“Our circle of connected hearts and our song of faith in the light – regardless of what religion we practice or how we access that light – are all that we have ever possessed, and all that will ever matter.” Yes! So beautifully said! And it’s the belief in each other’s goodness and the singing it into being that heals a broken heart. Heart warming reminder. Thank you Mary!
Just read to my daughter. Great way to start off Christmas! We watched the Grinch last night. Yes.. such a part of our culture.. cameo in one of my early essays too:
Thank you, Mary! I was just reading The Marginalian, "13 Life-Learnings from 13 Years of Brain-Pickings", and I thought of you. I thought it fit with your Grinch story. I thought after reading this quote below, I figured the hero of your story was Cindy-Lou Who because she "did not despair" and she saw through the Grinch and drew out his better self, and her love and compassion spread all over Who-ville. You always make me dig deep for meaning, my Friend.
"#10 Don’t just resist cynicism — fight it actively. Fight it in yourself, for this ungainly beast lies dormant in each of us, and counter it in those you love and engage with, by modeling its opposite. Cynicism often masquerades as nobler faculties and dispositions, but is categorically inferior. Unlike that great Rilkean life-expanding doubt, it is a contracting force. Unlike critical thinking, that pillar of reason and necessary counterpart to hope, it is inherently uncreative, unconstructive, and spiritually corrosive. Life, like the universe itself, tolerates no stasis — in the absence of growth, decay usurps the order. Like all forms of destruction, cynicism is infinitely easier and lazier than construction. There is nothing more difficult yet more gratifying in our society than living with sincerity and acting from a place of largehearted, constructive, rational faith in the human spirit, continually bending toward growth and betterment. This remains the most potent antidote to cynicism. Today, especially, it is an act of courage and resistance."
Rocket, what a beautiful, helpful reply. Yes! Cynicism is a great destroyer of hope, spirit, and the possibility of change. I've battled cynicism more in the past 3 years than ever before! Thank you SO MUCH for this quote -- now I'm going to read the other 12 from Maria Popova.
Mary, I hoped that quote would inspire you to go and read the rest of the 13 points. This Maria Popova slays me with almost everything she writes (and she is a fan of Rilke after all, haha, so there is that). But I just can't express how deeply she touches me, especially her writings, and all the other ones she introduces us to, that are about love and friendship, - in essence, "all that will ever matter", as you said yourself. Thanks for your closing line. I'm very grateful for your kind words.
Loved this, Mary. You are very creative, and of course, the message is timeless. "All we need is love", as the song says. I especially like the singing and holding hands part. Nice seeing you around substack here and there recently. Blessings on you and yours.
“Our circle of connected hearts and our song of faith in the light – regardless of what religion we practice or how we access that light – are all that we have ever possessed, and all that will ever matter.” Yes! So beautifully said! And it’s the belief in each other’s goodness and the singing it into being that heals a broken heart. Heart warming reminder. Thank you Mary!
You're so welcome. Glad it warmed you, Katie Grace! Thank you for your comment on healing -- it's spot-on. 🙏
Brilliant...simply brilliant ❤️
You're so kind, Jack. Thank you. 🙏
Just read to my daughter. Great way to start off Christmas! We watched the Grinch last night. Yes.. such a part of our culture.. cameo in one of my early essays too:
https://open.substack.com/pub/thecriticalmiddle/p/why-i-am-voting-red-this-election?utm_source=direct&r=1sr0c7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Love that you read it to your daughter! Makes me so happy... 😊
Beautiful!!!
Thank you, Mary! I was just reading The Marginalian, "13 Life-Learnings from 13 Years of Brain-Pickings", and I thought of you. I thought it fit with your Grinch story. I thought after reading this quote below, I figured the hero of your story was Cindy-Lou Who because she "did not despair" and she saw through the Grinch and drew out his better self, and her love and compassion spread all over Who-ville. You always make me dig deep for meaning, my Friend.
"#10 Don’t just resist cynicism — fight it actively. Fight it in yourself, for this ungainly beast lies dormant in each of us, and counter it in those you love and engage with, by modeling its opposite. Cynicism often masquerades as nobler faculties and dispositions, but is categorically inferior. Unlike that great Rilkean life-expanding doubt, it is a contracting force. Unlike critical thinking, that pillar of reason and necessary counterpart to hope, it is inherently uncreative, unconstructive, and spiritually corrosive. Life, like the universe itself, tolerates no stasis — in the absence of growth, decay usurps the order. Like all forms of destruction, cynicism is infinitely easier and lazier than construction. There is nothing more difficult yet more gratifying in our society than living with sincerity and acting from a place of largehearted, constructive, rational faith in the human spirit, continually bending toward growth and betterment. This remains the most potent antidote to cynicism. Today, especially, it is an act of courage and resistance."
Maria Popova
Rocket, what a beautiful, helpful reply. Yes! Cynicism is a great destroyer of hope, spirit, and the possibility of change. I've battled cynicism more in the past 3 years than ever before! Thank you SO MUCH for this quote -- now I'm going to read the other 12 from Maria Popova.
You are such a gift!! 🎁
Mary, I hoped that quote would inspire you to go and read the rest of the 13 points. This Maria Popova slays me with almost everything she writes (and she is a fan of Rilke after all, haha, so there is that). But I just can't express how deeply she touches me, especially her writings, and all the other ones she introduces us to, that are about love and friendship, - in essence, "all that will ever matter", as you said yourself. Thanks for your closing line. I'm very grateful for your kind words.
Delightful! Mary, you're so much fun! Merry Christmas!
Loved this, Mary. You are very creative, and of course, the message is timeless. "All we need is love", as the song says. I especially like the singing and holding hands part. Nice seeing you around substack here and there recently. Blessings on you and yours.
Thank you, Rocket! Always love your comments -- whether they are on my Stack or someone else's! 😊 Blessings in return, friend!
Love this! Thank you. Merry Christmas and wishing you a love-filled, fearless 2023.
Merry Christmas to you, too, Kathleen. And yes -- a fearless 2023 is what we all need!