Stephanie, your words are a cairn themselves, quiet invocations of care, each reflecting a gentle summons to choose presence over panic. Thank you so much for reminding us that even in the sharpest bends of life, the literal ones too, creation and calm are not luxuries, but lifelines.
As for me, I live at the bottom of a steep hill. Any snow and we're stuck for days, since our road isn't considered one to be cleared. We used to wait for the snow to melt, sometimes for weeks! Well, that was until a highways maintenance employee moved in round the corner. Now we're one of the first!
Our little community is very pleased about this! Much like yours with your cairns.
Presence over panic is such a powerful way to put it. This thoughtful comment meant so much to me Deborah. You are so right that these cairns are lifelines. So glad your community was gifted with your own!
Stephanie, this was so deeply moving. It brought me back to times I felt lost, and because others had taken the time to make a cairn, I found my way. This applies to more than literal hiking and route finding, but extends to the ways that we care for one another in small but meaningful ways. Thank you for sharing part of your story.
Thank you for this refreshing call to action - doing what is right in front of us, even the simplest kindness, ripples outward. I love the way Rebecca Li connects the liberation from suffering (as the Buddhists put it) to our natural capacity for empathy and ability to care for others. Brilliant!!
You put it perfectly, WilM, and I too love the wisdom Rebecca Li imparts in that short but powerful quote. I've read it countless times!! It's a link that often goes unseen. Thank you for being here, it means so much.
Stephanie, this piece is brilliantly, beautiful. “A fortress of calm” is such a wonderful visual image for everyone during these times. I’ve been talking to several friends and different people in groups that I belong to about the fact that we do have a choice, but that choice must be cultivated. Otherwise we get swept into the chaos and the fear and the despair of everything around us. This conversation came up most recently within a group I belong to, and we were discussing Joy. Some people couldn’t understand how that is even possible during these times, but the truth is these times have always been the times of everyone’s life no matter when you have lived. These times will also be the times of our children and nieces and nephews as they grow. Well I could go on for quite a bit about this subject, but I want to compliment you and encourage you on the choices that you are making. We should all strive to put joy and strength and gratitude and love out into the world. It is exactly what the world needs right now. So thank you.
Susan, this comment means the world to me. I absolutely love how you put it...that "these times" have always been the times; and always WILL be the times. Because this is life...and, yes, being human. And perhaps choosing joy is the antidote that has been eluding all of us for long. It isn't blindness or a refusal to see clearly, it's actually wisdom. And it changes the landscape more than we can ever realize. Please know that comments like this are such a gift to me, you made my day. To joy! And to your poetic lens!
To heal instead of harm. Yes, yes … yes. Equanimity is such a wonderful word. I’m going to mull that over this weekend. Thank you for sharing your neurologist’s life-changing advice. I think it’s critical not just for survival, but for living fully and well. Sending love and peace and many blessings to you! 💜☀️
Thank you for your lovely comment Michele. To heal instead of harm indeed. Thank you for your own very powerful model of equanimity in this world. So grateful to have have found you, and the spirit of beautiful Alex, in this space. 💜☀️
Stephanie, thank you for taking me on this journey and for weaving in your personal experience. These words hold power over which we cannot control. Equanimity is something I will be striving for.
I will be striving with you, Heidi! It's such a healing concept and it helps to solidify it by talking and sharing about it with others. So appreciate your comment and your being here! Love your blog's title and description, by the way, I just subbed and will be delving more!
You're writing inspires me so much. Wow. So beautifully written. I adore the alliteration. It's like you weaved poetry into your essay, and I am so inspired. I've never thought of that before, at least not intentionally or consciously. I'm just so impressed and inspired.
I'm reminded of the cairn on an on-ramp near me. It's where wildflowers lived until the bright lights for the road took their place. Now the stones stand as a monument. And I wonder how long they will last.
