THE PRIMARY EXCHANGE

"Man is a knot into which relationships are tied." 

~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery ~

Our purpose doesn't have to be some great, achievement-driven thing. It can be about being loving, self-reflecting, expressing joy, or the thirst for knowledge. It can be the appreciation of music, being mindful of the present moment, or delighting in our natural gifts.
     But purpose does need to happen in some kind of relation to others because of the way we are interconnected. It cannot happen in a vacuum, or in total isolation- not with any satisfaction. Real life purpose for all of us has to do something with the natural processes of sharing and caring, output and input, speaking and listening, the generosity of giving and the ability to receive.

Give and take is the natural purpose of my life.

EXQUISITE BEAUTY

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour if we will only tune in." 

~George Washington Carver ~

There is so much beauty in the world that we so often miss by being busy in our minds- leaves rustling and falling, a handful of birds scattering out of a bush, the subtleties of lengthening light, and the ever-changing sky. To notice these things is a great joy to the spirit and a gift to the heart. And if we are aware, and care enough to notice, nature delivers up endless such blessings in the course of each moment, and over and over in the course of each day.

I still my mind and look around at the beauty of the world around me.

THE POWER OF FILM

"We love films because they make us feel something... They allow us to escape and to dream and to gaze into the eyes that are impossibly beautiful and huge. they fill us with longing. But also, they tell us to remember; they remind us of life."

~ Nina LaCour ~

I love going to a movie of my choosing. I sit close to the screen and allow the bigness of it to carry me. I am lifted, engaged, and inspired by the dialogue and cinematography.
     And when it's over, I am renewed and refreshed. It's a mini-vacation and a source of artistic inspiration. It's a salve for the accumulated wounds of the week and a sense of wholeness restored.

I appreciate the power of a good movie to restore my faith and recover my soul.

REFRESHMENT

"Human nature, if healthy, demands excitement."

~ Oswald Chambers ~

Occasionally I feel extreme exhaustion. And though I may not show it externally, on the inside I am dragging and life is hard work. But I find, in such cases, that rest is not the only thing that can restore me. Something that captures my imagination and my intellect with intrigue is often as effective, or more so, than a good night's sleep. 

    

Sometimes my exhaustion is more about too much repetition rather than lack of sleep, and what's required is fresh inspiration rather than excessive slumber.

 

THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY

"We are all dependent on one another, every soul of us on earth."

~ GB Shaw ~

We need each other. We cannot produce anything of value except in some kind of cooperation with others. We need an expert, an audience, a listening ear, or a helping hand. We cannot operate in a vacuum, though the idea of doing so may appeal to us.

     We are interconnected at a deep level: individual and absolutely unique, yes, but also inevitably, intrinsically, and infinitely linked.

 

I understand and appreciate my connection to others, and that I am one of many- a garden variety member of the human race.

FRESH THINKING

"The Possible's slow fuse is lit

by the Imagination."

~Emily Dickenson ~

Creative inspiration is energizing. It awakens my spirit and invigorates my mind. Excitement grows in me, and I look forward to evolving the idea.
     But I have to create silence and space enough for the creativity to come forth. So long as I stay busy and push on without ceasing, nothing fresh can be born in me, and in that case, I feel tired instead of vital and alive.

I make time and space in my life for creative inspiration.

WHAT'S UNDERNEATH

"At the core of all anger is a need that is not being fulfilled."

~ Marshall B. Rosenberg ~

 

Anger indulged is limited in its effectiveness, though the sensation itself has a powerful purpose in our lives. It signals us that something is off- that our boundaries have been crossed or something hidden has been triggered and woken up.

     Having a hissy fit or temper tantrum does not solve any problem, but acknowledging our hurt, or disappointment, or fear does. So let's feel our anger, but express it in a constructive way, with honesty and ownership, and a willingness to forgive where necessary and stand up where needed.

 

I appreciate my anger as a messenger that points to the need for honesty, courage, and steady resolve.