David Roberts
Member
Sometimes, when the power goes out that's the time when another light goes on. That's when I turn to nature to provide assurance of a much deeper sense of connectedness between living 'things'. Sometimes there's a storm brewing (which is usually the cause for the power outage) so I try to ensure I'm observing from a safe place - but it's always rewarding to notice how the storm is often bringing much needed precipitation to the plant and animal life, distributing nutrients through the soil, and flushing away waste and detritus. I can't help but feel enriched and cleansed myself by simply observing, and so in some way participating in, this phenomenon ...I, in turn, feel a sense of connectedness to the grand scheme of things as a result. When the house lights come back on, and my computer reboots, I might return to attempting to connect with others in the way I've become accustomed, but it is often with a new-found awareness that my own personal storm has passed, and the need to 'connect', based on my own fears and insecurities, has transformed into the desire to spread the word that all is okay, the storm has passed, and all's right with the world. If I still feel troubled by whatever circumstances motivated me to seek connection with others, I find that by having allowing myself a little 'breathing room', I'm able to much more clearly define what the nature of my problem is.
That's not to say that I'm immune to personal crisis .... no, not by a long shot .... but I have learned, in my 67 years (and I'm a very slow learner) that some things that appear as crises, are actually an opportunity to become a little more self-reliant, and I can trust in myself to get through. I also recognize that there is a big difference between turning to living 'things' in nature for support or comfort, and turning to other humans for the same, especially when there's an expectation from others to perform or behave in particular ways (and given the fact that our entire social system seems to be based on values we don't necessarily adhere to.) But we must always remember, I think, that we are guided by our own light internally, and we must be cautious to disallow anyone to disempower us. It is also crucial to know who we can turn to for guidance in times of despair.
Reading what I have to say here, you might imagine that I'd have no difficulty expressing myself publicly, but the reality is I get all 'tongue-tied' trying to convey my thoughts in speech, and the thoughts often go by much more quickly before the words have even begun to form, so I'm quite a 'goofus' socially. Thanks for hearing me out. I hope I've been of some help.
That's not to say that I'm immune to personal crisis .... no, not by a long shot .... but I have learned, in my 67 years (and I'm a very slow learner) that some things that appear as crises, are actually an opportunity to become a little more self-reliant, and I can trust in myself to get through. I also recognize that there is a big difference between turning to living 'things' in nature for support or comfort, and turning to other humans for the same, especially when there's an expectation from others to perform or behave in particular ways (and given the fact that our entire social system seems to be based on values we don't necessarily adhere to.) But we must always remember, I think, that we are guided by our own light internally, and we must be cautious to disallow anyone to disempower us. It is also crucial to know who we can turn to for guidance in times of despair.
Reading what I have to say here, you might imagine that I'd have no difficulty expressing myself publicly, but the reality is I get all 'tongue-tied' trying to convey my thoughts in speech, and the thoughts often go by much more quickly before the words have even begun to form, so I'm quite a 'goofus' socially. Thanks for hearing me out. I hope I've been of some help.