Gathering Wisdom
treasures for those who are open to surprise
We live in a world of overwhelm.
If you are nodding your head Yes! at that, you will have your own list of examples. I’m not going to go into a description of that here. I simply want to offer you a little bit of wisdom that I have gathered over the last few years in my quest to learn to live well with a CCD (complex chronic disease), and then the encroaching delights of aging on top of it. These are gems that have brought me unexpected delight along the way, and maybe they will usher in some surprise for you too.
By far the most effective practice I have adopted is that of mindful meditation. You can find many wisdom teachers and apps that will guide you along this journey if you choose to take it. In a nutshell, it’s about learning to be present in the moment without resistance.
If you’re interested in really delving into this further, here is an extended but captivating interview with Pema Chödrön, my go to teacher (two of her books I like are When Things Fall Apart and The Things That Scare You):
And here’s a perspective that truly helps, from the founder of the Headspace app:
There’s pain - that’s physical. Then there are the story lines we lay on top of it - that’s suffering. - Andy Puddicombe
Another well known teacher is Eckhart Tolle. Here are a couple of my favorites of his:
Wherever you are, be there totally. If you find your here and now intolerable, and it makes you unhappy, you have three options: remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it totally.
Suffering is necessary until you realize it is not.
I discovered the writings of Rainer Maria Rilke in my early 20s, and it was like a light coming on in the dark. He spoke of what I had been trying to express for a long time. I kept this little quote, and in fact the entire paragraph from which it comes, taped up over my desk throughout my work life. And I still love it:
Then there’s this:
Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door. - Emily Dickinson.
And finally, because laughter truly is the best medicine:
I would love to hear what wisdom you have gathered that inspires you the most, especially when those hard days come along.