Friday, April 6, 2012

"F" is for Fences and "G" is for Gates....

Perceptions + Quotes + Reality =
A to Z Challenge


I took the liberty of combining the letters ‘F’ and ‘G’ for this challenge as it seemed applicable to something a friend once delicately implied—‘Your fences are low, but your gates are high!’
Ummm, interesting…since I value this longtime friend as well as her opinions I gave her notion some considerable thought as I desired to hear her words with my heart, not just my head.

Fences are barriers that enclose or border an area which prevents entrance. They are also used to confine or mark a boundary. Fences abundantly dot our landscapes to obstruct or corral creatures; human or otherwise. Although they are used to keep inhabitants out, interactions persist across the barrier, although guarded.
Gates on the other hand are positioned strategically as a tool or device to allow entrance. We embrace the keys to the entries and permit others to be close to us or even choose to leave us through our proverbial doorways.

She’s spot on, I concluded. In terms of people, relationships abound but I choose those that enter or gain restricted gate access.
How about you? Are your fences high and your gates low? Or vice versa?

"Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up."
by Robert Frost


50 comments:

Just Be Real said...

Hmmmmm....... I just know my walls have come down over the years around my heart. Have a few still remaining. Love the analogy of your fences and gates though. Blessings to you Tracy.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Tracy .. interesting post - low fences .. yes I have those and I have open fields around me; gates though - perhaps they're very high. Some words to ponder ..

Thanks for your visit .. cheers Hilary

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Great post enjoyed the F and G together, Good idea.

Yvonne,

Jessica L. Celaya said...

Interesting. I've never thought about fences and gates, but your friends quote makes sense. I do have a pretty high gate. Not sure about my fence though.

From the Kitchen said...

I'll have to give that question some thought. I like the quote from Robert Frost.

Best,
Bonnie

Old Kitty said...

Your friend is wise and lovely!

I guess I have high fences and high gates! Oh dear! It takes a hell of a lot for people to get to know the inside I keep hidden and protected!

Take care
x

Sharkbytes said...

High fences, High gates! Good post. I'm trying to visit all the A-Z Challenge Blogs this month.

Connie said...

That's an interesting concept. I'll have to give that one some thought. Sometimes I think my fences and gates should be higher because I think I'm too trusting of some people, and then other times, I think I should lower them because I am kind of quiet and introverted. Interesting post!

Jules said...

Well said my friend! Mine are both high with land mines guarding them. :)

Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

TexWisGirl said...

your friend sounds wise.

Catherine said...

I don't have any gates ~ just fences. ;)
Wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend Tracy!
xo Catherine

Robyn Campbell said...

You have a very wise pal. And that quote is really something. I thought I knew all of Robert Frost's quotes, but not sure I have read this one.

I love the way you tied F and G together. I have a lot of fences up. I have a special gate for the hubby and kids to enter through. I might need one more gate. :-)

Happy Resurrection Sunday.

Bish Denham said...

I would say my fences are low and my gates high. What you see over the fence is pretty much what you get, but I'm slow to open the gate to any or every one.

Martha said...

Interesting, I will definitely be giving this some thought!

Unknown said...

Mine should be higher... but I am pretty open and trusting.. :-)
Great post.

Tracy Jo said...

So beautiful and thought provoking. I would say that my fences are now lowered and my gates are higher. I let people in but am a bit more careful how close they get to my heart. :-) Happy weekend!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thought provoking question - I think it depends. There are some days when my fence is high, and some days when it's low and the gates are wide open. Nice combination post!

Love your Eeyore post too!

Anonymous said...

Interesting post and great photo. I love the quote by R. Frost!

Ginny Hartzler said...

Interesting, and I never really thought about it before....really thought provoking!

Unknown said...

What an interesting and thought provoking post! I would say that I too have low fences in that I allow lots of people 'into' my life but that gate into the heart and soul is guarded a little more securely! :) Awesome job today on the challenge!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Oh honey, I tore down my fences long ago...I'm open to all!!!

God bless ya and have a magnificent Easter Weekend sweetie!!! :o)

Donna K. Weaver said...

This is a lovely and profound post. It's making me wonder about myself.

Thanks! Internal reflection's always good for me. =D

Karen Jones Gowen said...

What an interesting post. I'd never heard that expression. Yes, I'd say that applies to me as well lol. Thank you for your comment on my post today! Since you have a book out and are looking for angles, I do hope you will look into Celery Tree!

Empty Nester said...

I love this perspective. Or I did. Until I realized that both my fences AND my gates are HIGH. Looks like I've got some self-exploration to do.