This comment was manna for my soul, Sam, thank you so very much. My writing leans toward poetry in long-form, but it's not always overt so it felt like "being seen" having you say that outright. I thank you dearly!
Wow about the cairn near you. I wonder who built it, how long it will stay, and what a lovely thought that it is a monument to the wildflowers who bloomed there until they couldn't. I'll be musing on this for awhile. Looking forward to reading more of your work as well, I just subbed!
Beautiful essay, dear sister. My typing is limited. 'Equanimity took on an entirely new meaning after my health crisis.' Oh yes, when concept invites brave, hard embodiment—the gentleness with uncertainty.
Thank you. I am nourished. I did many of those things: a business, a temple, a school, and the hardest: a sanctuary for my girls encircled by community for all the years of their lives, as I will go first (maybe) and they will not leave this nest. Gentle uncertainty.
I love your way with words Prajna. YES, this! And "gentle uncertainty" is so powerful in this difficult but stunning world. Thank you for being here. Your girls are so blessed by you!
It’s interesting how that works, isn’t is Stephanie? A ripple effect where we’re both bolstered in sharing, thinking about & learning from each other, having experienced what it’s like to face life threatening circumstances and engage with it, with agency & drawing on the wisdom of philosophical traditions.
Stephanie, your words are a cairn themselves, quiet invocations of care, each reflecting a gentle summons to choose presence over panic. Thank you so much for reminding us that even in the sharpest bends of life, the literal ones too, creation and calm are not luxuries, but lifelines.
As for me, I live at the bottom of a steep hill. Any snow and we're stuck for days, since our road isn't considered one to be cleared. We used to wait for the snow to melt, sometimes for weeks! Well, that was until a highways maintenance employee moved in round the corner. Now we're one of the first!
Our little community is very pleased about this! Much like yours with your cairns.
Presence over panic is such a powerful way to put it. This thoughtful comment meant so much to me Deborah. You are so right that these cairns are lifelines. So glad your community was gifted with your own!
Brava!! This is my new favorite essay! Also, the photos are breathtaking.
Your support means the world!
You ARE a living cairn. Thank you for
continuing to inspire us all. 🩷
Ditto my precious friend!!!🩷
Stephanie, this was so deeply moving. It brought me back to times I felt lost, and because others had taken the time to make a cairn, I found my way. This applies to more than literal hiking and route finding, but extends to the ways that we care for one another in small but meaningful ways. Thank you for sharing part of your story.
I love how you put it Susan. Amen!!
The cairns are beautiful structures, I appreciate how you wove these into your ‘bigger picture’ story. 👌👏👏👏☀️💝
Creating calm choice.
Caring cairns mark risks, graves, trails.
Prompt peaceful pausing.
...
“Stubborn, stony” stance,
stand back up after being felled.
Despair antidote.
...
Build “fortress of calm,”
hand-made, with rocks found at hand.
Equanimity.
...
Kind creative acts,
pebbles, droplets, grains of sand.
Matter, ripple, count.
Beautiful, Marisol, beautiful! <3
Thank you for this refreshing call to action - doing what is right in front of us, even the simplest kindness, ripples outward. I love the way Rebecca Li connects the liberation from suffering (as the Buddhists put it) to our natural capacity for empathy and ability to care for others. Brilliant!!
You put it perfectly, WilM, and I too love the wisdom Rebecca Li imparts in that short but powerful quote. I've read it countless times!! It's a link that often goes unseen. Thank you for being here, it means so much.
Stephanie, your own sense of equanimity shines through in Choosing Creation. And this is your gift to me as your reader. Thank you.
And your words are a gift to me, Kelly. I thank you!
Thank you Stephanie. I’m glad to know that. It means so much.
