Laughed out loud at your mothers ‘why would I lie to you’. Yes we need to teach our children and ourselves to live within our own limitations; but limitations with creativity can become a pathway beyond our imagination. Thanks for your notes.
I absolutely love the idea of a trip when you turn 13. Dreaming of ways to make that happen for my nephews and nieces and friend's children. And wow, I just can't wait to hear as you dream further about your T+L story and possibly monastery trip!
I identify with your enneagram pattern and about finding it hard to dream. Yet you have done so well at dreaming. I’m much older than you and as a mother, I have been a bit like your mother. We want the best for our children yet we do not want to set them up for unrealistic expectations. It’s a hard one. As a meditator in the Christian tradition (WCCM), my life is changing in that dreams I did not know I had are coming true, yet I feel I am becoming more deeply grounded as well. It is a marvellous thing and I support, whole-heartedly, your wanting to visit a monastery. May we all benefit from your going.
I’ve cultivated a habit for dreaming in the last few years, right alongside a habit of finding joy. To me, travel and dreaming are so intertwined - it’s when I physically leave my everyday life that my brain has the space and my heart has the inspiration to dream. Ans many of those dreams, in some form or another, have become reality. I’m taking a dream trip to Turkey, Italy and Greece next spring, and I’m beyond excited to explore places and cultures that are so different from my day-to-day.
I hope while in Leaunau you had a slice of cherry pie somewhere.! My dream trip would be to go to all the great art museums in Europe. I was scheduled to see two before my trip was cancelled by Covid.
i have been dreaming of scuba diving again. It has been many years. the kelp forests off San Clemente and/or swimming with wild dolphins again in the Bahamas... Sometimes a dream can be revisiting something.. I love your mom's perspective here and your take on your visit to London and Paris. thanks!
I dream words and stories that come from my garden and other places of meaning in my world. Lots of chapter titles, but few words to follow them so far. Maybe the name will be “The unwritten Book”. I’ll continue to try as it lifts my spirit to do so.
Have visited some wonderful places but always appreciate traveling with you in your stories.
Wow. You are not kidding about the tamping down of dreams by sermons about how the heart above all else is deceitful. There is a push-pull tug of war constantly in me between dreaming of God’s call on my life and then questioning whether my heart is deceiving me. Thank you for sharing this.
One of my kiddos (adopted) was born in Traverse City. I’ve only been there one time when we visited as a family years after his adoption. It was extraordinarily beautiful. To be canopied by lush green trees one moment and then sliding down a dune the next. What wonders there were to see!
I too laughed out loud at your mom's practicality. I think it is good to dream, (is dreaming related to hope?) but it's also wise to understand that a person cannot do / be everything. Currently a dream is to study hard enough and well enough to become a decent pianist before I die, to play in a chamber group of some kind, at some point? It could happen! Right? This dream is not impossible...and it's been good for my soul to engage in actual work at this. As for the Olympics (we also can't stop watching) I love when an underdog makes a big move, no matter what country they're from, and I really loved seeing a mixed gender relay in swimming last night. Fascinating to consider the possible combinations of swimmers in that new event. And dream trip would be to see the truly northern parts of this world. The big lakes in northern Canada, Hudson Bay, Greenland, Scandinavia. Whenever I fly I can't stop looking at these places if we go over them in an arc toward western Europe. Thanks for this lovely newsletter today!
I dream of communal living. For about 10 years after college I lived in houses with lots of roommates, all with some basic level of commitment to the house / community. My first child was born into one of these, but then we had to move to LA and couldn't replicate it out there. We're back on the east coast and I'd love to try to replicate it again. I honestly have no idea how to make it happen (I need that practical side) but its a long-term prayer and hope of mine to make it happen.
This is thought provoking in that I really haven’t thought much about whether I allow myself to dream. I’m not sure I do and thank you for the little push to consider imaging some things. I’d like to imagine a Church without patriarchy and spiritual abuse. I’m too cynical to believe I’ll see it 😕
Also… love the idea of a 13 year old’s dream trip. If I’m physically able I’d love to do that with my grandkids!
Olympics!!! Yes to it all, though I love the gymnastics and diving most. It’s been intriguing to observe the commentary around Simone Biles. As if she owes us anything!
I tend to agree with your mother now that I’m older. But I think I probably told my kids they could be anything they wanted.
For these COVID Olympics, I have found the watch parties really touching. Usually they just show the parents in the stands at the events, but this year we get to see the whole town, up at 3 in the morning, cheering the athletes on with those parents. It shows the support that they have back home, and how it takes that support to get to the Olympics. I know the families will be back at the events next time, but I'd like to see the watch parties covered by the media- and show the athletes after they compete!
I’ve not had a lot of dreams for my life, and I’ve wondered why… going to chew on what you’ve mentioned in regards to the church, because I think this is part of it.
The mixed gender relays (track, swimming, triathlon) have been intriguing. It doesn’t address all questions on gender and ability the games have been confronted with, but I appreciate them.
I was touched by the camaraderie in the 800 meter race of the two runners, one from the USA and the other from Botswana, who fell, then helped each other up and finished the race arm in arm together.
Laughed out loud at your mothers ‘why would I lie to you’. Yes we need to teach our children and ourselves to live within our own limitations; but limitations with creativity can become a pathway beyond our imagination. Thanks for your notes.
