It’s been hard to find my footing after the events of last week. The best analogy I have read is Anne Lamott’s in which she says: “If you are anything like me, you can barely remember having ever felt so stunned, and doomed, except when someone very close to you died, or divorced you, or the godawful biopsy results came back.
It’s a little as if the godawful biopsy results came back, and 73 million people cheered and gloated.“
In the aftermath, I’ve been reading a lot, writing a little, lamenting and brooding. And trying to find a way forward. What does one do? I don’t know, and neither do most of my go-to gurus. But I’ve been gathering ideas from different places.
One powerful piece of advice that always offers a way forward, comes from the recovery community: “Just do the next right thing,” they say. Apparently, this originated with Carl Jung who wrote, “And so the best we can do is walk step by next intuitively right step…”
Of course, determining what that step is can be a bit trickier.
This week Katherine May suggested that taking time to pause and tap into our resources is critical at this time. She defined resources as “something that we can draw on when we need to; or, better still, something that we can turn into a habit that becomes protective of our sanity, part of our steady functioning”. When I followed her prompts to consider my own resources, writing and writing communities were near the top, along with nature and photography.
And then Mary Lee Hahn of A(nother) Year of Reading put out a call to write haiku for healing (#haikuforhealing).
I’m weaving all these influences together, quite haphazardly, but it does seem like they create a path of sorts to follow. I remain uncertain what the next right thing is, but at least I’ll be doing something. As I ponder the magnitude of this moment and what it says about our country, I want, no need, to celebrate beauty, connect with community and dwell in gratitude. So, each day I’m writing, often haiku, trying to kindle some light in these dark times. It feels a bit like lighting a candle outside during a brutal gale…but I guess it’s something:
rainpatter slows…stops
patches of blue sky appear
soon there will be sun
©Molly Hogan
in the dark front room
the Christmas cactus bloomed
unnoticed until now
©Molly Hogan
day nears its end
late-hanging leaf and gold finch
compare their fading hues
©Molly Hogan
Nix the comfort zone 
#haikuforhealing definitely feels like a candle in a gale. It does nothing to help the communities that are going to be (are already) most under attack. It does keep me centered and connected to the natural world, and if my photos and writing can do that for another few people then maybe I am helping in some small way. After all, if everyone pitches in with whatever small thing they can do, all those small things add up to big things, right?
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PS — the goldfinch haiku…swoon…
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Thanks for being a bright light amidst the gale, MaryLee!
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The range of emotions this week have been something I’ve not experienced in a very long time. I love your idea of writing haikus and plan to write at least one a day. Yours are great!
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I can’t take credit for the haiku idea–that belongs to Mary Lee. I hope that writing brings you some comfort, or at least anchors you amidst the bluster and gale of these times.
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My favourite quote is , There is not enough darkness in the world to extinguish the light of a small candle.
Todd 8sva blogger friend. You may like his blog.
Trent is another blogger friend.
https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/113061074/posts/5451094149
In my country too a lot has happened and is happening that makes many of us uneasy. Politics is dirty.
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Lakshmi–thanks so much for sharing that quote (which I’ve written in my notebook) and the link to Todd’s site. I love the idea of #3 good things or a weekly smile and might add those to my writing practice.
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I didn’t even realize I was looking for something, but then committed to a daily 100 word writing challenge, and I’ve found so much comfort in that goal.
It turns out I also needed to “consider my own resources” and “writing and writing communities were near the top” as always.
Beautiful images, too!
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It was so interesting to consider my resources and look for patterns amongst them. I realized that I really haven’t tapped into some of them recently. For example, I’m going to make it a point to listen to more music. I hope your writing continues to bring comfort!
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What a great point! You know, someone the other day mentioned “your playlist,” and I just stared like a dummy. They say, “I mean, where do you have your song collections? What do you use?” It turns out, I don’t! I couldn’t believe it. I made a mental note to do that….soon? 😂 I’m resting in the writing rhythm for now!
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(Said* not say)
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I’m right beside you, if that is any comfort. Let’s haiku our way through!
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“Let’s haiku our way through”–sounds like an optimal bumper sticker! Also, I’m super excited to see you soon! We should talk!
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Molly, I too believe that my best resources these days are writing and my writing communities. Your photos of nature are beautifully captured. The touch of hope are healing.
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Online writing communities are powerful and have given me so much through the years!
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We need to be gentle with ourselves right now, don’t we?
That Anne Lamott quote hit me hard. Not only am I living through the same political week, but I, too, am waiting for results. It’s a tense time around here.
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Stacey, I hope that the results are what is hoped for. I’ll be holding you and your family in my heart. Take care of yourself.
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Sadly, I didn’t get good news this afternoon. {Sigh}
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I’m so sorry to hear this, Stacey.
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Had to save that goldfinch haiku in my poetry e-file, Molly. Well done. Sending you a big hug!
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Another gem for your fans. We sent it on to our daughter Molly, to California friends, and another former UNE student now in North Carolina, all crushed by the result of November 5 but willing to part of the Resistance and the Solution.
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Lovely photos and poems, Molly.
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