Being Human (vol. 3, no. 9)

Here are a few things I’m sharing this month:

1. Question I’m living with:

  • “Whom can I ask what I came to make happen in this world?” – Pablo Neruda

2. Quote I’m considering:

  • “Well, one of the interesting qualities of being human is, by the look of it, we’re the only part of creation that can actually refuse to be ourselves. And as far as I can see, there’s no other part of the world that can do that. The cloud is the cloud. The mountain is the mountain. The tree is the tree. The hawk is the hawk. And the kingfisher doesn’t wake up one day and say, You know, God, I’m absolutely fed up to the back teeth of this whole kingfisher trip. Can I have a day as a crow? You know, hang out with my mates, glide down for a bit of carrion now and again? That’s the life for me. No. The kingfisher is just the kingfisher. And one of the healing things about the natural world, to human beings, is that it’s just itself.” – David Whyte (ht On-Being)

3. Poem I’m pondering:

“Savagely Individual” by Robinson Jeffers

4. Something inspiring

5. The blog’s still on hold as I write my Rewild School book and coach high school football. Here’s an entry from my “Football Diary”:

  • Hagan dropped what should have been an easy interception. And, with that drop he dropped his head. He’s an incredibly talented athlete that gets down on himself too easily for any and all errors – small or large. It’s the head game for him. That’s where I need to focus my attention. When the defense finally gets off the field, I sprint over to him and say “Forget it. Next play, next play.” That’s not doing it. He’s still in his head replaying his mistake. So, I grab his face-mask and press my forehead into it. I get as close as I can to him, lock eyes on him and say “It’s not what happens to you that defines you. It’s how you respond.” That gets through. That works. And, on the next defensive series, he snags an interception that sends me leaping and running up and down the sideline. Oh, this game. So visceral and alive!

If you’re reading this newsletter for the first time, you can read previous issues hereview lists of poems, questions, quotes and songs I’ve shared before here, and subscribe here.

Thanks so much. And, have a great day! – shawn

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