My son has been coaxing me to start a blog for many years. But, I have to be honest. I don’t like the word blog. It sits heavy in my mouth and leaves me feeling as if I’ve missed out on someone else’s inside joke.
I laugh now because I said I’d never write a blog, but here I am…..writing a blog!
I arrived at this place in my writing career because I decided to accept my son’s challenge. (He’s pushy that way!) Today, I accept his dare and take it as a compliment. My interpretation? He believes I have some bit of wisdom to impart, and I thank him for nudging me forward into the ethers of the modern world.
And, I thank my daughter for her careful attention to my mission, for her artistic eye in helping me envision and design this website. (The learning curve has been steep!).
Wise Tide is an online community, a place where you can visit and share your ideas, where together we might stimulate creativity, find renewal, and develop tools for building a better life.
Wise Tide is a name that came to me during morning meditation years ago. My skin tingled, and with that sensation I knew I was being asked to participate in a wave of healing that might extend around the globe and reach someone in need.
I strive to never define these needs as good/bad, better/worse, easy/difficult, etc. For me the greatest challenge is in recognizing and honoring them for what they are: life lessons, opportunities for growth and change, moments that push us to awaken, to be alive, to heal and engage in the world around us.
I don’t purport to know much. In fact, I’m more of a dilettante, a novice, curious and interested in many things. However, I do have a firm belief that, as humans inhabiting the same planet, we are responsible for our collective and our unique wellness—physically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, etc., etc., etc.
I do believe that true and complete healing is possible. I do believe if we can find our way inside ourselves, we will discover this capacity to heal.
I’ve come full circle in my understanding about why things are the way they are in my singular life and in our collective world at large. They are this way because they are this way. This is where I am. This is where we are. Now. End of story. Or the beginning….
Sometimes this explanation seems trite, cliché, and too simple. Yet, experience reminds me that the simplest of truths are often the most difficult to understand, even more difficult to execute. And, many people have already figured this out. I follow in their wakes, hoping to keep the ripple effect alive and moving forward and outward, touching as many people as I can.
One iconic group has nailed it. In rustic harmony the Flatlanders cry out: “Right where, right where I belong. It feels so good I might be right where I belong.”
Photo by Jacqueline Jones, 2009, buy the card @ Stonehenge Designs Greeting Card
great post!
Thanks for your support! I’m glad you joined us.
“It feels so good I might be right where I belong.” We don’t always feel that way, but we do…intermittently. This reminds me of the saying that life is about the journey, not the destination. So, maybe the journey is where we belong. We might be best served to savor the moments we find ourselves in, rather than longing for the ones that are yet to be. Find some faith, and hold to it tightly (even if blindly), trusting that soon the reason we are in a particular place will reveal itself, and we will see why it was so incredibly worth it. I’ve found myself in this exact place recently…endlessly asking why, but finally seeing that there was something so intensely important just around the corner. There is no way of knowing how long until the next period of doubt, but I find comfort in the likelihood that not far from the doubt and fear is a burst of understanding, the glow of appreciation, and a feeling of intense importance. That awesome feeling that you are right where you belong.
Yes, this is it! Our journey is our truth. Often difficult at times, easy at others. I find that when I allow acceptance to take over, life flows more naturally. The flow will change and feel violent at times, peaceful at others. I’m learning to live with a knowingness that all things will pass, the good as well as the bad. That the in-between is where we reside most of the time.
I love when I take the time for meditation. I am more aware, grounded, inspired and I feel love for myself, so much, that I can share it. I don’t do it everyday, but I try. A friend of mine once told me, with serene power, ” Your words are powerful, think about that.” I think about that friend and what she said everyday. My thoughts attract experiences, for better or worse. While some experiences may feel nice or easy or others hard or ugly… all are for my higher good and tend to have a ripple affect on those around me. My thoughts turn into words and all stem from my morning meditation… do I start my day centered and at peace with myself? Knowing my good and all my ugly? Accepting it all? Wondering what will come into my life that day? Knowing the energy I’ve gained through meditation affects not only me, but the person scanning my groceries, or the driver that cut me off to the neighbor that appears to be stuck up, but really is just insecure? When I try to remember to meditate, I have more awareness and love for myself and therefore I can roll with life and give some away. I try to be kinder to others, to myself and loved ones. But sometimes I forget, and am not in the aware state. All of us, at one time or another, do not realize our own impact on the ripple effect, whether it’s from seeking to see things from another’s perspective to simple thoughts of pure intention. You are here on earth. This is your Journey. Some of us are more aware than others, and yes… it starts with just one person trying to be more aware. We aren’t perfect, we are human and have hard in our lives. Be it physical, mental, spiritual, emotional etc. We easily can forget the early morning mediation from a brief moment of “distraction”, whether that distraction comes from a hard experience, feeling anger or fear, numbing ourselves to avoid. Or absorbing ourselves in the meaningless things to not have to “deal” with whatever. But tomorrow we can start over, we can try to start our day with mediation, even just a 1 minute awareness mediation to ground ourselves with gratitude. Maybe we can end our days with forgiving ourselves, and try once again, the next day, to apply what is given to us in mediation. To each is his own. It is my understanding, that these types of trying, create positive energy in the ripple affect.
Thank you for this thoughtful message. I, too, find that if I start the day with prayer and meditation that I am able to remain more in sync with myself and others. And love for myself….ah, that’s a big one, isn’t it? We get to keep trying again and again, starting fresh every day. Sometimes, I think this alone could be one of our greatest lessons – self love, self care. I will be writing about this very soon. May I quote you? I love your comment about “Knowing my good and all my ugly.” We all feel this. I’m so glad you are aware and can share your open heart with the world.
Thank you Lynda for putting yourself out there. There is strength in vulnerability.
Here is a quote from a Tibetan Dzogchen Buddhist, HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
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Seeing all things as naked, clear and free from obscurations, there is nothing to attain or realise. The nature of phenomena appears naturally and is naturally present in time-transcending awareness. Everything is naturally perfect just as it is. All phenomena appear in their uniqueness as part of the continually changing pattern. These patterns are vibrant with meaning and significance at every moment; yet there is no significance to attach to such meanings beyond the moment in which they present themselves.
This is the dance of the five elements in which matter is a symbol of energy and energy a symbol of emptiness. We are a symbol of our own enlightenment. With no effort or practice whatsoever, liberation or enlightenment is already here.
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I look forward to dancing with you!
Linda
That is one of the most beautiful quotes I’ve read. Thank you for posting. “With no effort or practice whatsoever, liberation or enlightenment is already here.” I feel this from time to time, little flickers of light, tiny moments of knowing. I strive to live closer to this place, not so engrossed in the chaos, the shadows. Let us Dance, Dance, Dance!