May we manifest the beauty of our soul's into being, beauty soften the heart, kindness hugs a longing ache; Beauty indeed can save the world ,artists, writers, beautiful caring souls must continue your work amongst the storm of putting what is beautiful and loving out into the world our soul so desperately need it... Love Warrior Unite
You had me at the line about the men playing chess. For some reason whenever I see that - which is often on my trips to visit my mom - it’s often elderly men gathered around a folding table propped up on the sidewalk along Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn NY. It might be chess or cards. For some reason it always warms my heart to an umpteenth degree. I’m not sure why. The simplicity , the camaraderie, the comfort in knowing that people still take joy in connecting over a board game (I love games!) and maybe there’s a bit of wistfulness too, a hint of the bittersweet, in wondering if I am witnessing something that may soon no longer be. And me in awe of the moment, recognizing pure human connection - present, and yet passing. It’s quite beautiful for lack of a better word.
Such a thought provoking poem! “These people unaware are saving the world” made me think about no matter how insignificant you think the good you do in the world really does have a positive impact. Imagine if all people did their part with doing something daily for the common good of our planet what a beautiful place earth would for all creatures! 😊
I love this poem, and I love all the very thoughtful and thought provoking comments here. The line that most grabbed me was, “He who prefers others to be right.”
My first immediate thought was this definition of right, “true or correct as a fact”. I love learning from others, especially informally, through conversations and stories, but also academically. Others who are “right”, even in a disagreement with me, can teach me something. When they were much younger, my boys once asked me what I would do if I were the president (something I would never wish to be!), and I told them that I would surround myself with people who were “smarter” than I am. I told them that there is so much that any one person doesn’t know or understand, and that in order to be the best president I could be, I would need many intelligent people who did know those things and maybe even disagreed with me, so that I could learn from them.
The second thought that came to me was one that is even more important to me, and relates to another definition of right, “morally good, justified, or acceptable.” Rather than aspiring “to be the president” as my boys imagined, I try to be “right” in this way. I try to be morally good, and I also “prefer others to be right.” I also believe those who are “right” are “saving the world.” I deeply admire examples of this in my life. My parents are two of my closest friends and the greatest example to me of being morally good because one should be, and even, or especially when it isn’t seen or known by others. Thank you for sharing this Susan.
In addition to my comment on the poem, I have some question for Mr. Nguyen. I first must confess that I have not read the book. I read some reviews and had ChatGPT generate an overview of the German version.
Let me set up my question first:
I have some beef with the term overthinking and mindfulness as a solution. Allow me to explain. I think that overthinking is a misnomer. It is usually a less controversial word for worrying, and worrying, IMHO, is what the mind does if it does not truly think, thus building a worldview of the negative, which then interprets emotions and sensory input (including words and stories) as worrisome.
Therefore, the better name would be underthinking, even though I get the association. For a mind that has built a negative worldview, the flood of thoughts appears to be overwhelming.
I have come to the conclusion that people who worry a lot can use mindfulness, awareness, living in the moment as a tool to calm their mind, but it is no solution. It is important to build on that calm, by renewing our thinking, as Paul calls it, realizing that we have the mind of Christ.
I can hear the echo of Jesus saying "love your God with all your mind", certainly not wanting us to shut up our thinking, while also saying that we shall not worry what we will eat or wear. This means that worrying is an abuse of our faculty to think, but so is not to think.
What therefore comes after mindfulness, awareness, living in the moment? How would Mr. Nguyen build a new worldview that allows us to truly think, where overthinking never happens because there is no such thing as thinking too much? And I am not talking about mere optimism, positive thinking, or the absolutely shallow management speak of renaming problems challenges.
He who is grateful for the existence of music (Jorge Luis Borges)
It is music that fills our dark and empty spaces with light,
where that certain melody can lift us from melancholy,
even if only for a precious moment,
or a symphony that so deeply connects, it overcomes a shadowy shroud of sadness,
elevating us somehow back to the joyous heights we once knew but lost,
and even the happy rhythms from the past that somehow sweeten our tears of grief and loss but make memories of that wondrous first love happily alive again,
The last line is what got to me, “These people, unaware, are saving the world” They do all these things as if the world depends on them, because it does.
What a thought provoking poem. "The potter, contemplating a color and a form." That one really grabbed my attention. Contemplation is an enormous part of what goes into art regardless of the medium. I will often ponder a line or even a simple thought over the course of the day until it crystalizes itself into the unction required to write it onto the page. I'm not a potter but I imagine being easy friends with someone who is.
