the point isn’t getting my wish (though cool things have emerged from wishing), it’s learning about my relationship with wanting, accessing the qualities…
wanting can be hard, it is easy to feel conflicted about it, and the reasons for that make this a surprisingly subversive practice…
this is the 349th consecutive week of wishing, come play!
I am waiting for yes
waiting for yes and listening for yes
not just for any yes but for my yes
what pulls me and sparks in me
what makes me glow yes
this is the yes I am waiting for
and it is not here
all I have is a swirling mass of no
and a few half-yeses of the sort
one always regrets later
wait for it….
that is my friend Jon’s favorite joke
delivered always with a smile
it means what it says:
wait for it…
wait for the yes
keep doing what you do:
wishing your wishes, inviting clarity,
releasing your desires into the world
and then wait
and it is also wait for it as in
wait for the punchline
are you ready
in 3,2,1…
here it is
wait for it…
yes
I am not enjoying the waiting
which is probably a sign that I need it even more
this waiting is extra stressful thanks to
the various parts of my life currently undecided
and if I don’t stride towards a yes-direction soon
(for example, the answer to the question: where do I want to live)
and then my house is rented out
and I find myself empty-handed
or really, with hands full of no
but also with nowhere to go
do you see
and yet
right now in this moment
what can I do but wait for yes
I don’t know
let’s find out
that’s what wishes are for
that’s what internal exploration is for
asking
and then listening
if that’s not the best form of waiting
I don’t know what is
what do I want
- a small, quiet, safe, beautiful, cozy nest
all mine, where I feel safe and at home - access to quiet dance practice space where I am always welcome
- adequate funds to provide for the above
- quiet time and space to write
- someone who looks forward to seeing me
as much as I look forward to seeing them - a location where I would like to live,
or even a general idea about
where in the world it might be - the just right tenants to rent my home,
ideally very quiet and whose only pets are turtles,
and who do not play the drums
(the tenants, though sure, also the turtles) - a solution to the thing that does not allow me to drive at night
extreme sensitivity to lights and flashing,
the other night while walking home from the bus,
I was so… flummoxed? distressed? paralyzed?
by an especially bright and frantically blinking light on an approaching bicycle
that I instantly lost all ability to think or function,
as if I’d forgotten how to breathe and it was all I could do to
keep from sinking to the ground
I don’t know if there is a solution to this or if
this is one of those situations where, as Barbara Sher would say,
you can’t change reality so you have to
adapt your reality to meet your requirements… - a dance practice partner with whom I connect well and we have similar or complementary dance goals
- a warm place to winter
- a protocol to follow when there is sudden noise
and I lose my mind (see endless construction at neighbor’s house)
what do I notice about these wishes
they’re all about quiet
even safe driving-at-night is about maintaining quiet headspace and
staying connected to myself which
(for me)
is a form of internal quiet
and wishes for connection and creativity can
also be answered through quiet
my wishes are about safety and sanctuary
welcoming and belonging
the usual stuff
the usual balms that soothe my pain about
perceptions/past-experiences of not having those things
what do I know about surprise easy solutions?
they exist
just yesterday I had two:
the dance class I don’t like magically transformed
into a class I do like
the person in new york who wasn’t responding to my request for intel
found the missing piece just when I was ready to
escalate tactics
hmmm okay actually I am coming up with plenty of examples
and yet I still disbelieve that
surprise easy solutions will be available for me
what do I know about being in search of surprise easy solutions?
well that goes back to waiting for yes
(wait for it….)
and it goes back to creating quiet for myself
because quiet generates clarity
and clarity makes space for intel
and intel leads me to desire and yes
this is what the waiting process is for
percolating is invisible work
and yet I also know that I am impatient
I need-want tenants for my empty house
I need-want some sort of plan for where I am going to go and when
what do I know about waiting for yes?
the wilds have disappeared
the wilds are my incoming selves who usually advise me
in all things
they say they won’t weigh in on anything until
I start advocating for my own yeses
instead of settling for half-yes
they are very insistent about this
and I get it
but also I miss them
who is the me who knows how to wait for yes?
