Thank you, Craig! It's lovely to "hear" your voice and to know these reflections are useful. It's interesting the connections we make in life and what we learn from them. Blessings to you!
This is so beautiful Susan. That quote about living with your heart outstretched was the thing I remembered most from your book. And it’s so embodied in the book. I didn’t remember it because it was a quote, I remembered it because the book showed it. And now I need to look up Carrie Newcombers music!
Thank you, Karen! Isn't it interesting what sticks with us from our reading and listening? As for Carrie Newcomer, she's here on Substack at A Gathering of Spirits as well as out in the music world. https://carrienewcomer.substack.com
I am 66, so about the same age. When you reach this age, after a multitude of experiences, some I would have never imagined having even 25 years ago, it hits you that all you need is love. Yes, the Beatles were right.
You can't buy it, you can't rent it, you can't steal it. But you can give it. It does not cost any money but it is the most valued of possessions. It is the greatest gift.
Well said, Perry! Love is indeed all we need. (And yes, I can hear the Fab Four singing as I write that.) Furthermore, love is the rare gift that multiplies when shared, which may be its most important quality. And, to paraphrase the Beatles again, the world needs a lot more of it.
More and more I am attending to the good that I can do that is right before me. This weekend my dear spouse is off visiting his son, and the two granddaughters who are two and five. Last weekend his daughter and her fiancé were here for a visit. This is very complex and disruptive family system that he stepped as far away as possible from when he divorced their mother almost 25 years ago. It is easy for me to notice the negative and lean toward the judgmental. Maybe somehow I see that as supporting his feelings, but he is further along than this. He dwells only on the good he can share with his children. So I had a wonderful moment in front of the mirror this morning, when this old woman looking out at me surprised me and said, perhaps you could just be a little more compassionate toward them. And suddenly I was, and I offered a little prayer for both of them, and for their mother, and was free of my irritation. Later, I responded to a niece, who is struggling with many things, and for some reason reached out to me today, which is unusual. I was able to just listen in love. These are small good things I could do in my life living with chronic disease.
This is a wonderful part of the journey of spirituality, this gathered wisdom, this practiced wisdom.
Kathryn, Your comment brought tears to my eyes. You are indeed doing the good that is right in front of you, and your story is a great example of the power of those actions. Your realization about your husband's family and your response to your niece are not just "small good things" but very big ones. Kudos to you for finding and using that gathered wisdom (great phrase)!
And BTW, I have had just that experience of looking in the mirror and seeing that old woman (who is she? hah!) looking back at me, and "heard" a piece of wisdom I hadn't recognized before. Blessings to that woman in the mirror, and to your inner voice and your compassion!
It sounds so simple and perhaps simplistic, but so often we are too distracted by thinking forward or thinking back or not attentive in whatever way. And we miss the moment where we can actually contribute to the light in the world. But if we remember to do the good in front of us, no matter how small it seems, we can make a difference. And who knows where those ripples might go? To mix my metaphors, our actions could be the light that someone needs, right then.
Yes, I agree completely about doing the small things that we can do. This is love in action and so often really is the only thing that is in our power to do to create change. Too overwhelming to take on brokenness everywhere, but we can love what is in front of us and make better what we can. xo
"Too overwhelming to take on brokenness everywhere"--precisely, Carmine. And as you say, we can love what is in front of us. I think that is how real change happens anyway, locally and in small bits. Those ripples really do spread outward. Hugs!
This is a beautiful piece. I do a lot of meditations that invoke light, and that seems to help illustrate the connections between everything. I like the exploration you do here.
Thank you, Christina. It's interesting about how powerful invoking light is (and I think that's a big reason so many of our winter holidays have light as a central theme). Humans are such a visual species, with such a big area of our brain devoted to processing visual signals (rather than other sensory input), so it makes sense that light is a revealing and meaningful image for us.
I look forward every week for your posts, Susan. Thank you for your generous sharing of your reflections. From this one, I’m taking the “doing the good that’s in front of me” to heart.
Lou, I am honored that you take the time to read my posts when there are so many others competing for our attention. And thank you for the compliment! Sharon Salzburg's words really resonated with me too, I think because they focus my efforts: doing the good I can see right now is achievable. Blessings!
Susan...just watched your restoration film, and, having read your books I was delighted to see the photos. Even better, I'm inspired to kick my own restoration efforts up several gears! Like your projects, you yourself spread beautiful ideas far away from their origins, where they can sprout and thrive. Thank you.
Barbara, Thank you! The biggest lesson I take from the Ditch and Meadow story is that restoration takes time, but a lot can be done bit by bit, day by day, working by hand. It doesn't have to be expensive or complex. And you have the knowledge to start with, plus if you still have sheep, they can be used to help by focused grazing of the invasives when they're young and tender, and leaving the soil pitted with hoof prints to hold native seeds. I'll be interested to hear how things go for you.
And that in itself is a blessing (that you have so much to be thankful for that you run out of words). May you continue to find much to be thankful forehand may that help you spread the good outwards like ripples through this world.
Thanks for this series Susan, and today's in particular. I'm appreciating it all.
Thank you, Craig! It's lovely to "hear" your voice and to know these reflections are useful. It's interesting the connections we make in life and what we learn from them. Blessings to you!
This is so beautiful Susan. That quote about living with your heart outstretched was the thing I remembered most from your book. And it’s so embodied in the book. I didn’t remember it because it was a quote, I remembered it because the book showed it. And now I need to look up Carrie Newcombers music!
