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I Don't Know How

10/2/2017

4 Comments

 
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I don't know how to sit with what is going on in the world (the Las Vegas shooting, yes, and the people who are suffering in Puerto Rico and Mexico City and Florida and Texas, and the Royingya people and all refugees, and all who are worried about threats of nuclear war, and all that is heartless in our world) and be present with it today.

I can't take it in.

I tried to meditate, but can't really sit still.

I can't even feel anything right now, and that disgusts me.

Even though I want my heart to be open to the world, it isn't. Instead, I am sitting with my own numbness and allowing it to be what it is right now. That's a way that I can love this messy, flawed world, by sitting quietly with my own inadequacy and imperfection. By slowing down enough to be with myself as I actually am right now. By making space for this moment as it is, even though I want it to be different on so many levels.

I sat down to write this in case you, too, are struggling with your reactions to what is going on in our world today. Please, if you are finding it hard accept what is happening and how you are feeling, join me in turning toward yourself for a few minutes and holding your feelings (whatever they are) in loving presence. Sit with your anger, your fear, your heartbreak, whatever you feel. Even numbness responds to loving presence with time. Let's feel so that we can respond heartfully rather than react impulsively to the needs of humanity and the earth.

4 Comments
Beth
10/3/2017 07:06:51 pm

sitting with you now invoking Love

Reply
Gloria
10/3/2017 10:08:24 pm

Thank you, I can't tell you how wonderful it is to know that we're in this together. <3

Reply
Joy
10/6/2017 01:41:54 am

Reading what you wrote, brought me from an angry, disgusted place, to a peaceful, loving place. Many thanks to you, for your words and thoughts.

Gloria
10/6/2017 08:13:39 am

Oh Joy, thank you for posting that! What a powerful shift, and I'm sure your peaceful, loving place is healing and supportive to all in contact with you in subtle and overt ways. This is how the world shifts, person by person! Sending good wishes.

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    About Gloria:

    My life and work are guided by the these core understandings: that all beings (including me!) are capable of transformation and joy, that healthy parenting matters profoundly, and that simple practices can support each of us.

    I'm a mom of two young adults and a mindfulness practitioner on a spiritual path. I've found these journeys to be interconnected and mutually supportive. Together, they are challenging, rich, inspiring, and surprising, every single day.

    Practicing mindfulness helps me find peace with myself, my family, my life, and this messy world day by day.


    I teach mindfulness and mindful parenting classes and work with individuals sharing what I've learned over my twelve years of practicing mindfulness, twenty years of parenting, thirty years of teaching, and fifty years of living.

    I am grateful to be part of Soul Source, a community consortium that provides teachings and tools designed to inspire participants to live more consciously and to pass that wisdom and inspiration on to others. 

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Gloria Shepard, M. Ed.,
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