Gary, I believe you are discovering what many of us are. That life in general and life as a physical manifestation of a collection of biological “parts” is something whole and complete. Seeing the whole requires a different attitude than seeing the parts. To me, that is the beauty of the mystery.
Yes, are you familiar with Dr Iain McGilchrist's work? He talks a lot about how the left and right hemisphere's of the brain provide these two different ways of attending to the world/
It was a big epiphany for me in my own recovery to realize that the opposite of fear and anxiety was not courage, but wonder. I look at my 10-year old for inspiration. He is constantly in awe of everything. And consequently never in a state of prolonged fight or flight.
Brilliant. Yes, finding our inner child again, and cultivating a sense of curiosity and play is beneficial for health too. I also think we could learn a lot by observing our canine friends too.
I find what you wrote inspiring. Our plastic throw away culture of literalism is very limiting. I am going through a very difficult time since I lost my sense of smell and taste three years ago due to an ear infection. This was on the heels of recovering these two precious senses after I was helped by a therapist in resolving a deep seated neurosis. That episode lasted two years. I felt reborn and alive again. Then to be plunged back into a smell less and tasteless world was devastating.
So sorry to hear this. Loss of sense of smell is one of the early symptoms of PD too. I have an aromtherapy diffuser, people say it smells nice, but I can't always tell if it is on, I just hope it is working even if I can't smell it. Although I found these red light gizmos which go up the nose, designed for allergy relief... I wonder if they might restore the neuron functions if used consistently https://www.outthinkingparkinsons.com/articles/red-nose
Thank you Gary. A friend down the street has Parkinson's and hasn't smelled or tasted for 10 years. I used to cook and loved vino so it is not fun. These senses are also connected with memory. So there's that too. I have great sympathy for people who have lost these senses. If COVID had arrived a few moths earlier in the USA I would have been wearing a mask. A big if. Thanks again. I can sense that you are an empathetic person.
Gary, I absolutely loved reading this. Just what I needed today- impeccable timing. I related to so much. Many similarities of speaking of hibernation, chrysalis phase, the helpfulness of writing......I could go on and on. I am gradually working through your writings as I really want to savor them. They seem to have a healing quality to them for me. Thank you!
Remind me of Aldus Huxley quote- “Most lead lives at worst so painful, at best so monotonous, poor and limited that the urge to escape, the longing to transcend themselves if only for a few moments, is and has always been one of the principle appetites of the soul.”
'existing fully in the present, and the bliss which derives from it.' That's living mindfully, fully awake and fully present! It is the ultimate aim in life!
This is the first of your substack's I have read. I will read more. If only there were more time. I have been home with some cold/sinus thing. It has allowed me to read most of the days away. Other than the fact that I am on-line, I love spending the time doing so.
For me, it is even more fulfilling when the authors are interactive in their comment section. I like to think that this recursive process is enriching and can enhance metamorphosis.
Have you read Paul Kingsnorth? I have found some of his writing on-line as free eBooks, as well as here on substack. https://dark-mountain.net/about/manifesto/ I can't say enough good things about him. He has also been on many podcasts. I prefer his writing.
I love this post so much. Yes, so much awe, everywhere we turn! I take walks almost daily and my favourite practice is to intentionally look and spot something unordinary. And when I do it the universe brings me all the exquisitely delightful.
Yes, I see this too. Here is something I wrote on these themes:
"In US/UK society and culture, it feels to me that we have become so very divided, polarized, politicized, susceptible to "othering", and dehumanizing, and generally traumatising ourselves via the current nature of our public discourse. This is undoubtedly, to my mind, having significant impact on collective Nervous System dysregulation and mental wellbeing.
To help diagnose the problem, I've been wondering if this is, at least in part, because we have replaced the prior cultural and societal systems for sense making and truth seeking with a Courtroom Procedural style system? Have we adopted the mindset of Lawyers?
Here are some comparisons between the Courtroom and current nature of public discourse:
The system is, by nature, utterly oppositional and combative, with absolutely no middle ground, compromise or synthesis of ideas to be had, is winner takes all and very high stakes.
Each side it is out and out to "prove" their case, whether they believe they are in the right or not, and even when they know deep down their side is in the wrong.
There is no direct dialogue or discussion between each side, but both are seeking to convince, and are talking at, an external judge and jury representing wider society.
Each side cherry picks and overly emphasises the evidence which falls in their favour.
Each side finds and promotes expert witnesses with the highest reputations whose opinions support their side, while undermining those of the other side through character assassination and reputation damage.
The main thrusts for winning the argument are through trickery, gaslighting, trying to trip witnesses up with sophistry and to make them contradict themselves, forcing yes/no answers to very nuanced questions, forcing shades of grey to be black and white, name calling, silencing, censoring and otherwise shutting the other side down in mid-sentence by raising objections and via technicalities.
Is performative and theatrical, indeed this is why those so called Courtroom "Dramas" are so popular on TV and film.
The side which wins is usually the one which is the best or most practiced at playing such games, regardless of where the objective truth, or reality, actually lies.
Categorizes people either as victims or perpetrators."
Gary, I believe you are discovering what many of us are. That life in general and life as a physical manifestation of a collection of biological “parts” is something whole and complete. Seeing the whole requires a different attitude than seeing the parts. To me, that is the beauty of the mystery.
