Had to add a plus 1 to all of Emily's call outs. They were also my favorite gems. Especially "you can't get lost, you can only stop going forward." What an exceptionally comforting and encouraging notion. Thank you Tommy.
Thank you Rick (: that was perhaps the idea of the labyrinth i liked the most - that although it seems random and confusing, there’s an ordered plan at place. Behind the madness, an underlying order. There is no such thing as getting lost.
Appreciate your time here, my friend. Hope your Canada Day is lovely
Loved this essay pal, such a good analogy for life delivered beautifully. The labyrinth party is a great story and the lesson you chose to extract from it resonates deeply.
Never knew that a labyrinth was different from a maze or that it didn’t have any tricks or dead ends or surprises. The walls we build in the labyrinth of our life may be guaranteed to take us to the centre. But what that centre is depends on the actions we take. With each daily action we stack a stone on the wall of our weaving labyrinth, eventually determining what the centre, where we’re bound to end up, looks like.
Thanks for sharing this lovely, hopeful, and optimistic essay buddy. Love it.
Also, got a great laugh at “best party I’ve been to all year.”
Thanks Jack. The labyrinth party was the best party I’ve been invited to all year and also perhaps the only but we’ll ignore that.
I thought it was a life affirming metaphor. That despite the confusion and complexity and the feeling lost, you’re on the path and you’ll get there, wherever there is, if you keep moving forward, taking each small step
Thank you. I needed this today. 😊 It prompted a memory of my own while labyrinth walking. I saw me and my 3 children happy... a piece of the future.
Keep in mind at the time I only had one child born and was pregnant with my second (and last pregnancy) before we found out I was carrying twins.
I remember I kept shaking my head and saying "absolutely not!" all evening. 🤣🤣🤣 Thank you for the reminder and the memory. All 3 are alive and well (to the best of my knowledge in this moment).
...damn brother you are living so good right now...incredible inspiration...there are a few labyrinths at the volcanic park near me and in the winter one fills with tiny frogs you can’t hear from on top of the hill but that grows cacophonously symphonic as you walk into the labyrinth...i never go down there because my dogs want the large trails and i hike to entertain them as much as me...but i love seeing people wind staring at their feet down in that maze...
Life has been good out in the woods. Some tradeoffs, with writing and money and whatnot, but it’s been good to be closer to nature, living more simply. Voluntary poverty, we call it.
I like this metaphor. It's a comforting thought that our actions lead somewhere consistently, even if it feels so uncertain.
I sometimes compare life to a marathon - time drags on or slips away quickly, some parts are more painful or joyful than others, we're all running together but on our own journeys, towards the end your body gets tired but your mind is clear. You turn a corner and suddenly the finish is there, and you were so lost in the moment you find it hard to believe you ran 26.2 miles.
This is wonderful. It's odd - the world tends to like people explaining things as linear stories, but of course everyone's life is going to be more labyrinthian.
Thanks, Tommy, excited to read more of your stuff. :)
Totally agree Robert. For some reason we have this shallow craving for linearity - to go right there - when it’s the labyrinth that makes life worth living.
Appreciate you reading and taking the time to leave a thoughtful note (: hope your week is awesome
Thanks Carina (: always so good to hear your thoughts
I found it consoling. The idea that even though things can feel confusing and complex, even thought I can feel lost, there’s a bigger plan at place and I’m exactly where I need to be, I just need to keep taking steps forward.
So beautiful, Tommy. It is a joy to know you through your words. A Pure Joy. Your own writing always yields revelations to me.
If you have not read it, I invite you to find a beautiful poem by David Whyte called "Start Close In." I think you'd like it, resonant as it is with your thinking.
A quote came across my digital screen today, by someone named Elizabeth Gilbert: that I want to repeat to you: "I’m making space for the unknown future to fill up my life with yet-to-come surprises."
I know that your future is FILLED with magnificent yet-to-come surprises -- surprises of your own beauty, your own wisdom, your own poetic soul, your own Greatness.
Very kind, deeply encouraging words for my son, Amba. I love this piece as well, even more so because he wrote it spontaneously, from his quite recent experience. Often, Tommy believes his best pieces require weeks or perhaps even months of writes and re-writes. This proves differently. A momentary experience coupled with years of deep personal reflections led to this metaphorical masterpiece. Proud Dad!
My Wednesday blog has a poem titled "Let the Path Cm to You," which I think you'll like. And yes, David lives on an island (Whidbey) very nearby. I have taken many workshops with him and read ALL of his books—amazing Books. "Crossing the Unknown Sea" is one that you'll love, though I think you'd love all of them.
Loved this. The whole analogy of life being like a Labyrinth. Always thought a maze and labyrinth were the same thing. I kind of want to go experience one of these large labyrinths.
Labyrinths are a super interesting rabbit hole to go down. I started reading up on them and they date way back to ancient pagan traditions. That exact labyrinth is much older than 1,000 years. And it appears all over the world.
