There’s so much here, oh my gosh. So many lines I want to call out for their beauty and just STUNNING WISDOM. I needed this read and this invitation so deeply. Thank you, thank you!
Thank You, Shannon, for reading and receiving! ❤️ I'm so happy to know you resonated with this story and even more so that it landed in a time of need. I am grateful for your kind words; they mean a lot to me!
Marvelous writing, thanks for putting it out there. The gateway of the body has been my work these past few years. I finally figured out that placing all of my attention on mental practices was ignoring half of my existence. Maybe even more since the body is the substrate for the mind. Realizing that my body isn't some meat suit dumbly awaiting my instructions; it has things to say and teach me, if I have the ears to listen. I'm still slooowly regaining its trust. But its been worth it.
Earl, thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts! I believe what you describe is quite common for many of us who dedicate ourselves to a practice of self-exploration. It is too easy to remain stuck in our minds that "do" the practice. I, too, had to wait until I realised that all this time, I was ignoring a significant part of my existence. Only after I entered an open conversation with my body did I feel more fully alive. I love how you put it "Realizing that my body isn't some meat suit dumbly awaiting my instructions; it has things to say and teach me, if I have the ears to listen." I'm happy you're walking this path, too! Sending hugs :)
"It might sound obvious to some, and I would hope it is!" I honestly don't think any of this is obvious to very many people in this world, though it's deeply needed. We're so constantly forgetful of our nature, of our place within nature, of the sort of fundamental daily miracle that is life on this earth and that we should be most constantly attuned to. So many other things more readily grasp the attention, though they hold little true value and sometimes great harm. So glad you've shared this journey so beautifully here 💕
Oh, and thank you so much for including me! So glad to have my musings woven into your musings!
It's very true! We keep forgetting. I wish more of us lived our lives seeing them as "fundamental daily miracle", as you write. How little would we need then to feel fulfilled? Just being and getting to experience the dailness of living would be enough most of the time. Perhaps this is what we can receive, if we open up to this gift: peaceful contentment.
Thank you for inspiring parts of this essay, Sydney! I am still deeply in awe by the writing you shared with us those few days ago ❤️
I like your choice of words - peaceful contentment. It seems to me a very precise description of the state that we are meant to operate in, and renews my motivation to keep that often in mind 💕
After re-reading with delight for the 3rd time your essay, admiring not only your elegant and beatifiully crafted writing but most importantly the depth and profound wisdom you bring to us as a precious gift, I can conclude you are almost perfect. If only you were not so ugly ;)
Just joking...you are perfect even if anyone or yourself thought you were ugly. That would be a thought, and thoughts are transient, ephemeral.
You are, beyond limiting thoughts, both human and divine, and as you wisely say, our bodies are a door to transform our understanding about what we all are. imho ths transformation is no only inward, not only a personal transformation. I believe this understanding can transform the world. How does our gaze transforms the world?
These days I am suffering in my body a lot with all the suffering I see in the world. I wonder how would be the conflict in Gaza gor example if people recognized and ackknowledged the humanity and divinity of all other people
I cannot change other people,but I can change how I see the world and how I see other people.I can acknowledge and feel the suffering in others.I cannot see through other people's perspectives but I can acknowledge that my perspective of the world is limited.
I still see you very ugly, but don't worry I love you anyway, as you are :)
sorry for my jokes and my verbosity but it's not easy for me to find people so awesome like you to express my thoughts as I am.
I would love to receive disagreement, is a good way to improve my way of seeing the world. Thanks for being as you are, beautiful, always, through all the infinite perspectives this world offers 🙏🏻 Thank you for being you, exactly as you are, now.
I appreciate so much you taking the time to re-read my essay and sit with it, allowing yourself to explore it, and for it to explore you as well :)
Unfortunately, I cannot offer disagreement as I find myself quite aligned with your words. I believe acknowledging the limitations of our perspective and allowing room for not-knowing within and beyond them is a vital step towards creating more peace around us. As you say, we cannot change other people, but we can always choose how we show up in the world. If we do it with integrity, humour, and open hearts, we offer light and warmth to others so that they, too, can begin opening up to their truth :)
thank you for your time and your attention, the rarest and purest form of generosity, as Simone Weil wrote once… thank you thousand times 🙏
and thank you for accepting my humour, by a moment I thought I had been too adventurous, but I see how big your heart is, accepting silly jokes from a stranger. you are truly wonderful
Such elegant writing. I needed to read this today. I had signed up to swim at the local Y for yesterday. I sent myself an email to remind myself: Swim Bitch at 1.
