The freedom to think
naturally
Move
easily
To let emotions come
and go
Without being trapped in their snare
nor beguiled by thoughts
and cravings.
To let others simply be
and it all occur.
Held by the structure that
Is self designed
installed
and embraced
daily.
I don’t even have to think about it anymore
My routine holds me
my body keeps score
my brain is used only
to make certain
I’m walking a line of my own making
and that when I look up
I don’t have to check where I’m heading.
The thing about life is it takes you
always
wherever you’re intending.
You shall be free indeed when your days are not without care nor your nights without want and grief. But rather when these things girdle your life yet you rise above them naked and unbound.
Kahlil Gibran – The Prophet
You get older, and you see how things turn out. Hopefully some lessons are learned.
The easy path frequently becomes the hard path and the hard path nearly always becomes easy – not because of a path – but because of how the journey along it changes us as human beings.
Keep shining ✨
Header Photo: kids playing on the beach at sunset Kalbari – one of my favourite places we visited in WA. Remember how it was as a kid and you just played? Sometimes you got hurt and worried and anxious but mostly you just played a lot and some adult took care of the adulting stuff. And that’s how it feels on holidays.
Yeah, I very much miss those days when an adult had my back. I frequently feel like I’m flapping in the breeze these days, untethered. Yes a worry-free vacation would be lovely, but far better would be the opportunity to say mom, dad, I need help.
Your response is eerily along the same lines that I was thinking as I was writing a blog post that will probably publish next week Jeff. Funny how things work like that. I’m sorry you’re untethered, you’ll find the anchor in yourself, being a human is just so damn confusing sometimes. Hope you feel better soon.
I understand you both (Jeff and Kate). Kate, your words always have a way of poignantly and poetically expressing how many of us feel. Wherever you’re headed, there you will be. Right? And when we don’t know and we WAIT for a sign—which direction? What now? How am I supposed to feel? To just…BE. Like you and Jeff, I’m ready for someone ELSE to decide. I take ONE hour at a time. “Oh, I’m going to write a book,” I think to myself. And then the wheels turn, I’m motivated for a week,…then a clog. Now what? One hour at a time. I go for a walk, meet a friend for coffee,…and then the motivation will around on the Ferris Wheel—I see it straight above me and when it lands, I’ll open up the door and sit in it again for a fun ride around! I’ll make the most of it when I’m in it? This cancer journey stopped my ride. I’m figuring out life as I go. I’m so thankful to be here, my friend. I’m so glad to be on this walk “home” with you! You’re a gift! XO 💕
Hi Karla, thanks for your lovely thoughtful response. I think we tend to get very busy being busy. Last night I was so over stimulated from a day spent in deep conversation, posting on social media (for our business) generating text and photos for a new website (for our business) and being on the office from early in the morning. By last night I had completely lost myself. It took me ages to calm down and I used all the tools, eventually I went to sleep. Today I’m determined not to let that busy part take control of my entire system and freak me out again. I wrote this post The Way a week ago and had it scheduled for today. Oh the irony. But maybe it posted just when I needed it to – in order to remind myself why I have systems and routines in place and how important they are to follow through with. Every day is a day when it can all fall to bits, even without me being sick. So I can’t imagine how bullied you must feel by your cancer. I’ve seen how you write and how you take that power. We all have our ways. We just have to remember to use them. And it’s a hourly, daily, nightly thing. Love you Karla, keep shining 💫
Your wisdom and way with words speak to my soul. Trying to find “the way” or any way was so difficult for so long.
Over stimulated perfectly describes how I feel some days. I can imagine your days with so much going on!
The deep conversations, generating ideas,….my friend, it’s draining.
If we had opportunity to visit, we would have “rich” conversation about how exhausting life can be without our systems and routines (which you so beautifully described!).
With or without sickness, those days are tough! I have a hard time winding down after being on technology all day~creating, reading, emails, and add household responsibilities ~I’m speaking to the choir! Finding my routine again, or new ones navigating around different challenges, has been difficult.
Balance has been something I’ve had to work on in every stage of my existence, lol.
My reserve is less than normal. Recovery time is required~physical , emotional, mental, and spiritual. True for most of us I’d say!
“We all have our ways. We just have to remember to use them”~powerful! Yes!! I share with my family it’s one minute, one hour, one day,…exactly as you said!
For the first time in a long time, I drove to Kansas City today to visit my youngest son and his family. It felt so right. And strange too. Not that I thought anything bad would happen (weather is snowy), but I’m so different than when I traveled independently before “c” and the diagnosis. I didn’t have enough “reserve” to do all I’d do in a normal day. Yet, it’s a gift to be at a different pace; more intentional and meaningful. And measured carefully by my capacity to give and receive.
I’m so grateful for our connection. I love how you see life ~yours and the world around you. It impacts me in such wonderful ways. Love you too, Kate. I’m rooting for you, cheering you on (and all that you have going on!), and will pray more specifically with this knowledge of the business and other things. Thank you for being you.🫶🏻💕
❤️
I love these thoughts: they are so in tune with the Buddha whose teachings I read regularly; I love the image of the snare; thanks Kate: my post for the day —
Happy to have helped you John, and as it turned out, a timely reminder to myself that my morning routine is the best defence I have against the day ahead.
yes, your well balanced posts are good got me; thank Kate 🙂
You’re a true master of your craft.