Thanks for reading J (: it’s always so good to hear from you
Toward the end of his life, the Japanese Zen Master Genshu Watanabe (1869-1963) called a young disciple to his bedside and posed a question. “How can one go straight,” he asked, “on a steep mountain road of ninety-nine curves?” The disciple was baffled, so Watanabe Roshi answered the question himself:
What a beautiful experience and you wrote about it so well. I went to Chartres to walk the labyrinth there. I will never forget it. It was different as many others walked it at the same time. My relation to them and how we crossed paths, how they were close and then far away was profound. I walked back out as well. There was a nun there. I re se liked her practice was to walk it for hours..in and out over and over… like finding ones center in a new way, many times. It is a beautiful cathedral and the labyrinth is only available to be walked on certain days. I love your photos. It sounds like you are leading a quite profound life.
Thank you Terra (: your experience also sounds lovely and so cool you got to visit Chartres - I really appreciate you reading and always leaving such beautiful reflections
Catchup with your posts and a couple of other great people on Substack before my devices are parked up and I go camping tomorrow. Hail, rain, or snow, we are gone!!
Wow, this is one of my favorites of yours. Full of gems.
“Potholes and plot holes.”
“The path was more about how I walked and who I became, than where I traveled and when I finished.”
“If the path ahead was clear, it would probably be someone else’s.”
“You can’t get lost. You can only stop going forward.”
Beautiful.
Thanks for this, Tommy. It’s wonderful.
Thanks Emily (: lovely to hear what lines resonated. Very helpful feedback. Thanks for reading & all the good vibes. Appreciated
Had to add a plus 1 to all of Emily's call outs. They were also my favorite gems. Especially "you can't get lost, you can only stop going forward." What an exceptionally comforting and encouraging notion. Thank you Tommy.
Thank you Rick (: that was perhaps the idea of the labyrinth i liked the most - that although it seems random and confusing, there’s an ordered plan at place. Behind the madness, an underlying order. There is no such thing as getting lost.
Appreciate your time here, my friend. Hope your Canada Day is lovely
Loved this essay pal, such a good analogy for life delivered beautifully. The labyrinth party is a great story and the lesson you chose to extract from it resonates deeply.
Never knew that a labyrinth was different from a maze or that it didn’t have any tricks or dead ends or surprises. The walls we build in the labyrinth of our life may be guaranteed to take us to the centre. But what that centre is depends on the actions we take. With each daily action we stack a stone on the wall of our weaving labyrinth, eventually determining what the centre, where we’re bound to end up, looks like.
Thanks for sharing this lovely, hopeful, and optimistic essay buddy. Love it.
Also, got a great laugh at “best party I’ve been to all year.”
Thanks Jack. The labyrinth party was the best party I’ve been invited to all year and also perhaps the only but we’ll ignore that.
I thought it was a life affirming metaphor. That despite the confusion and complexity and the feeling lost, you’re on the path and you’ll get there, wherever there is, if you keep moving forward, taking each small step
Appreciate your insights here (: love it
Thank you. I needed this today. 😊 It prompted a memory of my own while labyrinth walking. I saw me and my 3 children happy... a piece of the future.
Keep in mind at the time I only had one child born and was pregnant with my second (and last pregnancy) before we found out I was carrying twins.
I remember I kept shaking my head and saying "absolutely not!" all evening. 🤣🤣🤣 Thank you for the reminder and the memory. All 3 are alive and well (to the best of my knowledge in this moment).
Ha I love that Isabella (: I’m glad the piece met you at the right time and spurred some good memories. Thank you for behind here & sharing.
...damn brother you are living so good right now...incredible inspiration...there are a few labyrinths at the volcanic park near me and in the winter one fills with tiny frogs you can’t hear from on top of the hill but that grows cacophonously symphonic as you walk into the labyrinth...i never go down there because my dogs want the large trails and i hike to entertain them as much as me...but i love seeing people wind staring at their feet down in that maze...
Haha that sounds like quite the story in itself!
Life has been good out in the woods. Some tradeoffs, with writing and money and whatnot, but it’s been good to be closer to nature, living more simply. Voluntary poverty, we call it.
“The path was more about how I walked and who I became, than where I traveled and when I finished.”
This is so beautiful. The whole piece read like syrup.
Thank you James (: I’ve never heard the syrup simile before - but it’s sweet
Appreciate your time here
I like this metaphor. It's a comforting thought that our actions lead somewhere consistently, even if it feels so uncertain.
I sometimes compare life to a marathon - time drags on or slips away quickly, some parts are more painful or joyful than others, we're all running together but on our own journeys, towards the end your body gets tired but your mind is clear. You turn a corner and suddenly the finish is there, and you were so lost in the moment you find it hard to believe you ran 26.2 miles.
Beautiful piece, as always!
The marathon metaphor is also beautiful. I’ve been running for the past three years and i continue to see parallels between running and life.
I liked the labyrinth metaphor because it’s so easy to feel lost, but so consoling to know you’re not. That it’s all part of the path. All essential.
