Yes, yes and yes! Louis Pasteur said, “Chance favors the prepared mind.” This year I am trying to prepare my mind for more positivity. I recently stopped watching Fargo, which I had only stumbled on. Way too violent. I’m also reducing my news intake, which might not be saying much given I am a news junkie. But I’m cutting way back. Also: COLD WATER!! Barton Springs is a hot tub compared to your plunge, but I still find it refreshing. Happy New Year!
YES! The water was so cold that I honestly couldn't feel my vulva for like 10 minutes, but it was a wonderful jolt into 2024. I am so over excessive violence on film—but I also think if half the violence depicted towards women was doled out to men...men would mutiny the fuck away from a show in a heartbeat. Am I wrong? Doubt it. I, too, am a news junkie, but I am trying to temper my intake with more nourishing activity like writing poetry, writing to media and political leaders, and of course reading about the interesting positive developments and cool historical context stuff that remind me of what an amazing time we live in. Happy New Year to you!
I love this! It's a theme -- I just saw Spike's IG post which shared a similar sentiment. I've also been reflecting on this for many years -- starting when I heard a quote by Mother Theresa in response to a question about how she deals with conflict or opposition. She said, just be FOR what you are FOR, instead of being against what you are not for. (Or something like that.) It's like you said with the motorcycle -- in fact, this is how I taught my kids to ride a bike! Just focus on where you want to go. Unfortunately it is absolutely true that, just as with riding a bike, as soon as we focus on what we are avoiding, bam. There we are, exactly where we intended not to be. There's another piece, though -- and that is the intention behind the intention. Are we acting out of love, or out of fear? Even actions that seem on the surface to be productive, can get twisted if they are done out of fear. I find this is a constant source of work and reflection for me as mother. I have an idea of what is good for my kids -- but why do I want it? Because I love them, or because I am afraid for them? And how do I then respond? Is my response then motivated by my love, or by my fear? Same for myself, and for anything I want to do for the world...
This is SUCH a good point: love vs fear. It's really hard to be only motivated by love when we live in a society (American society anyway) that is so ruled by fear. Also with children, sometimes those decisions get really muddled and inextricably twined. Surely I moved to Europe out of love for my unborn child, but also due to fear of what the USA might become next. Sometimes fear isn't the worst thing, right? I think there is a fine line between moving towards with love and moving away in fear. Perhaps the lesson is that there are no binary absolutes, especially when it comes to how we act and why.
Exactly. In homeopathy, we talk about appropriate, vs pathological responses, including fear. Is the fear that we are feeling proportional to the situation that we find ourselves in? If so, it’s good information about the present moment...however, often we are having a fear that we *think* is about our current situation but is actually resonating with a deeper, unconscious fear about a situation in our past that wasn’t integrated. In that case it is hard to take appropriate action because the information we’re getting is skewed. I think this is why it can be such hard work to be a parent...at least for me, my kids trigger *all* my childhood stuff, lol. Anyway. Interesting conversation, thank you!! And now maybe I’ll go write my own post about the homeopathic perspective on this! Hmmm... xo
And what should appear in my inbox but a notice about a workshop at my favorite yoga studio where we will learn more about working with drishti! Obviously I have to take it.
I remember my drivers' ed instructors in high school teaching us something similar about not looking into the ditch when driving down the road. It's been useful and broadly applicable advice for much of my life now.
Yes, yes and yes! Louis Pasteur said, “Chance favors the prepared mind.” This year I am trying to prepare my mind for more positivity. I recently stopped watching Fargo, which I had only stumbled on. Way too violent. I’m also reducing my news intake, which might not be saying much given I am a news junkie. But I’m cutting way back. Also: COLD WATER!! Barton Springs is a hot tub compared to your plunge, but I still find it refreshing. Happy New Year!
YES! The water was so cold that I honestly couldn't feel my vulva for like 10 minutes, but it was a wonderful jolt into 2024. I am so over excessive violence on film—but I also think if half the violence depicted towards women was doled out to men...men would mutiny the fuck away from a show in a heartbeat. Am I wrong? Doubt it. I, too, am a news junkie, but I am trying to temper my intake with more nourishing activity like writing poetry, writing to media and political leaders, and of course reading about the interesting positive developments and cool historical context stuff that remind me of what an amazing time we live in. Happy New Year to you!
I love this! It's a theme -- I just saw Spike's IG post which shared a similar sentiment. I've also been reflecting on this for many years -- starting when I heard a quote by Mother Theresa in response to a question about how she deals with conflict or opposition. She said, just be FOR what you are FOR, instead of being against what you are not for. (Or something like that.) It's like you said with the motorcycle -- in fact, this is how I taught my kids to ride a bike! Just focus on where you want to go. Unfortunately it is absolutely true that, just as with riding a bike, as soon as we focus on what we are avoiding, bam. There we are, exactly where we intended not to be. There's another piece, though -- and that is the intention behind the intention. Are we acting out of love, or out of fear? Even actions that seem on the surface to be productive, can get twisted if they are done out of fear. I find this is a constant source of work and reflection for me as mother. I have an idea of what is good for my kids -- but why do I want it? Because I love them, or because I am afraid for them? And how do I then respond? Is my response then motivated by my love, or by my fear? Same for myself, and for anything I want to do for the world...
This is SUCH a good point: love vs fear. It's really hard to be only motivated by love when we live in a society (American society anyway) that is so ruled by fear. Also with children, sometimes those decisions get really muddled and inextricably twined. Surely I moved to Europe out of love for my unborn child, but also due to fear of what the USA might become next. Sometimes fear isn't the worst thing, right? I think there is a fine line between moving towards with love and moving away in fear. Perhaps the lesson is that there are no binary absolutes, especially when it comes to how we act and why.
Exactly. In homeopathy, we talk about appropriate, vs pathological responses, including fear. Is the fear that we are feeling proportional to the situation that we find ourselves in? If so, it’s good information about the present moment...however, often we are having a fear that we *think* is about our current situation but is actually resonating with a deeper, unconscious fear about a situation in our past that wasn’t integrated. In that case it is hard to take appropriate action because the information we’re getting is skewed. I think this is why it can be such hard work to be a parent...at least for me, my kids trigger *all* my childhood stuff, lol. Anyway. Interesting conversation, thank you!! And now maybe I’ll go write my own post about the homeopathic perspective on this! Hmmm... xo
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I seek solutions journalism too. Live David Byrne’s Reasons to be Cheerful
Thank you! This is great!
My son gave me Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea for me to re-read this year. I can't remember it at all.
Ooooooh I hope it's as good as you don't remember, lol.
And what should appear in my inbox but a notice about a workshop at my favorite yoga studio where we will learn more about working with drishti! Obviously I have to take it.
I remember my drivers' ed instructors in high school teaching us something similar about not looking into the ditch when driving down the road. It's been useful and broadly applicable advice for much of my life now.