there is a me who knows about the waiting that is
not passive
an active engaged waiting
like in dance
when you hang out at the end of the connection
waiting for new intel
always listening, always anchoring
using your feet like hands
caressing the ground while simultaneously pushing against it
expanding, lengthening, testing your tether
drawing energy from the earth
drawing your power from the anticipation
from the moment of sweet almost
right before the exhale and release
the arborist coined the word anticipice
[anticipation + precipice]
that is where I am now
hiding in bed
but hiding is a legitimate response to
big unknowns
how do I trust this waiting for yes?
maybe I practice with small yeses
this seat
that apple
this true-yes walk in the sun right now
part of me wants to retreat
until a yes reveals itself
(but where do you retreat when everything is falling all around you)
and part of me wants to strike out
to make something change
through making it react
to my spark-burst
wait for it….
what does it mean to be in search of surprise easy solutions
like a personal ad
eccentric 39 year old ISO surprise easy solutions
please direct your responses to the hollow in the big tree
searching through waiting
searching through listening
searching through allowing
searching through asking
searching through easing and releasing
searching through echoing and reverberating
searching through skipping stones across the water
searching through reaching out
searching through turning in
talk to me, me who knows how to wait for yes
she: invite yes in
me: how
she: the usual way
me: by taking care of myself?
she: yes and…
me: by asking
she: yes and
me: I have asked and yes isn’t here
she: then say thank you for each no, for each redirection
me: what next?
she: there is no next
me: great
she: no, it’s good, there isn’t any more you have to do
me: but the waiting is so uncomfortable
she: I know, babe, I’m sorry
me: this is just like…
she: now is not then, my love, I promise
me: I don’t know what to do
she: maybe buy your yes some flowers
flowers?
me: ??
she: well, flowers make everything better
me: and then what
she: and then you’re interacting with your yes, even if you don’t know what it is yet
me: I think I do know it, I know parts of it, I just don’t see how any of it is possible
she: write it a love letter
me: I feel discouraged and disheartened
she: yes, that happens sometimes with love, and with life, it doesn’t mean that anything is wrong, it just means that home and sanctuary are big life themes, and maybe not easy right now
me: tell me something reassuring
she: you, my dear, have had and are continuing to have a very interesting life, not boring for a second, and this will work out beautifully
use what you know
she: use what you know
me: I don’t understand
she: you know that quiet is the most important thing for you, so go with that
me: ….
she: you know so many things, you know how to turn inward, you know how to think like a dancer, you know how to be brave, you never settled and that gives you power, and now you are wishing for something settled in a new way, and this is all new for you and so of course it is hard, but that doesn’t undo your power, so use what you know
me: I don’t know how to wait though, waiting reminds me of [Then] when I waited too long and things got really bad
she: this is a very different, new kind of waiting, you get to choose the quality of your waiting, you can choose the waiting that feels hopeless but you can also choose the kind where it is full of anticipice….
me: so, basically, bring some sparkle into it?
she: the feelings (pain, fear) behind the Hopeless Sensation are very legitimate, and they’re also not a particularly useful filter for what’s actually happen, you are wise in these things, you know how to acknowledge them and make space for them to exist while still not letting them be the ones who get to tell this unfolding story
unfolding
me: who gets to tell the story
she: what makes a good story?
me: not knowing what is going to happen
she: exactly, see? we’re already killing it at this story
me: okay, so really all we need now is snacks, and to look forward to the next episode
she: our protagonist has spoken and is correct, expectancy is a very sparkly thing
me: I can work with this
what do I want to try while I wait for my yeses
costume changes
lusciousness
intentional naps
second breakfast
flowers, of course
reconnaissance
visiting quiet places
mapping it out
imagining what could be
laughing more
wanting more
wait for it…
what do I know about my wish this week
it is helping me develop the superpowers of I Hear My Yes
and the superpowers of I Will Spirit You Away To A Villa
and this is good
now
I asked the people I like most to sell me on a new place to live
and they are making entertaining arguments in favor of
wherever they are
or wish they were
arizona, central florida, massachusetts, south dakota
a sign in the cafe where I am
escaping the construction noise
is recommending Castle Rock
there’s one in washington (the state directly to my north)
and one in colorado
I can’t imagine I’d like to live in either
but I like how castle = [home + sovereignty]
and rock = [power + steadiness]
so I will take these qualities as my clues
and glow thank you in my heart
superpower of knowing that pleasure is healing
february on the 2016 fluent self calendar was the door of SANCTUARY, and march is the door of LUSCIOUSNESS, which comes with the glowingly important superpower of knowing that pleasure is healing
thank you, past me
for naming this month
and reminding me of this superpower
which is exactly what I need most right now
ANNOUNCEMENTS!!!
