especially the first four.

    Many greetings, Robert

  12. Thank you for sharing these deep longings Ritva and you’ve paired these so beautifully with your photographs. It feels as if your parents are still watching over you and part of them will live on through you and your children too ❤️

  13. Ritva, first of all, thanks for opening up your heart with this heartfelt post. This is a beautiful post in every way: thoughts and photos. I’m glad you found the way to lead your life even after your parents were passed away. The photos you selected are so intimate, too. It’s a beautiful gallery.

  14. Lovely, moving post with beautiful images. I understand the loss, though I was close to 40 when both my parents were gone. I am sad most of my nieces and nephews knew them or remember them. A warm hug across the internet.

  17. There’s so many things about this post to be thoughtful of, especially how you live with that longing of something you can only imagine what could have been. It hits close in all its sorrow, aceptance and beauty.

  18. A very beautiful post Ritva – I had to smile at your seasonal longings, I agree wholeheartedly on that! I too lost my parents when they were quite young although not quite as early as you did but again, the loss is something we never quite get over. I think of both of them often and think if indeed there is an afterlife surely they know that. Finally the image of the baby with his or her mother is absolutely breathtaking. Wonderful post from start to finish.

  19. Beautiful post Ritva. Losing your parents so young must have been painful. I can’t imagine. I can relate to your seasonal longings. Love all your photos!!

  20. Ritva, this was so heartfelt touching all the feels through a profound selection of words.
    I am wondering if you allowed some tears to flow while you wrote it. I was with you. And the photo of the mom and baby was so touching to further your waltz into saudade. The warmth in your entire post is a joy, and I especially love the last few of quiet dinners or a glass of wine over the fire.

  21. That’s no good, and you probably dread going to bed. I was like that many years ago and I read about book by Deepak Chopra and it put things into perspective

  24. Ritva you have paired your words so beautifully with your wonderful photos. As always I am blown away… And I can so relate to many thoughts and feelings in this. To lose both your parents so early surely made you somewhat to what you are today. You live the best life you can.

    I never had my father close – my parents broke up when I was only months old. He visited us once a year – on my birthday. My mother was never a kindred soul, but my father was just like me – nature lover and spending all his time there. In many ways I saw my grandmother as my mother, as I spent my whole days there when my mother worked hard to support us. And the longing for them to see their grandchildren is the same as you describe so well. My grandmother passed two years before my first child, and my mother passed two years before my first grandchild arrived. It would have been such a joy to see them meet.

    When I have sleeping problems I play a game: I lay on my back, and say goodnight to every piece of my body. Every part must be relaxed when I think of it. I start at my forehead, then my eyebrows, then my eyelids, aso down all the way to my feet and toes. If I feel one of my parts is not relaxed, I have to start all over again on my forehead. It works for me – give it a try if you want to.

    Good luck!

    1. Ann-christine, it is amazing how many things that happen to us are universally relatable. Longing for emotional contact. You are so lucky to have had your grandmother for support. My oldest sister , eight years older was my surrogate mother after my mother passed. We we very close, I lost her to cancer 2016. We build a life around what we and the longins is just a soft weave in the background, it does not control us, but it is a whisper in the distance of our memories.

      As for the I tried it last night, but I have polyneuropathy – and fibromyalgia – sometimes my mind is just not strong enough block the sensations it gives to my skin. when the touch of a blanket hurts you… but you method would be useful if I have just thoughts twirling around in my head and needed to have them stop. Your comment was so open and I appreciate you sharing it. I feel even closer to you now.

      1. Ritva, so many losses and so much to live with. I didn’t know you had these things…I had two collegues suffering from these illnesses – but they didn’t have both at the same time.. How do you deal with it? how do you manage? But you are strong, I know. Hugs your way♥

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