Thanks Rebecca. Simple, true, painful and beautiful. When I read what you write it brings the world into focus. I discover that over time I don't get disappointed and pissed off as much as sometimes I notice a deep deep sadness that we create so much suffering. Then there is the deep deep peace that there is something more beyond and beneath the suffering. Like you, both are in me. Thanks Rebecca for being you.
Ah yes, that deep sadness is so pervasive, like the thick ink at the bottom of the jar that is underneath everything else flowing and moving. And then even under that is the everlasting peace that abides through it all, the stillness of the bottom of the deepest ocean. I am glad my words can bring things into focus for you, Ian. It’s an honor to allow myself to be myself here! And I always appreciate your engagement 💜
Wow Rebecca. I so appreciate that you are writing about this! And as usual, I love the searing honesty and humility behind the words. For me it speaks, in part, to the place where our would-be spiritual identities get fact-checked by the breath and depth of the crap we remain full of.
It’s like my “I’m-‘trying’-to-be-spiritual” self wants to sit in the cushy, comfortable cab of a new truck; with climate control, shock dampening seats, and great sound isolation to keep the ugly road noise out. Then I notice that the people passing me are looking at me with grimaces on their faces. They wave their hands in front of their noses as if in disgust. And then I remember the awesome truck I drive is also a honey wagon. It such is a powerful thing to realize that we are responsible for the meaning we make about what we think we see.
That’s another reason why I am enlivened by your piece. Most of us are afraid to step into that kind of power precisely because of the responsibility that comes with it. We’d rather keep projecting or blaming; ourselves or others. Or, more fairly, we just haven’t made the connection yet between the story we are telling about others and the one we are telling about ourselves.
So those skilfully worded “noticing” questions you pose in your piece are actually pretty fierce invitations. The one about envy, in particular, seemed to jump off the page and sock me in the jaw. So um, like, maybe there could be something in that one for me? 🤭😜
Can’t remember if I shared with you one of my favourite Anaïs Nin quotes. She says “We don’t see things are they are. We see them as we are.” And then I picture her taking a long haul off her french Citanes cigarette and nonchalantly blowing a plume of smoke into the air above her. 🚬👩🎨
Thank you as ever for sharing your writing and, most importantly, the soul at work behind it. ❤️
I so love your reflections and poetic responses that you offer here in the comments section, Marc - always!
"It such is a powerful thing to realize that we are responsible for the meaning we make about what we think we see... we just haven’t made the connection yet between the story we are telling about others and the one we are telling about ourselves." YES! This is all about meaning-making. We are meaning-making machines! And sometimes, this really benefits us and at other times, it is a thorn in our side. The finger we point at others has 4 fingers pointing back, as the saying goes.
To question our stories can certainly feel like a punch in the jaw, in a good way! You're welcome 😉 I call it "tough love". Love the Anais Nin quote!
Thanks Rebecca. Simple, true, painful and beautiful. When I read what you write it brings the world into focus. I discover that over time I don't get disappointed and pissed off as much as sometimes I notice a deep deep sadness that we create so much suffering. Then there is the deep deep peace that there is something more beyond and beneath the suffering. Like you, both are in me. Thanks Rebecca for being you.
Ah yes, that deep sadness is so pervasive, like the thick ink at the bottom of the jar that is underneath everything else flowing and moving. And then even under that is the everlasting peace that abides through it all, the stillness of the bottom of the deepest ocean. I am glad my words can bring things into focus for you, Ian. It’s an honor to allow myself to be myself here! And I always appreciate your engagement 💜
Wow Rebecca. I so appreciate that you are writing about this! And as usual, I love the searing honesty and humility behind the words. For me it speaks, in part, to the place where our would-be spiritual identities get fact-checked by the breath and depth of the crap we remain full of.
It’s like my “I’m-‘trying’-to-be-spiritual” self wants to sit in the cushy, comfortable cab of a new truck; with climate control, shock dampening seats, and great sound isolation to keep the ugly road noise out. Then I notice that the people passing me are looking at me with grimaces on their faces. They wave their hands in front of their noses as if in disgust. And then I remember the awesome truck I drive is also a honey wagon. It such is a powerful thing to realize that we are responsible for the meaning we make about what we think we see.
That’s another reason why I am enlivened by your piece. Most of us are afraid to step into that kind of power precisely because of the responsibility that comes with it. We’d rather keep projecting or blaming; ourselves or others. Or, more fairly, we just haven’t made the connection yet between the story we are telling about others and the one we are telling about ourselves.
So those skilfully worded “noticing” questions you pose in your piece are actually pretty fierce invitations. The one about envy, in particular, seemed to jump off the page and sock me in the jaw. So um, like, maybe there could be something in that one for me? 🤭😜
Can’t remember if I shared with you one of my favourite Anaïs Nin quotes. She says “We don’t see things are they are. We see them as we are.” And then I picture her taking a long haul off her french Citanes cigarette and nonchalantly blowing a plume of smoke into the air above her. 🚬👩🎨
Thank you as ever for sharing your writing and, most importantly, the soul at work behind it. ❤️
Peace,
Marc
I so love your reflections and poetic responses that you offer here in the comments section, Marc - always!
"It such is a powerful thing to realize that we are responsible for the meaning we make about what we think we see... we just haven’t made the connection yet between the story we are telling about others and the one we are telling about ourselves." YES! This is all about meaning-making. We are meaning-making machines! And sometimes, this really benefits us and at other times, it is a thorn in our side. The finger we point at others has 4 fingers pointing back, as the saying goes.
To question our stories can certainly feel like a punch in the jaw, in a good way! You're welcome 😉 I call it "tough love". Love the Anais Nin quote!