Generosity is a Balm
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Hello Friends, This week, I'm thinking about scarcity and generosity and how those two things are often set up in opposition. That's partially true, of course. On the large scale, a lack of generosity creates scarcity, as wealth and resources are hoarded by a few. However, it is often those with the least who are the most generous of all. This is reflected in the old quip about poor people passing around the same twenty dollars. Sometimes one person's need is greater in the moment, and the other person has a bit more to spare. I'm thinking right now about my friends in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, dealing with hurricanes. I'm thinking about the people around the globe who don't have clean water, or ready access to food. I'm thinking about all of those impacted by missiles and bombs. You might be one of those people. I'm also thinking of the scores of people showing up to help, including some who barely have homes right now. You might be one of those people, too. The human impulse toward generosity is strong. Generosity is a form of deep caring. Generosity—sharing what we have—is a balm for heart and soul. Generosity connects us to the flow of creativity and life. When we unclench our hands and hearts, we connect. In my experience, that sense of connection always creates something worthwhile. The more centered I feel, the less anxious and in the grips of scarcity I feel. The more open I feel, the more generous I become. When I'm closed off from generosity, there is usually some underlying fear. How does that work in your life? What is your experience of tension and flow? What is your relationship to scarcity? What unlocks your generosity? And how does that make you feel? I'm talking the smallest acts of generosity: Holding a door for someone. Offering a listening ear. Buying someone lunch if you can afford it. Sharing skills or resources with neighbors and friends. This week, whether you are giving or receiving (or both!), I wish you some generosity, and a balm for your heart. Best wishes — Thorn News:For the month of October, 50% of proceeds from ThornCoyleBooks will go to hurricane relief. That includes my oracle deck and ebooks. Love cats in fiction? I'm part of a pay-what-you-can ebook bundle that starts at $5. A percentage goes to Best Friends Animal Society. There are ten books in this marvelous bundle: Cattitude StoryBundle
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T. Thorn Coyle
Hello friends, Well, it was another stressful week here in the US and some other parts of the globe. When things feel overwhelming, what is important to me is to connect with what is in my physical environment. I make my bed in the morning. I wipe the kitchen counters. I set things in order. What else do I do? I make sure I go for a walk, even when I have a pile of work to do that feels endless. It is on these walks that, not only do I notice my environment, but I also catch sight of how...
Hello friends, On an old garage somewhere in Southeast Portland, someone hand lettered a large message. The bulk of it reads “Matter would not have become us if it doubted our ability to change…” Now, on one hand it reads as the start of a philosophical discussion I would’ve engaged in during my teens or early twenties. On the other hand, though? Well, it made me pause and snap a photo, didn’t it? Photo: Garage wall message: “Matter would not have become us if it doubted our ability to...
Hello friends, While walking out of an ice cream shop yesterday, I saw a faded scrap of fabric stapled to a utility pole. People had stuck their old wood ice cream spoons into holes in the pole around the fabric, creating a mini art and sculpture installation. I recognized the fabric, of course, as being an old piece from local artist Shanalee Hampton. I have several of her embroidery pieces hanging in our home, having been introduced to her work by outdoor installations just like this one....