“success is not the criterion. happiness is the criterion.
whether the world says that you have been a failure
or the world makes you a star, a success–
it doesn’t make any difference. You will be happy when
your happiness comes from within, when you are living your bliss.”
– osho
Well hello there! Yes, the total meta morning on the dock where it’s just you and me, although since I am the only one talking, it’s mostly me. If you listen in, you will see I have no plan as I sit down with you which is pretty much my modus operandi, but I realize now, it might have been nice if I had spent a bit of time thinking things through as I might have shared a few more things with you which was my original intention.
To begin with– why is it just you and me today? Well, I got the idea to spend the hour with just you and me because I have had such an outpouring of support these past weeks and people asking how I am doing and I thought this would be the easiest, fastest way to say hello and give an update — except, of course, I totally forgot to tell you that once I started rambling on. Oh well.
You’ll be ever so surprised to know that I reference some of the things that I love: my dogs, Providence, time to write, time to paint, time to read — walking for miles– oh, and I also say some rather outlandish things — yes, I know. What a shock.
“He bought a house in the town of Concord, an easy distance from Boston yet a place with its own extraordinary style and whose citizens were farmers, tradesmen, teachers and the liveliest of utopians. Here, as husband and father, as writer and lecturer, Emerson would live for years his seemingly quiet, seemingly peaceful life.”
Mary Oliver Upstream
One of the central motifs of my life is how to balance solitude with being part of a vibrant community. This is a challenge for me. I have lived on both edges of the extremes and yet, am still trying to find that alignment where I can sink deeply into my inner life without completely disconnecting from the warmth and friendship of good people.
Did I mention how much I talk about the soul? Yeah, I do. It really is what interests me most. I feel like I should apologize for that, but I can’t because that’s who I am and what I am about— how can I apologize for just being me? Somehow, as I talk about the soul– I reference a number of yummy things including:
COSMOS
Zootopia
The Soul of an Octopus
The Song of Increase
Mostly? I just wanted to say — I’m doing okay. 2016 will not go down as my most favorite year — but there was incredible beauty and light and sweet things in the mix, just the same.
As for you, sweet thing — hang in there. Be so good to you. Slow down. Create the best sequence of experiences and feelings available to you. And — may your holiday be warm, bright and filled with all you love most.
I will see you in the new year! We’ve got some fabulous people lined up to chat with us here on the dock and I can’t wait to share their stories with you, but until then, just know I am sending you big love always (always).
bisous, Elizabeth
