It’s Sunday afternoon as I sit down to write this post. And I just had to calm Finley, my Australian shepherd from barking at the wind stirring up the windchimes and bushes and trees blowing in the backyard. It’s looking like a monsoon afternoon may bring a storm – or perhaps just wind and dust. Either way, the world is safer at this minute for Finley as I calmed him and let him know “it’s okay.”
(Finley asleep near me.)
Given the events of the last 8 days I do so wish it were as easy to calm the wind blowing through the trees and stirring the windchimes in everyone’s lives. No matter where a person is politically in the USA it is a time of wondering as the election gets closer with one runner shot 8 days ago, and the other stepping down in the race today. So many questions, so much unknown. It reminds me of the beginning of the pandemic and talking to a group about how fear of the unknown is the hardest thing to deal with in working with their groups.
Many of you know that John O’Donohue is one of my favorite writers and he speaks to these times back when he was writing:
“It is a strange and wonderful fact to be here, walking around in a body, to have a whole world within you and a world at your fingertips outside you. It is an immense privilege, and it is incredible that humans manage to forget the miracle of being here. Rilke said, ‘Being here is so much,’ and it is uncanny how social reality can deaden and numb us so that the mystical wonder of our lives goes totally unnoticed.” ― John O'Donohue
I want you to notice one line where he quotes Rilke, “Being here is so much.” It might feel that way right now in a negative way. And not to the side of wonder, but to confusion, regret, dominance, sadness, or even assurance. It’s important to look at where you are. And know that you are not alone in it. It may be a lot, but we are not alone. We have friends, loved ones, mentors, and elders to whom we can turn to talk with, share, and not be so alone. So that “being here” is not alone.
The other line I want you to note is “it is an immense privilege [to be here, walking around]” (O’Donohue). This is a crucial time to connect in life with your higher power. Today and the next few months will undoubtedly be full of ups and downs, excitement and fear, wins and losses. But we can know we are solid if we but stop, take a breath, and another, and then ask for help. Life amid questions and uncertainty is a life we can get through more easily when we ask for help. “Tell me, show me, give me what I need to see and know today” is my daily prayer. But it’s always best when I take the time to slow down, breathe, and listen, as I asked Finley to earlier. The future isn’t known, but “it’s okay” today. One day at a time.
Take care,
Dr. Beth
Beth Sikora, PhD, LPC, NCC
Given the events of the last 8 days I do so wish it were as easy to calm the wind blowing through the trees and stirring the windchimes in everyone’s lives. No matter where a person is politically in the USA it is a time of wondering as the election gets closer with one runner shot 8 days ago, and the other stepping down in the race today. So many questions, so much unknown. It reminds me of the beginning of the pandemic and talking to a group about how fear of the unknown is the hardest thing to deal with in working with their groups.
Many of you know that John O’Donohue is one of my favorite writers and he speaks to these times back when he was writing:
“It is a strange and wonderful fact to be here, walking around in a body, to have a whole world within you and a world at your fingertips outside you. It is an immense privilege, and it is incredible that humans manage to forget the miracle of being here. Rilke said, ‘Being here is so much,’ and it is uncanny how social reality can deaden and numb us so that the mystical wonder of our lives goes totally unnoticed.” ― John O'Donohue
I want you to notice one line where he quotes Rilke, “Being here is so much.” It might feel that way right now in a negative way. And not to the side of wonder, but to confusion, regret, dominance, sadness, or even assurance. It’s important to look at where you are. And know that you are not alone in it. It may be a lot, but we are not alone. We have friends, loved ones, mentors, and elders to whom we can turn to talk with, share, and not be so alone. So that “being here” is not alone.
The other line I want you to note is “it is an immense privilege [to be here, walking around]” (O’Donohue). This is a crucial time to connect in life with your higher power. Today and the next few months will undoubtedly be full of ups and downs, excitement and fear, wins and losses. But we can know we are solid if we but stop, take a breath, and another, and then ask for help. Life amid questions and uncertainty is a life we can get through more easily when we ask for help. “Tell me, show me, give me what I need to see and know today” is my daily prayer. But it’s always best when I take the time to slow down, breathe, and listen, as I asked Finley to earlier. The future isn’t known, but “it’s okay” today. One day at a time.
Take care,
Dr. Beth
Beth Sikora, PhD, LPC, NCC
RSS Feed