This piece made me think and reflect. It brought to mind The Obstacle Is the Way and that idea of meeting difficulty head-on rather than trying to move around it.
What you describe feels like recognition to me…an intuitive understanding. Descending before ascending makes sense, and it’s something I’ve experienced repeatedly in my kitchen, in the garden, and in my personal and professional life. The work that truly matters almost always begins out of sight, alone in a field of sorts, where comfort and certainty aren’t much help.
I appreciate how unsentimental this is. Everything is stripped away in service of pursuing something real and worth earning. That feels less like sacrifice and more like clarity.
Jack, I'm touched by your comment and by the time you took to reflect on the post. Thank you. Your comments are always insightful, and I learn something new about my own post from them. Yes indeed 'The Obstacle Is the Way'; and as a Buddhist poet friend of mine says 'The ladders start here'. Always.
This is a wonderful sentence. 'The work that truly matters almost always begins out of sight, alone in a field of sorts, where comfort and certainty aren’t much help.' (It's also nonetheless comforting to know that we're not alone, even as we are.) Can I pinch it and credit you?
This piece made me think and reflect. It brought to mind The Obstacle Is the Way and that idea of meeting difficulty head-on rather than trying to move around it.
What you describe feels like recognition to me…an intuitive understanding. Descending before ascending makes sense, and it’s something I’ve experienced repeatedly in my kitchen, in the garden, and in my personal and professional life. The work that truly matters almost always begins out of sight, alone in a field of sorts, where comfort and certainty aren’t much help.
I appreciate how unsentimental this is. Everything is stripped away in service of pursuing something real and worth earning. That feels less like sacrifice and more like clarity.
Jack, I'm touched by your comment and by the time you took to reflect on the post. Thank you. Your comments are always insightful, and I learn something new about my own post from them. Yes indeed 'The Obstacle Is the Way'; and as a Buddhist poet friend of mine says 'The ladders start here'. Always.
This is a wonderful sentence. 'The work that truly matters almost always begins out of sight, alone in a field of sorts, where comfort and certainty aren’t much help.' (It's also nonetheless comforting to know that we're not alone, even as we are.) Can I pinch it and credit you?
Your writing deserves a long think… I’m always inspired after reading your thoughts…
I’m happy you like that sentence - use freely, and in any manner you want!