This reminded me of a quote by Pema Chodron — 'Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible in us be found.' Think you found it 🙂
Oh Sarah…thank you. Since losing my son last year I have been deeply wrestling to live in a reality where the veil has been lifted and I now intimately know the vulnerability of living with a acute awareness of death…. Or even more challenging…. to keep my heart open even the face of losing it all at any moment. Your words were balm to my heart and felt strangely familiar to a place I find myself gratefully settling deeper into everyday . I feel you as a kinder soul. Thank you for offering your gifts. Much gratitude and respect. ❤️
Sarah, thank you for this. The gripping, the trying to control that which is uncontrollable has been with me for all of my almost 60 (!) years, at times in ways that have felt desperate. And listening to your words, I realized, I have already lived through many of my worst fears; I have lost a spouse, I have opened my heart again to love, I have lost a job, I have been diagnosed with a chronic blood cancer. And yet, despite my internal pleas for a long life, to not be alone, your words reminded me that I have lived through terrible things, and have thrived. I am grateful, I take time to find kindness and softness and ease even in the darkest places. I am capable of anything my heart wants, and the fear, the gripping and the illusion of control are just companions on the journey. Thank you for leading me back to remembering, to befriend the fear and give it space is to uncurl the fingers and release the grip, if even just a little.
You got to the root within the root, Sarah. What underlies everything.....you (as always) eloquently + beauteously captured it. Perfectly. Thank you, a million times, for sharing what is on your heart + for helping the lot of us understand a bit better what is on ours.
I love that you included Rumi’s quote, “Set me on fire if I land on anything but the truth” - and the image of one foot firmly rooted in my truth and the other moving forward and experiencing all of life’s beauty, pain, and struggles. I bow to your wisdom.
Maybe it’s because I am into the Second half of my life, but I truly believe that my goal, my vision, my journey is to merely be aware! That’s why I like going to 30,000 feet and taking a look around. For me it’s not that I will die – – for me it’s that I am alive. So thank you for your rigourous honesty and permitting me to continue to be amazed that I am alive! I love you every day.
Thank you for this. Your words always get me one step closer to finding peace and happiness. I am proud that I instinctively have told myself in my mind, “I will lose my kids,” because it is my greatest fear. I think that is the only way I could get past the crippling fear that idea brings. It’s the smaller, pettier things I never thought to do this with because they are not as disabling, like telling myself over and over, “I will fail. I will fail.” As a professional, I worked hard to get where I am and failure was always the fearful possibility that could potentially prevent everything I was working for from happening, or so I thought…failure to me wasn’t an option. But I did, at times, fail, and it was awful for me…and it is the accumulation of these tiny, insignificant failures that has gotten me to the horrible place I am now. And so I will tell myself, “I will fail. I will fail,” because I know it is inevitable, I just wish it wasn’t. And in doing so, I hope to gain a piece of myself back ❤️ Thank you!
Although none of us know each other I do feel as if our collective energy interacts in some way for the better of ourselves and humanity. Thanks for creating this space by being you.
Thank you. Lots to think about. Regarding fear of death I am also experiencing something interesting. I am 73 years old and living on my own for the past 3 years. This new way of living helps me accept that I am alone even though I have 3 wonderful children with families. It also helps me to realize, as you said, that I may die on my own too. Of course I have been working on myself during those 3 years which makes me accept the uncontrollable. But again as you said, I am not really alone, I am with myself and we get along very well. Lol.
Your words were so powerful and helpful. You are such a gift. You have settled into your calling. You are right where you are meant to be (at least from my perspective). You gave exact words to what I’m going through. I have been searching for comfort and your offering was invaluable. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you❤️
Good morning Sarah! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. Your post spoke much of what is going on in my life right now, and gave me a chance to pause and reflect. I feel calmer. Thank you!
Thank you for your vulnerability and for sharing this struggle that is very real when I allow myself to see it within me. I will continue to sit with it. Many blessings to you and all.