Yeah, didn’t get there. I’m so very unhappy with my body right now. I know I am overweight by 15 pounds. And not motivated enough to get proper exercise which I’ve always done in past. We should forgive ourselves in moments like this and feel what is making us feel stuck. For me, recent grief over some losses.
But, I say to myself, you are not a bitch!
Okay, I’m going to make an attempt to go over to an outdoor pool to swim some lanes. And hope I won’t freeze. Suddenly chilly here in Toronto today!
I'm sorry to hear you’re going through a lot right now, especially with the losses you’ve shared before. I truly admire your self-awareness and honesty. It's so important to be gentle with ourselves during tough times. Although the reminder you set for yourself made me laugh at first, it also made me think that perhaps some gentleness would be of help. Grief and loss can be incredibly challenging, and it's important to give ourselves the space to heal, even if that means letting the body be the way it is right now, against our wishes. It is temporary, and I know you know ❤️
Swimming is a lovely way to care for both your body and mind, and I also intend to do more of it. How was it? I hope you found it refreshing and invigorating, even with the chilly weather :)
Please, take things at your own pace, and remember that every effort counts. You've got this, and you're definitely not a bitch! Keep being kind to yourself :)
“A certain darkness is needed to see the stars” - Osho. Ever since I started controlled breathing exercises, cold showers, intermittent fasting and eating healthier, all kinds of traumatic memories have been coming up, long forgotten buried ones, but rather than fight them and push them back down, I’m observing them, like I would observe a bubble rising to the surface of the water, perhaps this is the nervous system releasing traumas, but I’m slowly feeling lighter and lighter, the burden of carrying so many bad memories was weighing me down, there’s a lot still to process, but I’m on the way. So glad your body is healing Justyna, and that’s a beautiful picture of you.
Dear Jan, I'm so happy to hear that this touched you and was just what you needed today! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, it means a lot ❤️
There’s so much here, oh my gosh. So many lines I want to call out for their beauty and just STUNNING WISDOM. I needed this read and this invitation so deeply. Thank you, thank you!
Thank You, Shannon, for reading and receiving! ❤️ I'm so happy to know you resonated with this story and even more so that it landed in a time of need. I am grateful for your kind words; they mean a lot to me!
Marvelous writing, thanks for putting it out there. The gateway of the body has been my work these past few years. I finally figured out that placing all of my attention on mental practices was ignoring half of my existence. Maybe even more since the body is the substrate for the mind. Realizing that my body isn't some meat suit dumbly awaiting my instructions; it has things to say and teach me, if I have the ears to listen. I'm still slooowly regaining its trust. But its been worth it.
Earl, thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts! I believe what you describe is quite common for many of us who dedicate ourselves to a practice of self-exploration. It is too easy to remain stuck in our minds that "do" the practice. I, too, had to wait until I realised that all this time, I was ignoring a significant part of my existence. Only after I entered an open conversation with my body did I feel more fully alive. I love how you put it "Realizing that my body isn't some meat suit dumbly awaiting my instructions; it has things to say and teach me, if I have the ears to listen." I'm happy you're walking this path, too! Sending hugs :)
Wow, Justyna, what a deeply moving exploration!
"It might sound obvious to some, and I would hope it is!" I honestly don't think any of this is obvious to very many people in this world, though it's deeply needed. We're so constantly forgetful of our nature, of our place within nature, of the sort of fundamental daily miracle that is life on this earth and that we should be most constantly attuned to. So many other things more readily grasp the attention, though they hold little true value and sometimes great harm. So glad you've shared this journey so beautifully here 💕
Oh, and thank you so much for including me! So glad to have my musings woven into your musings!
It's very true! We keep forgetting. I wish more of us lived our lives seeing them as "fundamental daily miracle", as you write. How little would we need then to feel fulfilled? Just being and getting to experience the dailness of living would be enough most of the time. Perhaps this is what we can receive, if we open up to this gift: peaceful contentment.
