Selfishly this week’s letter made me wish for more of the poetic writing of your younger self and, a reframing, so that the focus is biography and the conclusion is mindfulness. Mindfulness that we as readers appreciate more through the lense of your own journey. That bit resonated most with me. Happy Birthday!
Thank you, Georgia. I really appreciate that feedback because I was thinking the opposite--who would care about my life back then? I was just using it as an illustration. But if it resonated with you, I will definitely consider your suggestions when I tackle the second draft.
Oh Cathy, I love this post as much as the first one, maybe more. Both are so intelligently written, full of insight, but most importantly, thought provoking. I wish I'd seen things like this years ago when I was so caught up in the day-to-day busyness of life and someone else was pulling my strings. I find, as you mentioned, that solitude, gratitude and mindfulness are essential to my life. Because I actively practice them routinely now that I'm retired, I also find myself feeling many moments (days sometimes) of conscious, overwhelming joy. I drive my husband crazy because every time I get in a car and it pulls onto the highway, I turn to him and say, "I'm so happy!" And I am. But I got here because of the things this post is about. I finally created this love-ly life that brings me peace and joy. I pray your writing and book help many, many people find their way to Exit 9 early rather than later in their lives.
P.S. There's a missing space between by and Thornton in the second paragraph.
Thank you, Laurie! It sounds like you have arrived at a wonderful place in your life! I would love to hear more about how you created your "love-ly" life Thank you so much for your comments. (And BTW I fixed the space--thanks for that, too!)
I loved this post. Our Town, Howard Thurman and The Sound of the Genuine...awesome! I like how you presented these ideas through your personal connection to them.
I've been thinking about the importance of mindfulness and gratitude a lot recently. Mostly because I am chasing the kids around the house all day - rushing them to get dressed, get to school, turn off the TV, brush their teeth, get to sleep, and on and on and on. I am aware of how precious this time is and how, like Emily Webb, they can feel monotonous but only because I'm focusing on the wrong things and that, in 30 years, I would pay any amount to relive a week of my life in this moment.
It's a tension for me because when I do try to appreciate the beauty of these small, seemingly insignificant moments, I over do it and get sad that this moment will not last. I think at times I am holding on too tight. So, I guess the trick is to live in between those extremes.
Thank you, Ian! It's funny that you mention how hard it is to be mindful when the demands of childcare are so constant, even knowing you should stop and appreciate those moments. Thich Nhat Hanh actually begins his book, Miracle of Mindfulness, by describing how a friend of his, Alan, had the same feelings you expressed while caring for his two young children. So the feeling is universal--the solution is individual. But there is a way! Thanks again for taking the time to comment!
Selfishly this week’s letter made me wish for more of the poetic writing of your younger self and, a reframing, so that the focus is biography and the conclusion is mindfulness. Mindfulness that we as readers appreciate more through the lense of your own journey. That bit resonated most with me. Happy Birthday!
Thank you, Georgia. I really appreciate that feedback because I was thinking the opposite--who would care about my life back then? I was just using it as an illustration. But if it resonated with you, I will definitely consider your suggestions when I tackle the second draft.
Oh Cathy, I love this post as much as the first one, maybe more. Both are so intelligently written, full of insight, but most importantly, thought provoking. I wish I'd seen things like this years ago when I was so caught up in the day-to-day busyness of life and someone else was pulling my strings. I find, as you mentioned, that solitude, gratitude and mindfulness are essential to my life. Because I actively practice them routinely now that I'm retired, I also find myself feeling many moments (days sometimes) of conscious, overwhelming joy. I drive my husband crazy because every time I get in a car and it pulls onto the highway, I turn to him and say, "I'm so happy!" And I am. But I got here because of the things this post is about. I finally created this love-ly life that brings me peace and joy. I pray your writing and book help many, many people find their way to Exit 9 early rather than later in their lives.
P.S. There's a missing space between by and Thornton in the second paragraph.
Thank you, Laurie! It sounds like you have arrived at a wonderful place in your life! I would love to hear more about how you created your "love-ly" life Thank you so much for your comments. (And BTW I fixed the space--thanks for that, too!)
I loved this post. Our Town, Howard Thurman and The Sound of the Genuine...awesome! I like how you presented these ideas through your personal connection to them.
I've been thinking about the importance of mindfulness and gratitude a lot recently. Mostly because I am chasing the kids around the house all day - rushing them to get dressed, get to school, turn off the TV, brush their teeth, get to sleep, and on and on and on. I am aware of how precious this time is and how, like Emily Webb, they can feel monotonous but only because I'm focusing on the wrong things and that, in 30 years, I would pay any amount to relive a week of my life in this moment.
It's a tension for me because when I do try to appreciate the beauty of these small, seemingly insignificant moments, I over do it and get sad that this moment will not last. I think at times I am holding on too tight. So, I guess the trick is to live in between those extremes.
Thanks for sharing this post! Keep them coming!
Thank you, Ian! It's funny that you mention how hard it is to be mindful when the demands of childcare are so constant, even knowing you should stop and appreciate those moments. Thich Nhat Hanh actually begins his book, Miracle of Mindfulness, by describing how a friend of his, Alan, had the same feelings you expressed while caring for his two young children. So the feeling is universal--the solution is individual. But there is a way! Thanks again for taking the time to comment!