Well, you picked off a big one here. And yes, writing my truth, about what happened to me as a father, losing all three of my sons for ten years to substances, and then recuperating the family I once had, brought incredible insights to me--insights that had eluded me for years. I learned where I'd blown it. I learned when everything went to hell and then how it cascaded from there. And my learning, my lessons, the wisdom we all gained, is making all of us better fathers and better husbands and better men. All of us, all four of us, are all better because I wrote and then rewrote and over a hundred iterations, mined the past and my psyche, until what surfaced was actually the truth. Thanks for weekly telling yours.
That's an especially important reflection on how writing the truth (or discovering the truth through writing, rather) leads to tangible results beyond the page. Thanks for sharing that, Ken. And keep writing. And rewriting. Because that is what the truth requires.
Thanks for writing and sharing this Grant. Very poignant thoughts for starting off a new year. I came across a quote by Sylvia Boorstein, the Buddhist teacher, during 2022, that I've gone back to over and over, both when life feels satisfying and full, and when it's challenging, confusing, painful and scary: "The whole world is a lesson in what's true."
Thankful for your truth and will ponder this for weeks to come. Sometimes it is work to figure out what the truth is as in; big chunks of time go to certain priorities and then, when you think about what to improve, fears and prioritization and finances, relationships and health it seems like dabbling or stabbing at them vs really going in for real growth and betterment. Yes it’s a journey but identifying the emergencies and ‘not sweating its’ should be easy but wait! And writing helps because clarity and there it is; an intersection of truth and decision. I usually go with Gut Street and head toward Hope Avenue. Here’s to 2023 and a meaningful path.
I'm compelled and challenged by the charge to interrogate our truths. What is true, for me? And why is that true, for me? And where else is that true? And furthermore, why is it true over there, too? Or why not? I'm biased, but nothing beats writing and reading for that kind of interrogation.
It is a challenge. An ongoing challenge. And an ongoing interrogation. But you said it: "nothing beats writing and reading for that kind of interrogation."
Well, you picked off a big one here. And yes, writing my truth, about what happened to me as a father, losing all three of my sons for ten years to substances, and then recuperating the family I once had, brought incredible insights to me--insights that had eluded me for years. I learned where I'd blown it. I learned when everything went to hell and then how it cascaded from there. And my learning, my lessons, the wisdom we all gained, is making all of us better fathers and better husbands and better men. All of us, all four of us, are all better because I wrote and then rewrote and over a hundred iterations, mined the past and my psyche, until what surfaced was actually the truth. Thanks for weekly telling yours.
That's an especially important reflection on how writing the truth (or discovering the truth through writing, rather) leads to tangible results beyond the page. Thanks for sharing that, Ken. And keep writing. And rewriting. Because that is what the truth requires.
Thanks for writing and sharing this Grant. Very poignant thoughts for starting off a new year. I came across a quote by Sylvia Boorstein, the Buddhist teacher, during 2022, that I've gone back to over and over, both when life feels satisfying and full, and when it's challenging, confusing, painful and scary: "The whole world is a lesson in what's true."
Thanks for sharing that, David. It's a great quote. A bit of a Zen koan in that you can't just read it once. I'll ponder that today.
Thankful for your truth and will ponder this for weeks to come. Sometimes it is work to figure out what the truth is as in; big chunks of time go to certain priorities and then, when you think about what to improve, fears and prioritization and finances, relationships and health it seems like dabbling or stabbing at them vs really going in for real growth and betterment. Yes it’s a journey but identifying the emergencies and ‘not sweating its’ should be easy but wait! And writing helps because clarity and there it is; an intersection of truth and decision. I usually go with Gut Street and head toward Hope Avenue. Here’s to 2023 and a meaningful path.
You're right, Polly: it's work just to figure out what the truth is. I like going with Gut Street (and what a nice way to put it).
I'm compelled and challenged by the charge to interrogate our truths. What is true, for me? And why is that true, for me? And where else is that true? And furthermore, why is it true over there, too? Or why not? I'm biased, but nothing beats writing and reading for that kind of interrogation.
It is a challenge. An ongoing challenge. And an ongoing interrogation. But you said it: "nothing beats writing and reading for that kind of interrogation."