34 Comments
User's avatar
Susie Kaufman's avatar

My pleasure, Nelson. What is it that Thay says? It's not walking on water that's the miracle, it's walking on the earth.

Expand full comment
Jan Peppler's avatar

Beautiful and true for me as well, even at 55. Comfortable now, in a way I have never before been, since I let go of career and expectations. I'm reminded of a poem about the gift of living a boring life... Time for contemplation. The space for silence. Simple joys.

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

Amazing how much can be gained by stopping.

Expand full comment
Judy Kaufman's avatar

Hi Susie- Thank you for another meaningful message for my mind and my heart to contemplate.

Hope this finds you well. jk

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

Judy! What a delight to hear from you. All blessings...

Expand full comment
Irene Reed's avatar

"THE MIND LIKE THE LOWER BACK GETS TIRED........SPELLIING BEE-..MATTER OF CONVENIENCE." ABSOLUTLEY BRILLIANT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. irene reed

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

So glad you're reading my work

Expand full comment
Don Akchin's avatar

This is so beautifully written, a perfect essay.

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

Thank you for reading my work. Much appreciated.

Expand full comment
Dianne Werner's avatar

My contact to you is through Jinks. I soo resonate with Living between the space between...

the ears" Isn't "the body made just for carrying the head around?"lol You put words around experience as a mother swaddles her infant so that they fit just right and feel good! Your superb descriptions were tailor-made for me. Thank you!

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

That's such a generous way of putting it, Dianne. You make it sound like the words that are born out of my consciousness are well-cared for. That's a comfort.

Expand full comment
Laura N Harbin-Waters's avatar

I really felt that, Susie, so honest and revealing and real!!!

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

Thank you, Laura. I'm glad to know you're out there reading my work. Much appreciated.

Expand full comment
Max Power's avatar

Spot on, Susie! I needed this to get my head in the right place.

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

Thanks, Max. I like the feeling of touching on an experience that some other people resonate with. Connection!

Expand full comment
Nelson Wyman's avatar

Thank You Susie for this beautiful piece of tapestry - I read it many times for your expressive "Greens" - many of them. I could live in this - growing green - photo - everything about it. We love seeing that beating heart. But mostly walking in the tall grass...listening to the birds... you do inspire us by being on this earth together.

Expand full comment
Jill Segal's avatar

Hi Susie. Thank you Jinks for sharing this So beautifully and poetically expressed refIection. I really resonated on a deep level with your moving and imaginative writing.

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

Good to hear from you, Jill. When I see your name on the screen, I imagine your vivid, colorful paintings. So glad to have this opportunity to share our art.

Expand full comment
Jim Lawrence's avatar

So lovely Susie. I will read this again to mine it's greens more fully. And enjoy your wonderful literate imagination again.

Expand full comment
Jim Lawrence's avatar

There's an intervention in my comment above by that notorious coyote of editing trickery, the infamous and terminally invas I've busybody Herr Otto Korrekt. He changed gems to green. I've decided to leave it because there is some oddball merit to the concept of mining ones vegetables or garden flowers.

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

Thanks, Jim. I also thought "greens" was a little unusual, but made sense in some way. In any case, it means a lot that you wrote...whether we're mining or gardening, as long as we're paying attention!

Expand full comment
Jim Lawrence's avatar

Otto! Arrggggh!

Expand full comment
Laura Goldman's avatar

Hello. You and I don't know each other, but I'm a close friend of Jinks. Your piece touched me deeply. So very wise and beautiful. May I use it for teaching? Thanks.

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

I'd be delighted to know that you are using my writing. What do you teach?

Expand full comment
Laura Goldman's avatar

I live in Mendocino, California, and I teach Mussar here in the Jewish community. I have a group of students, many of whom are willing to dive deeply into their own interiorities. I like to bring in poetry, literature, and teachings from other traditions which capture some aspect of the Middah/quality we are working with. Your essay touches on so many middot, and I am thinking particularly about Emet (Truth/Authenticity ), Rachamim (Compassion), Anavah (Humility). But even beneath all of that, and even with all your refreshing references to the rollercoaster ride we’re all on, I think your piece points in the direction of the spaciousness of Equanimity. And that’s how I’d use it for teaching.

If that’s ok with you.

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

Wonderful for that you do. I'm very moved that you want to teach about Equanimity using my words. May it be so.

Expand full comment
Peggy Braun's avatar

That was breathtaking. I hope that we always walk in the tall grass together.

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

A perpetual picnic with you

Expand full comment
Joan Burkhard's avatar

So beautiful - Susie. Precious you - with thanks, Joan

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

Thank you, Joan. I really appreciate your witness.

Expand full comment
Nancy's avatar

Just amazing! It’s as if she were inside my head! How wonderful to read this! Thank you!

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

Welcome. There's a vast ocean of experience that is shared.

Expand full comment
Jinks Hoffmann's avatar

I have just tried to share this extraordinary, honest, beautiful reflection of FB, dear Susie. I hope I've succeeded. I began crying, for the sheer beauty of it, about three words in. I love it , and you.

Expand full comment
Susie Kaufman's avatar

Ah, Jinks. It's a constant balance for me with words...because, of course, they give me so much pleasure.

Expand full comment