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Sloan Bashinsky's avatar

Absolutely lovely.

81, with its physical aches and pains, waking up each morning wondering why I’m still here? Still hoping a miracle will cause my body to feel better, or the death angel will take me home, or somewhere new, to spare me what no beloved old, suffering pet has to endure. Living alone, a monk, all but a few months since late 2000, engulfed in metaphysics day and night, in all the way but not of this world, what woman could endure that regimen with no end? Lightly, what is that? Remember, I cannot. Perhaps it’s possible? I haven’t a clue. Is romance possible? Will viagra work? I haven’t a clue. Do I even want to try? I really don’t know. Back in the day, I would be all in.

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Ethan Summers's avatar

I resonate with your opinion, for I also find it difficult to take things lightly sometimes. On the other hand I imagine that it’s not a coincidence that he starts the poem with “Lightly child”… for I assume that only a childish heart can take things as easily as he says. For only children can cry from the bottom of their hearts and then, one minute later to be all laughter…

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Lasita's avatar

Sending love; sorry I cannot do it in person... but perhaps you can feel it.

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Sloan Bashinsky's avatar

Maybe in person, I might go into cardiac arrest and depart this plane and see what happens then? :-)

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Feb 27, 2024
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Amber's avatar

Thank you. This is an interesting one. On one hand, it feels like a healthy dose of stoicism. On the other, it reminds me of Brave New World (also by Huxley) and the nihilistic sense of detachment that was present there... Soma. You'll know what I mean if you've read it!

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Deborah Monroy's avatar

Yes, from Huxley’s insanely optimistic and necessary book ISLAND.

Thank you for finding this quote!

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Nick Eliopulos's avatar

Insanely optimistic is my new favorite phrase.

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Luciana's avatar

Thank you. Recieved this in a time it was needed.

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Tina Spencer's avatar

Thank you. This speaks to my soul. Or maybe this is my soul speaking to me. I used to try so hard to get life right; to be good; to be valued; to be seen; to get off the couch; to understand others; to figure out who I am and what I need to do next; to make every moment count.... But where is the JOY in all that striving? This dog eat dog world can drive us mad. The walls of suffering we experience inside and out in the world close off our hearts like a prison cell. The stress corrodes the mind. With the heaviness of judgments, certainty, dogma, righteousness, good and bad, black and white -- we end up punishing ourselves and those around us. So I am learning to relax and lighten up. To savour the small things that present themselves by design or be chance. To wonder. To allow. To let go. To love.

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Taishin Michael Augustin's avatar

Wonderful. My Guiding Teacher often offers the same advice. “It’s fine to have preferences, expectations, and desires,” she says, “just hold them lightly, always ready to set them down if needed.”

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Tha's avatar

So throw away your baggage and go forward.

A single line with an impact.

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Patris's avatar

Teach your children this

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Writer Pilgrim by So Elite's avatar

Lightly or you’re trying too hard. How to strike a balance when we think we ought to push harder.

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vernon's avatar

Pushing harder has never worked for me. Letting go, going lightly, lowering the stakes always has. When I’m relaxed I can find my flow and let myself be carried away. By what? I’m not sure. Maybe it’s god or maybe it’s the deep unconscious part of me that knows the truth and maybe that’s the soul.

Trying to control things isn’t for me. I know it is for some people.

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Writer Pilgrim by So Elite's avatar

Beautifully expressed. Control is good and necessary but so is letting go. But the latter is probably a lit harder.

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Ruth's avatar

...'Let the soft animal of your body love what it loves'. Mary OLiver

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Penny Briscoe's avatar

That is so beautiful. I tend to go too deep. I almost felt it was written for me, or one much like me. Thank you. I am so happy to find this poem. I plan on putting it in my journal so I can look back to it on difficult days. ✨️❤️💫

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Gary Spangler's avatar

In the rooms of recovery - substance abuse/addiction - an expression is used: “Drop The Rock!” Huxley’s poem might be an inspiration for that remark. If not it’s still excellent guidance.

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BB Borne's avatar

Detach, detach, detach I say!(aspirationally like the Buddha, every day)

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Dian Parker's avatar

Great advice and so hard to do.

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Willem Brouwer's avatar

Thank You for these Words 😊

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Viola Weinhold's avatar

Thank you for sharing this poem. God. I love that line. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet….you must walk so lightly.” I feel that in my body. What a gift. This poem.

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