85 Comments

Oh, that is beautiful and uplifting. I will carry these thoughts to my dying day. What a wonderful expression of how to let go of any part of our past that haunts us and to embrace that we have done our best and can forgive ourselves. Because isn't forgiveness so powerful? Why reserve it just for others and not ourselves?

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Nov 14Liked by Susan Cain

Usually upon waking in 2 general themes… When I wake up on a day that is all mine - to do what I please, what I choose. When I wake up on a day after a lot of hard work in caring for others & knowing they are comforted & happy… Freedom and connection.

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Nov 14Liked by Susan Cain

Breath out water ,Soul long to breathe aging,aging and aging,That moment which the visceral kisses the Soul bringing it to wake... Transcendence of letting go but not forgotten for the trees hold so many stories but keep on growing... Laying in a warm cozy place with the light off, single candle flame flickering listening to music that gives you those Soul Chills floating your body away into the depths of visceral ecstasy...

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Nov 13Liked by Susan Cain

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

John 14:27 (The words of Jesus confirmed in my life.)

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Nov 13Liked by Susan Cain

There have been moments in my life (blessed that there's been more than one) that I've felt inexplicable peace, joy...serenity. In my faith, I credit this to God's grace and oh, how kind He's been to me. When these moments, however, fleeting they might be, come my way, I sit there for a little while. I don't ask 'why, what, or how'. I just sit there, grateful that such peace actually exists in the midst of so much chaos. I sit there, grateful, simply because I have known a lot of days and years, in which none of it existed. It might have even passed me by in all the darkness and ugliness around me, I might have noticed it. So I sit there, grateful, because at least I know now that even when it passes, I have hope in crossing paths with it again. It exists. It's enough. It's...grace.

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Nov 13Liked by Susan Cain

This brought tears to my eyes…And I was sad when I finished reading it, scrolling down in hopes that it would continue! I strive to feel this way but never fully achieve it. I have learned that things have a way of working out if we accept and allow them to evolve in their own time and way. Daily gratitude and meditation helps keep this feeling alive. Thank you for sharing 💓🕊️

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I love this poem. I have experienced suggestions of that feeling, usually in the midst of a time of healing, but it has never stayed long enough for me to befriend it. But I guess maybe that’s the essence of it - it’s not meant to be grasped in any way, just quietly and gratefully acknowledged.

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I know what I'm about to share here is in contrast to the poem you shared. Sleepless nights have worn we down, I'm afraid. Gone by S.Donnelly

I have lost my faith

Faith in humanity

Gone.

I feel numb

Unable to see

Unable to taste

Unable to smell

Unable to hear.

I am gone

Resigned to emptiness

I cannot pray

I cannot know

I cannot ….

In my emptiness I fear it will be replaced with hate

Hate for those who voted for Trump

Hate for weak Republicans who failed to protect democracy.

Oddly enough, I do not hate Trump.

Trump is being who he is.

He cannot be anything else.

But those who enabled him

Propped him up

I hate them.

They knew better.

They have not only sold their souls

They have sold this country and everything in it

To the demons of destruction.

They have sold the memories of freedom to Satan himself.

They have buried the promises of peace

In their graves of greed.

They are preparing the very earth we stand on by digging graves.

One by one, until the entire planet is one massive cemetary.

You, who checked that box for a man you would never leave your daughter with, not for an hour, not for a day.

You, who have checked that box for an habitual liar, a thief, a con.

Your vote is your personal shovel.

You can now stand with your team of grave diggers

Smiling and cheering in your wall of red hats

Thrusting your shovels into the ground

Digging, digging, digging

Until the last grave is finished,

Your grave, too!

We could have all lived together but now

We must all die together

Gone.

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This poem is so comforting to me but I have not experienced this but I believe my Dad did as he was dying. He said the most beautiful things to his children the day before he died. He seemed so at peace and the love for us shined through in his eyes☺️

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author

what a beautiful memory, Judi. I really appreciate you sharing this.

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YES, often, and YES! Thank you

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What a brilliant poem! I can honestly say I haven't had that experience. There's the adage that time heals all wounds. If only that were true. That's why there's #5 - "whatever pain you can't get rid of..." axiom on the Kindred list. With respect to my own wounds, I remember and understand a lot more which does helps in healing. But the more I remember, the more I understand about my past, the more dots I connect, the wound is re-exposed deja vu all over again...

