Where the Crawdads Sing- Reflection
Dear Readers,
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is one of my favorite books. Owens writes with beautiful, descriptive language of nature and her words carry heavy weight. Owens takes readers through the journey of the main character, Kya, as she navigates life, relationships, and living in the wild. I find certain quotes particularly touching and seek lessons from them, and I wanted to share my interpretation of these quotes because I think you might be inspired by them as well.
“For Kya, it was enough to be part of this natural sequence as sure as the tides. She was bonded to her planet and its life in a way few people are. Rooted solid in this earth. Born of this mother.” Kya is very connected to nature; they call her the “marsh girl” because nature is her comfort and safe place. Like Kya, we can learn to see nature as our mother earth that keeps us grounded. Sometimes if I am feeling adrift or lost, I go for a walk in nature and it helps me feel found, grounded, and secure. As I look at the leaves blowing in the wind and feel the air on my skin, the fog drifts from my mind and I can see more clearly. Nature can be our sanctuary of reflection.
“Sunsets are never simple. Twilight is refracted and reflected. But never true. Eventide is a disguise. Covering tracks, Covering lies.” While the sunset may appear simple, it carries complexity if you examine its intricacies. The shimmering sun over drifting waves, the sky a canvas of orange and pink, darkening as night falls. Where does the light lead and where does it end? What lies on the horizon? Like sunsets, most aspects of life are more complex than they seem if you look closely. Rather than going through life with a mentality of simplicity, dig a little deeper to understand the meaning of what you perceive and experience. There usually lies something deeper beyond what the eyes can see, beneath the surface.
“Alone, she’d been scared, but that was already humming as excitement. There was something else, too. The calmness of the boy. She’d never known anybody to speak or move so steady. So sure and easy. Just being near him, and not even that close, had eased her tightness. For the first time since Ma and Jodie left, she breathed without pain; felt something other than hurt.” Kya meets a boy, Tate, who eases the tightness in her chest. He makes her feel calm and free. Find people who bring you peace and pull you down to earth. Energy is contagious. If you surround yourself with positive, peaceful energy, you will feed off of it and likely feel more content and satisfied.
“She touched the pages and remembered each shell and the story of finding it, where it lay on the beach, the season, the sunrise. A family album.” It is amazing the memories that can be associated with one object, song, book, etc. As I once read, our brains are association machines. One shell can bring Kya to the moment she found it and the atmosphere that surrounded it. What associations do you have? What meaning do the physical possessions in your life hold? Take time to think about the associations that you have with particularly salient items in your life. Reflecting on what carries importance to you can make you appreciate it more.
“Marsh is a space of light, where grass grows in water, and water flows into the sky. Slow-moving creeks wander, carrying the orb of the sun with them to the sea, and long-legged birds lift with unexpected grace….” I have a soft spot for this description of the marsh because Kiawah Island, South Carolina is one of my favorite places to enjoy nature as it contains wonderful marshland. There is something about the grass tucked into the shallow water and the skies reflection on top of it with swans flying in and out that creates a particularly calming atmosphere to be a part of.
“The heart-pain seeped away like water into sand. Still there, but deep.” I think two emotions in particular cut so deep that they never fully leave. Love and pain. Even when they seep away, they still remain deep down. However, we should learn from them, grow, and keep moving forward and flourishing. The deeper the emotions seep, the stronger they can make us.
“She could read anything now, he said, and once you can read anything you can learn everything. It was up to her. “Nobody’s come close to filling their brains,” he said. “We’re all like giraffes not using their necks to reach the higher leaves.” There is always space for us to continue learning; I see our brains and minds as bottomless. We can always gain new knowledge and perspectives and must seek new experiences and opportunities to learn. Life is a continuous journey of discovery.
“Faces change with life’s toll, but eyes remain a window to what was…” We all age, develop, and evolve over time, but our eyes stay the same. Our eyes tell so much about us. They share a glimpse of where our attention lies, who we care about, the emotions we hold, and the memories we have. If you want to read people, look them in the eyes. Eyes never lie.
“Never underrate the heart, Capable of deeds The mind cannot conceive. The heart dictates as well as feels. How else can you explain The path I have taken, That you have taken The long way through this pass?” The heart can be a powerful compass; emotions can be consuming. Sometimes, it is important to decide when to let the heart and when to let the mind guide your path.
“That’s what sisters and girlfriends are all about. Sticking together even in the mud, ’specially in mud.” Quality friendships are those that sustain through thick and thin. Prioritize friends and family as these are the people that have your back through all of life’s challenges, changes, and adventures. These strong connections are what life is all about.
“I wasn't aware that words could hold so much. I didn't know a sentence could be so full.” It is amazing that words can carry weight. Sometimes someone will say something to you or you will read a quote that sticks with you forever. Words can just be words, but when they come from the heart, they feel heavy. Be purposeful with your words. They have the power to cut deep or uplift someone.
“Her collections matured, categorized methodically…. The science and art entwined in each other’s strengths: the colors, the light, the species, the life; weaving a masterpiece of knowledge and beauty that filled every corner of her shack.” Whatever your passion is or whatever you collect, keep building or adding to this. I keep letters that my grandfather writes me in a special folder. If you make art, keep your pieces in a sacred place and continue to create. Kya keeps her shells and art in her shack that becomes more beautiful over time the more she adds to it. Find what you value and keep growing this space in your life in a special place, both literally and figuratively.
“She knew his favorite lagoons and paths through difficult quagmires; always following him at a safe distance. Sneaking about, stealing love. Never sharing it. You can’t get hurt when you love someone from the other side of an estuary.” Love may pull us to be close, but sometimes distance is healthy. We can learn to admire and care from afar. The right amount of space can save room for independence.
“Like a migrating tern who has flown ten thousand miles to her natal shore, her mind pounded with the longing and expectation of home…” Like birds, people often crave and gravitate towards home as a safe place. Many of us long for home when we are not there. To me, people make a place home. Oftentimes, it is not where you are, but who you are with. Our hearts long for the place and people that make us feel at home. Safe. Comfortable. Familiar. No matter where we are or end up, we always have a special place in our hearts for home.
“Kya knew from reading Albert Einstein’s books that time is no more fixed than the stars. Time speeds and bends around planets and suns, is different in the mountains than in the valleys, and is part of the same fabric as space, which curves and swells as does the sea.” Just as the stars align in purposeful ways, time evolves in a natural manner. I believe that the sequence of our lives is not on a fixed schedule, but rather occurs naturally as it is meant to. I often tell myself that what is meant to be will be. I trust the way the stars make shapes, and I trust life to fall into place.
“I am the marsh now. I am a firefly. That’s where you’ll always find me, way back yonder, where the crawdads sing.” Find your sanctuary and happy place. A space with people who bring you joy and peace. A spot to reflect. Go there and cherish it.
I love this book for all of the wonderful lessons that it teaches. I highly recommend.
Love,
Samantha
Owens, Delia. Where the Crawdads Sing. New York, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2018.
