David whyte everything is waiting for you

New to On Being? Start Here. Published December 08, After Derek Mahon Your great mistake is to act the drama as if you were alone. Everything Is Waiting for You. Read Essays Poetry. Home Poetry. No one is an island. I don't think everyone or everything is waiting for me, but they are with me as part of this world, and I can reach out and connect rather than be alone.

It's not necessary to be alone. I've been in groups in which I felt close connection with the others, and felt listened to, cared about and known. Such experiences are grand, loving, and intimate. When my aloneness is lonely, heavy, miserable for me, I put down the weight of my aloneness and reach out, or at least I can, and make an effort to connect with another. For me, it often hasn't been easing into connection and often has felt difficult but it is preferable and holds more possibility than remaining in an aloneness that is miserable.

Usually I know that my aloneness is my own creation, and I know that my ending my aloneness and reaching out is also up to me. Just today, stopped by a neighbor flagged me down that needed an ear, to not be alone and to shed a few tears. I felt very connected to Katie The great mistake is thinking we are alone. If we have the courage to open up, share our truth, our vulnerability, our story, we quickly learn we are never alone in any experience.

There is always at least one other person who has experienced something similar who can sit with us, listen, hold space and acknowledge our journey. I've been on both sides and it is healing and releasing. I would say the most "grand" way I ever experienced this time of intimacy was when I allowed myself to be extremely vulnerable in posting on Facebook about being in another depression and being deeply concerned about the darkness enveloping me. I had moved through depression before and was feeling dismayed that it had returned at a time when things seemed to be going so well.

I reached out, first on Facebook, because I was too depressed to make a phone call and ask for physical presence. The outpouring of love, care, concern was beautifully overwhelming.

It pulled me out of the darkness enough to accept invitations of several people to come to visit me over tea or coloring books. They sat with me one on one and listened and hugged and were simply present. I've done the same for others and to be on the receiving end was deep and healing and appreciated beyond words.

What helps put down aloneness is recalling the times when either I have been present for someone else or they were present for me and the rush of love felt in my heart. This is just the push needed to reach out again. Or search by year , author , or category. Every week, we send out a digest with a reading and inspiring stories to our global community of 93, people. Subscribe below. If you'd like to suggest a thought or want to drop us a suggestion, drop us a note.

Everything Is Waiting For You. Listen Print reads. Add Your Reflection: Send me an email when another comment is posted on this passage. It's easy to do when the light now struggles to find you..

It's remnant now just the star you wish upon in the night.. Sometimes I like it here, the pain is present but cannot be seen, and I really can't remember who I was before, except that I was whole but ignorant to what was to come..

When I am ready to stop forgetting, I will close my eyes and hold out my hand, and the memory of you will ease my burdened heart and carry me back to the light. A spiritual awakening is needed. For that one must often wait On Jul 19, Anna wrote: I was visiting Maui and taking s swim. I saw a woman further out in the water struggling to stand up and paddle on a Stand up Board.

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You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Necessary Necessary. The kettle is singing even as it pours you a drink, the cooking pots have left their arrogant aloofness and seen the good in you at last.

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