by Robin Fried
click to enlarge
Trapped in 650 sq. ft.
Becomes my sanctuary
My work suddenly yanked from me
Vacation. Spaciousness of time from deadlines. Glorious Freedom
All my life structured days: school, work family, motherhood
Always demands and deadlines, whether normal life or self-imposed
Now the opportunity to be
To find my own rhythm
To discover what really matters
To allow me to unfold without constraints or distractions.
Living on my own, old and poor: everyone’s worst nightmare
Yes, very real challenges
Yet, oh!
The excruciating freedom
Being pregnant in each moment
Birthing new ideas, dreams, visions
With curiosity and wonder
I look at core beliefs (mine and others) with a new prescription lens: COVID, Collapse, Change
Radical questions:
Being productive; functioning; judging sensations; whose voice said that was true?
Mostly, how can I best serve?
What do I have to offer?
Just be and trust and allow and listen
With the discipline of attention
Cultivate and create my ‘post-covid’ Contribution
Robin Fried arrived for her first retreat in April 2006. She was at the beginning of her chemo treatments, completely bald, and feeling very tender and vulnerable. Yet she knew she was on a healing journey with the unique, magical and miraculous compassionate expertise that emerged from the hearts of Janie, MaryLiz, Gretchen, Kathy, Tessa, and Daphne. She instantly trusted them... and gradually herself. Her life was transformed. Callanish continues to anchor and inspire Robin as she is now focusing on Eldering as a Transformative Phase of Life.