"Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness."
I love this. So apropos during this unsettling time. It's easy to succumb to feelings of hopelessness, but I do believe that we can't lose hope. We have goodness and, as E.B. White said, "steadfastness", to offer the world. We can be the torch carrying the hope, fanning the flames of goodness. I am holding on to that hope and trying to instill it in those around me who are feeling hopeless. We can be a force, if we just "get up Sunday morning and wind the clock", and do so every day, to make our contributions to goodness in the world.
As an 89 year old Canadian woman I needed E.B. White's letter. Like most Canadians I have always considered the United States our close friend and ally. Yes, there have always been differences but like good friends do through good will and dialogue we have resolved them. My sadness about the current American government's attitude to Canada and its seeming attempt to weaken our economy so that we have no choice but to become the 51st state is regrettable. My feelings of caring toward my American friends and relatives won't change and I hang on to hope that the very special relationship between our two nations has not been fatally wounded.
Margaret, my heart hurts for the Canadian people. My husband is a Canadian citizen (from Saskatchewan), and by birth right, so are my children. We live in the US and are appalled by the way the president is treating our allies, especially Canada. We are considering whether we stay or migrate north. It is hard to watch our country fall to pieces, to feel the shame and embarrassment that the current administration is causing us. Know that many of us didn't vote for this and surely don't condone his actions, and we are with Canada and our allies, hoping that this nightmare will end. I do appreciate your kind words towards your "American friends and relatives". So many of us stand with you!
Perhaps I shouldn't be writing this today as I'm still raw from the pain of putting our beloved dog of 14 years to sleep yesterday morning, but I felt compelled to write. Thank you Susan for sharing E.B. White's letter of hope. As I reflect on the unconditional love of my dog, I cannot help think that it is often in the unconditional love of our pets that shows us the true meaning of love. Yes, of course there is love between humans, but we carry so many distorted and dysfunctional false ideas in our heads that we hold up as absolute truth, that it makes it hard to ever be at peace with one another. We must compromise but resent it, we must bite our tongues to keep the peace but often choke on those words that insist on being released. The madness White speaks of back in his day, gave us a chance of survival, but now, with our new I.T. Overlords infiltrating and further distorting our human brains, I fear for the future. I wonder what White would say were he alive today. I did love his advice to "wind the clock" - I have an old clock and now feel compelled to bring it back to life. Perhaps there is hope in an old timepiece.
This is so beautiful and needed now. Thank you for the E. B. White letter. I hung this quote up on my mirror this morning; by Mary Oliver quote, “ It is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world.”
I'm now reading Byung Chul Han's "The Spirit of Hope" and it's such a wonderful read. All of us quiets should have a look at it.
It poses such a profound yet clear view of how we view hope, and at the same time an integrative view of it, as it poses that "hope embraces negativity" making a strong critique of positivism, optimism, and even positive psychology that more often than ever, tries to hide or block negativity.
This community as a whole brings me hope. That there is space for beauty. Thinking beyond usefulness. Allowing joy, awe and fun to be at the center. I'm thankful of you, Duchess, because as the sculpture you hold our collective hand and light up our way into hope.
You allow us to inter-be. To let the scenius to emerge. Conducting a collective orchestra to create a symphony of quiet.
