Categories
growth

Shaving My Beard and the Struggle for Autonomy

I shaved my beard the other day and I went through a much stronger response than I had anticipated. Lidia had wanted to see me without a beard and I hesitated for a day or two, but then decided to shave it off, albeit temporarily. When I did, though, I actually felt emasculated. It was […]

Categories
love poems & stories ukraine

Sweet Moon Language

A friend of mine sent me this poem a few days ago and while it touched me then, it continues to seep into my soul in an unexpected way. With That Moon Language With That Moon Language Admit something: Everyone you see, you say to them, “Love me.” Of course you do not do this […]

Categories
love

Push / Pull

Dear world, I came to a difficult realization this morning, that I have difficulty when it comes to loving another human being. I can actually love very well and have made great strides in this area, in terms of being affectionate, communicating proactively, listening and attending to the words and needs of another, and even […]

Categories
life ukraine

Snowy New Year in L’viv

Still in L’viv and heavy flakes are falling down on this New Year’s Eve day. Walked past a homeless woman with a large wooly dog and a large gathering of bags and wondered why I didn’t give her a generous gift. Would $10 really matter to me? Would it to her? Next to her was […]

Categories
favorites growth

“Nobody Gives a Shit” and the Sublime Aloneness

I’m in a very interesting place right now, one which has been fraught with struggle as well as blessed with perfection and liberation. What I’ve seen lately is that the more grounded and still I become, the easier it is for me to just “be” with others and listen to them. I’m finding that when […]