This reminded me of a quote by Pema Chodron — 'Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible in us be found.' Think you found it 🙂
Yes!! Exactly! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this quote! So meaningful and true💜
Oh Sarah…thank you. Since losing my son last year I have been deeply wrestling to live in a reality where the veil has been lifted and I now intimately know the vulnerability of living with a acute awareness of death…. Or even more challenging…. to keep my heart open even the face of losing it all at any moment. Your words were balm to my heart and felt strangely familiar to a place I find myself gratefully settling deeper into everyday . I feel you as a kinder soul. Thank you for offering your gifts. Much gratitude and respect. ❤️
Sarah, thank you for this. The gripping, the trying to control that which is uncontrollable has been with me for all of my almost 60 (!) years, at times in ways that have felt desperate. And listening to your words, I realized, I have already lived through many of my worst fears; I have lost a spouse, I have opened my heart again to love, I have lost a job, I have been diagnosed with a chronic blood cancer. And yet, despite my internal pleas for a long life, to not be alone, your words reminded me that I have lived through terrible things, and have thrived. I am grateful, I take time to find kindness and softness and ease even in the darkest places. I am capable of anything my heart wants, and the fear, the gripping and the illusion of control are just companions on the journey. Thank you for leading me back to remembering, to befriend the fear and give it space is to uncurl the fingers and release the grip, if even just a little.
You got to the root within the root, Sarah. What underlies everything.....you (as always) eloquently + beauteously captured it. Perfectly. Thank you, a million times, for sharing what is on your heart + for helping the lot of us understand a bit better what is on ours.
Thank you Sarah, your company and reflections are always such a joy to read. The root within the root…peeling back layer after layer. big hug xx
Big hug back!
I love that you included Rumi’s quote, “Set me on fire if I land on anything but the truth” - and the image of one foot firmly rooted in my truth and the other moving forward and experiencing all of life’s beauty, pain, and struggles. I bow to your wisdom.
Perhaps you met the Divine within? We have a portion of God inside us- our Soul…
My thoughts exactly.
Maybe it’s because I am into the Second half of my life, but I truly believe that my goal, my vision, my journey is to merely be aware! That’s why I like going to 30,000 feet and taking a look around. For me it’s not that I will die – – for me it’s that I am alive. So thank you for your rigourous honesty and permitting me to continue to be amazed that I am alive! I love you every day.
How amazing is that we are simply here to be aware?!?!?! I am on this same journey.
How beautiful! Thank you.
Thank you for this. Your words always get me one step closer to finding peace and happiness. I am proud that I instinctively have told myself in my mind, “I will lose my kids,” because it is my greatest fear. I think that is the only way I could get past the crippling fear that idea brings. It’s the smaller, pettier things I never thought to do this with because they are not as disabling, like telling myself over and over, “I will fail. I will fail.” As a professional, I worked hard to get where I am and failure was always the fearful possibility that could potentially prevent everything I was working for from happening, or so I thought…failure to me wasn’t an option. But I did, at times, fail, and it was awful for me…and it is the accumulation of these tiny, insignificant failures that has gotten me to the horrible place I am now. And so I will tell myself, “I will fail. I will fail,” because I know it is inevitable, I just wish it wasn’t. And in doing so, I hope to gain a piece of myself back ❤️ Thank you!
Although none of us know each other I do feel as if our collective energy interacts in some way for the better of ourselves and humanity. Thanks for creating this space by being you.
Thank you. Lots to think about. Regarding fear of death I am also experiencing something interesting. I am 73 years old and living on my own for the past 3 years. This new way of living helps me accept that I am alone even though I have 3 wonderful children with families. It also helps me to realize, as you said, that I may die on my own too. Of course I have been working on myself during those 3 years which makes me accept the uncontrollable. But again as you said, I am not really alone, I am with myself and we get along very well. Lol.
Your words were so powerful and helpful. You are such a gift. You have settled into your calling. You are right where you are meant to be (at least from my perspective). You gave exact words to what I’m going through. I have been searching for comfort and your offering was invaluable. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you❤️
Good morning Sarah! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. Your post spoke much of what is going on in my life right now, and gave me a chance to pause and reflect. I feel calmer. Thank you!
Thank you for yet again sharing something so vulnerable that comes so deep from within you in such an eloquent way. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thank you for your vulnerability and for sharing this struggle that is very real when I allow myself to see it within me. I will continue to sit with it. Many blessings to you and all.
Incredible. Thank you ❤️
Thank you Sarah for these powerful reminders. It truly is exactly what I needed to hear right now as I navigate some unsettling waters.