those questions so important, so timely for so many of us as we navigate this most frightening era here. thank you, again, for your sharing of wisdom, dear Keith. for me it’s helped greatly stepping away / unfollowing folx that make up the echo chamber of terror aspect of social media - lots of cassandra’s out here telling the horrible news but not showing a way for us to cope, to feel empowered, to feel hope; pbs / nonprofit non corporate news, measured; trying to be thoughtful about the things i consume across the board; self care; finding and watering my seeds of joy while allowing myself those deep feelings of sadness and grief!
Thanks so much for giving us a peek into your toolkit, pan - it's chock full of wisdom and self-respect!! The Cassandra vibes portending of terrible things to come, without any accompanying support, are such fodder for our fear. Absolutely. I've been thinking so much about elemental balance lately, too. How some of the art of not going under is probably sensing where we need more water (emo...and often grief, as you said), more air (more cogent and regulated thought), more earth (more embodiment) or more fire (more anger with which to transmute and act). So appreciate you being here, being there, reading and enriching this discussion. 💞✨🕊️
As the asker of the question, I feel immeasurably held and cared for to receive your answer. It is remarkable for someone to take time out of their life to deeply consider the troubles and suffering of another and then offer wise, thoughtful and generous counsel. I hope others realize how valuable this is and you receive an abundance of amazing questions.
Pavini, I can't tell you how happy it makes me to hear that you received my response in this way 💗. Thank you again for your generosity in offering these beautiful questions for dissection here - an act of not just generosity, but vulnerability. I was so honored by your trust! I hope that things are settling out gently for you as you settle back in. I've been loving your Chai Society episodes, btw - they have been so wise and often endearing and I've loved the soundscapes in the background. Thank you for *that* goodness.💞✨🕊️
Keith, What a way to begin this new feature of Q-Stack. If I may say, personally, it felt successful in helping others learn to deal with a situation which seems so impossible with which to deal. Your use of metaphor is stellar! Your way with words is wonderful. A few tricks I use: limit what I read or hear from the news, from social media, even from other people. Do what I can when I can and not feel guilty that I do not more than I can when I can. I retreat into myself, again not allowing that to feel like being selfish, and find peace there. If I am the only one I allow into my peace there are no outside influences that can distract, or harm me. I am the only one I can really trust to be truth, so I am and I do. One person can make a difference and I am one person. NEED TO READ your piece again and study it more carefully. Can I just take you home with me? Fondly, Michael
Michael, thank you for your supportive reflections and kind words (and for making me laugh, which in and of itself is such good medicine)! I loved hearing about your own wise practices for staying sturdy during these times, especially this: "Do what I can when I can and not feel guilty that I do not more than I can where I can." Boom! That sums it up nicely. Appreciate you adding that gem to this conversation. 💎🎯💎
I found myself breathing slower and deeper as I read this, Keith. I greatly appreciate the depth of thought, intention and honesty in your answers. They feel both validating and hopeful. Thank you for mirroring for us what self empowerment can look like, no matter how small and internal the action. It's too easy to feel helpless and despairing in these times and a lot harder to recognize and root in the things we *can* do. I love how you emphasize that this can and often will look so different for each of us and one of the keys is really getting clear on our own boundaries and limits, along with what sustains and nourishes us. Your offerings are a gift here 💖🫂
Phoenix, thank you so much for reading and reflecting so thoughtfully. You're spot on - the pull to tip over into helplessness and get stuck there is powerful during these times. Many of us are being confronted with a level of challenge we've not met before. But yes, I really do believe that clarity on the inside can - and does - have a huge impact on the outside as well. As within, so without...as above, so below (Hermes?). 💖💖💖
Watching the Venerable Monks who walked 2,300 miles from Texas to Washington D.C. helped me to understand what seeking peace involves. They literally walked the skin on their feet right off. Some of them walked barefoot. Their chanting, and focus, helped me to learn to form and maintain boundaries, use poetry and art to focus on peace, and ignore the external clamor all around us. The Queer community hasn't, in my experience, spent much time on this. Many of us have been so jacked around by the Outside that we've ignored the need to learn how to control our own responses. I hope we can do better with this. We love whom we love. We are inherently good. May we and all beings find peace, every day.
Helen, thanks for this thoughtful reply. The example of the Venerable Monks is profoundly powerful and instructive. And it's so striking the very different ways in which people respond -- or react -- to aggression and overwhelm. Thank you for reading and offering such a beautiful wish to this thread: "May we and all beings find peace every day." 🕊️❤️🩹🕊️
My nervous system already feels more relaxed after reading this 😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨
No higher praise could I hope for! Thank you for reading and reflecting here, friend. 💞✨💞
those questions so important, so timely for so many of us as we navigate this most frightening era here. thank you, again, for your sharing of wisdom, dear Keith. for me it’s helped greatly stepping away / unfollowing folx that make up the echo chamber of terror aspect of social media - lots of cassandra’s out here telling the horrible news but not showing a way for us to cope, to feel empowered, to feel hope; pbs / nonprofit non corporate news, measured; trying to be thoughtful about the things i consume across the board; self care; finding and watering my seeds of joy while allowing myself those deep feelings of sadness and grief!
