As always, Sez, you express the sentiment beautifully! Our deepest truth, our soul, is connected to that universal wholeness that is timeless -- so we don't have to go far to touch the immortal! When you strip away the many layers of artifice we are all so very similar.
You've got me imagining a new social media platform that is only expressions of truth in poetry. Wouldn't that be something!
That would be incredible right?! I wonder what kind of world would be born from that kind of space...? 'we don't need to go far to touch the immortal' - love this, thank you for sharing Erik!
I grew up in Hawai’i, the most beautiful place on earth. The native Hawaiians have an old adage that became the state motto: “Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono,” which translates to “the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” Hawaiian is a multilayered language, and it has deeper meaning. Nevertheless, sustainability is the most notable theme. I feel grateful to have grown up with this wisdom.
My maternal grandfather was so very kind to me and my two 1st cousins despite battling cancer throughout the time we knew him. He lived in my house for 2 ½ years until he passed away when I was 6 years old. I was heartbroken and quite scared of what my future would be. He was my bodyguard from a physically and emotionally abusive father (I forgave him a few years after he passed when I was 28). It wasn’t until I was 14 that I first stuck my father back. It was a most fortuitous punch that hit him square in the solar plexus and knocked the wind out of him. He never hit me again.
For reference, my father as it turns out had a very challenging childhood of his own and at 51 had no patience for an “oops” new baby.
My mom was emotionally unavailable to me and everyone else for that matter. It was my grandfather who showed me I was worthy of love. I vowed that if I ever became a father, I would be like him.
Today my son mentioned that he and his wife are discussing having children and that he wanted to be a father just as I was to him and my daughter. He sang accolades, recalled specific events that set me apart from all the other dads of his friends. Last week when my daughter visited, we had a long deep conversation concerning a challenging issue she is faced with. Throughout she kept repeating how she feels heard and loved when she is with me, and that I’m her best friend.
To my tough as nails Irish grandfather with a heart of gold, I thank you deeply for planting rich seeds within my soul so that took root and have seemingly been passed on once again.
Sez, there are others, one of which for me is my golden retriever who was as much a unicorn, a partner as much as she was a dog. Dogs generally really like me, perhaps in a past life I was fortunate to be a well-loved dog.
As always, Sez, you express the sentiment beautifully! Our deepest truth, our soul, is connected to that universal wholeness that is timeless -- so we don't have to go far to touch the immortal! When you strip away the many layers of artifice we are all so very similar.
You've got me imagining a new social media platform that is only expressions of truth in poetry. Wouldn't that be something!
That would be incredible right?! I wonder what kind of world would be born from that kind of space...? 'we don't need to go far to touch the immortal' - love this, thank you for sharing Erik!
You have an incredible way with words Sez!
I grew up in Hawai’i, the most beautiful place on earth. The native Hawaiians have an old adage that became the state motto: “Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono,” which translates to “the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” Hawaiian is a multilayered language, and it has deeper meaning. Nevertheless, sustainability is the most notable theme. I feel grateful to have grown up with this wisdom.
My maternal grandfather was so very kind to me and my two 1st cousins despite battling cancer throughout the time we knew him. He lived in my house for 2 ½ years until he passed away when I was 6 years old. I was heartbroken and quite scared of what my future would be. He was my bodyguard from a physically and emotionally abusive father (I forgave him a few years after he passed when I was 28). It wasn’t until I was 14 that I first stuck my father back. It was a most fortuitous punch that hit him square in the solar plexus and knocked the wind out of him. He never hit me again.
For reference, my father as it turns out had a very challenging childhood of his own and at 51 had no patience for an “oops” new baby.
My mom was emotionally unavailable to me and everyone else for that matter. It was my grandfather who showed me I was worthy of love. I vowed that if I ever became a father, I would be like him.
Today my son mentioned that he and his wife are discussing having children and that he wanted to be a father just as I was to him and my daughter. He sang accolades, recalled specific events that set me apart from all the other dads of his friends. Last week when my daughter visited, we had a long deep conversation concerning a challenging issue she is faced with. Throughout she kept repeating how she feels heard and loved when she is with me, and that I’m her best friend.
To my tough as nails Irish grandfather with a heart of gold, I thank you deeply for planting rich seeds within my soul so that took root and have seemingly been passed on once again.
Sez, there are others, one of which for me is my golden retriever who was as much a unicorn, a partner as much as she was a dog. Dogs generally really like me, perhaps in a past life I was fortunate to be a well-loved dog.