FootprintsintheWind.com

The way we’re going to survive as a species is to work out how to live with—not against—life. The one, the only life.

:- Doug.

Here’s how to tell: Even if the argument seems logical, look for its basis. A narrow circle of concern narrows us. Humans need an ever-widening embrace.

:- Doug.

Never again us v them; always us with them.

:- Doug.

The emergence of the politics of selfishness is good—if we become conscious of our reactions against it. If we can learn from it, not just defeat it, we can grow our species in areas like interdependence, justice, developing healthy relationships all around.

:- Doug.

Sustainability has always seemed a vague and wimpy word. How about repeatability? Can we repeat life in the next generation and the next? Livability?

:- Doug.

Typos and detours may be the main road.

:- Doug.

Why don’t we go deeper? Maybe fear: of others, of being found inadequate, of ourselves. Lack of energy: emotional, intellectual, physical. Interest: lack thereof, mismatch with the other person. Not knowing how to start. Let’s go deeper.

:- Doug.

What have you seen are the deeper aspects of being human?

:- Doug.

Where can depth go? Only to spirit and humanity?

:- Doug.

How do I find your depth?

:- Doug.

Just as an organism can only arise out of its whole surroundings, so a human can only emerge from the totality of her milieu: mother, father, their food and exercise, the sun, plants, and animals they take in, the micro organisms in their world, their parents, the water and rain. The all about is integral to us and we to the all.

:- Doug.

To hear is holy.

:- Doug.

Conversation is the way, depth, and life—what you do with it, where you take it, is different for each and for each community. Every conversation is different: conversation is the stream carrying all. Is it more basic than what it carries? Who knows? It is always there, that’s all we know for sure for now.

:- Doug.

Healing is putting the conversing in touch with the larger conversing.

:- Doug.

We live in a seething full roiling kettle of conversation—and even the kettle is dissolving, bubbling, turning, and not defined.

:- Doug.

In communities of conversations
We live

:- Doug.

Conversing ourselves

:- Doug.

Healing needs hearing.

:- Doug.

Discover yourself: converse.

:- Doug.

Discover what you think:
Join the conversation.

:- Doug.

Know ourself: Go beyond “know thyself;” the singular is intentional: there seems to be a one made up of all of us, or at least larger than the sum of us.

:- Doug.

We are the way, the depth, and the meaning.

:- Doug.

A step toward putting them together: As teacher, I point out a possible trailhead—conversing—and some tools that might help in opening the path. Students working alone or in continuing conversation find or create ways to places further along.

:- Doug.