One sentence has been quietly keeping me company since I finished reading: ‘…I might also become somewhere others find a little shelter.’ I find myself wondering if that is one of the quietest forms of healing…not returning to who we were, but discovering that life still gathers around us in ways we never expected. Thank you for this beautiful reflection.
I can really relate to this. Our way through life is like a pathway; if our regular path becomes blocked, we have to find a different one, even if it is only temporary, (like for a temporary illness or injury). The beauty is that you never quite know what you are going to find along that new pathway and it can open up possibilities that you would never have found if you'd stayed on your usual path.
I really love that way of looking at it. Sometimes the path we never expected to take allows us to notice things we might otherwise have walked straight past. Thank you for sharing that 💚
"Standing beside it, I found myself wondering whether nature sees damage differently to us. What first appeared to be destruction had become shelter over time, and what looked like the end of one purpose had made room for another."
So beautiful! Nature is quite adaptable and we have so much to learn from it. Also related to a willow tree there is a story of a japanese doctor who was feeling frustrated and went into a long meditation. he noticed how the oak tree branches were breaking with the weight of the snow, yet the willow, would eventually drop the snow on its branches and bounce back. He then formed a school of martial arts called Yoshin Ryu which translates into willow heart / willow spirit and I love that. Lets us bounce back and adapt like your willow tree ❤️
Maybe you aren't the person you were before the illness, but - before - you weren't the person you are now. I get that you feel you lost something (and you did), but you also gained. It's a trade-off. Whether from illness or anything else, none of us will ever be what we were "before." I want you to love where you are now. I've been doing yoga for 25 years. For the first 10 or 12 years, I kept getting better at it, but after that, I began losing little bits of things I'd thought I achieved. But there's a saying among yoga enthusiasts that wherever you are, at whatever stage or level, you are perfect. I'm not perfect now for when I started, but for where I am, I am.
Thank you for such a thoughtful reflection. I really like your point that none of us remain exactly who we were before. There's a lot to think about in what you've shared 💚
Reading this took me straight back to the day a huge willow at my mum and dad's house split with a crack like a gunshot and fell into the swimming pool while all eight of their grandchildren were swimming. Miraculously, not one of them was hurt. I've never looked at willows in quite the same way since. X
That must have been terrifying! I'm so glad everyone was safe. It's amazing how a single tree can become tied to a memory we'll never forget. Thank you for sharing that 💚
Profound and meaningful post, thank you💕
Thank you so much for taking the time to read it. I'm so glad it resonated with you 💚
Thank you, one of the hardest parts of healing is letting go of the old you for who you are in the present moment.
I think there's a lot of truth in that. It can take a long time to make peace with the person we are now. Thank you for sharing 💚
What is writing in substack if not growing? And you will never know exactly how many people are finding shelter in you now.
Thank you. Your words have given me something to think about too. That's a lovely thought 💚
You are welcome 🙂
One sentence has been quietly keeping me company since I finished reading: ‘…I might also become somewhere others find a little shelter.’ I find myself wondering if that is one of the quietest forms of healing…not returning to who we were, but discovering that life still gathers around us in ways we never expected. Thank you for this beautiful reflection.
Thank you so much. I don't think I could ask for more than to know those words have stayed with you. Your reflection is beautiful too 💚
I can really relate to this. Our way through life is like a pathway; if our regular path becomes blocked, we have to find a different one, even if it is only temporary, (like for a temporary illness or injury). The beauty is that you never quite know what you are going to find along that new pathway and it can open up possibilities that you would never have found if you'd stayed on your usual path.
I really love that way of looking at it. Sometimes the path we never expected to take allows us to notice things we might otherwise have walked straight past. Thank you for sharing that 💚
WOW. Thank you.
Thank you - so glad it resonated 💚
"Standing beside it, I found myself wondering whether nature sees damage differently to us. What first appeared to be destruction had become shelter over time, and what looked like the end of one purpose had made room for another."
❤️❤️❤️
So glad it resonated 💚
So beautiful! Nature is quite adaptable and we have so much to learn from it. Also related to a willow tree there is a story of a japanese doctor who was feeling frustrated and went into a long meditation. he noticed how the oak tree branches were breaking with the weight of the snow, yet the willow, would eventually drop the snow on its branches and bounce back. He then formed a school of martial arts called Yoshin Ryu which translates into willow heart / willow spirit and I love that. Lets us bounce back and adapt like your willow tree ❤️
Thank you. What a beautiful story - I hadn't come across it before. It seems willows have been teaching us about adaptation for a very long time 💚
Once Ive read that small story I loved it immediately and it has stayed with me since
Love this 💚
Thank you - so glad it resonated 💚
Thank you!
So, so many levels of beauty in your piece.
🩷
Thank you so much. I really appreciate that 💚
Maybe you aren't the person you were before the illness, but - before - you weren't the person you are now. I get that you feel you lost something (and you did), but you also gained. It's a trade-off. Whether from illness or anything else, none of us will ever be what we were "before." I want you to love where you are now. I've been doing yoga for 25 years. For the first 10 or 12 years, I kept getting better at it, but after that, I began losing little bits of things I'd thought I achieved. But there's a saying among yoga enthusiasts that wherever you are, at whatever stage or level, you are perfect. I'm not perfect now for when I started, but for where I am, I am.
Thank you for such a thoughtful reflection. I really like your point that none of us remain exactly who we were before. There's a lot to think about in what you've shared 💚
Wow! What a profound article, Kate. Agree with it entirely! Wow!
Thank you so much. That's incredibly kind of you to say. I'm so glad it resonated 💚
A beautiful photograph and a very thought provoking piece of expressive writing
Thank you so much. So glad it resonated 💚
Reading this took me straight back to the day a huge willow at my mum and dad's house split with a crack like a gunshot and fell into the swimming pool while all eight of their grandchildren were swimming. Miraculously, not one of them was hurt. I've never looked at willows in quite the same way since. X
That must have been terrifying! I'm so glad everyone was safe. It's amazing how a single tree can become tied to a memory we'll never forget. Thank you for sharing that 💚