The Power of Ordinary
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Note: this missive is one day late because I was so out of it yesterday from round two of a shingles vaccine, I completely forgot! Hello friends, The world lost two powerful, compassionate people this past week, Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson and Buddhist teacher Joanna Macy. Both of them found power in the world around us and in the human experience. “If the world is to be healed through human efforts, I am convinced it will be by ordinary people, people whose love for this life is even greater than their fear.” –Joanna Macy Both touched many lives. Each of us has this power within us, if we commit to love rather than succumbing to fear. There is much to be fearful of in this world, but with love on our side? We cannot fail. Oh, things may feel like failure, time and time again, but if we place ourselves in what I call the “long arc” we will find that our efforts to love are not failures at all. Love connects us to each other. Love offers hope. Love—and grit, anger, joy, and determination—keeps us going. Love reminds us to try. “I don’t have a single plan for my life more important than learning to love people well.” – Andrea Gibson Like Joanna Macy, I too, believe that the efforts ordinary people are what will help society heal. Like Andrea Gibson, my most important task is to keep returning to love. We see love in action all around us, if we remember to look for it. Ordinary people feeding one another. Ordinary people standing up against terrorism. Ordinary people organizing to help their communities. Ordinary people joining rescue parties. Ordinary people blocking trucks and surrounding neighbors with their love. Ordinary people making music, baking bread, and sharing moments of life. There is power in our ordinary lives. I hope we claim that, and use it to sow good. Best wishes — Thorn
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T. Thorn Coyle
Hello friends, This past week, I attended an online class from author business coach Becca Syme. She's super insightful, and spoke to us about emotional regulation when world events or business disasters have us spinning. Each morning, she goes through these four phrases, and fills in the blanks: I feel happy that... I feel grateful that... I feel hopeful that... I feel secure that... Becca lives in Minnesota and almost canceled our talk because things in her immigrant-filled neighborhood...
Hello friends, Well… it’s been another eventful week here in the US and globally. In the midst of it all, I’m sure you’ve gone to work, worried about money or family or friends, dropped children off at school, cared for your elders, bought groceries… all of the ordinary things in life. I’m sure some of you have also been to community safety trainings, or attended vigils. Some of you have escaped for an hour or two into books, music, movies, or long walks. And that’s what we do, in...
Hello friends, It is early January. Another Gregorian calendar year. Outside my window, the sun shines after rain. Wisps of grey clouds hover low, kissing utility wires. It’s gorgeous outside, and feels still. The air is cold and soft with moisture. Crows call to one another, cars drive by. Tea steams its fragrance at my side. Today is another day to ponder, work, and plan. Today is another day to choose. What will you choose, repeatedly, this year? What do you plan? What might you build?...