Your mention of "happy tears" really made me smile, and yes, I get them too! It’s this overwhelming mix of joy and maybe a little bit of sadness, right? It’s like the beauty of something cracks you open just enough for the emotions to spill out. I often think of them as a physical manifestation of gratitude and pure awareness. Like your body is saying, "Yes, this. This is what it means to be alive and feeling." It’s such a tender and vulnerable thing, those happy tears, and a good sign that we’re truly present and open to whatever life throws our way.
I resonate with so much of this, it seems it's in the air right now (maybe always) - how to "relax in the middle", to open inside the not knowing... thank you for adding your words and honesty and imagery to this experience! It is helpful.
I don’t know how you always manage to speak directly to what I am also feeling, learning, leaning into. How?! Also, my happy tears lately have been in any sort of gathering of human beings, usually for art/creative related pursuits, but just the coming together of humans is magical. 💞 yay for happy tears! My daughter also asks often if the tears are happy ones!
I visited Point Reyes on Thursday and was happy to meet Stephen, the owner, in person for the first time. I signed their stock of Becoming Little Shell and made early plans to do an event there in the fall after the paperback comes out in August. I hope we can make it happen! It's such a beautiful store and lovely location. Finally, I just ordered three books from Mount Vision Press because you brought them to my attention!
Ohh I love knowing you were there -- it's such a special place. If you do come back for an event, consider me there! What a gift that would be. I have everything from Mount Vision Press; all their works are truly extraordinary. Wishing you much care as you finish your travels!
It was this past Friday (if you're talking about the fundraiser) -- they're such a lovely small press in West Marin. Highly recommend exploring their offerings, such gifts.
Oh yes, I was wondering about the fundraiser, but I will have to check it out. Love your list of weekly recommendations, I love when someone curates the web for me ;)
"It makes me want to practice being a soft place amid all the hardened places".
It is like running counter to this world - and it is a way through. I love the theme of melting in the hardened places as I am doing/being this too. As an older woman of 62, I really cannot think of being another way ..... thank you once again for this spectacular writing that is raw, honest, relatable and just downright brilliant. Touches me every time I read your work ❤
So grateful for your reflection -- I can't think of being another way, either. And it takes so much practice to remember this is how I want to be. Thank you 💛
“All of it allows fragility to turn into preciousness.” There’s been a song I’ve been listening to endlessly lately and my favorite line is “stuck in a storm, do a rain dance.” I just feel like all of this goes hand in hand and it’s beautiful. Thank you. <3
I could highlight this entire post and keep it in my back pocket. For now, I will hold onto the comfort of knowing that I am not the only one who needs consistent reminders of what I already know. 🪴
“As much as I know this, the reminder will be needed forever.”
Thank you for articulating this so beautifully, moved me to tears 💓 taking leap after leap in the dark amidst a fear of the unknown is all I needed to hear.
These shimmers of resonance I feel in your writing, always seem to crack something open in me, Lisa. Like today, after finishing this true & gratitude-soaked transmission, I read Ocean Vuong’s piece, and sat happy-crying at a bagel shop.
Phew, it’s moments like this when I praise that my sensitivity, for all its ups and downs, trials and needs, is in tact. And I praise I’m not alone ❤️
This really means so much to me -- this reminder that I am always woven with others, that there is a resonance between so many of us, that we don't need to face or feel or do any of it alone. Thank you for the kinship from afar. <3
Your mention of "happy tears" really made me smile, and yes, I get them too! It’s this overwhelming mix of joy and maybe a little bit of sadness, right? It’s like the beauty of something cracks you open just enough for the emotions to spill out. I often think of them as a physical manifestation of gratitude and pure awareness. Like your body is saying, "Yes, this. This is what it means to be alive and feeling." It’s such a tender and vulnerable thing, those happy tears, and a good sign that we’re truly present and open to whatever life throws our way.
