Handles and hinges
Come on in, but mind the hardware. An inviting doorway in the Cotswolds, England, July 2017
“To the optimist all doors have handles and hinges; to the pessimist, all doors have locks and latches.” — William Arthur Ward
As soon as I read this quote, I thought “I’m a handles and hinges person.” But on reflection, I realized that I also rely on locks and latches, increasingly so the older I grow. It’s not just the need for physical security that is understandably felt by a widow living mostly alone. The handles and hinges, locks and latches all have symbolic meaning as well.
As we grow older, experience teaches us that not everyone is worthy of the trust granted by open doors and windows, whether to our homes or to our hearts. I’ve come to understand that the privacy guarded so closely by my husband and our older son does have a measure of wisdom, provided it does not become purely selfish, as it all too easily can.
I’ve learned to cultivate an appreciation for boundaries and privacy, but I remain convinced that a healthy and happy heart must remain open to new possibilities. My continued hope now is to maintain a cheery, inviting doorway that will draw people in, whether that be a door to my home, or my blog, or my life. And I hope that the handles and hinges will see far more use than the locks and latches. But there’s a reason for all that hardware, and I’m keeping all of it.
Defeat Despair 