I’m a CPA in the thick of it, extra thick with what’s happening in our government currently. I wasn’t prepared that sometimes we are the closest one might get to the government and would face their wrath. I’m losing faith in human decency and kindness. Until… a hurt raccoon the police named Kevin sauntered his furry cuteness into my yard. Little Kevin got our towns police force in mission mode to save him, not destroy him. They found a rescue run by a vet who on their own time and energy jumped on the scene and now Kevin is at a sanctuary getting care. I stood in the rain watching all these beautiful people show up and care. A policeman step in front of me to protect me from little Kevin (who didn’t try to hurt me, but lift his paw to show me it was hurt). I smiled on my face and in my heart at this officer because his default is care. And isn’t that what we are here to do? Little Kevin was my rewind clock ❤️
This made me think of one of my former bosses (and not the one you might think). I had the dumb luck of having a number of wonderful bosses, and now all of them are in my past. This is the man who originally hired me, and he is quite the individual, unique. Wish I could give him to you with my words, but not possible. He was decent, and fun, and at a particular moment when I might (or might not have) won a particular award, he wrote a letter that sealed the deal. Why? Not because of me, I assure you. He wrote it because he wanted this for me, because he is a generous spirit! Such a treasure to remember him, all the times, work-yes, but all the laughter and friendship. So your note here prompted me to send him a note and make sure he knows how much he meant to me, and still does though I’ll probably never be with him again. I for one have had, and do have very decent and wonderful humans in my life, and your note here prompted me to mention to this man again… you know he wasn’t perfect, no one is, but I’d feel it would be a loss to change a single thing, who he is, well, just as he is… nothing better!
E.B. White ❤️ I read a collection of his essays last year. If you haven't already I recommend borrowing it from your library. His reflections helped put perspective on the challenges of living in the world today.
Susan, all 3 of these were wonderful and lifted my spirits. Thank you 🙏🏻. I went into the chat and scrolled through all of the comments and creativity posted. ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you. This community is so nourishing. The letter brought tears. Our influence may seem small in a world that sometimes is in pain, but love, a listening ear, a kindness is contagious for sure.
"Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness."
I love this. So apropos during this unsettling time. It's easy to succumb to feelings of hopelessness, but I do believe that we can't lose hope. We have goodness and, as E.B. White said, "steadfastness", to offer the world. We can be the torch carrying the hope, fanning the flames of goodness. I am holding on to that hope and trying to instill it in those around me who are feeling hopeless. We can be a force, if we just "get up Sunday morning and wind the clock", and do so every day, to make our contributions to goodness in the world.
As an 89 year old Canadian woman I needed E.B. White's letter. Like most Canadians I have always considered the United States our close friend and ally. Yes, there have always been differences but like good friends do through good will and dialogue we have resolved them. My sadness about the current American government's attitude to Canada and its seeming attempt to weaken our economy so that we have no choice but to become the 51st state is regrettable. My feelings of caring toward my American friends and relatives won't change and I hang on to hope that the very special relationship between our two nations has not been fatally wounded.
Margaret, my heart hurts for the Canadian people. My husband is a Canadian citizen (from Saskatchewan), and by birth right, so are my children. We live in the US and are appalled by the way the president is treating our allies, especially Canada. We are considering whether we stay or migrate north. It is hard to watch our country fall to pieces, to feel the shame and embarrassment that the current administration is causing us. Know that many of us didn't vote for this and surely don't condone his actions, and we are with Canada and our allies, hoping that this nightmare will end. I do appreciate your kind words towards your "American friends and relatives". So many of us stand with you!
E.B. White’s letter got me. Thanks for sharing, Susan. This was greatly needed — perfectly timed as usual.
Perhaps I shouldn't be writing this today as I'm still raw from the pain of putting our beloved dog of 14 years to sleep yesterday morning, but I felt compelled to write. Thank you Susan for sharing E.B. White's letter of hope. As I reflect on the unconditional love of my dog, I cannot help think that it is often in the unconditional love of our pets that shows us the true meaning of love. Yes, of course there is love between humans, but we carry so many distorted and dysfunctional false ideas in our heads that we hold up as absolute truth, that it makes it hard to ever be at peace with one another. We must compromise but resent it, we must bite our tongues to keep the peace but often choke on those words that insist on being released. The madness White speaks of back in his day, gave us a chance of survival, but now, with our new I.T. Overlords infiltrating and further distorting our human brains, I fear for the future. I wonder what White would say were he alive today. I did love his advice to "wind the clock" - I have an old clock and now feel compelled to bring it back to life. Perhaps there is hope in an old timepiece.
