Calliope watches… A bushy tail scales the trunk of the cedar — agile, curious, and taking care of business. A spring green incher dangles in midair, attached to branch by an invisible thread, fearlessly exercising and growing its wiggle. An iridescent teal body
A note from Loveletterist: This morning in my Listening Circle one of the questions was something like... What is your spirit animal and why? Hmmm... spirit animal? 🤷🏻♀️ I'm familiar with the concept, but don't think I resonate with any animal in particular. I truly love to watch the ones willing to show themselves and teach me a lesson or two or... more!
It was fun to hear my friends talk about what animals pair with what's happening in their lives.
I have been mulling it over the several minutes, and I have no clue what my spirit animal might be.
Cardinal? Cardinals mate for life, and male cardinals give food to their mates, not for any known mating purposes, just “hey, found some suet, honey, this is for you!”
I’m like a kid in a candy store with your posts. From Paul Simon to Sesame Street! I always take the bait, and you reel me into the lesson! A fisher of (wo)men. And a seeming plentitude of women wonderers as well. 🙏🏽
Spirit animals 😀 -- I remember reading about how that was a popular interview question at one point. Always made me smile. So maybe I’m a laughing hyena?
Love the quote: “The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.
~ William Morris”
I’ve been enjoying trying to articulate my midlife reinvention to others the past two weeks.
I feel like a baby giraffe (another spirit animal?!) with wobbly knees. Or maybe I’ve got sea legs after being on open turbulent ocean and rough seas for so long that the stability of land actually creates unease.
Over the past two weeks I’ve been told not to come back unless I’m the old me.
I’ve been told I’ve lost my spark.
I’ve been told that I need to be more assertive to others about my path.
But although many of those things may be true...I truly am happier being present in those conversations themselves.
I also am more able to see the truth in what they say -- and likely make changes in my approach based upon their feedback-- than I was before when I was outcome or future focused.
“Or maybe I’ve got sea legs after being on open turbulent ocean and rough seas for so long that the stability of land actually creates unease.“
The above really resonates with me! It feels like… giving up the adventure?
Yesterday I was part of an open conversation about visualization. What I recognized is how my frame of visualization has become very “present” focused. I observe what is in my frame of experience(s) and draw inspiration to visualize how what I see fits or does not fit the person I want to be. I don’t visualize having some great thing or being famous… I repeatedly ask myself, “How will you show up and stay in line with your values?”
I can imagine hearing, “The new Bob doesn’t fit here anymore,” stirred some feelings? Would love to hear more about that.
“What I recognized is how my frame of visualization has become very “present”
The above is very interesting to me as I hadn’t thought about my frame of visualization offering insights to me as to whether it is present, past or future.
What I really took from the quote you first shared was how it is true (for me) that happiness is really only possible in the present.
But I also tend to think in absolutes or in singular paths. And I think that’s also tricky for me.
That’s what your other quote (pasted above) makes me see that I was missing as well.
I wonder if it would help me better process is I started paying attention to what the timeframe of my visualization is.
I would guess that there’s probably an appropriate ratio of maybe if not an appropriate ratio, a value that can come from identifying which I’m in and then being able to intentionally shift (from past to future of present to future).
A note from Loveletterist: This morning in my Listening Circle one of the questions was something like... What is your spirit animal and why? Hmmm... spirit animal? 🤷🏻♀️ I'm familiar with the concept, but don't think I resonate with any animal in particular. I truly love to watch the ones willing to show themselves and teach me a lesson or two or... more!
It was fun to hear my friends talk about what animals pair with what's happening in their lives.
I have been mulling it over the several minutes, and I have no clue what my spirit animal might be.
Cardinal? Cardinals mate for life, and male cardinals give food to their mates, not for any known mating purposes, just “hey, found some suet, honey, this is for you!”
Cardinal suits you Jack!
I’m like a kid in a candy store with your posts. From Paul Simon to Sesame Street! I always take the bait, and you reel me into the lesson! A fisher of (wo)men. And a seeming plentitude of women wonderers as well. 🙏🏽
Hearing the Sesame Street song tickled me! I'd forgotten it and it came up in my YouTube search of "inch worm". 😊
Spirit animals 😀 -- I remember reading about how that was a popular interview question at one point. Always made me smile. So maybe I’m a laughing hyena?
Love the quote: “The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.
~ William Morris”
I’ve been enjoying trying to articulate my midlife reinvention to others the past two weeks.
I feel like a baby giraffe (another spirit animal?!) with wobbly knees. Or maybe I’ve got sea legs after being on open turbulent ocean and rough seas for so long that the stability of land actually creates unease.
Over the past two weeks I’ve been told not to come back unless I’m the old me.
I’ve been told I’ve lost my spark.
I’ve been told that I need to be more assertive to others about my path.
But although many of those things may be true...I truly am happier being present in those conversations themselves.
I also am more able to see the truth in what they say -- and likely make changes in my approach based upon their feedback-- than I was before when I was outcome or future focused.
“Or maybe I’ve got sea legs after being on open turbulent ocean and rough seas for so long that the stability of land actually creates unease.“
The above really resonates with me! It feels like… giving up the adventure?
Yesterday I was part of an open conversation about visualization. What I recognized is how my frame of visualization has become very “present” focused. I observe what is in my frame of experience(s) and draw inspiration to visualize how what I see fits or does not fit the person I want to be. I don’t visualize having some great thing or being famous… I repeatedly ask myself, “How will you show up and stay in line with your values?”
I can imagine hearing, “The new Bob doesn’t fit here anymore,” stirred some feelings? Would love to hear more about that.
“What I recognized is how my frame of visualization has become very “present”
The above is very interesting to me as I hadn’t thought about my frame of visualization offering insights to me as to whether it is present, past or future.
What I really took from the quote you first shared was how it is true (for me) that happiness is really only possible in the present.
But I also tend to think in absolutes or in singular paths. And I think that’s also tricky for me.
That’s what your other quote (pasted above) makes me see that I was missing as well.
I wonder if it would help me better process is I started paying attention to what the timeframe of my visualization is.
I would guess that there’s probably an appropriate ratio of maybe if not an appropriate ratio, a value that can come from identifying which I’m in and then being able to intentionally shift (from past to future of present to future).
Hmmm...interesting.
I recently saw or read something to the effect of: If you are fully engaged and present in the moment, the next moment builds upon it.
To me this speaks to the importance of attitude and acting in accordance with one’s values.
Thanks Bob!