One of the difficulties with the storytelling "I" arises in community. Just now, for example, my daughter wanted to engage me in her story of the flames in our fireplace, her excitement in anticipation of her birthday gifts, and the show I agreed she could watch (so she would stop interrupting my reading.)Her unexpected presence at such an early hour interfered withmy story of carving out some quiet time for study and preparing my application for grad school. My ego's response was annoyance. Then Love reminded me to honourour bond, to offer her the connection she desires. Ego responded by insisting my needs are also important and my daughter must learn to respect that. My childhood was one in which women served the needs of their husbands and children and the narrative of self-sacrifice was a badge of (sometimes grudging) honour. I vowed at a young age to live according to my own wishes and not subvert my will to those around me. Despite living a fiercely independent life, my greatest joy has always come through communing with loved ones, teachers, and the all-encompassing Divine. I feel freest when I surrender to the cosmic dance and recall, as Ram Dass said, that we are all just walking each other home.
On Mar 7, 2021 Carol Lynka wrote :