Thank you, Karen! Isn't it interesting what sticks with us from our reading and listening? As for Carrie Newcomer, she's here on Substack at A Gathering of Spirits as well as out in the music world. https://carrienewcomer.substack.com
beautifully said
thank you
Thanks for reading and commenting, Bette. Blessings to you!
I am 66, so about the same age. When you reach this age, after a multitude of experiences, some I would have never imagined having even 25 years ago, it hits you that all you need is love. Yes, the Beatles were right.
You can't buy it, you can't rent it, you can't steal it. But you can give it. It does not cost any money but it is the most valued of possessions. It is the greatest gift.
Well said, Perry! Love is indeed all we need. (And yes, I can hear the Fab Four singing as I write that.) Furthermore, love is the rare gift that multiplies when shared, which may be its most important quality. And, to paraphrase the Beatles again, the world needs a lot more of it.
More and more I am attending to the good that I can do that is right before me. This weekend my dear spouse is off visiting his son, and the two granddaughters who are two and five. Last weekend his daughter and her fiancé were here for a visit. This is very complex and disruptive family system that he stepped as far away as possible from when he divorced their mother almost 25 years ago. It is easy for me to notice the negative and lean toward the judgmental. Maybe somehow I see that as supporting his feelings, but he is further along than this. He dwells only on the good he can share with his children. So I had a wonderful moment in front of the mirror this morning, when this old woman looking out at me surprised me and said, perhaps you could just be a little more compassionate toward them. And suddenly I was, and I offered a little prayer for both of them, and for their mother, and was free of my irritation. Later, I responded to a niece, who is struggling with many things, and for some reason reached out to me today, which is unusual. I was able to just listen in love. These are small good things I could do in my life living with chronic disease.
This is a wonderful part of the journey of spirituality, this gathered wisdom, this practiced wisdom.
Kathryn, Your comment brought tears to my eyes. You are indeed doing the good that is right in front of you, and your story is a great example of the power of those actions. Your realization about your husband's family and your response to your niece are not just "small good things" but very big ones. Kudos to you for finding and using that gathered wisdom (great phrase)!
And BTW, I have had just that experience of looking in the mirror and seeing that old woman (who is she? hah!) looking back at me, and "heard" a piece of wisdom I hadn't recognized before. Blessings to that woman in the mirror, and to your inner voice and your compassion!
I will take that with me moving forward: do the good in front of you. A cue to look at what is right here, right now.
It sounds so simple and perhaps simplistic, but so often we are too distracted by thinking forward or thinking back or not attentive in whatever way. And we miss the moment where we can actually contribute to the light in the world. But if we remember to do the good in front of us, no matter how small it seems, we can make a difference. And who knows where those ripples might go? To mix my metaphors, our actions could be the light that someone needs, right then.
Yes, I agree completely about doing the small things that we can do. This is love in action and so often really is the only thing that is in our power to do to create change. Too overwhelming to take on brokenness everywhere, but we can love what is in front of us and make better what we can. xo
"Too overwhelming to take on brokenness everywhere"--precisely, Carmine. And as you say, we can love what is in front of us. I think that is how real change happens anyway, locally and in small bits. Those ripples really do spread outward. Hugs!
This is a beautiful piece. I do a lot of meditations that invoke light, and that seems to help illustrate the connections between everything. I like the exploration you do here.
Thank you, Christina. It's interesting about how powerful invoking light is (and I think that's a big reason so many of our winter holidays have light as a central theme). Humans are such a visual species, with such a big area of our brain devoted to processing visual signals (rather than other sensory input), so it makes sense that light is a revealing and meaningful image for us.
I look forward every week for your posts, Susan. Thank you for your generous sharing of your reflections. From this one, I’m taking the “doing the good that’s in front of me” to heart.
Lou, I am honored that you take the time to read my posts when there are so many others competing for our attention. And thank you for the compliment! Sharon Salzburg's words really resonated with me too, I think because they focus my efforts: doing the good I can see right now is achievable. Blessings!
Beautifully written, evoking strong feelings in me. Thank you.
Nancy, Thank you for reading and I am glad this essay spoke to you. Blessings!
Susan...just watched your restoration film, and, having read your books I was delighted to see the photos. Even better, I'm inspired to kick my own restoration efforts up several gears! Like your projects, you yourself spread beautiful ideas far away from their origins, where they can sprout and thrive. Thank you.
Barbara, Thank you! The biggest lesson I take from the Ditch and Meadow story is that restoration takes time, but a lot can be done bit by bit, day by day, working by hand. It doesn't have to be expensive or complex. And you have the knowledge to start with, plus if you still have sheep, they can be used to help by focused grazing of the invasives when they're young and tender, and leaving the soil pitted with hoof prints to hold native seeds. I'll be interested to hear how things go for you.
Susan, it's always heartening to read your words since I always find myself in step with you.
Some time ago, someone offered their viewpoint to me, which captured my own way of life:
Love is my religion. Nature is my church.
Blessings, Connie S.
It's lovely to hear your voice here, Connie! And yes to both of your statements--well said. :)
I have written the "Do the good in front of me" in my diary and on my thankfulness page. I never have enough words for all I am thankful for.
And that in itself is a blessing (that you have so much to be thankful for that you run out of words). May you continue to find much to be thankful forehand may that help you spread the good outwards like ripples through this world.