Mostly, they describe it as an ‘outer’ loss — a loved one has died; health is impaired; they’ve lost purpose or sense of direction…
The more they look outside themselves for relief, the worst the ache becomes. If I could only have… be… do… then I could feel good…
Loss does that. It makes us believe that we’re incomplete without that which we crave so badly.
Herein lies the rub.
Joy is an inside job.
Always.
Today’s been tough. Emotions all over the show. I found myself envying the Queen her letting go of all of life’s struggles recently…
Yes, a tougher day today than of late.
But one thought runs like a lifeline through it.
“Come to the infinite dimension.”
From a dismal beginnings it’s become like spending a day with The Ancient One! (Ninja mystic monk-sorceress in Marvel’s Dr Strange.) Beaten up regularly but always restored. Life being ruthless, yet kind…
If you were ever a fan of ‘The Fast Show’, you’ll remember a great character, Jesse, who appeared every week. His one-liner, delivered to perfection, became part of our daily dialogue at home.
The camera would pan in on a dilapidated shed, with a subtitle along the lines of ‘This week’s nutritional advice’ on the screen. Jesse — played by the wonderful Mark Williams — looking like a hairy sack of turnips, would emerge from the shed, shuffle a bit, like an awkward infant on a nativity stage and then say to the camera with great seriousness, something along the lines of:
“This week, I ar’ be mostly eatin’ carrots.”