Your description of change as a gradual, infinitesimal process is aligned with the nature of all things. To survive, we must filter and compartmentalize our experiences, so a change appears to some at the eleventh hour. Your wise and patient perspective is wonderful.
I relate to you much. I lead a slow life in a tropical town in India. Crafting this has been one of intention, consciously planning ahead and consuming only as much as I truly need.
I love my little haven and this was such a slow gradual journey. It’s distilled in my bones, I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Ah, I love that Ishita (: Especially on how leading a slow life, a good life, often requires a lot of intention, aiming. We can't really just "stumble into it". The default, at least in our age, is clutter and consumption and speed.
Thank you for reading & leaving such a beautiful reflection here.
James, your ability to pull out and expound on little parts most readers may glaze over never fails to make me smile.
I think you're exactly right - the cost of inaction is the quality of our own singular life. Like that epic Mary Oliver quote: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
I simply love reading your writing. It's an example of just what you're describing, because the words are coming out at just the right birth point of your expression, not too soon, not too late, the patience of having held them in your belly is evident, and so your phrases are like taking in the sight of a newborn carried perfectly to term—neither premature nor the result of an overly long labor.
This was such a subtle but lovely metaphor, Rick. Thank you. Substack is really pregnant with great writers and thoughtful people.
There's certainly a connection between my personal change and finding the words for this piece. The big idea, of letting change dawn on you, emerged as I journaled early one morning, looking back the slow changes I've undergone. But it took a long time to realize exactly what I was doing, what I was orienting toward.
I appreciate your profound and warm words here. Thank you for always making me think a little deeper.
Tommy, such good writing and so many excellent points.
Long ago, I made many happenstance choices not even realizing that they were decisions. Looking back I see blocks of time where real thoughts made dreams come a reality. This sums it up: “And I know it’s right because not doing it would feel profoundly wrong.”
Reading this has made me want to continue to dream and explore what I’m still capable of doing. Even has a septuagenarian, I think it will have a profound effect on me. Thanks, Tommy. Sorry about the length.
Thank you Monica, really appreciate you reading and your wise words here.
Since reading your comment a few days ago, I've been thinking hard about this: "happenstance choices not even realizing that they were decisions". When I look back at the decisions of my life, especially the big "weighty" ones, I can't help but be a determinist. I don't think I ever really decided. Life more just happened to me, and I was carried along for the ride.
...always good to have a patience reminder...the dopamine hits of immediacy culture have perverted our programming...tick tock used to be listening to time...now its ignoring it...shrinking it...abusing it...keep writing the good write...
Ha thank you CansaFis. Never fail to make me chuckle. Been thinking hard about this: "the dopamine hits of immediacy culture have perverted our programming". Although I haven't picked up the dopamine books yet (dopamine nation, etc.) it really is the drug of our times, with a seismic impact on the culture.
“To embrace real change is to surrender to slowness. To let it work on you and through you.”
Tommy, this piece was a true pleasure to read. Even without explicitly mentioning, you conveyed the importance of loving oneself to bring about real change. I believe change begins with true and complete acceptance of oneself. Without accepting how we already are, we will never be able to let that part of us go with grace.
Thank you for this post! Ontario is beautiful this time around!
Thank you Rushil, for reading and the beautiful reflection you wrote here.
I especially loved the connection you pulled out between change and self-acceptance: "Without accepting how we already are, we will never be able to let that part of us go with grace."
“And I know it’s right because not doing it would feel profoundly wrong” - what a masterpiece that line is. I think that I have let that sort of philosophy guide me in my decisions in that words similar to that have always been in the back of my mind. Choosing what to do because the soul demands it, and not doing something because you think it might satisfy other peoples expectations.
Thank you, Rachel (: the soul's demands > people's expectations has to be one of the best ways to summarize how to navigate life. Also the interesting contrast: people expect, but the soul demands...
Reading this felt like sinking into a bathtub filled with hot water and epsom salt and taking a long drink of cool water after being in the sun all day at the same time. Thank you for crafting such a lovely thing.
Ah finally a fellow Ontarian. This is so profound. I’ve been in a state of resisting change for a while now and apathy and some intolerable feelings are taking over. Kind of scary actually. Love this piece.🩵
Thanks Grace (: (and always great to meet a fellow Ontarian!)
I certainly feel fear when change is on the horizon. Not wanting to let go of the past, or not feeling ready for the future. But eventually, I believe, when you're ready to change, courageous enough or just plain fed up, you do. Perhaps that's comforting, that it happens when it's supposed to. That it steps toward us, as much as we step toward it.
Your description of change as a gradual, infinitesimal process is aligned with the nature of all things. To survive, we must filter and compartmentalize our experiences, so a change appears to some at the eleventh hour. Your wise and patient perspective is wonderful.
That's beautiful Rich. Thank you for reading and leaving such a wise reflection (: Love it.
I relate to you much. I lead a slow life in a tropical town in India. Crafting this has been one of intention, consciously planning ahead and consuming only as much as I truly need.
I love my little haven and this was such a slow gradual journey. It’s distilled in my bones, I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Ah, I love that Ishita (: Especially on how leading a slow life, a good life, often requires a lot of intention, aiming. We can't really just "stumble into it". The default, at least in our age, is clutter and consumption and speed.
Thank you for reading & leaving such a beautiful reflection here.
