Alex, this was so tenderly written. This practice of being available and alert to "whatever waits to reveal itself" is so important -- and difficult. I am practicing and noticing, and so agree that the culture we live in, "treats stillness with suspicion". So astute! It sure does.
I think this was my favourite bit. I reread it and reread it: "In the forest, you can be fully present while unmoving and it's considered mastery. In the city, you stand still on a sidewalk for too long and people wonder if you're lost." Wow.
Thank you for those kind words about the writing. I'm so grateful it connected with you.
I love that you pulled out that line. It came from such a real place for me. Yes! You really get it. Our culture absolutely treats stillness with suspicion. That forest versus city image really captures it, doesn't it? The different rules we have for presence. I'm honored that you took the time to reread that section. The fact that you're actively practicing this makes my heart happy. I'm so glad this resonates with your own experience. Thank you for engaging so deeply with this. I'm so grateful for you 🩵
Alex, I stopped several times reading this. So many takeaways. So many, hmmns. Thank you for your continued commentary on aliveness. Your writing transports me to places I have not yet considered. This line “Always preparing for the next moment instead of inhabiting this one” was a hmmmn. Here’s to inhabiting this one.
I'm honored that you took the time to stop and really take it in. The fact that you're taking so much away from this means everything. The 'hmmns' are the best compliment a writer can get. Your appreciation for this exploration of aliveness touches me deeply. I'm so glad it's opening up new territories for you.
That quote means a lot to me too. Thank you for highlighting it. Here's to inhabiting this moment - I'm right there with you. Thank you for such a thoughtful response. I'm so grateful you're here 🩵
Totally consumed me as I read this. Anticipating yet there was something else nudging deep inside me. I can identify many of the sensations you write about being aware of, though I have not yet felt all of them. Perhaps one day I will and then I’ll hear its breath as you have. Thank you, Alex. ❤️🌼
I'm so glad this absorbed you completely. I have such faith in your journey, I believe you will experience them.
Your language is so poetic. You are such a talented writer. 'Hear its breath' - yes, exactly. Thank you. Your reflections always add so much depth. So appreciate you, my friend 🩵
Yes! We are all part of this living, breathing consciousness. That connection is everything. Thank you for that reminder about our oneness. I needed to hear that today. So appreciate you, my friend 🩵
This is a beautiful example of simply "being" being in the moment, being in the stillness and asking what is there, not telling what is next. I often take "mindfulness walks," or practice "walking meditation." We can retrain our brains to be still and notice. Relying on the senses to tell us, in the moment, what wild thing is moving nearby. Thank you for this! Love, Virg
I love that you shared your practice of mindfulness walks and walking meditation, Virg. That really resonates with me—the way you described retraining the brain to be still and simply asking what is there feels so grounding. There's something truly sacred about tuning into those subtle movements of wild things nearby. Thank you for this beautiful reminder to just be, my friend 🩵
Alex, I felt alive WITH you when that animal neared. Your writing there was so visceral...I could remember an exact moment when I experienced an animal outside my tent (and that moment was probably 40 years ago!).
"I remembered that the wild is always moving nearby."
and the way you brought the whole concept of paying attention and being present to the moment fully back to wildness is some of the best extended metaphor (my favorite poetic device) I have ever seen.
I love that you felt alive WITH me in that moment — that really resonates with me, my friend. That memory of an animal near your tent from 40 years ago is so powerful, and I’m grateful you shared it here. Yes, the wild is always moving nearby, and paying attention to that presence is such a grounding, poetic reminder of life’s constant flow. Thank you for holding space for that with me, truly 🩵
I love that you feel we’re on the same wavelength—that really matters to me! So appreciate you recommending me to your subscribers, my friend. Yes, let’s absolutely keep spreading the good and lifting each other up. There’s so much power in this shared energy. Thank you for being part of this journey with me 🩵
I agree we've been conditioned to believe that aliveness means movement and loudness are involved. Therefore, they must be better than stillness and quiet. So not true.