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Nov 12Liked by Susan Cain

I love this poem. For me the experience is linked to an unquestionable knowing; a clarity of mind; a profound awareness of how light - yet profound -

the meaning of our existence is, versus that which our minds may spend a lifetime crafting: a state of self doubt, fear and confusion in which we can find neither meaning, peace nor purpose - leaving us utterly insecure and incapable of ‘being’ - that state where neither our minds nor our hearts dictate our understanding of who we are; and we become conscious of the simple truth that we are as integral to the universe as any other creation, as intricate as the sun and the moon; and as significant as a blade of grass. We can stop worrying now.

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Dear Susan, Thanks so much for sharing this. This little note is very poignant and timely. My dog Olive is dying. As I sit with her, my mind often gets hijacked with self-doubt and what-ifs - what should I have done differently for Olive; what didn't I do for Olive; are there any other treatments I should have considered for Olive. On and on. Perhaps it's time to lay things to rest; let Olive rest. Perhaps, sometimes, the best course of action is to do nothing, and just sit with an open heart, gratitude and love. So hard to do in practice. I keep re-reading your note - "You can stop worrying now". Thank you, Susan.

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Thank you for the “like”. I’ve been thinking of you a lot and hope that you are well. 💕

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Hi Lynn, Thanks so much. I so appreciate your care and concern. I hope you saw my reply. I'll include it hear, just in case ...

***

Hi Lynn, Thanks so much for your kind words. They mean a lot to me and have helped me a lot these past few days. Olive passed away peacefully. She was a gentle soul and such a blessing in my life. I will miss her. Thanks again, Lynn.

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Nazli , I am so sorry for your loss. I know the “emptiness” that ensues. In my life, I still miss them but have adopted others that I love so much and have brought new experiences to my life. I was inspired by your photo so added one of my own. 🥰. Take care!

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For sure. A big "emptiness". It will take a long time for me to adjust. So good to hear that you adopted others to love. So many homeless animals that we can love and enjoy. I love your photo!!

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I want to say the your post is so touching that I am in tears. I have been where you are and it is so hard. It has always helped me to know that, in a world of unwanted animals, mine have known love and care and been safe. Also, that the pain I feel is because of the love and joy we shared. I don’t know if this helps in any way but I couldn’t be silent. 💕

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Hi Lynn, Thanks so much for your kind words. They mean a lot to me and have helped me a lot these past few days. Olive passed away peacefully. She was a gentle soul and such a blessing in my life. I will miss her. Thanks again, Lynn.

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author

I'm so so sorry, Nazli. I can imagine what this is like....

And - at least from my safe distance, yes it does seem that the best thing would be to sit with your open heart, and to cease questioning yourself. I wonder if questioning yourself is actually not only a form of self-blame but also of denying mortality, rather than accepting it...I wish you healing and comfort in your grief.

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Thank you so much, Susan. Your kind words mean a lot to me. Olive passed away peacefully. Although I've spent many years meditating on death, when death came knocking last week, I was reminded there is much work to be done. Time to keep going, as they say.

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author

I have a feeling that this is the kind of work that is never fully done. I’m sorry for your grief and wish you space for healing.

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I appreciate your kind words and wishes. Thanks so much, Susan. Soulwork ...

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Nov 12Liked by Susan Cain

Freedom from worry comes with the acceptance the fact that everything unfolded as it was meant to and that we do the best we can each day. When we embrace that freedom life is beautiful for how ever long we get to experience it.

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As I approach 82 years and Surgery on my neck on 1/3, the Election, Friends who are mourning , I remember in the past few years a deep peace that will enter…i remember that I am a human gathering Wisdom. The Realm this Poet is sharing, and others too, allows Fear to take a back seat when overwhelm creeps in wanting it to be the only avenue to take…and then I fall into my heart, and there it is, that deep Peace.

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I‘ve had to think for a while… it reads like a near death experience, which I didn’t have. But I have come close to this while making music with others. When this perfect moment comes when it lifts you up together - be it in a choir, an orchestra or chamber music - and this uplifting goes out to the audience and comes back to you, and thus goes in resonance. It works best for me with bittersweet music like Schubert‘s string quartet „Death and the maiden“, Bach‘s passion music or Mozart‘s requiem, music that transcends all spheres.

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