I was reacquainted with a quote recently that reminds me of caring versus curing. “the first duty of love is to listen.”
I, especially in my role as a mom, want to jump in with “suggestions.” I’m really trying to simply be the witnessing ear. Not the talking head. Somedays I am.
Sitting with you in grief as I lost my father-in-law two days ago. Yesterday at night my man made a lifestream so we could watch the holy mass on a Google meet, all of us who could not be in Bolivia with him. The climate makes it necessary for the body to be buried quickly, there isn’t much space for grieving. Even the music played at the burial was on the uplifting side, very different from the grave pieces (pun intended) we have here in Austria. Your requested answers to your questions will follow today, they are of course as always perfectly orchestrated to match the insights I am having right now. Bless you, Elena, may the heaviness alchemize itself into the very fuel that keeps you tending to the moment.
Thank you, Elena. My husband and his sister are on the way back to Austria. It was a wild week to say the least.
To answer your prompts:
I) With the swirling concoction of being highly-sensitive/attuned and the C-PTSD soaked hypervigilance, I can sense everyone’s emotions and needs a long time before the people around me become aware of them. I might seem like this motherly magician that offers just precisely what was lingering on the edge of becoming a need. My husband recently said that I am a woman of extremes: Out there, giggling, with my attention reaching out like the arms of an octopus, I spread myself like butter onto this really big toast called life. And then I become the most still and steady person he has ever seen. (Ah well, the workings of shikantaza.) I‘m the girl that screams at her elderly neighbor because he refuses to wear his hearing aid but still wants to talk. I‘m the ninja in the household who jump-scares everyone because you can hardly hear me walk.
II) I bring a house that is cleaned every single day like the zen temples in Japan, an organized household with Kanban boards and weekly check-ins for everyone, I take care of my sick kitten while keeping everyone healthy and happy with home-fermented foods, TCM, aroma therapy and shiatsu. I feel the heated breath of a shadow called double-standards, as I lose my patience when others don’t clean up after themselves while I see no problem with my own stuff not always finding back to its original position. 😬 Lastly I have this really cool party trick that I can turn around and humbly apologize in the most heated argument, when two seconds ago I could have sworn that I (and ONLY I) was absolutely right.
The seemingly smallest acts create the biggest ripples of care in the eco system. We are all swimming in it together, so it's helpful to be deliberate and honest about what we are contributing to it. Appreciate the prompts. Sending you so much care from here.
Deep appreciation for beautiful you, Elena. Camille in Bklyn
Camille... such a joy to have your eyes and heart here... thank you for being here.
Looking forward to taking some time today on these writing prompts. Thank you! A perfect first read of my day.
lovelovelove Alyssa. serving you is a gift
Reading this was a beautiful way to start my morning, thank you.
thank you, dear Maggy. thank you for being here with me.
Such beautiful prompts. Thank you Elena.
I was reacquainted with a quote recently that reminds me of caring versus curing. “the first duty of love is to listen.”
I, especially in my role as a mom, want to jump in with “suggestions.” I’m really trying to simply be the witnessing ear. Not the talking head. Somedays I am.
it's so hard not to suggest... thank you for this, Allison. appreciate your attention.
Sitting with you in grief as I lost my father-in-law two days ago. Yesterday at night my man made a lifestream so we could watch the holy mass on a Google meet, all of us who could not be in Bolivia with him. The climate makes it necessary for the body to be buried quickly, there isn’t much space for grieving. Even the music played at the burial was on the uplifting side, very different from the grave pieces (pun intended) we have here in Austria. Your requested answers to your questions will follow today, they are of course as always perfectly orchestrated to match the insights I am having right now. Bless you, Elena, may the heaviness alchemize itself into the very fuel that keeps you tending to the moment.
gosh. my heart is with you. and selfishly i'd love to read your responses, if you're willing to share, here or email. love to you and your family, N.
Thank you, Elena. My husband and his sister are on the way back to Austria. It was a wild week to say the least.
To answer your prompts:
I) With the swirling concoction of being highly-sensitive/attuned and the C-PTSD soaked hypervigilance, I can sense everyone’s emotions and needs a long time before the people around me become aware of them. I might seem like this motherly magician that offers just precisely what was lingering on the edge of becoming a need. My husband recently said that I am a woman of extremes: Out there, giggling, with my attention reaching out like the arms of an octopus, I spread myself like butter onto this really big toast called life. And then I become the most still and steady person he has ever seen. (Ah well, the workings of shikantaza.) I‘m the girl that screams at her elderly neighbor because he refuses to wear his hearing aid but still wants to talk. I‘m the ninja in the household who jump-scares everyone because you can hardly hear me walk.
II) I bring a house that is cleaned every single day like the zen temples in Japan, an organized household with Kanban boards and weekly check-ins for everyone, I take care of my sick kitten while keeping everyone healthy and happy with home-fermented foods, TCM, aroma therapy and shiatsu. I feel the heated breath of a shadow called double-standards, as I lose my patience when others don’t clean up after themselves while I see no problem with my own stuff not always finding back to its original position. 😬 Lastly I have this really cool party trick that I can turn around and humbly apologize in the most heated argument, when two seconds ago I could have sworn that I (and ONLY I) was absolutely right.
The seemingly smallest acts create the biggest ripples of care in the eco system. We are all swimming in it together, so it's helpful to be deliberate and honest about what we are contributing to it. Appreciate the prompts. Sending you so much care from here.
thank you Amy... with you. keep me posted on all...