Joy from discomfort
I thought about writing a bit about the WAY THINGS ARE right now. But what do I say that we don’t know, that we don’t feel in our limbs when we step out of bed every morning, our hearts when we listen. Every day, we arrange the weight of the world around our bodies and we move forward and forward and forward.
Insert big deep breath, shoulder shimmy and release.
Because if you are here, I believe you must be a healthy spirit. You must have an open heart. Together we want to be more than just people on the “right side” of the messes we are living through (equal parts complex and painfully clear) we want to keep things good. We want to notice LIFE. The wonder, the kindness, generosity, humor and beauty of it all. Some days we need voices to tell us to remember to remember. But once we do, THE GOOD STUFF IS EVERYWHERE.
Holding Hope
A slice of the beautiful cover of Counterweights by Shannan Martin
An author I love, Shannan Martin calls these things counterweights which is such a beautiful way of classifying ALL the things that keep us human. I’ve been following her on the gram for many years, I’ve read her books and she’s got a new one coming out I’ll absolutely be reading. Her new book is titled Counterweights, An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in a Difficult World.
The Lasso Way
Rewatching Ted Lasso for the (third, fourth, fifth?) time. What does it matter really…because it’s a good-mine of lessons for being the best version of ourselves and the reality of our imperfect paths to get there.
Here’s a good one: That moment when the clarity of tunnel vision grabs us. That scene where Roy Kent is at the pundit desk, unable to filter his honesty…realizes he’s made a breakthrough impact on McAdoo and therefore the team, and EVERYTHING clicks into place. The world narrows focus and there is only one thing in all the world to do: get thee to the pitch and coach Roy Kent.
I have a theory that those kinds of moments are actually much more frequent than we realize. We get stuck in the rut of uncertainty, questioning and questioning. I wonder if all the questioning keeps us distracted from utter clarity that is probably around long before we actually see it. How do we shorten that time between seeing and knowing?
In fairy tales, the dark forest is always the middle, never the end. It will work out. It will work out. Looking at you in the eye right now: It will work out.
In defense of the dark
Here’s your weekly Mary Oliver moment. Mary, who needs no explanation is the Joy Keeper of all Joy Keepers.
(In my sleep I dreamed this poem)
Someone I loved once gave me
a box full of darkness.
It took me years to understand
that this, too, was a gift.
“The Uses of Sorrow” by Mary Oliver, from Thirst, 2007. Beacon Press.
Good Words
Neighbor - Who is yours? Mine are pretty remarkable, but my goal is to keep expanding my definition of who I get to neighbor.
Ground - As in, keep your feet on the ______. Breathe in, breathe out. You are here.
Spicy - when used as a polite way of describing straight up cussing. Spicy language makes life more fun.
Swan - You can swan around and be fancy OR you can swan by keeping calm and poised while working your legs off because you are powerful and beautiful.
On the subject of the swan, there are some brand new Swan illustrated prints, cards and shirts added to the shop this week!
Listen Here
Lyle Lovett, Soul man. If I Needed You makes me want to be a better person.
Gossip, preaching the good word from way back Move in the right direction
The Decemberists After The Bombs. Man, I’m praying for this.
That’s all for now!
Keep on keeping joy.