Becoming & Belonging (B & B) -- Weekly small group Circles for learning, connecting, and going just a bit deeper. Jump in once, or as often as your heart pings.
This time of life and of living, it is familiar, isn’t it.
Because, well, it’s connected to all the other times.
You’ve learned how to persevere before. You’ve learned to lean to friends before. You’ve learned to start again before.
But then, this time of life and of living, it’s also new, isn’t it.
Because it asks us to go beyond the known aaperseverances, aafriendships, aaand new starts.
Beyond all those good and sensible compromises. Beyond all those convenient animosities and outrages. Beyond most of those things that keep us busy and distracted.
I sit with my cup of coffee. Perhaps you do with yours.
And we think of living heart-filled lives, living with kindness in the knowns and the news in these times, don’t we.
Dinner one night last week. Tuna in avocado mayonnaise. Includes some finely chopped red onion and pickles. Lightly peppered. On green leaf lettuce — giant leaves. Cucumber and tomatoes from a friend — summer generosity. Avocado. Corn cut from summer cob. A few olives. A drizzle of olive oil. Another drizzle of chocolate balsamic vinegar. Yup, yummy.
Grateful.
Gratitude is many things. This I learn. It’s a way of being. An attitude. And a disposition. And an orientation of kindness and appreciation. A contribution. A discipline. A commitment. An energy. A way of seeing. A way of acting. A gently fierce orientation to seeing good. An exercise. Self care (cause, it activates the appreciative way). Gratitude is a way of learning. It’s a way of activating.
Well, I’m learning all of that. Delighting. Failing crazy. Yet, gratitude still remains a direction that proves so fruitful. So life-giving.
And so, a poem, as so often is my offering and expression.
On Gratitude
There is life. I’m so grateful for it.
There are friends. I’m so grateful for them.
There is meaningful work and community. I’m so grateful.
I’m appreciating a few days of recovery. Septum repaired (with some intentional re-breaking to help with a 40 years-ago-break). It’s a pretty good sized headache. And mouth-breathing (the stints come out on Monday). And gauze and tape changed regularly. I’m glad for good docs. Loving care (thx Dana). And some space for poetic reflection.
The intention, long haul, is breathing.
So I wrote.
Short On Words
It is poetry that quiets me. A sentence or two.
Especially the ones about dogs, or weeds, or peppers, or doing the dishes.
You know, regular things of life that live long on experience but so often, short on words.
It is poetry that so often quiets me, and heals me, and brings me breath..
Gifts of Circle
asd Gifts of Circle is 30 short essays divided into 4 sections: 1) Circle's Bigger Purpose, 2) Circle's Practice, 3) Circle's First Requirements, and 4) Circle's Possibility for Men. From the Introduction: "Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories I know -- the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes for which we need to go well together. Circle is also what I turn to in the most immediate needs that live right in front of me and in front of most of us -- sharing dreams and difficulties, exploring conflicts and coherences. Circle is what I turn to. Circle is what turns us to each other."
Question Cards is an accompanying tool to Gifts of Circle. Each card (34) offers a quote from the corresponding chapter in the book, followed by sample questions to grow your Circle hosting skills and to create connection, courage, and compassionate action among groups you host in Circle.
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In My Nature
asd
In My Nature is a collection of 10 poems. From A Note of Beginning: "This collection of poems arises from the many conversations I've been having about nature. Nature as guide. Nature as wild. Nature as organized. I remain a human being that so appreciates a curious nature in people. That so appreciates questions that pick fruit from inner being, that gather insights and intuitions to a basket, and then brings the to table to be enjoyed and shared over the next week."
This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes) quotes a few favorite passages from poems in In My Nature. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.
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Most Mornings + Note Cards
asd Most Mornings is a collection of 37 poems. I loved writing them. From the introduction: "This collection of poems comes from some of my sense-making that so often happens in the morning, nurtured by overnight sleep. The poems sample practices. They sample learnings. They sample insights and discoveries. They sample dilemmas and concerns."
This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes) quotes a few favorite passages from poems in Most Mornings. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.
