The way you opened up, was truly beautiful. I love how you follow Buddhist teachings to help you through. Your words have always been so helpful to me. I appreciate you.
Beautiful, thought-provoking writing. I'm off to ponder. One thought that arrived straigt away as I read, though, was how sharing ourselves openly in the way so many of us do in our work here on Substack, that builds a deeper philia-love than I have known for a long time. So here is where I feel seen, and that is helping me to learn to love me, too. Love you, my friend 💞
Thank you for reading and reflecting deeply, as always, @Louise Morris . I feel the same. Working as a surgeon for so many years didn’t allow me to share openly with people, I felt a need to maintain a facade and space between me and my patients (until the last couple of years).
Here I feel I can put all of me out on the page, which definitely enhances the philia-love and connectivity. And learning to love ourselves is the practice of a lifetime. Maybe it’s this culture that is so competitive and production-focused that keeps us so far away from our own hearts?? Not sure, but either way, I’ve been walking towards myself for years now, and am continuing on this beautiful path.
Loved the concept of permission slips! Very beautifully explained and yes maybe we get to experience all the types at different stages of life PS: Looking forward 👀 to that Miami story hahah
The Substack algorithms have just sent your writing to me and it resonates so much. I read the term 'positive disintegration' in one of Lindsay C Gibson's books about emotionally immature parents (instead of breakdown) and I think it's so apt. My PD happened 6 years ago and resulted in us selling our house, cars and 99% of our possessions to have a narrow boat built to live on. My nervous system is still dysregulated after a lifetime of living in sympathetic activation, but a slow life on the canal system in the UK is literally slowing me down in every way...Karen 🙂
Thanks for reading and reflecting @Saved By Grace . I am happy to know you’re taking care of yourself by slowing life down a bit and supporting your nervous system to quiet down. Sending love xo🙏💗😊
Thank you for your article on the many types of love.I think it's so important in this time when people are feeling anxious and isolated to know that different types are available
'the last time I allowed myself to play, to be joyful and flirty...'
I'm not even sure. this is the most difficult prompt to answer of the bunch. probably a couple of years ago, at a restaurant job. I was often around pretty girls and felt comfortable. now, that part of me has been in hiding for some time.
this is such beautiful writing, an easy read and jam-packed full of juicy experience. you weren't kidding! thank you for inviting us into your world so openly and vulnerably.
i certainly have some things to think about, like how i can bring some of this love into my life <3
I see love as the foundation of all connection...the fabric of creation as it were. There are so many ways to express it in relationship with life, as your post so eloquently says. I was especially touched by your Miriam love...when my husband died in 2017 I made the same discovery. An astonishing gift...not just that love never dies, but that "our" love didn't die...a personal flavored experience of love had survived his death. Thanks for a beautiful article.
The way you opened up, was truly beautiful. I love how you follow Buddhist teachings to help you through. Your words have always been so helpful to me. I appreciate you.
Thank you for reading and reflecting, Rhiannon.
The Buddha’s teachings have been an integral part of my path. The wisdom and truth carry me through the joys and challenges of life.🙏💗🕉️
if i could send a loving message to the world?
" stop, you are that place where the tears are just about to build
you are that awwwe and breath stopped to sense more, take in more
and stare blinded by feelings
of tenderness
stop.. you are everything you have felt and seen and even this
you are loved by the basic silence so much it paints out into everything to
greet you never leaving you..
you are worth this much
stop.. i will watch your tears
always"
i hope some put their cell phones down after I speak this into my marshal stack on my roof and then add a native americal flute.
Thank you for reading and reflecting back with such a wonderfully profound prayer poem @michael smith 🙏✨🕉️
beautiful , Michael. I play the native american flute, too.
Your poetry inspired a haiku in me :
✨
invite silence in
you've arrived home in your breath
i will hold your tears
✨
Beautiful, thought-provoking writing. I'm off to ponder. One thought that arrived straigt away as I read, though, was how sharing ourselves openly in the way so many of us do in our work here on Substack, that builds a deeper philia-love than I have known for a long time. So here is where I feel seen, and that is helping me to learn to love me, too. Love you, my friend 💞
Thank you for reading and reflecting deeply, as always, @Louise Morris . I feel the same. Working as a surgeon for so many years didn’t allow me to share openly with people, I felt a need to maintain a facade and space between me and my patients (until the last couple of years).
Here I feel I can put all of me out on the page, which definitely enhances the philia-love and connectivity. And learning to love ourselves is the practice of a lifetime. Maybe it’s this culture that is so competitive and production-focused that keeps us so far away from our own hearts?? Not sure, but either way, I’ve been walking towards myself for years now, and am continuing on this beautiful path.
Love you, my lovely friend across the pond💗
Loved the concept of permission slips! Very beautifully explained and yes maybe we get to experience all the types at different stages of life PS: Looking forward 👀 to that Miami story hahah
🥰🙏
I appreciate how you wrote about the many different types of love. I wish the English language had more words for "love."
The Substack algorithms have just sent your writing to me and it resonates so much. I read the term 'positive disintegration' in one of Lindsay C Gibson's books about emotionally immature parents (instead of breakdown) and I think it's so apt. My PD happened 6 years ago and resulted in us selling our house, cars and 99% of our possessions to have a narrow boat built to live on. My nervous system is still dysregulated after a lifetime of living in sympathetic activation, but a slow life on the canal system in the UK is literally slowing me down in every way...Karen 🙂
Thanks for reading and reflecting @Saved By Grace . I am happy to know you’re taking care of yourself by slowing life down a bit and supporting your nervous system to quiet down. Sending love xo🙏💗😊
Thank you for your article on the many types of love.I think it's so important in this time when people are feeling anxious and isolated to know that different types are available
Thanks for reading and reflecting, Karen.
I agree, we all benefit form connecting to the many shapes of LOVE💗✨😊
'the last time I allowed myself to play, to be joyful and flirty...'
I'm not even sure. this is the most difficult prompt to answer of the bunch. probably a couple of years ago, at a restaurant job. I was often around pretty girls and felt comfortable. now, that part of me has been in hiding for some time.
this is such beautiful writing, an easy read and jam-packed full of juicy experience. you weren't kidding! thank you for inviting us into your world so openly and vulnerably.
i certainly have some things to think about, like how i can bring some of this love into my life <3
Thanks for reading and reflecting, @Tristan Hoh .
Love your contemplation about how to bring more love into your world.
Please do, because our world needs more love! ✨💗🙏😊
I see love as the foundation of all connection...the fabric of creation as it were. There are so many ways to express it in relationship with life, as your post so eloquently says. I was especially touched by your Miriam love...when my husband died in 2017 I made the same discovery. An astonishing gift...not just that love never dies, but that "our" love didn't die...a personal flavored experience of love had survived his death. Thanks for a beautiful article.
Thanks for reading and reflecting, Kristin.
Death is a beautiful, yet painful, teacher of love .
To recognize all the ways of love in your own life reflects a deep awareness. I have asked all my life, What is love? You’ve answered some of that.
Thank you, Susan, for reading and reflecting. This is definitely one of the big questions in life. It was quite a treat to dive in. 😊✨💗