I’m borrowing these questions from Dominic Barter who developed Restorative Circles (with a capital R and a capital C) in the favelas of Brazil. I have used them in classes and I used variations of them in my most recent class for Pace e Bene. There is power in these questions. Your answers are a gift to everyone reading.
1. My solitude, which generates somatic joy. Like, things get quiet enough that I can smell the air and sense the roots of my hair. My husband was working from home for months, and I missed being alone. My parenting feels solid. Even when things are hard, I'm unsurprised.
2. I worry about the slow growth of my business. Feel a lot of uncertainty and seek validation. My jaw hurts. My son just told me that he's starting a cult. Which could be okay I guess?
3. I wish my mom had more financial stability and fewer emotional hooks in me. I wish we had money to travel as a family before it is too late. I wish my husband's health was better. I wish more people would come to yoga.
There's a lot going well, really. Parenting specific - I have the most delicious conversations with my nine year old. I love his insight, his humor (he laughs at my jokes), and his understanding and astuteness of other people. Dang.
2. My health.
And parenting-wise, I have developed a very strong aversion to lots of noise and multiple people talking to me at once and to being interrupted when I am doing anything. It's super hard. I am wearing my ear defenders A LOT.
3. *Cynical chuckle*
I want more. More time, more patience, more love, more lovingness, more presence (as I sit here writing while son is in the room).
And I want to be able to trust, in a lot of things.
1. My solitude, which generates somatic joy. Like, things get quiet enough that I can smell the air and sense the roots of my hair. My husband was working from home for months, and I missed being alone. My parenting feels solid. Even when things are hard, I'm unsurprised.
2. I worry about the slow growth of my business. Feel a lot of uncertainty and seek validation. My jaw hurts. My son just told me that he's starting a cult. Which could be okay I guess?
3. I wish my mom had more financial stability and fewer emotional hooks in me. I wish we had money to travel as a family before it is too late. I wish my husband's health was better. I wish more people would come to yoga.
I love this Kate. So evocative. You can sense the roots of your hair!
Hearing you on the slow business growth. Would it be so reassuring to have people just knocking down your door? Or maybe that would be too much! Haha.
Hearing all your longings and deep desires.
Thank you for sharing.
1. Ummm, the garden? Does that count?
There's a lot going well, really. Parenting specific - I have the most delicious conversations with my nine year old. I love his insight, his humor (he laughs at my jokes), and his understanding and astuteness of other people. Dang.
2. My health.
And parenting-wise, I have developed a very strong aversion to lots of noise and multiple people talking to me at once and to being interrupted when I am doing anything. It's super hard. I am wearing my ear defenders A LOT.
3. *Cynical chuckle*
I want more. More time, more patience, more love, more lovingness, more presence (as I sit here writing while son is in the room).
And I want to be able to trust, in a lot of things.
I want these for you too, Sarah. So much.