Grammy said...

Hi, I have no gates or fences. I just love people and am very trusting. People can approach me without fear of reproach. I can spot bull hockey a mile away. Ha. I enjoyed your post. I have a lot more blogs to hop this afternoon. Best regards to you. Ruby

Joanne said...

Love this post and it made me think. Very provoking and I liked the Robert Frost quote. I'm glad I visited. www.wordsplash-joannefaries.blogspot.com

Julie Flanders said...

Very thought-provoking post! I admit my gates are quite high, but once I let people in I am very loyal. I do have lower fences, but I still tend to be guarded. Great post, and Happy Easter to you and your family!

My Mind's Eye said...

Happy Easter to you And you family
What a beautiful and thoughtful post

Hugs
Madi

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hmmmmmmm---you are making me think tonight, aren't you????? Hard for me after a wonderful but tiring trip!!!! ha

WELL---guess I'm a boundaries person... I like those boundaries/fences so that I'll know where I stand and how far I can roam!!!!!

It's hard to step out of those comfy fences---but I know that we need to do that. I guess that is what gates are for...

Fences, on the other hand, prevent others (including animals) from entering 'my' area... I like that!!!!

Even after trying to convince myself that I don't need fences/boundaries---I keep coming back to my original thought. I guess I'm more of a fence person...

Interesting study, Tracy.

Happy Easter.
Hugs,
Betsy

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

I will have to think about this. I know my gates are high. I'm pretty guarded in letting people get too close. But the fences--I'm not a recluse, but I'm pretty introverted.

Great post--you got me thinking!

Patricia Stoltey said...

My neighborhood is full of high fences, and there are big dogs behind most of them. For that reason, most of the gates are high as well. That's Northern Colorado...

Huntress said...

My fence/gates are about the same height, I'd say. With a guard dog on the inside. :)

Annalisa Crawford said...

I think I actually have two sets of fences - the outer one is low enough to step over, the inner one is very high, but with a gateless gap, if you look hard enough.

If this makes me come across as a freak, please ignore, because I'm not... I'm really not :-)

Libby said...

Good question. I've moved around a lot so I'm super easy going about making casual friendships. Deep friendships, way harder.

Nikki (Sarah) said...

Reading your post made me think.....I used to have incredible high walls....ones that hardly let anyone in...He helped break those down. Now I have boundary fences with gates that are always open. I won't live protecting myself from hurt anymore....but I do recognize I need to have boundaries...
Happy Easter!!!!

Brian's Home Blog said...

Every fence has a gate if you seek the opening! Have a Happy Hoppy Easter!

Inger said...

What a great post, you really gave me something to think about here. I love to be alone, but I also like people and have good friends.

Jaime said...

I love this post. I never thought of "fences" or "gates", I often think of "walls". The walls I've built up over the years. Many of them necessary when working in social services but most of them affecting me in personal ways. I will definitely remember this post.

Sherry Ellis said...

I like your post! I'd have to say I have high fences and low gates. Good things to think about!

Jen said...

What a fabulous post, love the whole gate and fence put together in one post, makes me go hmm!

Thinking about this I'd say I have low gate and high fence.

that guy said...

i read some where...fences keep people out and keep people in.

i have few fences and few gates, being i am gregarious and high maintenance...

or an applause junkie...whatever..chuckle! chuckle...

good luck in the challenge!

Beth Zimmerman said...

I suspect that both of mine are higher than perhaps they should be! :)

Heather Murphy said...

This is an excellent analogy. I'd have to say I am the opposite. My fences are low but my gates are high. I let anyone in on a "surface" level but rarely anyone gets past that.

Lisa said...

Great post and wonderful question. I think my fence is low but my gates have armed guards...:)

What a great blog, I can't wait for your next post!

Hart Johnson said...

Oh, great post. I think both of mine are low. Or maybe I have more the equivalent of an electronic fence and any old person can come in or out as they please until they do something to earn a collar. Then, those very few, can't cross the boundary anymore.

Jan Morrison said...

I like having fences - it means that I am protected and can play with more abandon. My gates aren't high but they aren't wide open either. Of course some of my clever friends use the stile...

Julie Daines said...

Nice saying. I think those of us who are introverts keep our gates very high. Interesting stuff to think about.

momto8 said...

our neighborhood has a no fence rule.

KathyA said...

Ah! So very profound! And that quote by Frost is perfect. Before I spotted it, I was thinking of his poem "Mending Wall" from THE BIRCHES collection.

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