21 Comments
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TheUltraContemplative's avatar

Thank you so much for the restack, Rochelle!

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Kara Westerman (she/her)'s avatar

I guess our kvetching about the sorry state of the world produced a gem. Beautiful!

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TheUltraContemplative's avatar

Thanks, Kara and yes! all of our discussions absolutely led to this.

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Don Boivin's avatar

Wow, Steve, wow, this was just so beautifully written. I love the imagery. I love how beauty prevails in this world you’ve shared with us, despite the facts, which you do not hide from.

I think your balance is better than you claim it to be. 😊

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TheUltraContemplative's avatar

Thanks for the affirmation, Don. Nature is there for us to find our balance, to find ourselves again, which is a reality I know you lean into also. Finding other nature lovers does help my balance. Thanks, Don.

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Don Boivin's avatar

Every day, Steve. Today I walked on the beach and sat on the soft sand for a while.

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TheUltraContemplative's avatar

Seen pictures of your beach and I can understand why.

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Rochelle Williams's avatar

What a beautiful essay, Steve. I love the way it's woven and layered, looping out into the anxiety about all the trouble our troublesome species gets up to, looping back into the healing power of nature and contemplative listening. Really lovely and thought-provoking. And you capture so perfectly the child's complete immersion in and blissful exploration of the strange world of underwater, where sensation and physics are so different from the upper world of air. Bravo!

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TheUltraContemplative's avatar

Thank you so much for the affirmations, Rochelle. Every now and then I just go with feelings and let the writing just follow. Sometimes it works. So glad we get to talk about these things.

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MaryAnn McKibben Dana's avatar

Glad you're one of my people in this...

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TheUltraContemplative's avatar

The feeling is mutual, friend.

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Stanley Wotring's avatar

I feel everything! Good work.

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TheUltraContemplative's avatar

Thanks for the close noticing, Stan.

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Nina Carroll's avatar

Between the viewpoint of a child, looking up from the bottom of a pool, the ear damage causing otosclerosis, the natural and spiritual agency of running with deer, and your exquisite observations of all of your experiences, I marvel. You so seamlessly weave your story into an unforgettable fable with life lessons for all of us.

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TheUltraContemplative's avatar

Nina, thank you so much for your close reads. I appreciate your comments so much and it really encourages me when someone sees what I'm trying to convey. And it really helps when you see the positivity. So glad we get to talk in Kara's group. 😉

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Emily Conway's avatar

Keep diving, Steve. I’m down here too.

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Azul Erpen's avatar

First reading this, and then listening to the audio, it really felt as I was walking alongside you, a halt in time from a day in the forest. To live is to see what speaks to us, even if we are from different species🤍

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TheUltraContemplative's avatar

So happy you see this Azul. Presence is huge for me so it really encourages me when someone comments on how they are present in the moment also. Thank you for being here, Azul.

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Andrea Davis's avatar

Oh man, this is beautiful writing. And noticing. This. This is what we come to Substack for.

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TheUltraContemplative's avatar

Thank you so much Andrea and thank you for all your help in producing this!

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TheUltraContemplative's avatar

I knew you could relate to the water metaphor. Yes, glad we get to discuss our diving experiences together. Thanks for being here, Emily.

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