This is beautiful, Silvana- and I’m so sorry for your loss.
Thank you Susan. 🙏🏼
This is so beautiful and needed now. Thank you for the E. B. White letter. I hung this quote up on my mirror this morning; by Mary Oliver quote, “ It is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world.”
Wind the clock... that stuck with me.
I'm now reading Byung Chul Han's "The Spirit of Hope" and it's such a wonderful read. All of us quiets should have a look at it.
It poses such a profound yet clear view of how we view hope, and at the same time an integrative view of it, as it poses that "hope embraces negativity" making a strong critique of positivism, optimism, and even positive psychology that more often than ever, tries to hide or block negativity.
This community as a whole brings me hope. That there is space for beauty. Thinking beyond usefulness. Allowing joy, awe and fun to be at the center. I'm thankful of you, Duchess, because as the sculpture you hold our collective hand and light up our way into hope.
You allow us to inter-be. To let the scenius to emerge. Conducting a collective orchestra to create a symphony of quiet.
Loved E.B. White’s letter … will be sharing it widely! It was just what I needed to hear today. Thank you!
I’m a CPA in the thick of it, extra thick with what’s happening in our government currently. I wasn’t prepared that sometimes we are the closest one might get to the government and would face their wrath. I’m losing faith in human decency and kindness. Until… a hurt raccoon the police named Kevin sauntered his furry cuteness into my yard. Little Kevin got our towns police force in mission mode to save him, not destroy him. They found a rescue run by a vet who on their own time and energy jumped on the scene and now Kevin is at a sanctuary getting care. I stood in the rain watching all these beautiful people show up and care. A policeman step in front of me to protect me from little Kevin (who didn’t try to hurt me, but lift his paw to show me it was hurt). I smiled on my face and in my heart at this officer because his default is care. And isn’t that what we are here to do? Little Kevin was my rewind clock ❤️
This made me think of one of my former bosses (and not the one you might think). I had the dumb luck of having a number of wonderful bosses, and now all of them are in my past. This is the man who originally hired me, and he is quite the individual, unique. Wish I could give him to you with my words, but not possible. He was decent, and fun, and at a particular moment when I might (or might not have) won a particular award, he wrote a letter that sealed the deal. Why? Not because of me, I assure you. He wrote it because he wanted this for me, because he is a generous spirit! Such a treasure to remember him, all the times, work-yes, but all the laughter and friendship. So your note here prompted me to send him a note and make sure he knows how much he meant to me, and still does though I’ll probably never be with him again. I for one have had, and do have very decent and wonderful humans in my life, and your note here prompted me to mention to this man again… you know he wasn’t perfect, no one is, but I’d feel it would be a loss to change a single thing, who he is, well, just as he is… nothing better!
E.B. White ❤️ I read a collection of his essays last year. If you haven't already I recommend borrowing it from your library. His reflections helped put perspective on the challenges of living in the world today.
Susan: simply, thank you. I love E.B. White’s letter. And: I needed all of this today, and have shared your post with a few friends.
You continue to do a world of good with your quiet insight and immense generosity with your gifts. 🙂
Thank you, David!
natural creating of any kind may be watering a dry plant, let alone painting it as it is,
from one not without fear
resting in sleeps dream-speaking, into waking.
the goodness of hot pure water heating up for dried chamomile flower tea,
the miracle of breathing in, breathing out, limbs and the core around one who knows...
shaking tears of and into fresh new light
The first line in the letter got me. It's so true.
Susan, all 3 of these were wonderful and lifted my spirits. Thank you 🙏🏻. I went into the chat and scrolled through all of the comments and creativity posted. ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you. This community is so nourishing. The letter brought tears. Our influence may seem small in a world that sometimes is in pain, but love, a listening ear, a kindness is contagious for sure.
For Edna O'Brien. For you
'Hymn from Her'
https://open.substack.com/pub/theseainme/p/hymn-from-her?r=46rss&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web