Appreciate you reading & the insightful thoughts, as always
This is wonderful. It's odd - the world tends to like people explaining things as linear stories, but of course everyone's life is going to be more labyrinthian.
Thanks, Tommy, excited to read more of your stuff. :)
Totally agree Robert. For some reason we have this shallow craving for linearity - to go right there - when it’s the labyrinth that makes life worth living.
Appreciate you reading and taking the time to leave a thoughtful note (: hope your week is awesome
You too, and thanks for the response! :)
This was so so good!!! Such a great and comforting metaphor.
“Even if I feel lost, I can’t be lost. The path will bring me to the center, if I keep going.”
Thanks Carina (: always so good to hear your thoughts
I found it consoling. The idea that even though things can feel confusing and complex, even thought I can feel lost, there’s a bigger plan at place and I’m exactly where I need to be, I just need to keep taking steps forward.
So beautiful, Tommy. It is a joy to know you through your words. A Pure Joy. Your own writing always yields revelations to me.
If you have not read it, I invite you to find a beautiful poem by David Whyte called "Start Close In." I think you'd like it, resonant as it is with your thinking.
A quote came across my digital screen today, by someone named Elizabeth Gilbert: that I want to repeat to you: "I’m making space for the unknown future to fill up my life with yet-to-come surprises."
I know that your future is FILLED with magnificent yet-to-come surprises -- surprises of your own beauty, your own wisdom, your own poetic soul, your own Greatness.
Very kind, deeply encouraging words for my son, Amba. I love this piece as well, even more so because he wrote it spontaneously, from his quite recent experience. Often, Tommy believes his best pieces require weeks or perhaps even months of writes and re-writes. This proves differently. A momentary experience coupled with years of deep personal reflections led to this metaphorical masterpiece. Proud Dad!
Wow, Rob;
How great to meet you. Tommy is such an extraordinary soul, and his writing is inspiring to me, each time. Yes, you MUST be proud!
Amba, it’s so good to hear from you. Your words really sunk deep, as it’s been a more difficult few days and the future looms uncertain as ever.
Really appreciate you being here & all the energy and aliveness you bring to every interaction.
I love David Whyte. I have his essentials collection I read twice and out loud to a bunch of people too. He lives in your corner of the world!
Thank you again - for being here and the warm words. Really. Meant a lot today.
Wonderful, Tommy.
My Wednesday blog has a poem titled "Let the Path Cm to You," which I think you'll like. And yes, David lives on an island (Whidbey) very nearby. I have taken many workshops with him and read ALL of his books—amazing Books. "Crossing the Unknown Sea" is one that you'll love, though I think you'd love all of them.
I am here for you.
Can’t wait to read it. Thank you for being here Anna (: your presence is felt
Loved this. The whole analogy of life being like a Labyrinth. Always thought a maze and labyrinth were the same thing. I kind of want to go experience one of these large labyrinths.
Labyrinths are a super interesting rabbit hole to go down. I started reading up on them and they date way back to ancient pagan traditions. That exact labyrinth is much older than 1,000 years. And it appears all over the world.
Thanks for reading J (: it’s always so good to hear from you
Your post reminds me of one my favorite Zen koans and associated stories. From https://practiceofzen.com/2020/05/13/walk-straight-by-winding-along/ :
Toward the end of his life, the Japanese Zen Master Genshu Watanabe (1869-1963) called a young disciple to his bedside and posed a question. “How can one go straight,” he asked, “on a steep mountain road of ninety-nine curves?” The disciple was baffled, so Watanabe Roshi answered the question himself:
“Walk straight by winding along.”
Ah I love that Justin. Thank you for sharing, I’ll have to give it a read.
Also reminds me of a quote from CS Lewis: “the longest way round is the shortest way home”.
Appreciate you reading and the insight here. Hope you have a great week (:
Peter sounds like an absolute gem of a human.
A saint. Almost in the literal sense.
What a beautiful experience and you wrote about it so well. I went to Chartres to walk the labyrinth there. I will never forget it. It was different as many others walked it at the same time. My relation to them and how we crossed paths, how they were close and then far away was profound. I walked back out as well. There was a nun there. I re se liked her practice was to walk it for hours..in and out over and over… like finding ones center in a new way, many times. It is a beautiful cathedral and the labyrinth is only available to be walked on certain days. I love your photos. It sounds like you are leading a quite profound life.
Thank you Terra (: your experience also sounds lovely and so cool you got to visit Chartres - I really appreciate you reading and always leaving such beautiful reflections
Catchup with your posts and a couple of other great people on Substack before my devices are parked up and I go camping tomorrow. Hail, rain, or snow, we are gone!!
A great piece of writing, my friend. I was so taken with it, I forgot to mention that.
Thank you Kevin (: appreciate you, as always
Peter is one of life’s unsung, true heroes. Working with the people that he does, speaks volumes of the man.
..’how I walked and who I became’..
Exactly right, Tommy.
And there’s a lot of mileage yet to covered by us all. Hopefully.
Love it, Kevin. Hope camping was awesome and device-free. Always appreciate your words of wisdom, my friend.