Tommy, I loved this sentence:
“Supported by the felt sense that failing to change, despite my fear, would be a squandering of life.”
What is the cost of inaction? Of failing to change? The life that is only ours to live and fully occupy.
Thank you for all of the profound perspectives in this piece.
James, your ability to pull out and expound on little parts most readers may glaze over never fails to make me smile.
I think you're exactly right - the cost of inaction is the quality of our own singular life. Like that epic Mary Oliver quote: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
I simply love reading your writing. It's an example of just what you're describing, because the words are coming out at just the right birth point of your expression, not too soon, not too late, the patience of having held them in your belly is evident, and so your phrases are like taking in the sight of a newborn carried perfectly to term—neither premature nor the result of an overly long labor.
This was such a subtle but lovely metaphor, Rick. Thank you. Substack is really pregnant with great writers and thoughtful people.
There's certainly a connection between my personal change and finding the words for this piece. The big idea, of letting change dawn on you, emerged as I journaled early one morning, looking back the slow changes I've undergone. But it took a long time to realize exactly what I was doing, what I was orienting toward.
I appreciate your profound and warm words here. Thank you for always making me think a little deeper.
Tommy, such good writing and so many excellent points.
Long ago, I made many happenstance choices not even realizing that they were decisions. Looking back I see blocks of time where real thoughts made dreams come a reality. This sums it up: “And I know it’s right because not doing it would feel profoundly wrong.”
Reading this has made me want to continue to dream and explore what I’m still capable of doing. Even has a septuagenarian, I think it will have a profound effect on me. Thanks, Tommy. Sorry about the length.
Thank you Monica, really appreciate you reading and your wise words here.
Since reading your comment a few days ago, I've been thinking hard about this: "happenstance choices not even realizing that they were decisions". When I look back at the decisions of my life, especially the big "weighty" ones, I can't help but be a determinist. I don't think I ever really decided. Life more just happened to me, and I was carried along for the ride.
I'm so glad the piece resonated. Means a lot (:
David Bowie nailed it. Changes.
‘Not hurrying, but not pausing either.’
Right on,Tommy. Great piece man. Thank you.
Thank you Kevin (: appreciate you reading & being here my friend
The gradual. The steady. The looking back and seeing how far the shore is. I love these meanderings into truth and slowness.
Each of these letters find me at just the right time, each paragraph profound and simple like food eaten under the sunshine. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Merc, for reading and leaving such a beautiful reflection here. Really.
This had me thinking all week: "profound and simple like food eaten under the sunshine". There's something so plain yet powerfully profound there.
Appreciate you being here (:
Just as we cannot rush the rising of the sun, changes have their own pace. Let us simply relish the waiting and gradual appearance of dawn.
Ah that's so beautiful J.T. I think you summarized the main idea of the piece right there (:
...always good to have a patience reminder...the dopamine hits of immediacy culture have perverted our programming...tick tock used to be listening to time...now its ignoring it...shrinking it...abusing it...keep writing the good write...
Ha thank you CansaFis. Never fail to make me chuckle. Been thinking hard about this: "the dopamine hits of immediacy culture have perverted our programming". Although I haven't picked up the dopamine books yet (dopamine nation, etc.) it really is the drug of our times, with a seismic impact on the culture.
Appreciate you being here my friend
“To embrace real change is to surrender to slowness. To let it work on you and through you.”
Tommy, this piece was a true pleasure to read. Even without explicitly mentioning, you conveyed the importance of loving oneself to bring about real change. I believe change begins with true and complete acceptance of oneself. Without accepting how we already are, we will never be able to let that part of us go with grace.
Thank you for this post! Ontario is beautiful this time around!
Thank you Rushil, for reading and the beautiful reflection you wrote here.
I especially loved the connection you pulled out between change and self-acceptance: "Without accepting how we already are, we will never be able to let that part of us go with grace."
Appreciate you being here (:
A timely and beautifully crafted reminder. Thank you Tommy.
Thank you Kwaku - super appreciate you reading & the kind words (:
“And I know it’s right because not doing it would feel profoundly wrong” - what a masterpiece that line is. I think that I have let that sort of philosophy guide me in my decisions in that words similar to that have always been in the back of my mind. Choosing what to do because the soul demands it, and not doing something because you think it might satisfy other peoples expectations.
Thank you, Rachel (: the soul's demands > people's expectations has to be one of the best ways to summarize how to navigate life. Also the interesting contrast: people expect, but the soul demands...
Appreciate you reading & being here
Reading this felt like sinking into a bathtub filled with hot water and epsom salt and taking a long drink of cool water after being in the sun all day at the same time. Thank you for crafting such a lovely thing.
Ha this brought a big smile to my face. Thank you Jessie (: really appreciate you reading & being here. Being in the sun all day is a vibe, huh
Interesting way to write and show the world your point of view. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you (:
Ah finally a fellow Ontarian. This is so profound. I’ve been in a state of resisting change for a while now and apathy and some intolerable feelings are taking over. Kind of scary actually. Love this piece.🩵
Thanks Grace (: (and always great to meet a fellow Ontarian!)
I certainly feel fear when change is on the horizon. Not wanting to let go of the past, or not feeling ready for the future. But eventually, I believe, when you're ready to change, courageous enough or just plain fed up, you do. Perhaps that's comforting, that it happens when it's supposed to. That it steps toward us, as much as we step toward it.
Appreciate you reading & the kind words!