“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” —Howard Thurman I love that quote. Thurman tells us to look within, to find our own heart’s path, to allow our voice to sing mightily, and “to ask,” What makes me come alive? This is a big question, it can be a lifetime question, and has been asked by the wisdom teachers and students throughout the ages.
Amba, this is so beautiful. I especially love this call to action:
"At the beginning of the retreat, Noirin ni Riain, the teacher/ leader of the retreat, invited us to use the week to stop and “let our souls catch up.”
And it's so difficult, given the rate of speed that the world around us moves. So it REALLY takes discipline, eh? Like Peter Block says, "Depth requires time."
I loved this, Amba. Beautiful. The feeling of being alive is certainly something worth pursuing, something I'm trying to get better at creating each day.
This idea reminds me of a quote from The Lion Tracker's Guide To Life: "Before that day, I had always thought that I needed to be somebody in the world. That rhino and the path he walked told me something different: don’t try to be someone, rather find the thing that is so engaging that it makes you forget yourself."
And this one from Joseph Campbell: "People are not looking for the meaning of life, they are looking for the feeling of being alive."
Jack - so cool to see your comment. Warms my heart.
Amba is and has been my personal development coach for 30 years. She is an astonishing woman. She just moved her blog to Substack. I would encourage you to subscribe. She’ll be a big contribution to you.
I was recently at Rocky Point in Mexico, and found myself standing on the sand at low tide, simply looking. I looked at the seagulls and pelicans. I looked at the dolphins dancing in the waves. I looked at the blue ocean and blue sky. And I found myself in a deep and profound peace. A peace I haven't experience in many years.
Now I wake up in the morning and wonder what peace I will find in the day. As my winter "doing-ness" and activities come to a close, I look forward to more peace in my life. More life in my life. And yes, I will return to Rocky Point in the fall to watch more sea birds and listen to the ocean move.
That's so beautiful, Larry. I loved your use of the word, "looking."
Bother David Steindl-Rast, who work I have been reading and diving into, tell us to Stop, Look. Listen. You stopped. You looked. And you listen to what was being spoken underneath the ordinary.
You'd think looking would be a "simple" act as in "what difference does it make?"
But "looking" is everything. Looking as "being with." Lookingas "interest in." Looking as a full blown engagement to listening for the stillness underneath, which can reach you and bring you to that "deep and profound peace," as you have done,.
Nature has a way of urging us to look, does she not?
Amba! Dear Amba! Witnessing others come alive and delight in that aliveness is one of the main things that brings ME a feeling of aliveness. So, I thank you and applaud you for following your bliss (out of your technological comfort zone!) and onto this Substack platform, where i'm sure you will continue to share your wisdom, your inspiring conversations, and your indomitable spark of aliveness with us all!
This was a beautiful beginning.
(And...! In order to respond, I was nudged to create an account as well, so... we'll see...!) ❤️🙏
Thank you, so much, Nancy. This beginning was very important to me...a beginning of a new era of writing...of contributing to others who I don't currently know, through my writing, of having the Voice that comes through me continue to contribute to others. I can hardly wait to discover what wonders await me with Substack!!!
Amba, this is so beautiful. I especially love this call to action:
"At the beginning of the retreat, Noirin ni Riain, the teacher/ leader of the retreat, invited us to use the week to stop and “let our souls catch up.”
I am wise to give myself over to this daily. 💗
Thank you, James. And Jack: thank you so much for both the story and that quote. Both breathe such life into the conversation!
And still puts the question in front of me: What "gives me the feeling of being alive?" What calls me from my Soul's longings in the world?
YES!
And it's so difficult, given the rate of speed that the world around us moves. So it REALLY takes discipline, eh? Like Peter Block says, "Depth requires time."
I loved this, Amba. Beautiful. The feeling of being alive is certainly something worth pursuing, something I'm trying to get better at creating each day.
This idea reminds me of a quote from The Lion Tracker's Guide To Life: "Before that day, I had always thought that I needed to be somebody in the world. That rhino and the path he walked told me something different: don’t try to be someone, rather find the thing that is so engaging that it makes you forget yourself."
And this one from Joseph Campbell: "People are not looking for the meaning of life, they are looking for the feeling of being alive."
Jack - so cool to see your comment. Warms my heart.
Amba is and has been my personal development coach for 30 years. She is an astonishing woman. She just moved her blog to Substack. I would encourage you to subscribe. She’ll be a big contribution to you.
This essay popped up on my feed after you liked it James — so thank you! Done. I’m subscribed.
I was recently at Rocky Point in Mexico, and found myself standing on the sand at low tide, simply looking. I looked at the seagulls and pelicans. I looked at the dolphins dancing in the waves. I looked at the blue ocean and blue sky. And I found myself in a deep and profound peace. A peace I haven't experience in many years.
Now I wake up in the morning and wonder what peace I will find in the day. As my winter "doing-ness" and activities come to a close, I look forward to more peace in my life. More life in my life. And yes, I will return to Rocky Point in the fall to watch more sea birds and listen to the ocean move.
That's so beautiful, Larry. I loved your use of the word, "looking."
Bother David Steindl-Rast, who work I have been reading and diving into, tell us to Stop, Look. Listen. You stopped. You looked. And you listen to what was being spoken underneath the ordinary.
You'd think looking would be a "simple" act as in "what difference does it make?"
But "looking" is everything. Looking as "being with." Lookingas "interest in." Looking as a full blown engagement to listening for the stillness underneath, which can reach you and bring you to that "deep and profound peace," as you have done,.
Nature has a way of urging us to look, does she not?
Amba! Dear Amba! Witnessing others come alive and delight in that aliveness is one of the main things that brings ME a feeling of aliveness. So, I thank you and applaud you for following your bliss (out of your technological comfort zone!) and onto this Substack platform, where i'm sure you will continue to share your wisdom, your inspiring conversations, and your indomitable spark of aliveness with us all!
This was a beautiful beginning.
(And...! In order to respond, I was nudged to create an account as well, so... we'll see...!) ❤️🙏
Thank you, so much, Nancy. This beginning was very important to me...a beginning of a new era of writing...of contributing to others who I don't currently know, through my writing, of having the Voice that comes through me continue to contribute to others. I can hardly wait to discover what wonders await me with Substack!!!