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Gratefulness
Lots of setbacks and loss – work, loved ones, friends, aging. These experiences have led me to a contemplative spiritual community and practices, both formal and informal. Meditation, yoga, walking, reading, drawing, writing, solitude, retreat, connecting with nature, friends and a faith community have all shaped my spiritual life.
Peace and awakening to a kinder way of being with ourselves, each other and our beautiful world.
Through lovingkindness practice. In silence or any language. By saying no to the huge guilt and pressure that I feel from a question like this, and expressing a true gesture from the heart. By keeping it simple. Practice.
Ruminating – thoughts, feelings, fears, old and repeating stories, tons of thoughts and feelings to acknowledge and let go of … to allow space for the new and what is unfolding …
Breakfast????
A quiet, invisible healing energy that touches, shapes, teaches, forms, informs, blesses, guides and companions us for on our journeys. …
I have no idea where to begin to name the kindnesses I have experienced. Perhaps now is a good time to begin…
The poem Kindness by Naomi Shihab Nye touches on my experience of awakening to kindness. I appreciate Kevin’s touching on the notion of reciprocity, which is somewhere in the fabric of the subtle energies and exchanges of kindness. Perhaps this relates to karma as well?
Kindness Naomi Shihab Nye, 1952
Before you know what kindness reall...
Before you know what kindness really is you must lose things, feel the future dissolve in a moment like salt in a weakened broth. What you held in your hand, what you counted and carefully saved, all this must go so you know how desolate the landscape can be between the regions of kindness. How you ride and ride thinking the bus will never stop, the passengers eating maize and chicken will stare out the window forever.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho lies dead by the side of the road. You must see how this could be you, how he too was someone who journeyed through the night with plans and the simple breath that kept him alive.
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside, you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing. You must wake up with sorrow. You must speak to it till your voice catches the thread of all sorrows and you see the size of the cloth. Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore, only kindness that ties your shoes and sends you out into the day to gaze at bread, only kindness that raises its head from the crowd of the world to say It is I you have been looking for, and then goes with you everywhere like a shadow or a friend.
Hanging out in my mind and lettting it run the show, rather than connecting and engaging more fully through my body. May need more animals and children in my life. More yoga, meditation, music, dance, nature, good food and company … Chickens are a bit complicated!
I agree with much of what others have said. In being present as best I can, I try to be thoughtful about what is going on for the other person, as well as what is going on for me.
Thanks SeeAreLow. Your reflection really resonates for me 🙂
Thanks Gina. Yes!
Yes!
Thank you Jill, Such beautiful words – that grace is beyond our own limitations of love. I think of the story of the man who wrote the song Amazing Grace. I believe he was a slave trader, had a change of heart (grace?) in the middle of the ocean, turned the ship around and headed back to Africa with a full ship of people destined for America and life as slaves. And – he wrote a song that has captured grace for many generations ::-) I hope I have this story close enough :-...
Thank you Jill, Such beautiful words – that grace is beyond our own limitations of love. I think of the story of the man who wrote the song Amazing Grace. I believe he was a slave trader, had a change of heart (grace?) in the middle of the ocean, turned the ship around and headed back to Africa with a full ship of people destined for America and life as slaves. And – he wrote a song that has captured grace for many generations ::-) I hope I have this story close enough :-)!
Francine, Oh my goodness, your story and experience is so touching, and helps me to appreciate the words of your poem even more. Now I must reflect more deeply on grace, and my own experiences. Your deep listening and poetry is such a generous gift! Wishing you many magical moments of grace on your journey…. .
Francine. Thank you for sharing your beautiful words????????
So true, Malag. So, so true …
Thanks Kevin. Yes, the two way exchange is such a key thing…. Also noticing others’ kindness when it if freely offered. Beautiful. KC
Hi Aine,
Thanks so much. So helpful to know that a reputable animal rescue operation will take good care of the animals to help them transition well, and that the older ones are often easier to transition. I have not yet won the ‘head’ argument with my husband to have a dog in the house, so perhaps will bring one home on trial and challenge his heart! Really appreciate your note, as it keeps my dream of having a dog in our house alive 🙂 KC
Thank you! ???????????????? …
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