What a beautiful meditation on betwixt and between. Your photographs shine like gems, matched in lockstep with your words. Regardless of the amount of control we exercise in our paths through life, we are forced by energy and the ticking hands of time to put one foot in front of the other. Perhaps which path we chose is not as important as what we do along the way. We can be lost or found within ourselves in any location, following any prophet, road or idea. The moment seems fraught with paradox. Up is down. Right is wrong. Our future is uncertain. The past is gone. Is it any wonder we look out at the world around us with a discordant mind.
That in-betweenness can be unsettling sometimes. I often wonder if it is the ego scrambling for things to grasp onto and throwing tantrums, at least in my case.
I like how you put this: "This in-betweenness is a self-narrative too. The grasping of a worry-prone mind for the stability of naming, classification, categorization, the need to organize elements of experience into buckets of belonging."
I agree, Neil, I think it is the ego at work, stirring things up when it can't have things the way it likes. I really appreciate your reading and thoughtful comment. Have a great evening!
As I retire at the end of the month, I have found myself at an in-between-ness as well. I have been surprised to find myself musing back on my whole career thinking about the jobs I liked the most (early in my career) and each fork in the road. I didn’t expect that. I don’t know what will happen on May 1, but I intend to spend every day in the woods in meditation, looking at my favorite lichen and moss, sitting in one place for while and listening to the birds, seeing what happens. Thanks for your beautiful post.
Sincere thanks for your kind words, Maria, and congratulations on your retirement! Your experience echoes my own, it's period in life surprisingly full of introspection (even though I'm very introspective to begin with!), and even nostalgia, regardless of how much I'd looked forward to stepping away from that phase of life. Embrace it all, if you're as fortunate as I've been, there's so much and so many great people to be thankful for, and much waiting ahead. Enjoy all the transitions, and your next chapter!
Thank you. As I move from a working life involved in passionate advocacy for sustainability and human rights, into the position of elder, involved in making the final third of my life a culmination, not just a continuance, this notion of allowing transition, wavering, understanding and re-ubserstanding is so important. And so luxurious - not being driven to clarity, certainty, strategy at all times, but living into the questions...
Thank you Sarah, I'm wishing you all the best in your transitions. You said it very well, when it comes down to it there's not much that's certain. It doesn't always feel positive, but we can learn & come back to a level of comfort with the unknown, & I feel lucky that occasionally that experience can sometimes include a sense of wonder.
What a beautiful meditation on betwixt and between. Your photographs shine like gems, matched in lockstep with your words. Regardless of the amount of control we exercise in our paths through life, we are forced by energy and the ticking hands of time to put one foot in front of the other. Perhaps which path we chose is not as important as what we do along the way. We can be lost or found within ourselves in any location, following any prophet, road or idea. The moment seems fraught with paradox. Up is down. Right is wrong. Our future is uncertain. The past is gone. Is it any wonder we look out at the world around us with a discordant mind.
Thank you sincerely, John, that's such a kind comment. Here's to continuing to inhabit our uncertainties with a spirit of curiosity and possibility.
I'll drink to that.
That in-betweenness can be unsettling sometimes. I often wonder if it is the ego scrambling for things to grasp onto and throwing tantrums, at least in my case.
I like how you put this: "This in-betweenness is a self-narrative too. The grasping of a worry-prone mind for the stability of naming, classification, categorization, the need to organize elements of experience into buckets of belonging."
Thanks for sharing, Doug - great read and images.
I agree, Neil, I think it is the ego at work, stirring things up when it can't have things the way it likes. I really appreciate your reading and thoughtful comment. Have a great evening!
As I retire at the end of the month, I have found myself at an in-between-ness as well. I have been surprised to find myself musing back on my whole career thinking about the jobs I liked the most (early in my career) and each fork in the road. I didn’t expect that. I don’t know what will happen on May 1, but I intend to spend every day in the woods in meditation, looking at my favorite lichen and moss, sitting in one place for while and listening to the birds, seeing what happens. Thanks for your beautiful post.
Sincere thanks for your kind words, Maria, and congratulations on your retirement! Your experience echoes my own, it's period in life surprisingly full of introspection (even though I'm very introspective to begin with!), and even nostalgia, regardless of how much I'd looked forward to stepping away from that phase of life. Embrace it all, if you're as fortunate as I've been, there's so much and so many great people to be thankful for, and much waiting ahead. Enjoy all the transitions, and your next chapter!
Haunting.
Thank you as always MaryKat, for reading and sharing! I hope you're having a great week.
Thank you. As I move from a working life involved in passionate advocacy for sustainability and human rights, into the position of elder, involved in making the final third of my life a culmination, not just a continuance, this notion of allowing transition, wavering, understanding and re-ubserstanding is so important. And so luxurious - not being driven to clarity, certainty, strategy at all times, but living into the questions...
Thank you Sarah, I'm wishing you all the best in your transitions. You said it very well, when it comes down to it there's not much that's certain. It doesn't always feel positive, but we can learn & come back to a level of comfort with the unknown, & I feel lucky that occasionally that experience can sometimes include a sense of wonder.
Nice mood you created here. Got me thinking.
Thank you for letting me know, I hope it's good-thinking! Enjoy your weekend ahead, Amanda.
When I write fiction, I often include ghost stories. This one got me thinking about a story I have to finish.
I cannot wait to read it!!
Shifts, squills, swirls, hawk’s screams.
Inner outer prairies, paths.
Inviting questions.
thank you for adorning this with your impressionist haiku!