Stephanie, this piece is brilliantly, beautiful. “A fortress of calm” is such a wonderful visual image for everyone during these times. I’ve been talking to several friends and different people in groups that I belong to about the fact that we do have a choice, but that choice must be cultivated. Otherwise we get swept into the chaos and the fear and the despair of everything around us. This conversation came up most recently within a group I belong to, and we were discussing Joy. Some people couldn’t understand how that is even possible during these times, but the truth is these times have always been the times of everyone’s life no matter when you have lived. These times will also be the times of our children and nieces and nephews as they grow. Well I could go on for quite a bit about this subject, but I want to compliment you and encourage you on the choices that you are making. We should all strive to put joy and strength and gratitude and love out into the world. It is exactly what the world needs right now. So thank you.
Susan, this comment means the world to me. I absolutely love how you put it...that "these times" have always been the times; and always WILL be the times. Because this is life...and, yes, being human. And perhaps choosing joy is the antidote that has been eluding all of us for long. It isn't blindness or a refusal to see clearly, it's actually wisdom. And it changes the landscape more than we can ever realize. Please know that comments like this are such a gift to me, you made my day. To joy! And to your poetic lens!
To heal instead of harm. Yes, yes … yes. Equanimity is such a wonderful word. I’m going to mull that over this weekend. Thank you for sharing your neurologist’s life-changing advice. I think it’s critical not just for survival, but for living fully and well. Sending love and peace and many blessings to you! 💜☀️
Thank you for your lovely comment Michele. To heal instead of harm indeed. Thank you for your own very powerful model of equanimity in this world. So grateful to have have found you, and the spirit of beautiful Alex, in this space. 💜☀️
Grateful to have found you, too. 💜
Stephanie, thank you for taking me on this journey and for weaving in your personal experience. These words hold power over which we cannot control. Equanimity is something I will be striving for.
I will be striving with you, Heidi! It's such a healing concept and it helps to solidify it by talking and sharing about it with others. So appreciate your comment and your being here! Love your blog's title and description, by the way, I just subbed and will be delving more!
Thank you!!
The choice is always ours to make. Beautiful message of equanimity, Stephanie!
You're writing inspires me so much. Wow. So beautifully written. I adore the alliteration. It's like you weaved poetry into your essay, and I am so inspired. I've never thought of that before, at least not intentionally or consciously. I'm just so impressed and inspired.
I'm reminded of the cairn on an on-ramp near me. It's where wildflowers lived until the bright lights for the road took their place. Now the stones stand as a monument. And I wonder how long they will last.
This comment was manna for my soul, Sam, thank you so very much. My writing leans toward poetry in long-form, but it's not always overt so it felt like "being seen" having you say that outright. I thank you dearly!
Wow about the cairn near you. I wonder who built it, how long it will stay, and what a lovely thought that it is a monument to the wildflowers who bloomed there until they couldn't. I'll be musing on this for awhile. Looking forward to reading more of your work as well, I just subbed!
You're so very welcome. I'm seriously so inspired by your work.
Muse away! I should probably write something of my own about it 😂.
Beautiful essay, dear sister. My typing is limited. 'Equanimity took on an entirely new meaning after my health crisis.' Oh yes, when concept invites brave, hard embodiment—the gentleness with uncertainty.
Thank you. I am nourished. I did many of those things: a business, a temple, a school, and the hardest: a sanctuary for my girls encircled by community for all the years of their lives, as I will go first (maybe) and they will not leave this nest. Gentle uncertainty.
I love your way with words Prajna. YES, this! And "gentle uncertainty" is so powerful in this difficult but stunning world. Thank you for being here. Your girls are so blessed by you!
Aww Stephanie, that really touches me. Big hug.
And breathe - some lovely and much needed good counsel here. Thank you x
Thank YOU Douglas, comments like this mean so much to me.
It’s interesting how that works, isn’t is Stephanie? A ripple effect where we’re both bolstered in sharing, thinking about & learning from each other, having experienced what it’s like to face life threatening circumstances and engage with it, with agency & drawing on the wisdom of philosophical traditions.
It sure is Erika. Life-changing from the inside out and the outside in. I love the words you chose to describe it, thank you!