I haven’t done much with The Golden Thread podcast, I know. I am looking to streamline a bit to help make everyone’s experience in my world (including myself) a bit easier. One thing I am Spring Cleaning out is doubt — what about you? What doesn't fit and needs to get out of your mind-closet? Have a listen to the podcast, it’s a quick little chat that might get you stripping out some outdated attire.
The podcast and a thought crystallized around this book, which I think is hilarious, delightful and deeply on brand for me (coffee is next to laptop, dog is at my feet, small boy is running outside its school).
As I talk about in the podcast the specificity of the story really had us laughing. “Mom, we do that,” my son giggled. The great thing about creativity is that specificity of your experience makes it universal. Conversely, when we try to write for everyone, we rarely reach anyone. Likewise for when we try to please everyone, entertain, everyone..but I suspect with an open-mind and a cultivated will we could do a better job of understanding everyone.
I want to peel of into what happened this morning when I let my now Queen-dom dog (I don’t use old, she’s risen in elderhood) off her leash and what was once a very adherent pup, now can wonder off on a scent and leave me for much longer than she used to in her younger years, but she always comes back. Many say I should stop letting her off the leash, but what fun is that for a dog that has lived open and free for at least the first half of her life? and considerably independent for the second half by East Coast dog owning standards.
She did run off for a very long time this morning. And instead of getting panicked or upset, like I normally would, I thought about how happy she was trotting along in the sunshine smiling and how good it was to see her joy—and joy is essential to a life will lived. Being who we are, late or otherwise is woven into the rest of your good (read: easier) attributes. Anyway, she had made her way to the parking lot and sat down next to a dog lover who called me on my cell phone to say they had found her. I wasn’t upset with her or myself though because, as I was running to her, I thought: What is life if we don’t actually live it?
What is your story if you don’t try to share it? (or your recipes, or your dance, or your woodwork, et tetra) at least to someone.
“If it were me,” she said, “and someone found my dog, I’d want them to call me.” The woman said as I approached. She had been clearly a little afraid of finding a wandering Queen but “when I saw her collar and she sat right next to me, I knew someone was looking for her.”
“Thank you,” I said, burrowing my face in my dog’s fur. Sure, it’d be easier to say I’ll never let her off the leash again, but we both know that’s not true. Because, the story of life I want to write is the one where people still remember how they want to be treated and they do just that.
“Thank you for your kindness,” I repeat standing up. “And if this week is significant for you, happy holidays.”
She smiled and said, “It’s Passover for us. Easter for you?”
“Yes,” I smile and we both wish each other a joyful holiday at the same time.
This arc of story and its validity as a resonance to a life worth living keeps circling around. I’ll share more as it unfolds. The flowers were all standing tall today in the woods, bright yellows and purple, singing of a rebirth and a resolution of resurrection and freedom for all.
“Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? - Mary Oliver