In the stillness and in the quiet is where meaningful discoveries and connections are often made. As you mentioned, they are not empty. Quite the contrary. And it's where introverts like myself feel far more comfortable. Silence is so underrated, and as I've written about before, silence isn't silent at all. It just requires a different sort of listening.
I love that you brought up how stillness and quiet are so often misunderstood in our culture, my friend. I think you are spot on, especially the way you described silence as needing a different kind of listening is exactly right. It’s such a rich space for introverts and anyone craving connection beyond noise. Thanks for sharing your thoughtful perspective, so appreciate you 🩵
Alex, I love how you equate aliveness with presence and invite us to reject a culture that worships rupture. As you know, I'm all about mindfulness! You show us, in such a beautiful way, how presence can transform our being from asleep to alive.
I love how you picked up on that idea of aliveness being about presence—not some frantic rush but a deep, steady being with what is. Our culture really does love to yank us away from that calm center, doesn’t it? Your passion for mindfulness always shines through so beautifully, my friend 🩵.
Your words feel like a whispered invitation to something deep and alive, my friend 🩵 Quiet and stillness can hold so much power, can't they? Those wild calls of aliveness often come wrapped in questions and that gentle stir within. It’s beautiful to think of welcoming all of it warmly—what a practice in presence that is. Thank you for sharing this moment here.
"We've made motion our proof of life." This moved me-- and resonated. Thank you. This piece of writing is, itself, a wild thing moving quietly in the dark nearby.
Alex, this is an exquisite essay that teaches, or perhaps reteaches, us to notice quietly. I revel in your insights. Love every single word, but I'm choosing one quote: "This is the intelligence we're born with and educated out of. The capacity to be fully awake without being activated. To expand our awareness without immediately plotting our response." We are taught a certain way to think rather than rely on our intuition. Being awake is awareness at its best. I am so glad I read this!
Alex, this was so tenderly written. This practice of being available and alert to "whatever waits to reveal itself" is so important -- and difficult. I am practicing and noticing, and so agree that the culture we live in, "treats stillness with suspicion". So astute! It sure does.
I think this was my favourite bit. I reread it and reread it: "In the forest, you can be fully present while unmoving and it's considered mastery. In the city, you stand still on a sidewalk for too long and people wonder if you're lost." Wow.
Thank you for those kind words about the writing. I'm so grateful it connected with you.
I love that you pulled out that line. It came from such a real place for me. Yes! You really get it. Our culture absolutely treats stillness with suspicion. That forest versus city image really captures it, doesn't it? The different rules we have for presence. I'm honored that you took the time to reread that section. The fact that you're actively practicing this makes my heart happy. I'm so glad this resonates with your own experience. Thank you for engaging so deeply with this. I'm so grateful for you 🩵
Alex, I stopped several times reading this. So many takeaways. So many, hmmns. Thank you for your continued commentary on aliveness. Your writing transports me to places I have not yet considered. This line “Always preparing for the next moment instead of inhabiting this one” was a hmmmn. Here’s to inhabiting this one.
I'm honored that you took the time to stop and really take it in. The fact that you're taking so much away from this means everything. The 'hmmns' are the best compliment a writer can get. Your appreciation for this exploration of aliveness touches me deeply. I'm so glad it's opening up new territories for you.
That quote means a lot to me too. Thank you for highlighting it. Here's to inhabiting this moment - I'm right there with you. Thank you for such a thoughtful response. I'm so grateful you're here 🩵
And I am grateful YOU are here. Thank you!
Totally consumed me as I read this. Anticipating yet there was something else nudging deep inside me. I can identify many of the sensations you write about being aware of, though I have not yet felt all of them. Perhaps one day I will and then I’ll hear its breath as you have. Thank you, Alex. ❤️🌼
I'm so glad this absorbed you completely. I have such faith in your journey, I believe you will experience them.
Your language is so poetic. You are such a talented writer. 'Hear its breath' - yes, exactly. Thank you. Your reflections always add so much depth. So appreciate you, my friend 🩵
☺️🥰
So lovely! We are all a part of living breathing consciousness. Thank you for the reminder that we are one.
