This post really resonated with me, almost brought me to tears. I'll soon begin my last year of high school & I'm already feeling so fucking scared of what will come next. But your essay encouraged me a bit, so thanks for that :)
Hi Tommy, no problem. It's great to read that I made your day!
Hmm, yeah, I agree. It makes you feel imprisoned rather than relieved.
I also hope you have a good year (non-school year, but still). Thanks for the email address. I might truly reach out too and not just keep it in the back of my mind :)
Hey James, thank you for reading and the kind words. Means a lot :)
Very interesting you picked up on that and tied those two pieces together. I suppose, in the end, we have to choice but to be ready for change as it comes nonetheless.
Beautiful writing, as always, Tommy. Kevin Kelly, whom I admire and respect so much, wrote “Life lessons will be presented to you in the order they are needed. Everything you need to master the lesson is within you. Once you have truly learned a lesson, you will be presented with the next one. If you are alive, that means you still have lessons to learn”. As self-explanatory as this is, I'd be remiss if I didn't say that, to me, this is one of the most precious few lines ever written. So simple, yet so true and reassuring. I don't like seeking advice, or giving advice. I think people should go out and err on their own, this being the only truly effective way of getting to know yourself and the world. But these few lines by KK are golden. They're not as much "advice" as they're "encouragement".
Thank you for reading and the thoughtful note Silvio. Brought a smile to my face.
I love that idea of life as a teacher, how the deepest lessons can only be learned through experience. That we don't need to go out seeking answers from others. And the belief that, at each moment, life is teaching you something essential to the growth of your soul.
I'm with you on advice. I remember reading your piece on it a few weeks back, about flying to New York with your son. As I read the words of wise thinkers from the past (Rilke, Tolkien, Jung, etc.) one thread I've picked up on is how they all caution against advice.
This is a brilliant essay, Tommy! Most heartfelt, accurate and so relevant. It is clear you write from the heart…unafraid to be transparent, to share your innermost thoughts and even fears. Your honesty is a benefit to anyone who reads! Thank you for reflections on an often difficult (and repeated) occurrence in our lives. Change can be very difficult, no matter our age or stage in life. So true we find comfort in the familiarity of the past which I guess can be a lesson in itself…the present and future will eventually feel this good also!!! Thank you for your continued writing!
Hey Tommy, did you go to UWaterloo? Can't help but asking because I'm heading into my second year there now. In any case, I've found that the city has already become enmeshed in my head with a certain mode of being, and once I graduate, I think I'll be feeling something similar to what you've described. I really appreciated this line: "I know I need to be willing to close each chapter, move on, trust I’ve learned what I need, to let the story continue." Thanks, Tommy.
Definitely understand what you mean. So hard to detach and figure out who you are without the things that would define you after doing it so long (work, school, etc).
You're spot on. That was the main idea I was trying to hit home. That we invest a part of ourselves in the familiar things in our life, and when the familiar things disappear we have a somewhat shaken sense of self -- and we have to rebuild, rediscover.
This post really resonated with me, almost brought me to tears. I'll soon begin my last year of high school & I'm already feeling so fucking scared of what will come next. But your essay encouraged me a bit, so thanks for that :)
Hey Doris, thanks for reading and leaving a note. I'm so glad my writing resonated and provided some comfort. Made my day :)
Life transitions are super tough. Change is inevitable but the inevitability doesn't make it any easier.
I hope you have a great final year of high school. Feel free to reach out (thomas.r.dixon31@gmail.com) if you ever need someone to chat to.
Hi Tommy, no problem. It's great to read that I made your day!
Hmm, yeah, I agree. It makes you feel imprisoned rather than relieved.
I also hope you have a good year (non-school year, but still). Thanks for the email address. I might truly reach out too and not just keep it in the back of my mind :)
Looking forward to it !
“My current attitude towards change is something like: "I'm not ready but it's happening anyway." “
And yet you wrote this: “That the most beautiful parts of life are unplanned. That the most beautiful people are unexpected.”
That you expressed this Tommy, suggests to me, that change is happening anyway and YOU ARE ready.
Like Rumi’s Guest House.
Thank you for contributing to my day.
Hey James, thank you for reading and the kind words. Means a lot :)
Very interesting you picked up on that and tied those two pieces together. I suppose, in the end, we have to choice but to be ready for change as it comes nonetheless.
Hope you have a lovely rest of your day
Beautiful writing, as always, Tommy. Kevin Kelly, whom I admire and respect so much, wrote “Life lessons will be presented to you in the order they are needed. Everything you need to master the lesson is within you. Once you have truly learned a lesson, you will be presented with the next one. If you are alive, that means you still have lessons to learn”. As self-explanatory as this is, I'd be remiss if I didn't say that, to me, this is one of the most precious few lines ever written. So simple, yet so true and reassuring. I don't like seeking advice, or giving advice. I think people should go out and err on their own, this being the only truly effective way of getting to know yourself and the world. But these few lines by KK are golden. They're not as much "advice" as they're "encouragement".
Thank you for reading and the thoughtful note Silvio. Brought a smile to my face.
I love that idea of life as a teacher, how the deepest lessons can only be learned through experience. That we don't need to go out seeking answers from others. And the belief that, at each moment, life is teaching you something essential to the growth of your soul.
I'm with you on advice. I remember reading your piece on it a few weeks back, about flying to New York with your son. As I read the words of wise thinkers from the past (Rilke, Tolkien, Jung, etc.) one thread I've picked up on is how they all caution against advice.
I'll revisit this line. Thank you for sharing :)
This is a brilliant essay, Tommy! Most heartfelt, accurate and so relevant. It is clear you write from the heart…unafraid to be transparent, to share your innermost thoughts and even fears. Your honesty is a benefit to anyone who reads! Thank you for reflections on an often difficult (and repeated) occurrence in our lives. Change can be very difficult, no matter our age or stage in life. So true we find comfort in the familiarity of the past which I guess can be a lesson in itself…the present and future will eventually feel this good also!!! Thank you for your continued writing!
Thanks Mom :)
Hey Tommy, did you go to UWaterloo? Can't help but asking because I'm heading into my second year there now. In any case, I've found that the city has already become enmeshed in my head with a certain mode of being, and once I graduate, I think I'll be feeling something similar to what you've described. I really appreciated this line: "I know I need to be willing to close each chapter, move on, trust I’ve learned what I need, to let the story continue." Thanks, Tommy.
Hey Sumedh, thanks for the note. Funny enough I just graduated from Laurier, a few blocks down the road. Small world.
I think you're 100% right. It's a hard feeling to pin down but "enmeshed in my head with a certain mode of being" is a good way to put it.
Thanks again :)
Definitely understand what you mean. So hard to detach and figure out who you are without the things that would define you after doing it so long (work, school, etc).
Thanks for the note and for reading :)
You're spot on. That was the main idea I was trying to hit home. That we invest a part of ourselves in the familiar things in our life, and when the familiar things disappear we have a somewhat shaken sense of self -- and we have to rebuild, rediscover.