Thank you - I love this poem! I see myself and loved ones - especially in regards to the line about music. Most recently, music has helped my husband and I build bonds with our two teenagers. Also, it is interesting for me to contemplate the lines "The typographer who sets this page well, though it may not please him." and "He who prefers others to be right." Both stand out to me and give me inspiration. I put the poem above my workspace for continued validation, appreciation and inspiration. Thank you!
The trivial pursuit (no pun intended) of following one's passion unknowingly saves the world – how profound.
I can see many passions of mine in this. It carries the idea of acting locally, influencing the people around you, within your sphere (and that local sphere can be global due to the internet) by contributing what you are passionate about, what is your strength, what you are able to provide from a place of love. This is why I write, coach, learn about developmental psychology, help my wife.
I find myself most in this line:
He who takes pleasure in tracing an etymology. (As you can see here: https://aperspectival.substack.com/p/transcendent-transparent-translucent) Not that I would ever say that my little text is saving the world, not even contributing greatly toward its salvation. And all that lies in the word "unaware".
Of course, I want to justify, and even do, a wrong done to me, and prefer others to be right. And who does not remember the emotions we had when we read Treasure Island or Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
I love the calm that came over me as I read this. The line “He who is grateful for the existence of music” sang to me. I often am in awe that we as humans are able and choose to make music and any form of art. Because there is no logical answer to why we do, it feels like a bit of the universe’s magic.
Great poem Susan , thank you for sharing. Didn't realize Borges wrote poetry as well . This reminded of the following verses from Leonard Cohen , though the theme is completely different .
Loved it. Making a copy for my journal. Favorite line? "These people, unaware, are saving the world" Just living their lives and trying to do our best...takes some of the pressure off of me.
I used to think that I could only be successful or important if I did "big things". Just trying my best to care for my family and my community and deriving satisfaction from it. P.S. I am 68 years old.
May we manifest the beauty of our soul's into being, beauty soften the heart, kindness hugs a longing ache; Beauty indeed can save the world ,artists, writers, beautiful caring souls must continue your work amongst the storm of putting what is beautiful and loving out into the world our soul so desperately need it... Love Warrior Unite
You had me at the line about the men playing chess. For some reason whenever I see that - which is often on my trips to visit my mom - it’s often elderly men gathered around a folding table propped up on the sidewalk along Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn NY. It might be chess or cards. For some reason it always warms my heart to an umpteenth degree. I’m not sure why. The simplicity , the camaraderie, the comfort in knowing that people still take joy in connecting over a board game (I love games!) and maybe there’s a bit of wistfulness too, a hint of the bittersweet, in wondering if I am witnessing something that may soon no longer be. And me in awe of the moment, recognizing pure human connection - present, and yet passing. It’s quite beautiful for lack of a better word.
I love this, and totally get it.
Such a thought provoking poem! “These people unaware are saving the world” made me think about no matter how insignificant you think the good you do in the world really does have a positive impact. Imagine if all people did their part with doing something daily for the common good of our planet what a beautiful place earth would for all creatures! 😊
I love this poem, and I love all the very thoughtful and thought provoking comments here. The line that most grabbed me was, “He who prefers others to be right.”
My first immediate thought was this definition of right, “true or correct as a fact”. I love learning from others, especially informally, through conversations and stories, but also academically. Others who are “right”, even in a disagreement with me, can teach me something. When they were much younger, my boys once asked me what I would do if I were the president (something I would never wish to be!), and I told them that I would surround myself with people who were “smarter” than I am. I told them that there is so much that any one person doesn’t know or understand, and that in order to be the best president I could be, I would need many intelligent people who did know those things and maybe even disagreed with me, so that I could learn from them.
The second thought that came to me was one that is even more important to me, and relates to another definition of right, “morally good, justified, or acceptable.” Rather than aspiring “to be the president” as my boys imagined, I try to be “right” in this way. I try to be morally good, and I also “prefer others to be right.” I also believe those who are “right” are “saving the world.” I deeply admire examples of this in my life. My parents are two of my closest friends and the greatest example to me of being morally good because one should be, and even, or especially when it isn’t seen or known by others. Thank you for sharing this Susan.
In addition to my comment on the poem, I have some question for Mr. Nguyen. I first must confess that I have not read the book. I read some reviews and had ChatGPT generate an overview of the German version.
Let me set up my question first:
I have some beef with the term overthinking and mindfulness as a solution. Allow me to explain. I think that overthinking is a misnomer. It is usually a less controversial word for worrying, and worrying, IMHO, is what the mind does if it does not truly think, thus building a worldview of the negative, which then interprets emotions and sensory input (including words and stories) as worrisome.
Therefore, the better name would be underthinking, even though I get the association. For a mind that has built a negative worldview, the flood of thoughts appears to be overwhelming.
