Ten for When...

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— 2 min read
Frozen river with animal footprints on snow covered ice with trees on the banks and blue skies with clouds.
Frozen river with animal footprints on snow covered ice with trees on the banks and blue skies with clouds.
“Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry — all forms of fear — are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.” — Eckhart Tolle
"The most radical thing any of us can do at this time is to be fully present to what is happening in the world." ~ Joanna Macy

This will be short. (I won’t tell you how many times I write that in an email and then have to erase it because it’s not, but, if you know me, you can guess the number is not low.)

First, thank you to my brother (while I may not have a birth brother, like sisters, I am very lucky to have many brothers in this life) for this very important reminder that I desperately needed. My guess is some of you may need it to. (See we need each other.)

Here it is: stay here, in the present. I know there is a lot of scary stuff with potential for great significant fall out for the future. Yes, and still…Stay here. Breath, eat, rest, work, be with people. Do one thing at a time. Savor it - whatever IT is. We don't need to ignore what's happening, we shouldn't. We figure out what is ours to do and focus on that when we focus on that.

Trying to stay in the moment is difficult, seemingly impossible. But it is ESSENTIAL. It is necessary for us, for the people around us, and, if we are going to be able to meaningfully respond to what is happening, for our future, for our children's future. 

And, honestly, the only place that we get to experience beauty, joy, and love is the present - right here, right now.

I love you. We need you whole if we are going to get through this. We need each other - reach out. 

I will leave you with the words of a very wise woman. 

https://youtu.be/7aVS-6m_lDQ?si=Q6sPXDW2caZbtNxD

Be well, my beloveds, 

e

Enough, by David Whyte

Enough. These few words are enough.
If not these words, this breath.
If not this breath, this sitting here.
This opening to the life
We have refused again and again
Until now.
Until now.

[originally written on 1.30.2025]

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