Yes, are you familiar with Dr Iain McGilchrist's work? He talks a lot about how the left and right hemisphere's of the brain provide these two different ways of attending to the world/
Yes. When I first heard his perspective, it explained my life experience.
Mine too!
It was a big epiphany for me in my own recovery to realize that the opposite of fear and anxiety was not courage, but wonder. I look at my 10-year old for inspiration. He is constantly in awe of everything. And consequently never in a state of prolonged fight or flight.
Brilliant. Yes, finding our inner child again, and cultivating a sense of curiosity and play is beneficial for health too. I also think we could learn a lot by observing our canine friends too.
I find what you wrote inspiring. Our plastic throw away culture of literalism is very limiting. I am going through a very difficult time since I lost my sense of smell and taste three years ago due to an ear infection. This was on the heels of recovering these two precious senses after I was helped by a therapist in resolving a deep seated neurosis. That episode lasted two years. I felt reborn and alive again. Then to be plunged back into a smell less and tasteless world was devastating.
So sorry to hear this. Loss of sense of smell is one of the early symptoms of PD too. I have an aromtherapy diffuser, people say it smells nice, but I can't always tell if it is on, I just hope it is working even if I can't smell it. Although I found these red light gizmos which go up the nose, designed for allergy relief... I wonder if they might restore the neuron functions if used consistently https://www.outthinkingparkinsons.com/articles/red-nose
Thank you Gary. A friend down the street has Parkinson's and hasn't smelled or tasted for 10 years. I used to cook and loved vino so it is not fun. These senses are also connected with memory. So there's that too. I have great sympathy for people who have lost these senses. If COVID had arrived a few moths earlier in the USA I would have been wearing a mask. A big if. Thanks again. I can sense that you are an empathetic person.
Gary, I absolutely loved reading this. Just what I needed today- impeccable timing. I related to so much. Many similarities of speaking of hibernation, chrysalis phase, the helpfulness of writing......I could go on and on. I am gradually working through your writings as I really want to savor them. They seem to have a healing quality to them for me. Thank you!
Wow! That is so great to hear - I feel the dopamine boost from your words!
Wonderful! 😊🙌
Remind me of Aldus Huxley quote- “Most lead lives at worst so painful, at best so monotonous, poor and limited that the urge to escape, the longing to transcend themselves if only for a few moments, is and has always been one of the principle appetites of the soul.”
Wow, yes that resonates.
'existing fully in the present, and the bliss which derives from it.' That's living mindfully, fully awake and fully present! It is the ultimate aim in life!
You express thoughts beautifully.
This is the first of your substack's I have read. I will read more. If only there were more time. I have been home with some cold/sinus thing. It has allowed me to read most of the days away. Other than the fact that I am on-line, I love spending the time doing so.
For me, it is even more fulfilling when the authors are interactive in their comment section. I like to think that this recursive process is enriching and can enhance metamorphosis.
Have you read Paul Kingsnorth? I have found some of his writing on-line as free eBooks, as well as here on substack. https://dark-mountain.net/about/manifesto/ I can't say enough good things about him. He has also been on many podcasts. I prefer his writing.
Thank you. Yes, I have read a few of Paul Kingsnorth pieces... he also did a couple of good appearances on the Rebel Wiisdom youtube channel.
I agree. The Rebel Wisdom podcast are some of his best.
I love this post so much. Yes, so much awe, everywhere we turn! I take walks almost daily and my favourite practice is to intentionally look and spot something unordinary. And when I do it the universe brings me all the exquisitely delightful.
Lovely. Thank you!
Yes, I see this too. Here is something I wrote on these themes:
"In US/UK society and culture, it feels to me that we have become so very divided, polarized, politicized, susceptible to "othering", and dehumanizing, and generally traumatising ourselves via the current nature of our public discourse. This is undoubtedly, to my mind, having significant impact on collective Nervous System dysregulation and mental wellbeing.
To help diagnose the problem, I've been wondering if this is, at least in part, because we have replaced the prior cultural and societal systems for sense making and truth seeking with a Courtroom Procedural style system? Have we adopted the mindset of Lawyers?
Here are some comparisons between the Courtroom and current nature of public discourse:
The system is, by nature, utterly oppositional and combative, with absolutely no middle ground, compromise or synthesis of ideas to be had, is winner takes all and very high stakes.
Each side it is out and out to "prove" their case, whether they believe they are in the right or not, and even when they know deep down their side is in the wrong.
There is no direct dialogue or discussion between each side, but both are seeking to convince, and are talking at, an external judge and jury representing wider society.
Each side cherry picks and overly emphasises the evidence which falls in their favour.
Each side finds and promotes expert witnesses with the highest reputations whose opinions support their side, while undermining those of the other side through character assassination and reputation damage.
The main thrusts for winning the argument are through trickery, gaslighting, trying to trip witnesses up with sophistry and to make them contradict themselves, forcing yes/no answers to very nuanced questions, forcing shades of grey to be black and white, name calling, silencing, censoring and otherwise shutting the other side down in mid-sentence by raising objections and via technicalities.
Is performative and theatrical, indeed this is why those so called Courtroom "Dramas" are so popular on TV and film.
The side which wins is usually the one which is the best or most practiced at playing such games, regardless of where the objective truth, or reality, actually lies.
Categorizes people either as victims or perpetrators."
Great points. I agree we are living too fast, and we need to slow down.