This past weekend, I tucked away to a monastery in the rolling hills of central Kentucky. I roamed the surrounding forests and farmland. I lay under trees, reading or just staring into the sky. I journaled and wrote and ate food prepared by Trappist monks. I even attended one of their ceremonies, where the monks sang and chanted. I’m sure this sort of ceremony has a name, but I don’t know it. Vespers, liturgy, sext—it’s all Latin to me.
You make my Fridays so much better, Lisa. I always look forward to your words and find myself trying to hide my tears (of joy, frustration, kindredness, hope even) from my coworkers. I like to sneak to the corner of my desk & read your posts; it’s like you & I share a special (& shitty) secret that they can’t understand—& I don’t want them to. I find myself repeating, “It’s the only one we got” when I am looking too far into the future.
"It’s easy to imagine that the solution is to simply have a “better” life or a healthier body. Then, and only then, can we embrace the present. But embracing life is a way of being, not a task whose completion depends on the checking of prerequisite boxes. If I can’t embrace this life right now, what makes me think that I’ll have the presence or the courage to embrace a “better” or “healthier” life?
Love and believe this to be important advice (for me) across so much beyond just my health. Thank you.
You make my Fridays so much better, Lisa. I always look forward to your words and find myself trying to hide my tears (of joy, frustration, kindredness, hope even) from my coworkers. I like to sneak to the corner of my desk & read your posts; it’s like you & I share a special (& shitty) secret that they can’t understand—& I don’t want them to. I find myself repeating, “It’s the only one we got” when I am looking too far into the future.
"It’s easy to imagine that the solution is to simply have a “better” life or a healthier body. Then, and only then, can we embrace the present. But embracing life is a way of being, not a task whose completion depends on the checking of prerequisite boxes. If I can’t embrace this life right now, what makes me think that I’ll have the presence or the courage to embrace a “better” or “healthier” life?
Love and believe this to be important advice (for me) across so much beyond just my health. Thank you.
So glad you found that refuge. Thank you for offering it to others. May we all find the healing we yearn for.