Stepping Back

Sometimes you have to take a step back, remove yourself from the moment, and try to ground yourself in what is true, elevated, even eternal. Let’s do that.
—Peggy Noonan

Noonan was talking about national politics/news, but Cathy’s latest post shows how it also applies to our everyday lives. What do you do to step back, broaden your perspective, see things differently?

 

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13 Responses to Stepping Back

  1. Cathy in NZ says:

    thanks CM for the promo – I just put up some more, this time still in the same place, but with a “bear” – and then I reveal, I’m re-reading the whole book, because there is a “snow trip” different metaphor.

    It’s getting into evening here, Sunday and I’ve put the book down for a break, but I’ve been into the wilderness yet again with Jerry, this time it’s cicadas! I’m not sure I’ve seen alignment with them/me [but we do have them here with their infernal racket…]

    and there has been a little interlude in a cathedral at a conference with the “sh*t on a stick” – a lot of fun that has been, not sure how that applies either, but I may see that in the fullness of time…

    so my re-reading continues, I’ve now made a list of the other books he has written, read the reviews and think they need some attn. Found a place [i’ve been to them before] where I can only look at not borrow – but that’s okay. And I may have discovered how through my local library service gets others from National library…

    I can’t believe how the author has grabbed me – I was going to say “by the b*alls” because “sh*t on stick” isn’t quite on my wavelength yet… but I’m sure you get the picture!

    [poor Aaron/Mentor is going to have a hard time with my missives tomorrow, not just the book of course but the summary of VP retreat and something relating to an artwork I am making]

    • Jean says:

      I just ordered the Kindle version so I can read it in large print. (There is no audible version.) I may not get much read for a while because things are busy here and I can’t read much at one time, but apparently it’s also worth reading in small chunks. I’m glad you are getting so much out of it!

  2. Rummuser says:

    What synchronicity! Please see my comments at Cathy’s post.

  3. tammy j says:

    a friend of mine is living her dream.
    she got her captain’s license and is sailing across the atlantic.
    I would not want to do that. I love the sea but I don’t want to be on it!
    but she recently wrote this in a post on her blog…
    ” time at sea is very therapeutic. There is no news, television, or internet to push negative press in your face. No ringing phones or constant checking of emails. No real sense of time — just a calm, steady routine at sea. If you’ve ever felt like you needed a break from technology, the stress and anxieties of the world, or if you’re just in need of some down time to re-program your mind… I highly recommend going to sea.”

    I realize that I have lived her advice for years. only there is no sea in mine.
    when it all becomes to much for me I tend to ‘go to sea.’
    I try to just get quiet and introspective and calm. and it never fails to help me. I take those times to read inspiring books (like cathy is doing) and to simply BE. in these times of continuous upheaval and conflicts… it helps.

    • Cathy in NZ says:

      that last comment of yours about going to “sea” is exactly what Jerry has to say about “wilderness” – you don’t have to go to the forest to meet the bear, the snow, the cicadas or anything else – it can be right where you are “then” in front of this screen if the muse wants you to be…

  4. Cindi says:

    This post has really made me think.
    In fact I went to Cathy’s blog and then came back here and read your post again and really really thought about it…
    I’ve stepped back.
    Last February from my blog, with just a few weeks absence in mind.
    And I haven’t returned.
    I think I needed to stop talking about my life, my problems, my dreams… for a while and just live them.
    Then Blue took a turn, got much worse and…
    Left this world.
    Talk about stepping back.
    Just typing those words, have me sobbing again and I wanted so badly to type that I’m over the hump and handling it.
    Yep
    I know that gardening, puttering around my yard with nothing but the sounds of my own thoughts, helps me.
    Unfortunately that sucks for me in this cold weather.
    But… I needed to step back when I did.
    I couldn’t continue chattering on like my world was fine or worse, rehashing it over and over, never solving anything…
    So….
    How do I step back?
    Simple tasks.
    Gardening, cleaning house, things to be done in silence.
    I don’t need to be in the woods.
    That would not quiet my mind and fears but rather just add to them.
    Thanks for this post.
    I needed it.
    xoxoxo

    • Cathy in NZ says:

      Again – cindi – you don’t need to be with the “bears” (btw, the closest you get to a bear in New Zealand is a zoo – they don’t roam freely at all here, let alone a lot of other animals…)

      So your wilderness could be anywhere, sometimes you will chose it or maybe you won’t. I’m thinking about writing more about Jerrys’ Power of Slowing because something occurred just when I was leaving on the bus/Retreat and the conversation I had with the bus driver…when he didn’t understand something…

    • Jean says:

      I’m glad Cathy wrote her post, Cindi, and that the subject helped. ( I’m surprised that doing your art wasn’t on your list.) Good luck, we’re rooting for you!

  5. Cindi says:

    Cathy, actually no bears in my general area here either.
    I live in the Midwest so maybe a coyote or the very rare cougar.
    But I fear the most evil of animal, if I were to pitch a tent. Something I would never ever do! Lol! Yes. Man is the worst and what to be very careful of, whether in the woods or walking through a parking lot. Yep.
    But I get what you mean.
    😉

  6. Linda Sand says:

    We had a bear walk into our tent site one time. A little too much wildness for me. Now I just wander off into my own mind.

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