this is the last chance to acquire a pack of stone skipping cards
because I’m moving out and won’t have anywhere to store them
or the shipping materials
so get them this week,
and while you’re at it, sign up for the not-exactly-a-course
where we embark on establishing a loving playful practice of self-inquiry,
to access previously-hidden gems of internal wisdom
and whatever else we might need
dates coming soon!
if you want bulk packs of cards, we can do that too!
one pack is $22
or buy three and get one free
or buy five and get five free
because this is the time to let these go
now is also a very good time to
express appreciation for this magical space,
you can do that by acquiring anything in the soon-to-be-gone shop
or by giving to Barrington’s Discretionary Fund
(here is an explanation of what that is)
and that is a way to give what you like and glow a thank you
knowing that this stream of appreciation
is what makes this place hum
last week’s wishes
two weeks ago I wished a wish called the guild of the colorful silk parachute (the quite revolution)…
I wished for a REVOLUTION, you guys, and I stand by that wish
it feels right
it feels important and right
and I am glad that I wished it
there is much more to do
to set up forms and figure out how this could look
thank you everyone for your warmth, enthusiasm, appreciation and fierce shared joy
it means so much to me
invitation: come play with me…
you are invited to share many !!!!!! about what is here,
or share anything sparked for you while reading
or if you have APPRECIATION for this space, I would love that
deposit wishes, gwishes, superpowers, qualities, ingredients, intel, possibly in code
safe space for creative exploration asks us to let go of care-taking and advice-giving
wishes are never late because whenever you wish is the right time for wishing
here’s how we meet each other’s wishes: oh, wow what beautiful wishes
♡
Wow, this is lovely!
I just did a thing and now I have a Secret Mission and I am very excited about it. I have a wish for the Secret Mission: for it to be as full of delight and pleasure and all the good qualities, and minus any of the things (snarls, delays, grumpy people) that might spoil it.
In thinking about my Secret Mission, I see that it is important for me to have both connection and space, freedom and support, comfortable conversations and comfortable silences, self expression, and physical comfort. I knew that but I just discovered it, discovered it anew.
Other wishes: Bookcases stained, installed, and loaded. Re-placing things that were moved for CAD Reproof. Konmari Todo (that’s the Spanish word for all or everything, not “to-do”, though it could be that too because Konmari everything is a to-do.) Back to the art journal. Porch time (though the forecast doesn’t look like it will be warm enough). Movement on projects. Sleep and exercise. Exquisite self care. Qualities of these wishes: Ease, comfort, pleasure, satisfaction, expression.
Love to all the wishes.
Todo! <3
“always listening, always anchoring
using your feet like hands
caressing the ground while simultaneously pushing against it
expanding, lengthening, testing your tether
drawing energy from the earth
drawing your power from the anticipation
from the moment of sweet almost
right before the exhale and release”
oh wow. thank you for this. so much !!!!
!APPRECIATION!
ISO
sang-froid
subcontractor improvements
SCOTUS confirmation
a better relationship with my night guard
hock sprouts
What do I know?
Gas cookstoves, yes. Gaslighting, no.
There will always be more of everything … except time.
I am ahead of where I was.
What could I try?
Sitting out.
Not My Area.
Now Is Not Then.
Postcards. Or short letters.
A new story for the guard.
Warm wishes to all y’all.
may it be so! <3
I went to the pub with some people I used to work with/sort of still work with/may well work with again and cried on some of them, which was the best way that I could find at the time of saying Talk Me Out Of Chucking It All In.
