VULNERABILITY

Vulnerability is not a weakness, a passing indisposition, or something we can arrange to do without. Vulnerability is not a choice. Vulnerability is the underlying, ever-present and abiding undercurrent of our natural state. To run from vulnerability is to run from the essence of our nature; the attempt to be invulnerable is the vain attempt to become something we are not and, most especially, to close off our understanding of the grief of others. More seriously, in refusing our vulnerability we refuse the help needed at every turn of our existence and immobilise the essential, tidal and conversational foundations of our identity.

To have a temporary, isolated sense of power over all events and circumstances is a lovely, illusionary privilege, and perhaps the prime and most beautifully constructed conceit of being human - and especially of being youthfully human - but it is a privilege that must be surrendered with that same youth, with ill health, with accident, with the loss of loved ones who do not share our untouchable powers, powers eventually and most emphatically given up as we approach our last breath.

The only choice we have as we mature is how we inhabit our vulnerability, how we become larger and more courageous and more compassionate through our intimacy with disappearance; our choice is to inhabit vulnerability as generous citizens of loss, robustly and fully, or conversely as misers and complainers, reluctant and fearful, always at the gates of existence but never bravely and completely attempting to enter, never wanting to risk ourselves, never walking fully through the door.

Good Morning Digital Neighbors! More meat for the mind from David Whyte and his work: Consolations - The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words. I thought bouncing around his work might serve as a better incentive to explore it on your own. Also, it is enjoyable to have a book with stand alone chapters so one does not need to commit to sequential reading which can often hit a lull and join the legion of half read books bookmarked where you quit.

The only choice we have as we mature is how we inhabit our vulnerability Actual vulnerability is becoming an increasing rare commodity. One has to make an effort to know oneself before they can develop any sort of meaningful vulnerability with another. Shallow living not only makes one incapable of knowing oneself, but makes depth connection with another difficult and unlikely.

We never know our own story completely, but some can become complete strangers to themselves blaming the "other" as the forever reason they have not come home to themselves. Dennis Prager likes to say "The bigger the government - the smaller the citizen." I take that statement as part of experienced reality as one pays attention to the world, having seen immense governments who remove all the rights of their citizens and remove people from the roles of citizens to enemies and slaves of the state. Think of all of the collectivists out there (Communists a plenty, seemingly benign Socialists and government & corporately wed National Socialists cough cough this is the only group the Enemedia recognizes as evil of the three) who lead you to a better tomorrow build on pyramids of death and oppression.

Much like Dennis Prager's statement - I think a similar thought: The greater the victimology, the less the vulnerability. This phrase by David Whyte captures that speculation for me. Our intimacy with disappearance; our choice is to inhabit vulnerability as generous citizens of loss, robustly and fully, or conversely as misers and complainers, reluctant and fearful, always at the gates of existence but never bravely and completely attempting to enter We live in a society of celebrated misers and complainers, we live among the constantly blaming and rarely self-examining. I believe people can be converted (sort of an occupational given, 😁) but only with great pain as they brave the waters of reflection and vulnerability.

One of the fruits of soul searching, reflection, introspection (that reflection on being alone opens the doors of meaningful introspection) is a gradual awareness of self that can begin to be vulnerable with others in appropriate and gradual encounters.

More seriously, in refusing our vulnerability we refuse the help needed at every turn of our existence and immobilise the essential, tidal and conversational foundations of our identity.

Happy Tuesday ADD Irregulars, Seekers of Sanity & Civility, Fascinating People, Triggeratti and Bountiful Bigots, Dawn Patrol and Phetasy, Friends and Refugees in all of these Local-alities. I hope your pilgrimage of life affords you the freedom to be self-reflective and opens the door to vulnerability and its challenges and rewards. Have a great day digital neighbors and see you around the inter-webs!

Vermont autumn barn courtesy of Brave