This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing your hopeful and inspiring view of openness. It also made me think about forgiveness and how being unforgiving is really just a load you have chosen to carry. In the same way, being closed is a stance towards others and the world that has been chosen, like a rock tied to your ankle, holding you in place, so that you can't move forward with humility and grace and growth.
Using those nostalgic signs as a metaphor for how we operate in the world, is so openly you. What a beautiful thought. Openness requires vulnerability, which brings such richness to life. Being open, to me, also means paying attention and noticing those tiny things that fill us up and therefore gift us the possibility of filling others. Thank you for this beautiful poem and your words James.
Lovely as always. To me, staying open means staying hopeful. Present. Trusting, even if terrible things are happening in the world, near or far, that there is much more beauty and kindness and gentle grace. It’s quieter. It doesn’t make headlines. But I can choose to still believe that most people are good-hearted, most of the time. Yes, I keep discernment. I hold boundaries. I follow intuition. But underneath all that, a soft voice whispers, “This is a beautiful place. I belong here, and people are worthy of connection and care.”
“Staying open” means to me that I continue to be me—open to all until/unless they start to get mean or unwelcoming. I don’t have time or energy or any desire for that in my life. In my neighborhood and the places I visit (library, bank, parks, forest preserves, post office, local drug store, etc.), people are lovely and kind. There are some who, as a conversation goes on, begin go show that their sign says “Closed!”, and I politely move away from that as soon as I can, but those folks are few and far between. I will not shut down in response to what others do or how they act. However, I have also found myself once or twice saying something I think I first heard from Carrie Newcomer: “I do not share your view of God or humanity” (not an exact quote). But I also have to say that while I stay informed through Heather Cox Richardson’s daily Substack newsletter and occasionally NPR in the car, I am spared a lot of things because I’ve never engaged in social media of any kind (FB, TikTok, Instagram, X, etc.). Best decision I ever made.
I agree, there's no use struggling to open a locked door, or arguing with a brick wall. It sounds like you too are committed to creating a better world, Susan, and I'm so glad of that. Good choice on not engaging in social media!!
How easy it seems to “Close” up when so many truths today don’t feel honest or safe. And what an exercise to stay Open nonetheless. Granting ourselves, and those around us, the chance to live more fully, feel more deeply.
Lovely. Nostalgia can be dangerous but not your kind. Here’s to staying open-hearted with compassionate boundaries both tender and fierce. 💪💖💪
Brilliant! Thank you!
Thank you, Susanna!
May we all be open to the world, to those around us, friend and stranger. Thank you, James, for your tender and gentle heart.
And thank you for your tender, open heart too, Sam! We keep each other going.
This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing your hopeful and inspiring view of openness. It also made me think about forgiveness and how being unforgiving is really just a load you have chosen to carry. In the same way, being closed is a stance towards others and the world that has been chosen, like a rock tied to your ankle, holding you in place, so that you can't move forward with humility and grace and growth.
It's so true that staying closed feels so much heavier!
Such a beautiful reminder to stay open. As I read your poem I was also the tinkling of the bells on shop doors when they opened and closed.
That's what I was going for! I love the joyful sound of those bells above shop doors. Another bit of nostalgia...
Just wow! So perfect.
Thank you, dear Wendy. It always makes me happy to see a comment from you!
Using those nostalgic signs as a metaphor for how we operate in the world, is so openly you. What a beautiful thought. Openness requires vulnerability, which brings such richness to life. Being open, to me, also means paying attention and noticing those tiny things that fill us up and therefore gift us the possibility of filling others. Thank you for this beautiful poem and your words James.
Lovely as always. To me, staying open means staying hopeful. Present. Trusting, even if terrible things are happening in the world, near or far, that there is much more beauty and kindness and gentle grace. It’s quieter. It doesn’t make headlines. But I can choose to still believe that most people are good-hearted, most of the time. Yes, I keep discernment. I hold boundaries. I follow intuition. But underneath all that, a soft voice whispers, “This is a beautiful place. I belong here, and people are worthy of connection and care.”
You are right--"gentle grace" rarely grabs attention or makes headlines. But it changes everything.
Thank you, dear James!
Love this one...
Thank you, Angie!
“Staying open” means to me that I continue to be me—open to all until/unless they start to get mean or unwelcoming. I don’t have time or energy or any desire for that in my life. In my neighborhood and the places I visit (library, bank, parks, forest preserves, post office, local drug store, etc.), people are lovely and kind. There are some who, as a conversation goes on, begin go show that their sign says “Closed!”, and I politely move away from that as soon as I can, but those folks are few and far between. I will not shut down in response to what others do or how they act. However, I have also found myself once or twice saying something I think I first heard from Carrie Newcomer: “I do not share your view of God or humanity” (not an exact quote). But I also have to say that while I stay informed through Heather Cox Richardson’s daily Substack newsletter and occasionally NPR in the car, I am spared a lot of things because I’ve never engaged in social media of any kind (FB, TikTok, Instagram, X, etc.). Best decision I ever made.
I agree, there's no use struggling to open a locked door, or arguing with a brick wall. It sounds like you too are committed to creating a better world, Susan, and I'm so glad of that. Good choice on not engaging in social media!!
“Deadbolt turned in the chest…”❤️
I'm grateful your own heart stays unlocked, dear Katey.
“We’re open,” “Welcome!”
Reads sign by our heart’s door… or
“We’ll be back at 1:00.”
How easy it seems to “Close” up when so many truths today don’t feel honest or safe. And what an exercise to stay Open nonetheless. Granting ourselves, and those around us, the chance to live more fully, feel more deeply.