Thank you for inspiring parts of this essay, Sydney! I am still deeply in awe by the writing you shared with us those few days ago ❤️
I like your choice of words - peaceful contentment. It seems to me a very precise description of the state that we are meant to operate in, and renews my motivation to keep that often in mind 💕
After re-reading with delight for the 3rd time your essay, admiring not only your elegant and beatifiully crafted writing but most importantly the depth and profound wisdom you bring to us as a precious gift, I can conclude you are almost perfect. If only you were not so ugly ;)
Just joking...you are perfect even if anyone or yourself thought you were ugly. That would be a thought, and thoughts are transient, ephemeral.
You are, beyond limiting thoughts, both human and divine, and as you wisely say, our bodies are a door to transform our understanding about what we all are. imho ths transformation is no only inward, not only a personal transformation. I believe this understanding can transform the world. How does our gaze transforms the world?
These days I am suffering in my body a lot with all the suffering I see in the world. I wonder how would be the conflict in Gaza gor example if people recognized and ackknowledged the humanity and divinity of all other people
I cannot change other people,but I can change how I see the world and how I see other people.I can acknowledge and feel the suffering in others.I cannot see through other people's perspectives but I can acknowledge that my perspective of the world is limited.
I still see you very ugly, but don't worry I love you anyway, as you are :)
sorry for my jokes and my verbosity but it's not easy for me to find people so awesome like you to express my thoughts as I am.
I would love to receive disagreement, is a good way to improve my way of seeing the world. Thanks for being as you are, beautiful, always, through all the infinite perspectives this world offers 🙏🏻 Thank you for being you, exactly as you are, now.
Dear Forrest,
I appreciate so much you taking the time to re-read my essay and sit with it, allowing yourself to explore it, and for it to explore you as well :)
Unfortunately, I cannot offer disagreement as I find myself quite aligned with your words. I believe acknowledging the limitations of our perspective and allowing room for not-knowing within and beyond them is a vital step towards creating more peace around us. As you say, we cannot change other people, but we can always choose how we show up in the world. If we do it with integrity, humour, and open hearts, we offer light and warmth to others so that they, too, can begin opening up to their truth :)
thank you for your time and your attention, the rarest and purest form of generosity, as Simone Weil wrote once… thank you thousand times 🙏
and thank you for accepting my humour, by a moment I thought I had been too adventurous, but I see how big your heart is, accepting silly jokes from a stranger. you are truly wonderful
Such elegant writing. I needed to read this today. I had signed up to swim at the local Y for yesterday. I sent myself an email to remind myself: Swim Bitch at 1.
Yeah, didn’t get there. I’m so very unhappy with my body right now. I know I am overweight by 15 pounds. And not motivated enough to get proper exercise which I’ve always done in past. We should forgive ourselves in moments like this and feel what is making us feel stuck. For me, recent grief over some losses.
But, I say to myself, you are not a bitch!
Okay, I’m going to make an attempt to go over to an outdoor pool to swim some lanes. And hope I won’t freeze. Suddenly chilly here in Toronto today!
Dear Elizabeth,
Thank you for your kind words about my writing ❤️
I'm sorry to hear you’re going through a lot right now, especially with the losses you’ve shared before. I truly admire your self-awareness and honesty. It's so important to be gentle with ourselves during tough times. Although the reminder you set for yourself made me laugh at first, it also made me think that perhaps some gentleness would be of help. Grief and loss can be incredibly challenging, and it's important to give ourselves the space to heal, even if that means letting the body be the way it is right now, against our wishes. It is temporary, and I know you know ❤️
Swimming is a lovely way to care for both your body and mind, and I also intend to do more of it. How was it? I hope you found it refreshing and invigorating, even with the chilly weather :)
Please, take things at your own pace, and remember that every effort counts. You've got this, and you're definitely not a bitch! Keep being kind to yourself :)
“A certain darkness is needed to see the stars” - Osho. Ever since I started controlled breathing exercises, cold showers, intermittent fasting and eating healthier, all kinds of traumatic memories have been coming up, long forgotten buried ones, but rather than fight them and push them back down, I’m observing them, like I would observe a bubble rising to the surface of the water, perhaps this is the nervous system releasing traumas, but I’m slowly feeling lighter and lighter, the burden of carrying so many bad memories was weighing me down, there’s a lot still to process, but I’m on the way. So glad your body is healing Justyna, and that’s a beautiful picture of you.
Thanks a million to you, Smita, for reading and appreciating! ❤️
Dear Jan, I'm so happy to hear that this touched you and was just what you needed today! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, it means a lot ❤️