Earlier this year I attended an all day session with the poet, David Whyte. The subject of his talk: ‘half a shade braver’. He spoke of the courage to live my life: willingness to be vulnerable, to inhabit my life rather than haunt it, to be hospitable to the stranger in me. Many questions accompany me as I continue:
- What conversation am I prepared to let go?
- What do I really want?
- How do I find me?
A little later, I found a book by Brene Brown – Rising Strong. This book, and others she has written, speak of a willingness to be vulnerable as essential to living a full life: that courage, compassion and connection are first- being kind to myself as I contemplate changes in my life. If I am willing to lean into some discomfort, I will inhabit my authentic self on my journey to wholeness. Of course, there are many questions…all leading to living a larger life, listening to my heart, being truthful- no more pretense.
Since then, a murder mystery with a quote from CS Lewis:
I have come home at last! This is my real country. I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now…come further up, come further in!
And, another book – the author uses this same invitation in connection with some intense action and its aftermath…and a song, a Ginette Reno lyric:
un peu plus haut – a little higher
un peu plus loin -a little further
Alan Seale speaks of breaking open, of creating the conditions to deepen my awareness and wonder about my learning curve as I contemplate:
- What wants to happen?
- Who’s that asking me to be?
- What’s that asking me to do?
All of these authors offer both a challenge and an opportunity to explore conversations I have had with myself. My observations? In my next blog.
Pat's Journey 