Thursday, June 9, 2011

MOTHER, DAUGHTER AND SISTER

From left to right: mother, daughter, sister.

This is my dear friend Arlene on the far left. I worked with Arlene when I was in my twenties. We went through a lot together, her and I. And now, we have reached common ground again: she is going to be a new grandmother in less than a month. We will share our grandchildren with each other this year.

I am reading a book in my book club now titled: The Force of Kindness" by Sharon Salzberg. This book is filled with many gems but some of them really speak to me in terms of my life, the lives that have gone before me, and what this new life (the life of my new grandchild) means to me.

Sharon writes: "When we see how quickly life just disappears, how even the longest life span is over in a flash, we realize how important it is for us to create the conditions that help us most quickly, most directly, and most strongly move toward true happiness."

She is right. I look back over my life and it feels as though it was just yesterday that I was newly married, that I was building a new house, that I was having twins. Yet, it is over sixty years since I was born. And I still have so much more life inside of me and so much more I want to experience and learn. We are just never sure what our lives have in store for us.

Sharon goes on to say that "...The bravest things we can do, and the beginning of an awakened life---a life suffused with kindness---is to question our assumptions about what we are capable of, what brings us happiness, and what life can be about."

Besides the categories of mother, daughter, and sister (of which I belong to all three) I sometimes forget that there is also ME. "When we forget the complexity of a life, we also forget to look at what is whole in a person---what is intact and vital and generative."

"With the force of kindness, we can look at someone else and see those things as well as his or her pain. This helps us look at ourselves and see those same things within, alongside seeing our own pain."

A new baby puts things into perspective. It certainly awakens one to the possibilities and reminders of what lives we have had and what remains. It's nice to be in the company of all these categories. I am a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and I am also ME. It is nice to be able to share it with everyone of you.

6 comments:

  1. love that quote on challenging our assumptions...how true...each day is a blessing, us it well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey Teri, thank you for all the sharing. This book sounds very interesting and inspiring, I have some quotes from her in my journal already.
    Hope you are enjoying your summer, I'm sure having that new baby around helps!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What an uplifting and hopeful post! I love this passage:

    When we see how quickly life just disappears, how even the longest life span is over in a flash, we realize how important it is for us to create the conditions that help us most quickly, most directly, and most strongly move toward true happiness."

    and I am taping that to my wall and in my heart. This is the way to live.

    Thank you for sharing this!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love Sharon and the words that you've shared here...
    "...The bravest things we can do, and the beginning of an awakened life---a life suffused with kindness---is to question our assumptions about what we are capable of, what brings us happiness, and what life can be about."
    I really needed to hear this message today (I'll tell you why soon!) and am grateful to you for both your insight and generous nature!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm glad you share too
    all those categories
    and with a splash of wisdom

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm definitely going to have to look for this book. You have great reading suggestions. And is that you on this photo...if so we have the same haircut. Nice photo...and glad Arlene will be able to share the joys of being a gramma with you. How is the little sweetie doing? And did Natalie enjoy her birthday?
    Hope things have warmed up and you've had a chance to get the garden started. xo

    ReplyDelete

Blog Archive