Thanks so much for giving us a peek into your toolkit, pan - it's chock full of wisdom and self-respect!! The Cassandra vibes portending of terrible things to come, without any accompanying support, are such fodder for our fear. Absolutely. I've been thinking so much about elemental balance lately, too. How some of the art of not going under is probably sensing where we need more water (emo...and often grief, as you said), more air (more cogent and regulated thought), more earth (more embodiment) or more fire (more anger with which to transmute and act). So appreciate you being here, being there, reading and enriching this discussion. 💞✨🕊️
As the asker of the question, I feel immeasurably held and cared for to receive your answer. It is remarkable for someone to take time out of their life to deeply consider the troubles and suffering of another and then offer wise, thoughtful and generous counsel. I hope others realize how valuable this is and you receive an abundance of amazing questions.
Pavini, I can't tell you how happy it makes me to hear that you received my response in this way 💗. Thank you again for your generosity in offering these beautiful questions for dissection here - an act of not just generosity, but vulnerability. I was so honored by your trust! I hope that things are settling out gently for you as you settle back in. I've been loving your Chai Society episodes, btw - they have been so wise and often endearing and I've loved the soundscapes in the background. Thank you for *that* goodness.💞✨🕊️
Keith, What a way to begin this new feature of Q-Stack. If I may say, personally, it felt successful in helping others learn to deal with a situation which seems so impossible with which to deal. Your use of metaphor is stellar! Your way with words is wonderful. A few tricks I use: limit what I read or hear from the news, from social media, even from other people. Do what I can when I can and not feel guilty that I do not more than I can when I can. I retreat into myself, again not allowing that to feel like being selfish, and find peace there. If I am the only one I allow into my peace there are no outside influences that can distract, or harm me. I am the only one I can really trust to be truth, so I am and I do. One person can make a difference and I am one person. NEED TO READ your piece again and study it more carefully. Can I just take you home with me? Fondly, Michael
Michael, thank you for your supportive reflections and kind words (and for making me laugh, which in and of itself is such good medicine)! I loved hearing about your own wise practices for staying sturdy during these times, especially this: "Do what I can when I can and not feel guilty that I do not more than I can where I can." Boom! That sums it up nicely. Appreciate you adding that gem to this conversation. 💎🎯💎
I found myself breathing slower and deeper as I read this, Keith. I greatly appreciate the depth of thought, intention and honesty in your answers. They feel both validating and hopeful. Thank you for mirroring for us what self empowerment can look like, no matter how small and internal the action. It's too easy to feel helpless and despairing in these times and a lot harder to recognize and root in the things we *can* do. I love how you emphasize that this can and often will look so different for each of us and one of the keys is really getting clear on our own boundaries and limits, along with what sustains and nourishes us. Your offerings are a gift here 💖🫂
Phoenix, thank you so much for reading and reflecting so thoughtfully. You're spot on - the pull to tip over into helplessness and get stuck there is powerful during these times. Many of us are being confronted with a level of challenge we've not met before. But yes, I really do believe that clarity on the inside can - and does - have a huge impact on the outside as well. As within, so without...as above, so below (Hermes?). 💖💖💖
Hey, Keith! Congrats!!! What you're doing is sooooooo needed.
Thanks so much for reading, Wyatt! Appreciate your kind words! 💖
Watching the Venerable Monks who walked 2,300 miles from Texas to Washington D.C. helped me to understand what seeking peace involves. They literally walked the skin on their feet right off. Some of them walked barefoot. Their chanting, and focus, helped me to learn to form and maintain boundaries, use poetry and art to focus on peace, and ignore the external clamor all around us. The Queer community hasn't, in my experience, spent much time on this. Many of us have been so jacked around by the Outside that we've ignored the need to learn how to control our own responses. I hope we can do better with this. We love whom we love. We are inherently good. May we and all beings find peace, every day.
Helen, thanks for this thoughtful reply. The example of the Venerable Monks is profoundly powerful and instructive. And it's so striking the very different ways in which people respond -- or react -- to aggression and overwhelm. Thank you for reading and offering such a beautiful wish to this thread: "May we and all beings find peace every day." 🕊️❤️🩹🕊️
Great start, Keith! Looking forward to many more Ask a Queer Coach posts with your trademark brand of humor and care. ❤️🍊💛💚💙💜🩷🩵🤎🖤🩶
Thanks so much, Troy. It's a real honor to collaborate with you and the Qstack community on this! 💞✨💞