Somewhere in the middle of that I realised that my desire to Chuck It All In And Do I Don’t Know What was a very close relation of the desire I used to get to Get Divorced Because I Am Bad And He Does Not Deserve This. Desire is the wrong word, really; there was never anything appealing about this. Compulsion? Anyway, whatever, it’s a danger signal.
(Clue: automatic braking system. Pass a danger signal and your train stops itself and you have to reset everything before you can move off again. Damn nuisance, but better than the alternative.)
Anyway. I want to stop. I do not want to stop everything, permanently, but I do want a holiday.
The door for this month is so gorgeous. I sit on the edge of the sofa in my study and look at it.
Braking train, that is helpful.
Such love for this! I live near Castle Rock, and while I wouldn’t recommend it for you, I do like those qualities a lot: nest, sanctuary, grounded, protected.
I’ve let my Crown slip a lot lately and keep forgetting to call in SuperPowers til recently. I claim All Timing is Writing, Everything is Working Beautifully, and I know what to Do. Add a healthy dose of I am Clear, Sober and Excited.
March is always full of so much movement and transition. I love an old post about Quarters, and am really feeling the move into the Spring Garden Shed. It’s got more light and air, it’s a place of work and planning, it’s simple and efficient and not overly frilly, but still playful and full of Possibility
I wish:
-more time to Journal and ARt
-Operation Jet Fuel and White Flowers
– Operation Natasha’s latest incarnation Begonia
-Operation Gold Star
-more movement: barre, dance, yoga, all of it. fractal movement
-more fractals in general
-the Blue Lapis Project needs to pick up steam. More Sailing
-maps and plots and progress
-more sweetness
-Autumn gathering, adding a gathering to the mix for 2015
WIW: Mise en Place
HTCW: Greater time and attention to transition and beginnings.
ICT: Deeper well tending, esp more sleep. Less screens, more paper. Quiet time every day to go over PLans.
Wow. I meant to write All Timing is Right Timing, and it became All Timing is Writing.
All I can think if when I hear anyone say “wait for it” is this song from Hamilton. “I am not standing still I am lying in wait…”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReTP6x_sDiM
Ah, Liz, my fellow Hamilton fan, you quoted the very line I was going to quote! 🙂
I’ll add “I am inimitable, I am an original/I’m not falling behind or running late…”
<3
wheeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!
I have a small and sweet wish for ease of planning and smooth follow-through. It is most definitely a fractal flower — and fractal flowers make everything better!
-o-
my wish: in change, find trust
Every week I think that I make a wish, and then I go back to see what I wished and realized I didn’t make one.
So, this week I will make one instead of just thinking about it.
This is a wish that welcomes advices, intel, suggestions, etc. I want to go to Spain. I don’t want to be completely by myself in Spain. My friends do not want to go to Spain. I do not want to go on an organized tour. I want something along the lines of “this group of people is all going to be in Spain at the same time so that if you want to meet for dinner or have someone to wander the castle with or take a day trip to Avila with you can, but also if you just want to be alone you can do that too.” I do not know where to find this sort of thing, but I am sure it exists and if I just keep mentioning it someone will say “yes! my mother/aunt/brother/cousin/self did that and here is how and it was perfect.”
I have a lot of yes to this wish.
Breathing deeply into it and into the Silk Parachute Revolution wish.
I want to get real quiet and spend more time alone and breathe breathe breathe.
Oh, I am so much here with you friend. Sending lots of love and a hand to hold while waiting, if you’d like.
I’m going to play with remembering to thank my ‘no’s this week… I like that reminder.
<3
Oh, I am so much here with you friend. Sending lots of love and a hand to hold while waiting, if you’d like.
I’m going to play with remembering to thank my ‘no’s this week… I like that reminder.
<3
Regarding solutions and the horrors of night driving, Temple Grandin (who is very familiar with the startles and the overload) mentioned a potentially useful something about pink sunglasses in this interview snippet: https://youtu.be/Ifsh6sojAvg?t=3m18s
I’m not sure if the pieces will fit together in the way you need them to, but wouldn’t it be splendid if they did?
Thank you I have just looked this up! <3 <3 <3