Wisdom feels elusive right now, which means I’m not listening very well, or the world has gone a little dark. I’m trying something new, inspired by a postcard collection of the alphabet I bought in the West Village a couple of years ago. I hope the art and words inspire you. Please share your wisdom below. We all need it.
Living in Los Angeles, I get to witness the tides. I didn’t grow up near the ocean and never fully understood the relationship between the moon and sea. It’s something to pitch an umbrella in the sand and, hours later, discover the waves close to your toes, or find the waters pulled back and all this life underneath. None of it is loud or sudden. It happens inch by inch, receding and moving forward, twice a day.
I crave this rhythm. Especially the ebbing part. I usually go full-steam, then drop from exhaustion onto the sofa, where I brain-rot in front of the TV until my lids are heavy and I fall into bed.
Are you good at ebbing? What does it look like?
Also, what wisdom can you share that begins with the letter E?
Until next week,
Sylvia xo
Thanks again for your writing Sylvia.
Ebbing is an interesting word meaning decline in various contexts. Fifty years ago when I was studying nursing we learned about acute and chronic conditions. Although I worked in a 300 bed chronic care hospital in Toronto for 3 years, I swore to myself to avoid chronic conditions. Go for the acute ones, I told myself; the ones that can be cured by surgery or medication. The problem is that chronic becomes reality. With aging comes more ebbing than flowing. I've learned to be realistic about what activities I can be involved in as I ebb, especially the hard core physical ones. No more running or climbing the CN Tower in Toronto as arthritis gains control of all the joints in my body. Now it's aqua fit at the pool a few times a week. Quiet walks in the early morning with my dog. She's getting up there too. We both appreciate more time for contemplation as we spend more time ebbing. And with ebbing, you lose the need to have to prove yourself. I appreciate the wisdom ebbing brings.
Ecstatic (Dance) - that's my E word - it's what allows me the space, energy and freedom to release all that gets stored in my muscles - the lactic acid, the discomfort, the imbalance, the state of the world and the constant mistreatment of humans by humans. Dance as a daily practice. So we can all feel ECSTATIC!