This Week's Stretch ~ 1/12/07

How did you reach outside your comfort zone this week?

1. I officially announced the Women at Rest & Play Retreat (YAY!)
2. I sat at a table with flowing wine and refused the offer to drink (an uncomfortable first) then excused myself from the table when talk turned to war (can't go there, having wine present was hard enough)
3. I admitted a new fear to my spiritual director (big relief)
4. I participated in a group of 30 recovering alcoholics who volunteered to sit and talk 1:1 with first year medical students at the UW about our alcoholism and recovery (awesome!)
5. I left comments on blogs despite the little voice that says, "Why would they care what I say?"

All week long I've felt scared, awkward and vulnerable -- a perpetual 8th grader. Maybe I'll share more about this in-between sensation and how it helps and stifles me when I actually summon the courage to let the words pour out. Ugh.

My intention this coming week is to open my mind and heart to new experiences of the everyday. In that spirit, here's a poem by Robert Bly:

Think in ways you’ve never thought before.
If the phone rings, think of it as carrying a message
Larger than anything you’ve ever heard,
Vaster than a hundred lines of Yeats.

Think that someone may bring a bear to your door,
Maybe wounded and deranged; or think that a moose
Has risen out of the lake, and he’s carrying on his antlers
A child of your own whom you’ve never seen.

When someone knocks on the door, think that he’s about
To give you something large: tell you you’re forgiven,
Or that it’s not necessary to work all the time, or that it’s
Been decided that if you lie down no one will die.

Comments

[liz elayne]

this poem is a good one...
and i love reading about how your are stretching and moving and dancing in your life.

this week, i continued to speak my truth. which is a big stretch for me. it felt really good.
i also spent a little time writing that wasn't blog or work related.

(i need to stretch more though...i think i might look at these fridays as my chance to check in and be honest about that. the need to push myself a bit more.)

[Calissa]

You posted a comment on MY blog and I'm thankful you did! Especially knowing that it was a growth step for you. Thanks for visiting.

[Calissa]

Oh, and I really like this poem. I'm gonna copy/paste it into my "posts to remember" document I keep on my computer. :)

[susannah]

Mmmm, i think i needed to read that poem today. so glad you delurked on my blog - it's good to find you! now i have some catching up to do in your archives :-) Sx

[Beth]

I want to let you know that you helped me this week. My church has a new portable labyrinth and I decided I wanted to explore the possibility of taking it to our youth development center (read youth jail and detention). The call to the chaplain was easy but as I drove there, I started to feel nervous. What had I gotten myself into? What if I was being idealistic and naive about these kids' possible interest in the labyrinth? What if I didn't have enough knowledge and training to present the idea? I had plenty of other things to do, I didn't need this.

Then I thought about what you have written about stepping outside of your comfort zone and I was able to name what I was feeling. So, I started thinking good for me! Whatever the outcome was, I was following an impulse that was taking me out of my comfort zone. I accepted that as a positive thing and let go of the need for any outcome other than stretching myself.

The experience fascinated me. I had not known what to expect but the facility was far more jail like than I had anticipated. I was moved by the staff's sadness over a former resident who had left last May and had recently overdosed (they were holding a service later that day.) Then I saw a picture of her with her beautiful little boy who had turned 5 the day after his mother died. I felt so sad that we (as a society) had failed this girl - and her son.

The chaplain was receptive to my coming back and making a presentation on the labyrinth. I know when I do, I will feel scared but, hey, that isn't a bad thing, right?

[leah]

it's always a good reminder to stretch. what an amazing amount of stretching you've done this week! congratulations!

and i'm so glad you stopped by my blog. it made my day! :-)

[Deb]

Regarding #5 on your list...

I not only care, I grow with each comment.

Thank you for planting seeds.

Namaste.
~d

[Goddess of Leonie]

you are truly, truly, truly cool.

you inspire me, woman!

[Carla]

What a blessing y'all are to life and the world. In awe and gratitude here.