Spring in the time of war, pandemic, climate catastrophe, and injustice of every stripe presents a daily challenge to our predilection for easy categories, what's good and what's bad.
Once I stopped seeing things as either/or and instead embrace life as both/and, I got much more comfortable with contradictions. I can be both excited by a situation and frightened. I can love someone and they can also make me crazy. But the biggest for me is this: We are both human and divine. Good and bad. We are, ourselves, living contradictions. Once I was able to accept that in myself, I could finally accept it in others. Which is good - really good. Helps keep expectations in check!
Many thanks for this, Jan. As I read your comment, I realize I'm more drawn to a continuum...less into "this and that." I like very much what Thich Nhat Hahn says about recognizing and acknowledging suffering instead of fiercely clinging to it or rejecting it. If you can just hold it gently, it frees up space for acknowledging joy.
We have the added benefit/challenge of knowing about mindfulness. It's not as if the darkness of the world situation hasn't occurred before. But it may be that people didn't struggle with it in quite the same way.
Once I stopped seeing things as either/or and instead embrace life as both/and, I got much more comfortable with contradictions. I can be both excited by a situation and frightened. I can love someone and they can also make me crazy. But the biggest for me is this: We are both human and divine. Good and bad. We are, ourselves, living contradictions. Once I was able to accept that in myself, I could finally accept it in others. Which is good - really good. Helps keep expectations in check!
Many thanks for this, Jan. As I read your comment, I realize I'm more drawn to a continuum...less into "this and that." I like very much what Thich Nhat Hahn says about recognizing and acknowledging suffering instead of fiercely clinging to it or rejecting it. If you can just hold it gently, it frees up space for acknowledging joy.
Just what I needed to read today. When I accept the reality of impermanence, my mantra is "we'll see" or "Right now this is how things are."
We have the added benefit/challenge of knowing about mindfulness. It's not as if the darkness of the world situation hasn't occurred before. But it may be that people didn't struggle with it in quite the same way.
Beautiful Susie. It’s so difficulty to hold the duality of life at the moment. Enjoy each moment with your family
Thank you, Jill. Everywhere I look there's a lesson to be learned.
Fantastic piece, Susie, and exactly on time for me. Beautiful interweaving! Happy Mother's Day.
Thank you, Carol. Writing from the airport in Minneapolis. Someone should do some research on the effect on writing of being in transit.