Had a friend over for tea recently, shared quiet space is becoming more and more normal, thankfully. When we do begin talking, we go way in. I learn about her father, his volatility, tears welling up in our eyes as she speaks.
Spending years loving someone without fully respecting them takes its toll, doesn’t it.
As I listen, consciously silencing myself so I don’t interrupt to offer advice, I sense an inner frustration arise. As I bear witness, anger melts into sadness, for myself, every child enduring the vicissitudes of life with struggling parents. Then sadness gives way to deep empathy for all parents, in war zones, hospital rooms, managing home, illness, hormones, relationships, marriage, divorce, daily meals, homework, ailing parents of their own.
Which then leads me, in my mind, to the view from underneath my bed when I was seven, the feeling of the pink carpeting against my legs, stashing myself behind the dust ruffle along with old artwork, losing my glasses again, wondering if anything here will ever make sense.
On my desk altar, circa 1976… zoom in (I still love trees this much).
As my friend finishes relating her tale, I offer just one consideration and one potential practice, which I’ll share with you below, after a few announcements.
First, an invitation to a free writing class, a quick review of Softening Time, then a poem from the book in honor of somehow managing to consistently offer a weekly column for a full year here. Beyond thankful for your presence.
Softening Time is a weekly newsletter, mostly about learning, listening and our subtle transformations. If you have financial restriction, scholarships are absolutely available, just respond to this email or reach out via my site. To practice asana with me, here is your link to enjoy two months free on Glo. And feel free to explore my other books, courses and artwork.
You’re invited: Writing as Practice with Nadia Colburn and me, FREE.
Next week, March 19th, 11.30am ET.
Nourish your yearning to write, bring ease to your work and tap into your innate wisdom with us. In this one-hour free offering, Nadia and I will share current practices and ways in which we integrate writing with other practices in our lives, and how we’ve personally come into greater voice, vision, healing and freedom through writing—and how you can, too.
What you'll take with you:
Habits for staying consistent.
Ways to uphold the joy of writing.
Ideas for scheduling your time efficiently.
Insights for treating yourself compassionately.
Tools to listen to your body—and spirit
Release and greater freedom
Treat yourself to a restorative, empowering hour of conversation, teachings, practice and generative writing. And discover new practices to take home with you.
Click here to register for free.
Review of the Softening Time audiobook, now on sale on Amazon:
Softening Time on audio is a collection of relaxing, thought-provoking, meditative-style poetry. I enjoyed this collection while relaxing and also for reflection. Elena shares intimate and heartbreaking details through some of her poems, and I like how these poems share different types of grief as well.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Softening Time with Elena Brower to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.