I absolutely love the idea of a trip when you turn 13. Dreaming of ways to make that happen for my nephews and nieces and friend's children. And wow, I just can't wait to hear as you dream further about your T+L story and possibly monastery trip!
I identify with your enneagram pattern and about finding it hard to dream. Yet you have done so well at dreaming. I’m much older than you and as a mother, I have been a bit like your mother. We want the best for our children yet we do not want to set them up for unrealistic expectations. It’s a hard one. As a meditator in the Christian tradition (WCCM), my life is changing in that dreams I did not know I had are coming true, yet I feel I am becoming more deeply grounded as well. It is a marvellous thing and I support, whole-heartedly, your wanting to visit a monastery. May we all benefit from your going.
Dream trip - riding the Trans-Siberian Express. I'm not sure why, I read a blurb about it one time and it fascinated me
I’ve cultivated a habit for dreaming in the last few years, right alongside a habit of finding joy. To me, travel and dreaming are so intertwined - it’s when I physically leave my everyday life that my brain has the space and my heart has the inspiration to dream. Ans many of those dreams, in some form or another, have become reality. I’m taking a dream trip to Turkey, Italy and Greece next spring, and I’m beyond excited to explore places and cultures that are so different from my day-to-day.
I hope while in Leaunau you had a slice of cherry pie somewhere.! My dream trip would be to go to all the great art museums in Europe. I was scheduled to see two before my trip was cancelled by Covid.
i have been dreaming of scuba diving again. It has been many years. the kelp forests off San Clemente and/or swimming with wild dolphins again in the Bahamas... Sometimes a dream can be revisiting something.. I love your mom's perspective here and your take on your visit to London and Paris. thanks!
I dream words and stories that come from my garden and other places of meaning in my world. Lots of chapter titles, but few words to follow them so far. Maybe the name will be “The unwritten Book”. I’ll continue to try as it lifts my spirit to do so.
Have visited some wonderful places but always appreciate traveling with you in your stories.
Thanks and take care and keep writing.
Wow. You are not kidding about the tamping down of dreams by sermons about how the heart above all else is deceitful. There is a push-pull tug of war constantly in me between dreaming of God’s call on my life and then questioning whether my heart is deceiving me. Thank you for sharing this.
One of my kiddos (adopted) was born in Traverse City. I’ve only been there one time when we visited as a family years after his adoption. It was extraordinarily beautiful. To be canopied by lush green trees one moment and then sliding down a dune the next. What wonders there were to see!
I too laughed out loud at your mom's practicality. I think it is good to dream, (is dreaming related to hope?) but it's also wise to understand that a person cannot do / be everything. Currently a dream is to study hard enough and well enough to become a decent pianist before I die, to play in a chamber group of some kind, at some point? It could happen! Right? This dream is not impossible...and it's been good for my soul to engage in actual work at this. As for the Olympics (we also can't stop watching) I love when an underdog makes a big move, no matter what country they're from, and I really loved seeing a mixed gender relay in swimming last night. Fascinating to consider the possible combinations of swimmers in that new event. And dream trip would be to see the truly northern parts of this world. The big lakes in northern Canada, Hudson Bay, Greenland, Scandinavia. Whenever I fly I can't stop looking at these places if we go over them in an arc toward western Europe. Thanks for this lovely newsletter today!
I dream of communal living. For about 10 years after college I lived in houses with lots of roommates, all with some basic level of commitment to the house / community. My first child was born into one of these, but then we had to move to LA and couldn't replicate it out there. We're back on the east coast and I'd love to try to replicate it again. I honestly have no idea how to make it happen (I need that practical side) but its a long-term prayer and hope of mine to make it happen.
Thanks so much, Jeff. I so enjoy your posts, and I find this one about dreaming both timely and helpful.
This is thought provoking in that I really haven’t thought much about whether I allow myself to dream. I’m not sure I do and thank you for the little push to consider imaging some things. I’d like to imagine a Church without patriarchy and spiritual abuse. I’m too cynical to believe I’ll see it 😕
Also… love the idea of a 13 year old’s dream trip. If I’m physically able I’d love to do that with my grandkids!
Olympics!!! Yes to it all, though I love the gymnastics and diving most. It’s been intriguing to observe the commentary around Simone Biles. As if she owes us anything!
I tend to agree with your mother now that I’m older. But I think I probably told my kids they could be anything they wanted.
For these COVID Olympics, I have found the watch parties really touching. Usually they just show the parents in the stands at the events, but this year we get to see the whole town, up at 3 in the morning, cheering the athletes on with those parents. It shows the support that they have back home, and how it takes that support to get to the Olympics. I know the families will be back at the events next time, but I'd like to see the watch parties covered by the media- and show the athletes after they compete!
I’ve not had a lot of dreams for my life, and I’ve wondered why… going to chew on what you’ve mentioned in regards to the church, because I think this is part of it.
The mixed gender relays (track, swimming, triathlon) have been intriguing. It doesn’t address all questions on gender and ability the games have been confronted with, but I appreciate them.
I was touched by the camaraderie in the 800 meter race of the two runners, one from the USA and the other from Botswana, who fell, then helped each other up and finished the race arm in arm together.