May 21, 2007
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Meaning
I have REALLY appreciated hearing from my xanga friends here during my period of quiet, and have been thinking of you all through the month. I thank you for your comments on my site during that period! I seem to be regaining sufficient mental clarity to begin some communications again, so I look forward to returning to visit your sites, hopefully this week!
I went traveling during a portion of my recent mental hibernation. From
May 5-16 I was blessed with the unique opportunity to spend time with my
parents in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in Wyoming.
It was a wonderful experience and I hope to share more about it here on xanga.Today I came across a quote that really struck a chord in me in Thomas Moore’s The Soul’s Religion: “Faith is not sentimental self-assurance that everything will turn out in the end but is instead, trust that the mysteries which shroud us have meaning.” This reminded me of a quote which has helped me through rocky periods in the past which says something like “Serenity is not the absence of the storm, but peace within the storm.”
These are concepts which really speak to me, because I have learned through the years that struggling to conquer depression and anxiety is far less fruitful for me than allowing myself to experience them, to move through them, grasping messages and meaning I would otherwise miss. In my opinion life definitely does not always turn out “well”, but, it can always have meaning.
Darkness can be very frightening, but it has its own rewards, and it surely affords excellent perspective to more fully appreciate wonders in the light…
Sunset photo I took of a geyser in Yellowstone’s Black Sand Basin
Comments (8)
I love the Grand Tetons, Yellow Stone just seemed to expensive and too commerical. Missed talking to you or typing to you. Glad to know you are alright. I had a period when I was very stressed and depressed I hung onto “This too will pass.” and “Door open and doors close.” They were like mantras they helped. Judi
Amazing photo. Glad to see you again!
The Soul’s Religion sounds like a great book – I might have to get it.
So glad you’re feeling better. I’m learning that my anxiety ‘speaks’ to me. Unfortunately, I can’t always interpret the message while in the middle of it, but afterwards, I can understand it better and what it said. Yesterday I actually got the ‘ah ha’….that’s why you’re here, message. I was feeling quite anxious for a few days but couldn’t pinpoint why. Then came the ‘ah ha’ and the release of the anxiety. Of course, that’s just my experience. We all experience it differently, but it IS interesting if we can look at the message or find some reason for it.
I haven’t been to Yellowstone, but it’s one of the places I REALLY want to go. *hugs* to you. ~Colleen
it’s been a very long time since i’ve been to yellowstone, but i was so impressed when there back in the early 70s. and the tetons…wow. words don’t do it justice.
i’ve been getting depressed lately and just have never been before in my life, for any length of time to speak of. i think this is gonna call for some quiet time for me to restructure, or something like that. i tend to be rather hyper, and impatient. i’m old enough to settle down, you know?
glad to see you here. you are always here with the nicest words and photos you share.
~ lea
Glad you are back!
I was at Yellowstone in ’84. Very nice indeed. I wish I had time to visit the back country.
Nice quote too.
That’s a awesome photo, hope things continue to go well for you
Blessings
I’m glad to see your finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s not about life, it’s about how we LIVE this life. You can’t and shouldn’t stop things. You’ll never find out what it has in store for you to learn. Change is the one thing in life that is constant. If you aren’t changing, something is wrong. Most people resist change with a passion. My hubby and I know that if we (or our curcumstances) aren’t changing, something is wrong and we proceed to find that wrong and fix it. Usually, we are out of God’s will and plan for our lives. We get back in tune with God and things move right along.
Thanks for noticing my cinnamon fern! I also have a royal fern however it isn’t nearly as showy.
PS. You might like the book by T. D. Jakes Woman Tho (sp?) Art Loosed. I have the 3 book set and it’s a great read and was a great help for me.