I recently read a post on Instagram,“if you love someone, go out of your way to show them” and it really made me think about that concept. Like, yeah! I like that! It’s so easy to think or assume that people know we love them.
But that’s usually when there’s a communication break down and that nutty cycle of one person who stops demonstrating their love and then the other person responds in kind and then what? There is no love being communicated so yeah, I agree… if you love someone then go out of your way to show them.
I think this poem by Pablo Neruda demonstrates this so beautifully:
“Well, now
If little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you
Little by little
If suddenly you forget me
Do not look for me
For I shall already have forgotten you
If you think it long and mad the wind of banners that passes through my life
And you decide to leave me at the shore of the heart where I have roots
Remember
That on that day, at that hour, I shall lift my arms
And my roots will set off to seek another land”
― Pablo Neruda
Of course, this doesn’t mean every minute of every day… but imagine the response and effect it will have on the person you do that with and the difference you will make in their lives… and love begets love.
It’s such a simple way to look at love, but so darn important… going out of our way.
That’s one reason I was so intrigued with the crosses I found on the side of the roads.
Someone went out of their way to paint a cross, buy flowers, add a memento, write a note or even recreate the vehicle that the person passed away in, like they did here for Hector in Baja.
How incredibly loving.
I think that’s one of the things that touched me when I began documenting these crosses in 2001. I’ve enjoyed the process of collecting those photos and writing poems through fictionalized voices to accompany them.
I’m very happy to share this work and this representation of a love so strong between people. You can get your copy of Las Cruces, Intersections on Amazon in hard cover or paper back and if you have Prime, it’s free shipping.
If you buy it and add it to your collection of books, I hope you’ll let me know what your favorite poem is and also add a review on Amazon.
I always love to hear your stories relating to what I share here so please feel free let me know.
These crosses remind me to ask myself, “what’s one thing I could do today to show someone that I love them and not take them for granted?” We never know when we might lose them.
Yeah, going out of our way to show our love to someone, to as many people as possible… I think I’ll do more of that.
Hope you do too and that someone goes out of their way to show you they love you! And while we’re at it… why not go out of our way to demonstrate some love to ourselves too.
Big love,
Robbie
Las Cruces
How many souls do we pass on the sides of the highway?
Souls, no longer attached to bodies,
Perched like crows on bleachers
As the parade of the living drives by.
To ignore las cruces
Is to turn away from one’s own soul.
On this unpredictable road,
We could be taken tomorrow
By nature, man, speed, recklessness, fate.
Las Cruces,
Journeying to their destination.
Like you, like me.
Some have barely been in the world.
Others have been here twice as long as me,
Three times as long as you.
They leave stories, imagination and hope.
Las cruces, Reminders to stay awake.
For those who live,
For those who die,
Las Cruces.
Robbie Kaye (A poem from Las Cruces, Intersections)
