There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique.
And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable it is, nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours, clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware of urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.
Martha Graham as told to Choreographer Agnes de Mille in Dance to the Piper.
Source : The Circle of Simplicity by Cecile Andrews
The above spoke to me when I was reading it and wondering what had happened to my joy and happiness and what I had done over the years to compensate. I had to go back in memory to when I was about 6 and completely care free and when my passion for nature and all things tactile was apparent. Gardening, cooking, music, singing, spinning, weaving, crochet, sewing etc all flourished as well as a great sense of compassion. I can pinpoint when it went by the way.......when school came to the forefront and expectations to do this and that. Suppressing all these ideas and energy eventually was not good for me. I have asked myself over the last year why I go shopping, watched TV and spent so much time on the internet. What I am in denial of? For me personally I was denying the things that made me happy, that made me feel connected and that used the unique talents I was given in this lifetime. I am still decluttering and spending time dealing with mistakes pre downshifting. We all have the opportunity to reassess, make different goals and strive towards an authentic expression of how we live.
My son spends much time on the internet talking to his friends .....and it takes some persuasion to get him out there on his bike, playing football and enjoying the sunshine when it is here. Yesterday he went out with a friend and they came back completely soaked to the skin after having fun 'river jumping'. I saw a glimpse of happiness and a carefree child, more worried about how I was going to react to wet trousers, soaked shoes and a child walking barefoot in the house making marks on the floor. How did we get to this?
Add to that the emotional expressions we are no longer encouraged to do, we are not encouraged to talk, to deal with conflicts by words and not deeds etc........can we change this.
My DS who is beginning to formulate an opinion on the world came out with the following comment :
I think Western Europe and the USA will be third world countries in the future, maybe having had everything they could from the earth but missing the point.
He was, I think, explaining that we are missing the point that people come first, then money and then things. Happiness ,is that in anyone's country quota?
3 comments:
So true!! Our children are so surrounded by media influences that they have forgotten how to be children and we have forgotten how to take joy in their childhood pleasures. Very thought-provoking post, I need to focus more on this for my family as well.
Your thoughts reflect many of mine. Especially since I too have a son (sounds like about the same age). It occurs to me in reading your post that the quality of his future life may depend on him being able to see me change, see me become more conscious, see me find peace and joy and happiness, see me turn off the TV in exchange for a walk in the park, see me reinquish the internet for the chance to try cooking an exotic meal, etc. My change will bring my happiness, yes ... but it may also help him find his happiness sooner than I have, because it will give him permission to slow down, to listen, to change.
I love the quote! It's a great reminder to love yourself and to believe that you have something "unique," something no one else has, to contribute to the world. It reminds us not to compare ourselves or even think about how valuable what we have to offer is---Just give and keep growing your unique-ities (as I like to call your individual traits, passions, etc).
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