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Beaver Bites | Hope Valley
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"me myself I've got nothing to prove."
-Tracy Chapman
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In my weekly dharma group, we listen to teachings by a Zen monk, and share one by one. We tell each other how our practice went the week before, and how we've understood the teachings. We thank each other for whatever's said, usually acknowledging one another with a little bow.
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We laugh a lot, even through crises that have befallen the members at various times. We've lived through deaths, moves, broken engagements, depressions, job losses, health issues, existential crises, and religious, and social woes.
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And after participating, I feel happy with humanity, which is a huge relief. Then I get to cleaning up the stink thinking that's been making me or others suffer, refocus on being loving, kind, and happy, and rinse and repeat for the following week.
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And I write and make art to limit any confusion I may spread to unsubscribe-able 2D.
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Sharing honestly that which can't always be stated plainly: that's one of my things. No one wants to see a middle aged woman birthing her post-menopausal self. Nor do I wish to show you. Feels a little, I don't know, private.
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So a weekly spiritual group seems a good practice, and shines a light on how state of mind is in flux between reality and what I think is reality, with friends with which to laugh and cry.
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This practice also shows me how quickly my state can change based on what my senses perceive. Right now I'm in a Starbucks writing to you. Every background song pings my emotions, shifting the tone of each paragraph. I can't help it, but because I'm a part of my environment, and because my environment touches yours, you get alternative 1980s music coloring these words.
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It's Morrissey right now of The Smiths, so I'm not exactly at my highest vibe.
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And this too is what we deal with: pings on our senses, kicking up memories of times and places and emotions. "Triggers" if we've suffered trauma. And life is what we do with that mixture of bodily phenomena colored by stimuli each day. And perhaps how we weave together a set of beliefs to make sense of it all.
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Lyrics in the form of others' words are moving me in today's dance of life. And those movements create atmospheric shifts may touch others even far away. If they read this email anyway.
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And the waft of wind from a fast car, makes a passerby's hair fly into their eyes, which they must brush away before they can make a call. That gesture looks like a wave to another driver, who feels acknowledged, and arrives home with a smile.
When the words are well-crafted and powerful, so is the movement (post about the Declaration of Independence below).
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I've been trying to make sense of the nature of sharing too, and I wonder if sharing is one of the best things we do as human begins?
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Those of us who think and feel deeply, and perhaps even feel connected to times and places well beyond where our bodies are, or who serve as channels for messages and makings in the form of art, words, or music, probably know that sharing is what we need to do.
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Sharing is expression. And it can be a gentle, truthful connection, or a declaration, bossy edict, or curious question to start a conversation. Or it can be a repackaging of something from before, like a collage, or sharing of ideas around great poetry and art.
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Sharing can also seen like a one way arrow on a path from heart and soul of one to another's. And the process of listening well – is sharing an ear, oftentimes done in tandem to holding space.
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And none of this is perfect. Everyone does these things their own way. Thank goodness.
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Sharing in the everyday can also take the form of making a meal, or having an honest walk in the woods with a friend hearing what they need to say.
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Wishing you today, a good share, a loving listen, and pings from things that make you feel more like dancing.
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More Text & Images
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How a powerful document did what it was supposed to do. https://youtu.be/C-m3RtoguAQ?si=wBaUXJI4EPZCanvG There are dozens of declarations that we could look at more closely, but today, I'd love discuss the document-power that is carried inside the Declaration of Independence. From head to foot, this piece holds and grows an ideal, with savvy word choice, design chops, decent calligraphy, and VIP …
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Categories: History, Language, Mommess, Silly Pop Culture References, Uncategorized, Writing
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After my last email newsletter goes out, my bro who serves as background IT support writes, "are you trying to test your readers?" I could almost feel the zen tech koan. See when he opened my last email about work unfinished and undone, the images didn't load and the link to "view on website" went nowhere too. ...which in my …
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Categories: Mommess, Technlogy, Web Marketing
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You received this email because you signed up here, or I thought you might find this interesting and added you to my weekly roundup of text & images. You may unsubscribe at any time at bottom.
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In the days of AI and excessive optimization, mess is leading edge.
Some content here is political, some personal, much of it philosophical, and all of it meant to shine some light into the lives of my readers, because it was written to shine light into mine.
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I hope my work stirs your soul, ignites your creativity, and helps you feel connected to all the good things this life can offer. If it doesn't, please promptly forget it! This work is my soul's calling. If you find value here, please tip or consider a paid subscription.
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POLITICAL ACTION AREA: It's best to connect with your local civic groups, and show up in the ways you can. Peaceful crowd sizes matter, as does your positive energy, community spirit, and adherence to non-violence.
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