The way you went back and forth between the fish, the birds, and the clouds and your inner dialogue was such wonderful writing. And the way you used that technique to highlight how we don’t need to wring meaning out of every moment, and that we can instead just ‘be’ with everything around us - was absolutely amazing.
I am prone to searching really hard in everything I see for some sort of ‘deep universal answer’ - and whenever I catch myself doing so, and stop myself and just try to enjoy the walk I’m on or the spot I’m sitting - I feel I get more clarity than I do from all the searching.
Hello, Michael! I can start to wring the moment dry for wisdom instead of just experiencing it and I wanted to remind myself not to do that. I've found this to be true for my writing too- there are times the writing flows effortlessly (when I am not trying at all) as opposed to times when I am trying and trying, and it's very clunky. I'm wondering if you've noticed this in your writing or other areas of life? As always, thank you!
Yeah I have noticed that with my writing sometimes as well, in the sense that normally the first way I write a sentence tends to be the best version of that sentence (except for some refining) and then when I try and try to come up with a better version of that sentence it often just gets worse.
But the tricky thing is, that’s not always the case... which makes writing a hard game to play haha
Beautiful! You capture the restlessness of our rational mind so well, its insistence on driving the conversation and supplying metaphors and analogies to “make meaning.” None of that impulse is wrong but it can cloud the mystery of direct experience. The fish and the bird sought to connect, even in their strangeness. In rare quiet moments like that, I’ve heard the message to let metaphor lie and be present with, in David Abram’s words, “the magic of the real.”
Thank you, Julie! On my vacation, I noticed how insistent I was being in not letting the day pass without making new, profound meaning! It's a peculiar type of FOMO.
I'm fascinated with internal dragons ever since I encountered a similar figure while trying out some active imagination exercises.
I once heard someone say “Life is a lemon and I want my money back.” Ah, the meaning of Life. The forever quest that keeps us searching, yearning for more instead of just be. Lest there be dragons. Nice piece, Priya!
This was great Priya.
The way you went back and forth between the fish, the birds, and the clouds and your inner dialogue was such wonderful writing. And the way you used that technique to highlight how we don’t need to wring meaning out of every moment, and that we can instead just ‘be’ with everything around us - was absolutely amazing.
I am prone to searching really hard in everything I see for some sort of ‘deep universal answer’ - and whenever I catch myself doing so, and stop myself and just try to enjoy the walk I’m on or the spot I’m sitting - I feel I get more clarity than I do from all the searching.
Thanks Priya, great piece.
Hello, Michael! I can start to wring the moment dry for wisdom instead of just experiencing it and I wanted to remind myself not to do that. I've found this to be true for my writing too- there are times the writing flows effortlessly (when I am not trying at all) as opposed to times when I am trying and trying, and it's very clunky. I'm wondering if you've noticed this in your writing or other areas of life? As always, thank you!
Yeah I have noticed that with my writing sometimes as well, in the sense that normally the first way I write a sentence tends to be the best version of that sentence (except for some refining) and then when I try and try to come up with a better version of that sentence it often just gets worse.
But the tricky thing is, that’s not always the case... which makes writing a hard game to play haha
Thanks Priya
I know what you mean about the "this is the rule until this isn't the rule" kind of experience with writing.
Beautiful! You capture the restlessness of our rational mind so well, its insistence on driving the conversation and supplying metaphors and analogies to “make meaning.” None of that impulse is wrong but it can cloud the mystery of direct experience. The fish and the bird sought to connect, even in their strangeness. In rare quiet moments like that, I’ve heard the message to let metaphor lie and be present with, in David Abram’s words, “the magic of the real.”
I’m so curious about that dragon.
Thank you, Julie! On my vacation, I noticed how insistent I was being in not letting the day pass without making new, profound meaning! It's a peculiar type of FOMO.
I'm fascinated with internal dragons ever since I encountered a similar figure while trying out some active imagination exercises.
I once heard someone say “Life is a lemon and I want my money back.” Ah, the meaning of Life. The forever quest that keeps us searching, yearning for more instead of just be. Lest there be dragons. Nice piece, Priya!
Lemons and onions! Thank you, Alexander! Hope you had a great summer break!
It was good! Thank you, Priya!