Happy 2018, January 2, or this very moment. Happy moment 🙂
I don’t have any goals for 2018. I don’t resolve to do anything. Today doesn’t represent a new beginning, fresh start, a turning point, or a chance to “start over.” It’s Tuesday.
You don’t have to reinvent yourself today. There’s nothing wrong with who you were yesterday.
From a Bandier promotional email haha, I love it so much, in spite of the fact it’s meant to sell workout clothes.
Also, I might have let myself feel a little hopeless the last couple of days. I want to be able to CHEW food for goodness’ sake. And it got to be too much, watching family and friends EAT food and enjoy it. Ugh.
Thank goodness for my “Pocket Pema Chodron” 🙂
In Tibetan there’s an interesting word: ye tang che…It describes an experience of complete hopelessness, of complete giving up hope. This is an important point. This is the beginning of the beginning. Without giving up hope – that there’s somewhere better to be, that there’s someone better to be – we will never relax with where we are or who we are.
OH SHIT. There it is. I know this. I’ve studied buddhist teachings; I know that hope, and desire, is at the root of suffering. Now I KNOW it in the depths of my body, not just intellectually. It is true, I was hopeless and defeated, but now I am closer to hopeless and content. I am what I am, at this moment, nothing more, or less.
So, it is a beginning after all 🙂
via The School of Life, Cotton tea towel | $15
A simple reminder that every moment is something to celebrate, even the ones spent drying dishes…
Happy Now!!!
A great reminder. “This is the beginning of the beginning.” Maybe you actually ARE a new you….
Pema Chodron is great. I am about to re-read her “When Things Fall Apart.” It’s funny, I was interested in busshist philosophy when I was younger, but now that I am older and re-discovering it it resonates on another level. I guess it is the difference between knowing something intellectually and knowing it from experience , like you said. Recently I got a lot out of “Why Buddhism is True” also, which relates modern psychology to Buddhism. Would recommend if you are looking for a new read!
*buddhist
i am in the middle of reading why buddhism is true!! – also started the evolution of god, by the same author (i like to read multiple books at once…)
i haven’t read when things fall apart yet, need to get that one as well.
and thank you for the georgia o’keefe book recommendation! i’m reading a biography of hers also, but it was rather slow going so i gave it a rest.
haha…i usually don’t give up and read so many books at once…
Happy Tuesday, Grechen! I love this. I still think of the beginning of the year as August/ September from my teaching days, I guess. I mean, we only get a week or two off in December, but the summer is three months, so that feels like a much bigger transitional period. I have never been one for resolutions, either. And my kids don’t go back to school until the 9th, so it still feels like the holidays around here. I think we are all in need of some sun. Hang in there!
Dear Grechen-
HNY darling girl, I thought I was the only one who didnt make resolutions- I just try to keep it real, like you, and keep it moving every year. I’m with Catherine, hang in there. Ive been working on healing two herniated discs in my back and recovering from neuro aneurism surgery, so we truly are in this all together. Here is a good one, ‘You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it, however.’
Love, gena
oh gena…thinking of your recovery too!! hope it goes well 🙂
SO so good. What a perfect way to think about hopelessness. And to make us scratch our heads about hope. This is a mind expander for me. Thanks!
Hey you!! 🙂 this totally blew my mind…