This echoes Cindy's comment of "putting in the reps" esp when you least want to, building that muscle memory and the space for new thoughts to emerge. You have developed quite an amazing practice, KZ, particularly with you sketches that bring those thoughts to visual life. I wonder how I can do the same?
Excellent questions. Why we write is probably easy—for many of us, I imagine it’s as essential as breathing. But how? A far more difficult question. When I am heartsick and bereft, I try to remember that someone needs to read my words—my heart. I start with a random sentence and begin to type. I may go back to delete much of what I’ve written, but the very act of writing is the lubrication for creativity. My martial arts grandmaster says of training, “When you least want to, you most need to “ I think it’s the same for writing. And I know I am deeply grateful that you find a way to write, no matter what you’re feeling. You inspire and encourage me.
"Writing is lubrication for creativity". What a phrase.
Yup. This week's edition was kinda hard, and purely an act of 'showing up' to paraphrase your grandmaster! Thank you for always having my back. I hope you are rewarded with lots of northern lights and some better weather, Cindy (and Ted).
What a priceless image to convey the diversity concept. Are you feeling more like the iguana or the seal? Although the highest form of service right now would be being the rock.
I loved the gentle co-existence. Neither side gave up their individual personalities. Both shared the mid-day warmth of the lava rock and then returned to their natural habitat in the sea.
I dread being asked this question, Karena, because right now – I don’t really know. I’m noticing this with a lot of things in my life at the moment, I’m in a ‘don’t know’ phase.
Thinking of you and try and stay away from the headline gremlins my friend!
Thanks for the honesty, Claire! I'm escaping to community and nature at present. Let me know how I can help with your don't know phase. One person's angst is another person's road map out!
So morning pages-ish? I have never been able to sustain that practice - but each time I start it does surface a whole number of curiosities and observations!
Going back to nature and the environment. Understanding our place in the larger scheme of things and ensuring we don't mess this rock up too much, is always the best, most rewarding and simplest and most basic thing to do.
Spending time with nature and other beings that we share this beautiful blue planet with; always revitalizes me. I agree it needs no words. No long articles.or narratives.
Those few words and amazing pic did say it all. And very often it's the simplest things that make the most profound statements and impact.
Each year I have made sure I had one vacation in nature. To reset my perspective. I recommend that practice. Because I crafted the frameworks around my career, I nowadays I have the luxury of spending time in nature where I get to touch the soil and remember the resilience in nature.
Karena! Your words don’t define your presence with us. Yet, a 291 word check in, a picture with no words check in, something in between are like you saying “I love you” which would be a three word check in.
Thank you for being you, and for checking in. ❤️❤️❤️
PS: amazing picture!
PSS: I plan to reach out soon. I’m off to my Mark Nepo workshop next week.
Have fun at the workshop, James! And I look forward to catching up.
The Galapagos was a gift that kept giving ... and it appears 1449 photos and 118 videos later is still surprisingly a source of content for this newsletter!
History and biology has been teaching us that over centuries.
I am also reminded of our trip to the Badlands in Alberta where the dinosaurs show that some species die out, some (like ants) survive ... and the earth keeps going.
I write to share the bits of beauty and whimsy that I see. I keep going by keeping a daily note. It's not really a diary, a morning page, or a meditation. It's based on Matthew Dick's ”Homework for Life“ mixed in with Billy Collin's “write a list” advice. When I get to a slump, I just try to remember that slumps happen and they, too, shall pass.
Sometimes I focus on short-form just to get the juices flowing!
This echoes Cindy's comment of "putting in the reps" esp when you least want to, building that muscle memory and the space for new thoughts to emerge. You have developed quite an amazing practice, KZ, particularly with you sketches that bring those thoughts to visual life. I wonder how I can do the same?
Excellent questions. Why we write is probably easy—for many of us, I imagine it’s as essential as breathing. But how? A far more difficult question. When I am heartsick and bereft, I try to remember that someone needs to read my words—my heart. I start with a random sentence and begin to type. I may go back to delete much of what I’ve written, but the very act of writing is the lubrication for creativity. My martial arts grandmaster says of training, “When you least want to, you most need to “ I think it’s the same for writing. And I know I am deeply grateful that you find a way to write, no matter what you’re feeling. You inspire and encourage me.
"Writing is lubrication for creativity". What a phrase.
Yup. This week's edition was kinda hard, and purely an act of 'showing up' to paraphrase your grandmaster! Thank you for always having my back. I hope you are rewarded with lots of northern lights and some better weather, Cindy (and Ted).
What a priceless image to convey the diversity concept. Are you feeling more like the iguana or the seal? Although the highest form of service right now would be being the rock.
Then rock it is!
I loved the gentle co-existence. Neither side gave up their individual personalities. Both shared the mid-day warmth of the lava rock and then returned to their natural habitat in the sea.
I dread being asked this question, Karena, because right now – I don’t really know. I’m noticing this with a lot of things in my life at the moment, I’m in a ‘don’t know’ phase.
Thinking of you and try and stay away from the headline gremlins my friend!
Thanks for the honesty, Claire! I'm escaping to community and nature at present. Let me know how I can help with your don't know phase. One person's angst is another person's road map out!
You’re a wise owl, Karena – another catch up is due :)
A picture paints a thousand words - perfect image to convey your message.
They just gave each a glance, then continued on their merry way!
Very timely capture then - good work!
Luck! I took 495 photos that day ... it was a highlight of the trip. And I took 14 in that interaction!
Not luck - patience and persistence.
I let myself write nonsense. Eventually the brain kicks in and says hey we aren't three anymore, let's try human words
So morning pages-ish? I have never been able to sustain that practice - but each time I start it does surface a whole number of curiosities and observations!
Going back to nature and the environment. Understanding our place in the larger scheme of things and ensuring we don't mess this rock up too much, is always the best, most rewarding and simplest and most basic thing to do.
Spending time with nature and other beings that we share this beautiful blue planet with; always revitalizes me. I agree it needs no words. No long articles.or narratives.
Those few words and amazing pic did say it all. And very often it's the simplest things that make the most profound statements and impact.
Each year I have made sure I had one vacation in nature. To reset my perspective. I recommend that practice. Because I crafted the frameworks around my career, I nowadays I have the luxury of spending time in nature where I get to touch the soil and remember the resilience in nature.
Karena! Your words don’t define your presence with us. Yet, a 291 word check in, a picture with no words check in, something in between are like you saying “I love you” which would be a three word check in.
Thank you for being you, and for checking in. ❤️❤️❤️
PS: amazing picture!
PSS: I plan to reach out soon. I’m off to my Mark Nepo workshop next week.
Have fun at the workshop, James! And I look forward to catching up.
The Galapagos was a gift that kept giving ... and it appears 1449 photos and 118 videos later is still surprisingly a source of content for this newsletter!
Thank you for your kind and very welcome words.
Nature has all the answers we need for how to co-exist and collaborate in this world. Without diversity we perish.
History and biology has been teaching us that over centuries.
I am also reminded of our trip to the Badlands in Alberta where the dinosaurs show that some species die out, some (like ants) survive ... and the earth keeps going.
<3 <3 <3 i hear you!!
Don't know which way to turn for solace these days! Sending you love, Christin.
I write to share the bits of beauty and whimsy that I see. I keep going by keeping a daily note. It's not really a diary, a morning page, or a meditation. It's based on Matthew Dick's ”Homework for Life“ mixed in with Billy Collin's “write a list” advice. When I get to a slump, I just try to remember that slumps happen and they, too, shall pass.
Thank you for the reminder of "homework for life". That is a great hack/trigger! This too shall pass. And it comes for all of us!
Precious photo.