Just enough for emotions to spill out, yes. Thank you for the resonance xx
I resonate with so much of this, it seems it's in the air right now (maybe always) - how to "relax in the middle", to open inside the not knowing... thank you for adding your words and honesty and imagery to this experience! It is helpful.
It really does seem in the air, doesn't it? I feel it. Thank you for sharing <3
I don’t know how you always manage to speak directly to what I am also feeling, learning, leaning into. How?! Also, my happy tears lately have been in any sort of gathering of human beings, usually for art/creative related pursuits, but just the coming together of humans is magical. 💞 yay for happy tears! My daughter also asks often if the tears are happy ones!
So many of us are moving through similar themes so often, right? I love the reminder of how true that is. Thank you for reading, for sharing <3
I visited Point Reyes on Thursday and was happy to meet Stephen, the owner, in person for the first time. I signed their stock of Becoming Little Shell and made early plans to do an event there in the fall after the paperback comes out in August. I hope we can make it happen! It's such a beautiful store and lovely location. Finally, I just ordered three books from Mount Vision Press because you brought them to my attention!
Ohh I love knowing you were there -- it's such a special place. If you do come back for an event, consider me there! What a gift that would be. I have everything from Mount Vision Press; all their works are truly extraordinary. Wishing you much care as you finish your travels!
Did the event already happen? This sounds lovely. I’m about an hour away, would love to support this.
It was this past Friday (if you're talking about the fundraiser) -- they're such a lovely small press in West Marin. Highly recommend exploring their offerings, such gifts.
Oh yes, I was wondering about the fundraiser, but I will have to check it out. Love your list of weekly recommendations, I love when someone curates the web for me ;)
So glad!!
Lisa, you write:
"It makes me want to practice being a soft place amid all the hardened places".
It is like running counter to this world - and it is a way through. I love the theme of melting in the hardened places as I am doing/being this too. As an older woman of 62, I really cannot think of being another way ..... thank you once again for this spectacular writing that is raw, honest, relatable and just downright brilliant. Touches me every time I read your work ❤
So grateful for your reflection -- I can't think of being another way, either. And it takes so much practice to remember this is how I want to be. Thank you 💛
“All of it allows fragility to turn into preciousness.” There’s been a song I’ve been listening to endlessly lately and my favorite line is “stuck in a storm, do a rain dance.” I just feel like all of this goes hand in hand and it’s beautiful. Thank you. <3
Ohh I love that -- yes yes. Thank you for sharing <3
I could highlight this entire post and keep it in my back pocket. For now, I will hold onto the comfort of knowing that I am not the only one who needs consistent reminders of what I already know. 🪴
“As much as I know this, the reminder will be needed forever.”
Ohhhh yes. So glad it reached you. <3
i needed this, thank you 💜
💛💛
Thank you for articulating this so beautifully, moved me to tears 💓 taking leap after leap in the dark amidst a fear of the unknown is all I needed to hear.
So glad it reached you <3
😭🫶🏻
<3 <3
These shimmers of resonance I feel in your writing, always seem to crack something open in me, Lisa. Like today, after finishing this true & gratitude-soaked transmission, I read Ocean Vuong’s piece, and sat happy-crying at a bagel shop.
Phew, it’s moments like this when I praise that my sensitivity, for all its ups and downs, trials and needs, is in tact. And I praise I’m not alone ❤️
This really means so much to me -- this reminder that I am always woven with others, that there is a resonance between so many of us, that we don't need to face or feel or do any of it alone. Thank you for the kinship from afar. <3
Through true tearing tears,
our grieving trusting spirit.
“OK” to world, life.
...
Without guarantees,
we tend to our young, hearths, hearts.
Do what we can do.
...
We grow our sea legs.
Precious beyond prediction
is what we find next.
Lisa, I read of the gift of tears. I too share that gift. D
Nice one
This is beautiful. To happy tears, messy middles, and playing in the unknown.
And these pics are making me miss NorCal right now (moved to NYC last summer from SF).
So much resonance in these words Lisa - thank you, from my open heart to yours 💚✨✨✨