I LOVE THE PHILOSOPHIES OF
response-ability.
learning by exploration.
I SAY THAT I
strike forward with optimistic expectations.
do all that I can do.
I AIM TO BE A
high achiever.
model of kindness.
I AM INSPIRED TO
reach further.
dream bigger.
I WANT MY LIFE PATH TO BE
cohesive.
shared.
Do I really live by these goals? What do I actually do?
I actually let go of all that I want and expect: I summon each desire and dread, gaze upon it, savor the hope that I tied to it, explore the contours, and let it go. I cry over the loss of each one until I feel empty: my hands, mind and soul seem bare.
Then I am floating, flat on my back on a calm ocean at night. When I open my “eyes,” all I see is the stars of infinity. When I look at the horizon, I see shadowy trees overhanging a distant beach, and darkness beyond that. I hear slip-slaps of the dlippling water. I relax on the rippling cushion of the water’s surface. My breath and the salt water keep me afloat. My heels settle down a little as I breathe in, and level out as I breathe out. I am here, now. I enjoy this time of peace, however long it lasts, in this timeless place. This place just is.
Eventually a wave comes along that energizes me and aligns me with opportunities. I ride the wave for as long as I can, usually exhausting it. It beaches me at a distant land, to explore and gather wants and expectations.
Some time later, the tide rolls in, and the ocean reclaims me.
.
“Goal” image courtesy of jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
modified by Grace Buchanan.
“Ocean Night” image is a composite of “Under the Stars” by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes,
“Two Planet-hunters Snapped at La Silla” by European Southern Observatory / Alexandre Santerne, via Wikimedia Commons, and
“Untitled” by cuisy for openphoto.net.
“Ocean Night” is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 by Grace Buchanan.
Weaving Grace Audiobooks 
I would very much appreciate your help, as described on Deconstructing Myths today.
Also, I would like to know the political reasons for your decision.
With respect, and in struggle,
.
Claire O’Brien
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Thank you Claire for responding to my offer to help with your petition. I am working on re-blogging your story.
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THANK-YOU very much. My appreciation is difficult to express.
Will you also be emailing the petition itself? Please include me as a cc.
Thank-you again. I am deeply grateful.
In solidarity,
Claire
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I just emailed you a draft of my comments to accompany my re-blog, for your review before I publish them.
I am glad to strike forward with you, with optimistic expectations.
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I just read your comments. I think they are great. I sent you an email.
Thank-you again, from my heart.
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Grace AND her comments are soooooo great!!
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Really enjoyed this post 🙂 Sorry I have been out of touch recently I have been a bit of a hermit. I hope your doing okay!
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Thank you 🙂
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Nice, actually your comments on my take made me understand that this is like a meditation. As it is very poetic I took it differently at first. I like the way you built the post, showing your desire first.
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Thank you. And thank you for helping my readers to notice the subtlety of my message.
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“I hear slip-slaps of the dlippling water.” This line and the entire paragraph it’s in are just hauntingly beautiful. It’s true….I started to highlight and cut/paste all my favorite parts and i realized I would just be leaving your entire original post in the comment section. JUST WONDERFUL!!
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You are such a sweetheart ❤ I had fun figuring out how to spell the texture of the water that makes the slip-slapping sound.
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The essence of being human captured. Thank you Grace. 🙂
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Thank you for re-tweeting it. I am glad that you could relate, Leni. 🙂
Happy Easter!
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What a lovely and poetic description of a human being evolving, exploring…so exciting and that last line was a powerful punch that made me smile.
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Thank you for sharing your smile with me.
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Wow that is wonderful, two parts and so different your wishes and then I don’t know not quite a poem, not quite a story, but like a meditative story beautifully written x I wasn’t brave enough to offer for the prompt this week .
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Thank you for getting “into it”. I appreciate your visit.
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a pleasure i should thank you for writing x
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Love what you’re doing here, WG!
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Hooray for mutual admiration! 🙂
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