Story Time (May 2021 Newsletter)
Thank you for continuing to support YWB. We deeply appreciate our monthly sustaining members, our Patreon subscribers, and all of our students who have supported us during this time in whatever way.
Everything appears to be more appealing and comprehensible when presented as a story or has a reference to an experience in our own lives. Being human and sharing the same world our experiences are similar to someone else’s, somewhere and at some time. These stories resonate with us. The ways in which we use stories to satisfy us are varied. We are glad to get the thrill of an adventure without really being exposed to the dangers. We are electrified by mysteries and horror stories while sitting comfortably and safely somewhere. We even populate our stories with strange and exotic creatures and scenes that have nothing to do with reality. It’s great for fun and relaxation. But life is more.
Look around you. Springtime is bursting at the seams with unusual colors and clarity. Sounds and sights and smells pervade the senses. When you are tempted to settle down to another episode of make-belief, spring out of that chair/couch and get outside. Start from the ground up. Look closely at the ground seething with life. Look at the insects, soil and plants. Raise your gaze to take in the stems and stalks, and leaf and blossom buds. Experiment with what you see. If you cut off the main head of a plant, it will die or not bloom again. Or will it? Do you know why? Research.
Look higher at the trunk of trees. Fungi and moss! Beautiful and other worldly! The birds are nesting or have already started producing chicks. Do you know how the chick hatches when it’s ready to emerge? A perfect triangular notch at the apex of the egg by the baby chick and then the egg cracks and with varying degrees of pushing, pulling and knocking, the egg cracks open – new life emerges. This is the miracle of nature and life. A true story that will move you deeply and stay with you for the rest of your life. Build on these happy inspirations. No more stress, no more depression. You weren’t thinking about yourself but were lost in the wonder of it all. Spend more time doing this, not that.
Namaste,
sipra