What would the world be like?
Jennifer
What do you think the world would like if we allowed ourselves the time to sit with our feelings, to really feel them, to delve into the depths of sadness, the heights of joy and everywhere in between?
What would we be like if we made the time to be instead of running to walmart or the beach or the amusement park?
What would the world be like if we could drop the baggage we carry for at least this lifetime, if not longer, and could be free like children to feel our feelings, have a grief burst, and then go play in a meadow?
When was it that we all decided that our feelings were the enemy to hide from?
Or that our honest, intuitive voice was not something we could share?
When did we forget, or did we never learn how to be authentic, able to trust, and not fear rejection from the other?
Can we live compassionately if we cut ourselves off from our own feelings (perceptions, thoughts, bodily sensations, desires, needs, wants)? Can we have communion where no compassion exists?
How do we care for the dying and the grieving when they are two of the things we are the most fearful of, the most resistent to, and the very things that allow us, if we let them to help us create authentic lives and relationships?
What would the world be like if we could share our wounds and our healing openly and honestly?
Thoughts to ponder on a beautiful Sunday reading existentialism and Buddhism and socially engaged sprirituality in hospice.
Metta to all, Jen
Access: Public
authentic
June 2008
I wrote this a couple years back… I think it addresses this.
Becoming More Human
becoming more human - I hurt
big hurts
like ice cream scoops that empty out
all the heart I ever had
[leaving more room to grow]
becoming more human - I cry
big cries
like a whooping crane
hollering half in pain
half in joy of the feel of
becoming more human
becoming more human - I laugh
big belly fulls
and find myself riding the crest of a chuckle
no one else understands
but it doesn't matter
becoming more human - I realize
the more human I become
the closer I come to understanding you,
understanding myself and the fact that
there is nothing to understand
at all
Jennifer - what a great post! It gives me food for thought as I start off the week. It's funny how the Universe plays out. You have put in writing what I have been think the past few days.
Metta - what a wonderful poems! Thanks for sharing.
Dear Metta,
Thank you for sharing such a special part of you here!!!! I love that people have so much courage here and task risks to share and be vulnerable. Maybe that's how we change the world, being more human in the here and now.
Wendy, would love to hear from you as you ponder this!
Peaceful wishes to both of you,
Jen
Jen,
I am loving your questions. Especially the one about how can we care for the dying when that is what we are most frightened of?! I think when our cuture can embrace death we will truly be able to live. All the fears around it so suppress the life force. I am also concerned about all the elders who don't get heard becuse just their existence represents death!
Metta—your poem is gorgeous and full of life affirming presence. “Be here now.” Thank you.
Jen, I really appreciate this dialogue as I'm also a hospice worker/oncology nurse and work with patients to write their feelings through writing groups.
Namaste! I can learn a lot from you! Laurie Arnold
I just found your blog. Loved this post. Your authenticity shines bright.
:))))
Thank you and blessings,
Di
Dear Di,
What an angel you are! Your post was an angelic act in disguise. Thank you so much.
Look around, enjoy, be active.
Welcome!
Peace, Jennifer