Innocent Bystander

Drawn into the experience...

Revisado: 02-04-25

There is a lot of clever layering happening -- even in the title... a something something at the end of the world breathes resonant familiarity. Then there is the "A Quaker, A Buddhist and A Shepherd walk into a bar... that T's up many a joke." And so, I'm completely disarmed by the invitation. Ahh, but she builds on it! Somehow Mary Rose speaks about her backstory in a manner that informs the present. Oh -- and there is this --- such a wordsmith as this she gifts the reader with all of the nuances of shape note singing that renders it nearly "hearable" without ever singing a single note! Have the experience and you will understand what she's talking about...Probably one of the most refreshing, renewing reads a person could invest time and presence in during a season of cognitive dissonance.

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A zen -tour de force!

Revisado: 07-24-24

Whether you met her through zen practice, her grasp of Haiku, or writing or have some personal kinship relationship with her across many years or just a moment, you will find all of that converging in Writing on Empty... and that is intentional.
Some of us, are cut flowers. Without roots, our beauty is in our appearance, our relevance - brief. Some of us are rooted plants growing in a container at risk of becoming rootbound, limited to a context and defined by the container itself. And some of us, planted in rich soil sink down deep sustaining roots that are nourished by many resources. Growing both vertically and horizontally -- blossoming -- bearing fruit -- sowing seeds in tomorrow. Katagiri Roshi -- 12 years of learning to hold her seat -- and her sanga is now and everywhere. Nothing disappoints. Truly engaged... Buddhist... practice...
Sit down
BE
at home

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Speaks to Millennials, not so much to elders!

Revisado: 07-15-24

Could you please adapt your model to the 3 domains of elders?
Elders have time -- millennials don't -- your model presumes "finding time".
Elders lack opportunities for movement our "domains" are only Sleep*Leisure*Homing* --
loss of mobility + physical lack of access to transportation ( driving or public transportation) + a lack of destinations elder friendly + AND we do not have an occupation domain!
There is a constant reduction of "destinations" for elders, especially those that do not require $ to get there, $ to be there, $ that define how long you can be there. SO -- We got Sleeping +Leisure and Homing to work with! Ahhh and if sitting is the new smoking -- honey there is just so much death cleaning and home maintenance a person can do and stay sane! Which is why we slip back into the "assigned exercises model" of movement.
If you want me to attach a goal that elders face: "defining how much caregiver assistance we can deter for as long as possible".
In just 6 years 71.5 million of us will be over 65. Not counting the millions upon millions of caregivers both personal and paid for that will be shaping the quality of life we will experience.
You wrote a book on dynamic aging -- and now you seem to have abandoned us for Moms and Dads, Working Moms and Dads, and -- kiddos.
I truly believe that adapting your model to the limited domains of elders will greatly impact the quality of the elder experience.

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"voice" of the author missing from the reading

Revisado: 12-28-23

N. T. Wright needs spend more time in selecting his audio reader. This, is so off putting, that I regretted investing in Wright's audio editions -- across several titles. Let me count the layers. There is the affect. There is the cadence that matches -- nothing. Think of a singer, singing in a foreign language with no comprehension of the language and so can only modulate probable pronunciation. Placing all effort into singing each note properly fails to compensate for the lack of understanding of the lyrics. I had to give up.

At least, if Mr. Wright would glance at what a prospective reader has done. Page reading The Brewery Murders with the same voice, affect and cadence with which he is reading 3 of Wright's works - Gospels of Mark and John part 1 and 2. Oh dear, he's also been signed in for both offerings on Acts for 2024.

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Wisdom in every step

Revisado: 05-11-19

I was trained to have that military striding gait. Quite uncommon for a woman. It earned me the descriptive spectrum from intense to aggressive. I converted to a racewalking pace in my middle years. Striding out at near "ramming speed". Cutting a wake in a river of shoppers or tourists. Easily, dropping into a passing gear when stuck behind a "stroller". Always with a destination. Always in a get it done mode. How to break out of that without a debilitating disease making it a forced choice. The hospital hall shuffle? The step and roll of a walker? Been there - done both. Once mended - off I tore again.
However when I'd taken a tumble just recently and adopted a cane - naming it Psalm 22 or 23 - depending on how many Advil the day required - there would be no quick recover. This time, it was a hip and each step offered an opinion. The intensity, the military gait, the striding were all wrong and gone.

Thanks to an Audible side bar, and God recognizing a contrite heart yearning to change - I discovered Kegge's Walking. Frankly, the sample scared me. Give a listen. No spoiler alert here -- give a listen. I ordered up the book from the library and put the audible edition in my wish list. What's it about? How to move with gratitude rather than impatience. How to cherish time in a new way. All wrapped in a cultural context that celebrates walking... and silence. And thanks to a sale, I was able to get both of Kegge's books Walking and Silence. They are companions to each other and to my journey. May it be so for you too.

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