Nothing stands on its own. We are all connected. Yet, in failing to honour and pay attention to this myriad of intersections, we lose the flow of life. And without this, we are dead. We just might not realise it for a while…
Surrounded by multitudes, we can still be alone. And the number of ‘likes’ isn’t an indication of genuine relationships. Yet even in this world of temporary connections, shiny objects and manufactured perfection, we can still cultivate true friendships. That is, if we are willing to be open and vulnerable and, with grace, embrace our respective … Read more
Today, I simply want to appreciate walking companions. For many years I thought I was walking on my own. For a whole raft of reasons, I couldn’t see the others. Yet, they were always there if I had only paused and looked around. OK, they don’t necessarily look like us or sound like us. So … Read more
‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ Maya Angelou in conversation with Brené Brown
It’s when we share who we are – our hopes and fears, dreams and vulnerabilities – that real emotional connections are made. Just talking about what we do is like reading a billboard on a wall. We can’t see what’s behind. But let’s not forget that this is a two-way process. It also takes listening … Read more
Like mycelium, enduring friendship is formed by a myriad of different connections rarely seen on the surface. Our knowledge of each other is not just a matter of facts and dates. It’s formed with shared experience, emotions and exploration, often touching places that words cannot reach. Therefore seasonal displays of the ‘fruit’ are simply that … Read more
“Do not depend on the hope of results … In the end, it is the reality of personal relationship that saves everything.” These are the profound words of wisdom from Thomas Merton to his friend, the peace campaigner Jim Forest, in Letter to a Young Activist in 1966. For those who want to linger here … Read more
This slightly damp multi-layered web caught my attention. Constructed in an obscure crevice in an old guard rail, the ravages of the thunderstorm had not destroyed it. I was fascinated. And it made me think about the web of relationships that have been quietly growing over this extraordinary time. Hidden away out of normal sight, … Read more
‘Slowness in human relations.’ It comes from a passage written by the Norwegian philosopher Guttorm Fløistad quoted by Vincenzo Di Nicola in the Aeon article: Slow Thought: a manifesto. The only thing for certain is that everything changes. The rate of change increases. If you want to hang on, you better speed up. That is … Read more
Our relationship with others – the space between us – starts with our relationship with ourselves. If we ignore or find nothing of value within, then guess what happens beyond our skin. Eventually. Perhaps that’s the nature of the soul.