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.
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 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.
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.
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.
...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.
I like to look at it as being fully present in the moment. And it becomes natural when all the noise of the outside world is lessened (cell phones of our scheduled, finding time in nature, sitting with self in a quiet morning or evening.)
And it seems everyone is in some form of change and transition these days even those who seem settled and routine. It might be internal, emotional, spiritual, relational.
And when I’m challenged either by overwhelming change or feeling stuck - either way, when I sit down and grab those random thoughts or anxieties from inside my head and body and interpret with language onto the page, it provides a direction for me and an understanding of myself and how I fit into our Universe.
Appreciation of all that comes to us in the form of hints or questions seems to provide a wealth of assistance and acceptance of what is, in the moment. Doesn’t obliterate our hopes or plans for the future, rather it strengthens us before the transition.
Thanks for stimulating my thinking again Tommy. Always enjoy your writing.
Kim, thank you for reading and leaving such a profound and thoughtful reflection here, as always. I think you're exactly right on the connection between hearing our intuition, our inner signal, and tuning out the abundance of noise in the world that surrounds us.
Writing about things has always helped me work through changes as well. Writing, really, helps me think and process in a clear way that I can never quite do in my head.
Appreciate your insights and you just being here (:
“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."
Your writing always brings a smile to my face! The idea of change initially being a sensation - a small tingling within you like something in your life is misplaced, and then you identify what is out of order - and its back to its position. Change always feels familiar after you have executed it and arrived at the destination, never feels like an unknown place.
I agree with "People can go on sleepwalking through their lives for a long time. Blind to the self that's desperately trying to come into being. Deaf to the cries for change. This paralysis is a product of distraction, drowning out intuition."
But sometimes what makes change something you rebel against is the grief that accompanies the knowledge that you will not return to this place ever again. When grief overpowers you, it becomes difficult to follow your intuition.
I wonder how you process your emotions and thoughts when your present - before you make the change feels good too, but with time you know you have to make the leap nevertheless.
“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...
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.
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 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.
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.
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 (:
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.
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
‘Not hurrying, but not pausing either.’
Right on,Tommy. Great piece man. Thank you.
Thank you Kevin (: appreciate you reading & being here my friend
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
I like to look at it as being fully present in the moment. And it becomes natural when all the noise of the outside world is lessened (cell phones of our scheduled, finding time in nature, sitting with self in a quiet morning or evening.)
And it seems everyone is in some form of change and transition these days even those who seem settled and routine. It might be internal, emotional, spiritual, relational.
And when I’m challenged either by overwhelming change or feeling stuck - either way, when I sit down and grab those random thoughts or anxieties from inside my head and body and interpret with language onto the page, it provides a direction for me and an understanding of myself and how I fit into our Universe.
Appreciation of all that comes to us in the form of hints or questions seems to provide a wealth of assistance and acceptance of what is, in the moment. Doesn’t obliterate our hopes or plans for the future, rather it strengthens us before the transition.
Thanks for stimulating my thinking again Tommy. Always enjoy your writing.
Kim, thank you for reading and leaving such a profound and thoughtful reflection here, as always. I think you're exactly right on the connection between hearing our intuition, our inner signal, and tuning out the abundance of noise in the world that surrounds us.
Writing about things has always helped me work through changes as well. Writing, really, helps me think and process in a clear way that I can never quite do in my head.
Appreciate your insights and you just being here (:
“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 (:
Your writing always brings a smile to my face! The idea of change initially being a sensation - a small tingling within you like something in your life is misplaced, and then you identify what is out of order - and its back to its position. Change always feels familiar after you have executed it and arrived at the destination, never feels like an unknown place.
I agree with "People can go on sleepwalking through their lives for a long time. Blind to the self that's desperately trying to come into being. Deaf to the cries for change. This paralysis is a product of distraction, drowning out intuition."
But sometimes what makes change something you rebel against is the grief that accompanies the knowledge that you will not return to this place ever again. When grief overpowers you, it becomes difficult to follow your intuition.
I wonder how you process your emotions and thoughts when your present - before you make the change feels good too, but with time you know you have to make the leap nevertheless.
Thank you Praan (: really appreciate you reading and such a thoughtful reflection here. It brought a smile to my face!
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