Yes! We are all part of this living, breathing consciousness. That connection is everything. Thank you for that reminder about our oneness. I needed to hear that today. So appreciate you, my friend 🩵
This is a beautiful example of simply "being" being in the moment, being in the stillness and asking what is there, not telling what is next. I often take "mindfulness walks," or practice "walking meditation." We can retrain our brains to be still and notice. Relying on the senses to tell us, in the moment, what wild thing is moving nearby. Thank you for this! Love, Virg
I love that you shared your practice of mindfulness walks and walking meditation, Virg. That really resonates with me—the way you described retraining the brain to be still and simply asking what is there feels so grounding. There's something truly sacred about tuning into those subtle movements of wild things nearby. Thank you for this beautiful reminder to just be, my friend 🩵
Alex, I felt alive WITH you when that animal neared. Your writing there was so visceral...I could remember an exact moment when I experienced an animal outside my tent (and that moment was probably 40 years ago!).
"I remembered that the wild is always moving nearby."
and the way you brought the whole concept of paying attention and being present to the moment fully back to wildness is some of the best extended metaphor (my favorite poetic device) I have ever seen.
thank you mmm-wuh!
I love that you felt alive WITH me in that moment — that really resonates with me, my friend. That memory of an animal near your tent from 40 years ago is so powerful, and I’m grateful you shared it here. Yes, the wild is always moving nearby, and paying attention to that presence is such a grounding, poetic reminder of life’s constant flow. Thank you for holding space for that with me, truly 🩵
Insightful 🙌 we talk of the same stuff so you are recommended to any one who subscribes to me!!!!👌let’s spread the word of the good
I love that you feel we’re on the same wavelength—that really matters to me! So appreciate you recommending me to your subscribers, my friend. Yes, let’s absolutely keep spreading the good and lifting each other up. There’s so much power in this shared energy. Thank you for being part of this journey with me 🩵
Hi Alex,
I agree we've been conditioned to believe that aliveness means movement and loudness are involved. Therefore, they must be better than stillness and quiet. So not true.
In the stillness and in the quiet is where meaningful discoveries and connections are often made. As you mentioned, they are not empty. Quite the contrary. And it's where introverts like myself feel far more comfortable. Silence is so underrated, and as I've written about before, silence isn't silent at all. It just requires a different sort of listening.
And the bear story. Yikes!
I love that you brought up how stillness and quiet are so often misunderstood in our culture, my friend. I think you are spot on, especially the way you described silence as needing a different kind of listening is exactly right. It’s such a rich space for introverts and anyone craving connection beyond noise. Thanks for sharing your thoughtful perspective, so appreciate you 🩵
Alex, I love how you equate aliveness with presence and invite us to reject a culture that worships rupture. As you know, I'm all about mindfulness! You show us, in such a beautiful way, how presence can transform our being from asleep to alive.
I love how you picked up on that idea of aliveness being about presence—not some frantic rush but a deep, steady being with what is. Our culture really does love to yank us away from that calm center, doesn’t it? Your passion for mindfulness always shines through so beautifully, my friend 🩵.
Aliveness wild calls
Quiet, questions, stillness, stirs
Warmly welcomed, all?
Your words feel like a whispered invitation to something deep and alive, my friend 🩵 Quiet and stillness can hold so much power, can't they? Those wild calls of aliveness often come wrapped in questions and that gentle stir within. It’s beautiful to think of welcoming all of it warmly—what a practice in presence that is. Thank you for sharing this moment here.
"We've made motion our proof of life." This moved me-- and resonated. Thank you. This piece of writing is, itself, a wild thing moving quietly in the dark nearby.
Wonderful article with such an important point: listening and stillness are powerful ways to connect with truth in our lives.
Alex, this is an exquisite essay that teaches, or perhaps reteaches, us to notice quietly. I revel in your insights. Love every single word, but I'm choosing one quote: "This is the intelligence we're born with and educated out of. The capacity to be fully awake without being activated. To expand our awareness without immediately plotting our response." We are taught a certain way to think rather than rely on our intuition. Being awake is awareness at its best. I am so glad I read this!