If you know me, then you know I love poet Mary Oliver with the entirety of my soul. But. Where I once found her iconic line, "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" inspiring, I now find it paralyzing. Not her fault, but the pressure I feel from… Continue reading Just for the sake of moving.
You know, there are days I just don't feel like writing these. Days I just don't feel I have anything of importance to say or contribute, days I feel that the majority of my life thus far has been simply an exercise in treading water. And here I am, stuck in the middle of the… Continue reading How straight a path.
I doubt anyone here will misunderstand me when I say you don't always have to choose the difficult path. On the contrary, to choose difficulty simply because it's difficult leads, in my experience, to little peace and much exhaustion. Of course I don't mean that we won't do (and shouldn't do) difficult things. But level… Continue reading Better humans.
We are capable. Full stop. I know, conversely, that that's an exhausting statement. Just writing it tires me out. But that's because we're looking forward at all those circumstances (not gonna lie--most of them fabricated in our intricate and endlessly dark imaginations) yet to come that we'll then have to overcome. So we have to stop… Continue reading Remain standing.
Last night, a song from childhood happened to come over the speakers where I work. I stopped where I was, so happy to hear it again before being immediately gripped with a grieving nostalgia so fierce, I wedged myself between two shelves, hidden, so I could listen to it, undisturbed, letting whatever was to come,… Continue reading You’ll surely struggle.
We are not broken. We are not wrong, and if we are frightened, then perhaps we're at yet another crossroads. The right crossroads. I can't tell you which direction to take--true north is individual. If following your heart is difficult (believe me--I understand), then follow your curiosity. It cannot and will not steer you wrong. It… Continue reading Part of the design.
Aren't we sick of fear yet? I mean really sick of it? Aren't we low-down tired of it enough to stand up and rebel? (Rebel! My favorite word.) Aren't we by now, collectively, individually, fierce enough, sick enough of our own inner monologue of excuses, to sink a steel-toed boot into fear's soft underbelly and… Continue reading The courage to challenge.
It's a massive question, isn't it--for whom are we living? I have a feeling most of us either couldn't answer or, if we could, "for ourselves" would not be the first answer. But if *not* for ourselves, then how on earth can we summon the energy again and again, day after day? Because, Petals, living by… Continue reading These hours.
I have always had a very hard time with faith. Though the religion in which I was raised never resonated, I carry from it a love of, and respect for, ceremony and ritual. Indeed, so fierce was that fascination with ritual, that it led me on a cross-cultural journey, studying sources of faith and ceremonies… Continue reading An unbreakable connection.
When did we learn to expect difficulty? Yes, life is hard and can absolutely be unfair, no question. But isn't it also joyous? And if we feel as though those moments are few and far between, is it possible it's because we are conditioned *not* to expect them? So what would happen if we decided to… Continue reading Only the shadows.
Amy Holt 