Ever since I read this I have been thinking about available. Listening has been one of the behaviors I’ve been exploring. Yesterday I noticed how I was busy preparing my response, wanting to talk, to interrupt, when talking to a friend. This haiku was in my mind when I let go of that and started listening. When my friend was done speaking, I had no response prepared, I couldn’t remember what had been so important to me to say, and it didn’t matter one bit.
I’ve also thought of “available” as “open.” Busy-ness, fear, etc. distract me from open awareness, my aspiration, but also my fear. That wide open boundary-less Montana is both awesome and unmanageable.
Comment byjodi |
October 28, 2009 @ 9:20 am
I’ve been spending time with a student going through a hellish time. She’s working through old demons with a therapist and now her 24 year old son is having problems (hearing voices) and she had an abnormal mammogram.
I wanted so much to give advice, and it was hard to just sit and witness and open my heart to that pain. I didn’t despair though because I could also see an aliveness and determination in her that wasn’t there 8 months ago. I felt that bittersweet pain/joy in my heart and let it be.
Her son is seeing a therapist today, so your prayers/thoughts are welcome. He’s going to need a lot of courage to ask for help and speak the truth.
who’s too important
Ever since I read this I have been thinking about available. Listening has been one of the behaviors I’ve been exploring. Yesterday I noticed how I was busy preparing my response, wanting to talk, to interrupt, when talking to a friend. This haiku was in my mind when I let go of that and started listening. When my friend was done speaking, I had no response prepared, I couldn’t remember what had been so important to me to say, and it didn’t matter one bit.
I’ve also thought of “available” as “open.” Busy-ness, fear, etc. distract me from open awareness, my aspiration, but also my fear. That wide open boundary-less Montana is both awesome and unmanageable.
I’ve been spending time with a student going through a hellish time. She’s working through old demons with a therapist and now her 24 year old son is having problems (hearing voices) and she had an abnormal mammogram.
I wanted so much to give advice, and it was hard to just sit and witness and open my heart to that pain. I didn’t despair though because I could also see an aliveness and determination in her that wasn’t there 8 months ago. I felt that bittersweet pain/joy in my heart and let it be.
Her son is seeing a therapist today, so your prayers/thoughts are welcome. He’s going to need a lot of courage to ask for help and speak the truth.