Because of this with Robin, a friend shared with me that she understood the level of despair that could lead to suicide. I was shocked as this is a religious woman, deeply involved with community, family, and friends. What don't we know of the inner life of ourselves, of our friends?
Lately, friends been sharing with me their childhood wounds. I was raised easily, beautifully, kindly. As far as I know, there are no wounds, only the death of my father when I was 19, but I am more aware now of what may simmer or numb in those we know.
I look out the window at my redwood tree. It is one at the base and rises as two. Perhaps if we can each realize we may appear as one, but we rise in relationship, perhaps, we can touch another in new ways. Perhaps.
I'm giving a speech tonight called, "A Change in Relationship". It is based on my trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons with one of my sons. I feel we honored the change in our relationship, that we met as adults, with him, at times, the stronger, as he did the driving, built the campfires, and helped me over banks of snow. Being there, I saw how local and national organizations work together to make the land work for animals, plants, and humans, those who like solitude and those who like to snowmobile. There is a place for each, a niche. How do we honor and respect?
And how do we grieve?
I am with this quote:
Charles Darwin said: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”