Gosh. My life has felt like a series of unending thresholds, kaleidoscopically unfolding like endless lotus blossoms. Sometimes they unfold at a glacial pace, while other times in the blink of an eye. As I’ve aged, I see this more clearly and know I’ll be experiencing another transition sooner or later. I think of the T.S. Eliot poem about exploration, how in an ending there’s a new beginning when we re-see life anew. I’ve accepted that life is an epic learning process. There will always be another threshold to pass through.
Hello, John! Thank you for adding that some thresholds "unfold at a glacial pace while other times in the blink of an eye" - that is so true! And I love the TS Eliot poem. My favorite lines are And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
It speaks to the circular nature of journeys. Thank you for you sharing your perspective!
Hello, Zina! I love that! It makes me think of journeys within journeys or circles within circles. It reminds again of a kind of telescoping. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated!
Lovely offering! Thank you. My current threshold is a move to a town an hour’s drive from where I’ve lived for the past 33 years. I don’t know what it’ll lead to; all I know is, only by taking this step will more be revealed. Instead of dwelling on all that is changing and falling away, I’m focusing instead on what feels right about this - any detail, no matter how small.
Hello, Julie! You've beautifully captured the guideline for journeys in my experience, "only by taking this step will more be revealed" as well as the solution (for lack of a better word; solutions sound too pat) of doing what you can to accompany yourself. Thank you for sharing because it's these conversations that really round out our perspectives. Much appreciated!
I really enjoyed your description of the lilypad and the need to soften as we cross the threshold. I've crossed so many thresholds in my life, and recreated home and place over and over again. That idea of softening is a wonderful tool to remember for the next transformation. Thanks!
Hello, Sabrina! I can resonate with this sense of having to repeatedly create home and sense of belonging. I was looking for something to counter the resistance (tightening or closing down) I always feel when I have to leave home or change anything. It probably goes back to some old experiences but I've found crossing the threshold the hardest step of any journey. Thank you for sharing!
I really enjoyed your invitation to see a threshold as an opportunity for softening (like the lily) that was wonderful.
I feel as though most of the biggest thresholds I’ve grappled with have been lifetysle/habitually changes as it is very hard to carve out a new way of being (at least it is for me). But I find that even by identifying that I have reached a threshold - I am already half way there.
Hello, Michael! Dear Substack was a great read. This platform is addictive in the best of ways. I used to volunteer as a health coach for a few hours every week and watching these lifestyle thresholds, both in myself and people that I worked with, was really educational. The awareness that we might encounter internal and external resistance - I wish I had known that earlier. Thank you for sharing!
I rember those trains and how when I was younger I was terrified to walk them! You’re right transition can sometimes feel like that and it’s so lovely to have a softer way of looking at things. 💫🙏
Hello, Louise! In the trains I’m familiar with, I don’t think those rubber connectors were for crossing! But people did it anyway 😀. Thank you for visiting and for sharing.
Lovely Priya! Transitions are hard and I love your lily pond analogy as a reminder to perhaps not fight so hard. And instead soften our approach and resistance to the journey. Our histories contribute greatly to our attitudes in transition...
Gosh. My life has felt like a series of unending thresholds, kaleidoscopically unfolding like endless lotus blossoms. Sometimes they unfold at a glacial pace, while other times in the blink of an eye. As I’ve aged, I see this more clearly and know I’ll be experiencing another transition sooner or later. I think of the T.S. Eliot poem about exploration, how in an ending there’s a new beginning when we re-see life anew. I’ve accepted that life is an epic learning process. There will always be another threshold to pass through.
Hello, John! Thank you for adding that some thresholds "unfold at a glacial pace while other times in the blink of an eye" - that is so true! And I love the TS Eliot poem. My favorite lines are And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
It speaks to the circular nature of journeys. Thank you for you sharing your perspective!
Beautiful!
Hello, Anju! Thank you and so good to hear from you!
Every day is a threshold for me.
Hello, Zina! I love that! It makes me think of journeys within journeys or circles within circles. It reminds again of a kind of telescoping. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated!
I am writing about gratitude for my future newsletter and your post really struck a cord with me!
That’s awesome, Anju! Can’t wait to read!
Lovely offering! Thank you. My current threshold is a move to a town an hour’s drive from where I’ve lived for the past 33 years. I don’t know what it’ll lead to; all I know is, only by taking this step will more be revealed. Instead of dwelling on all that is changing and falling away, I’m focusing instead on what feels right about this - any detail, no matter how small.
Hello, Julie! You've beautifully captured the guideline for journeys in my experience, "only by taking this step will more be revealed" as well as the solution (for lack of a better word; solutions sound too pat) of doing what you can to accompany yourself. Thank you for sharing because it's these conversations that really round out our perspectives. Much appreciated!
And gratitude to you, for sparking that insight in the first place!
I really enjoyed your description of the lilypad and the need to soften as we cross the threshold. I've crossed so many thresholds in my life, and recreated home and place over and over again. That idea of softening is a wonderful tool to remember for the next transformation. Thanks!
Hello, Sabrina! I can resonate with this sense of having to repeatedly create home and sense of belonging. I was looking for something to counter the resistance (tightening or closing down) I always feel when I have to leave home or change anything. It probably goes back to some old experiences but I've found crossing the threshold the hardest step of any journey. Thank you for sharing!
This is a great read. Beautifully written.
I really enjoyed your invitation to see a threshold as an opportunity for softening (like the lily) that was wonderful.
I feel as though most of the biggest thresholds I’ve grappled with have been lifetysle/habitually changes as it is very hard to carve out a new way of being (at least it is for me). But I find that even by identifying that I have reached a threshold - I am already half way there.
Thanks again for a great read.
Hello, Michael! Dear Substack was a great read. This platform is addictive in the best of ways. I used to volunteer as a health coach for a few hours every week and watching these lifestyle thresholds, both in myself and people that I worked with, was really educational. The awareness that we might encounter internal and external resistance - I wish I had known that earlier. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Priya.
Yes I agree, I definitely would have benefited from knowing that earlier as well.
I rember those trains and how when I was younger I was terrified to walk them! You’re right transition can sometimes feel like that and it’s so lovely to have a softer way of looking at things. 💫🙏
Hello, Louise! In the trains I’m familiar with, I don’t think those rubber connectors were for crossing! But people did it anyway 😀. Thank you for visiting and for sharing.
Lovely Priya! Transitions are hard and I love your lily pond analogy as a reminder to perhaps not fight so hard. And instead soften our approach and resistance to the journey. Our histories contribute greatly to our attitudes in transition...
Thank you, Reena! Much appreciated!