I have come to the conclusion that people who worry a lot can use mindfulness, awareness, living in the moment as a tool to calm their mind, but it is no solution. It is important to build on that calm, by renewing our thinking, as Paul calls it, realizing that we have the mind of Christ.
I can hear the echo of Jesus saying "love your God with all your mind", certainly not wanting us to shut up our thinking, while also saying that we shall not worry what we will eat or wear. This means that worrying is an abuse of our faculty to think, but so is not to think.
What therefore comes after mindfulness, awareness, living in the moment? How would Mr. Nguyen build a new worldview that allows us to truly think, where overthinking never happens because there is no such thing as thinking too much? And I am not talking about mere optimism, positive thinking, or the absolutely shallow management speak of renaming problems challenges.
Quietly thrilling indeed! ❤️
He who is grateful for the existence of music (Jorge Luis Borges)
It is music that fills our dark and empty spaces with light,
where that certain melody can lift us from melancholy,
even if only for a precious moment,
or a symphony that so deeply connects, it overcomes a shadowy shroud of sadness,
elevating us somehow back to the joyous heights we once knew but lost,
and even the happy rhythms from the past that somehow sweeten our tears of grief and loss but make memories of that wondrous first love happily alive again,
making bearable the bittersweet reality of life,
that is the wonder of music.
I wonder if extroverts would have the same positive feelings about this poem as introverts seem to have in relating to it? Myself included! ;o)
I always say, "music is magic!" It's such a mood setter!
Stroking the sleeping animal, Immediately, I had the yearning to have a cat on my lap to feel its warmth and softness.
Tracing etymology, how are words born & what is it's journey then using them in other forms such as typography. Oh how beautiful!
Beauty can be found in all that we do, if we just look and listen, "saving the world" as we pause and reflect.
The last line is what got to me, “These people, unaware, are saving the world” They do all these things as if the world depends on them, because it does.
What a thought provoking poem. "The potter, contemplating a color and a form." That one really grabbed my attention. Contemplation is an enormous part of what goes into art regardless of the medium. I will often ponder a line or even a simple thought over the course of the day until it crystalizes itself into the unction required to write it onto the page. I'm not a potter but I imagine being easy friends with someone who is.
I am left with one lingering question....who is Stevenson?
Robert Louis Stevenson, most likely.
Thank you - I love this poem! I see myself and loved ones - especially in regards to the line about music. Most recently, music has helped my husband and I build bonds with our two teenagers. Also, it is interesting for me to contemplate the lines "The typographer who sets this page well, though it may not please him." and "He who prefers others to be right." Both stand out to me and give me inspiration. I put the poem above my workspace for continued validation, appreciation and inspiration. Thank you!
The trivial pursuit (no pun intended) of following one's passion unknowingly saves the world – how profound.
I can see many passions of mine in this. It carries the idea of acting locally, influencing the people around you, within your sphere (and that local sphere can be global due to the internet) by contributing what you are passionate about, what is your strength, what you are able to provide from a place of love. This is why I write, coach, learn about developmental psychology, help my wife.
I find myself most in this line:
He who takes pleasure in tracing an etymology. (As you can see here: https://aperspectival.substack.com/p/transcendent-transparent-translucent) Not that I would ever say that my little text is saving the world, not even contributing greatly toward its salvation. And all that lies in the word "unaware".
Of course, I want to justify, and even do, a wrong done to me, and prefer others to be right. And who does not remember the emotions we had when we read Treasure Island or Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
I love the calm that came over me as I read this. The line “He who is grateful for the existence of music” sang to me. I often am in awe that we as humans are able and choose to make music and any form of art. Because there is no logical answer to why we do, it feels like a bit of the universe’s magic.
Great poem Susan , thank you for sharing. Didn't realize Borges wrote poetry as well . This reminded of the following verses from Leonard Cohen , though the theme is completely different .
And who in her lonely slip
Who by barbiturate
Who in these realms of love
Who by something blunt
And who by avalanche
Who by powder
Who for his greed
Who for his hunger
And who shall I say is calling?
I love love love that song by Leonard C!!
I’ve just realised that this is the opening song to the dark comedy series Bad Sisters! Such an unusual song.
Loved it. Making a copy for my journal. Favorite line? "These people, unaware, are saving the world" Just living their lives and trying to do our best...takes some of the pressure off of me.
I used to think that I could only be successful or important if I did "big things". Just trying my best to care for my family and my community and deriving satisfaction from it. P.S. I am 68 years old.
It's one of the best things about getting older, isn't it? The transition from doing to being? (I'm 56.)