Thank you, 2001.
Dec. 18th, 2001 12:49 amYou have not been easy, but you have been real. You have challenged me in ways that are definitely manageable one at a time, but have proven to be manageable when compounded. There is no greater lesson than this: there is nothing that I cannot handle. There is a time and a place for everything, and everything is The Way.
To you, 2001, I give you a relationship ended, a promise returned, an apartment burned down, a family loss, a terrible illness, family health crises, financial uncertainty, crimes against humanity, war, and emotional stress.
To you, 2001, I give you incredible job experiences, powerful activism, newly-developed friendships, recently rekindled friendships, dizzy crushes, a search of self, rediscovered writing, freedom to travel, independence, the exploration of the part of me I thought I'd had to give up forever, fraternal understanding, scholastic knowledge, a global call for healing and peace, and the birth of a superhero (and a babydyke).
The balance, as always, is in my favor. It is The Way that gets me through. Thank you, Deity. Thank you, gods and goddesses and spirits who have names, and those who do not. Thank you, friends and family.
At this particular moment, I am especially thankful to Jennifer for allowing me to let my guard down, just a little, and for being my protector, without question or judgment, on the rare occasion that I want one. And to Christina for telling me how strong I am, and meaning it. With pride. And to Jodie for being understanding and delivering well-placed humor. And to you, all of you, for keeping my father in your thoughts/prayers/sentiments.
.29.
The external world is fragile,
and he who meddles with its natural way,
risks causing damage to himself.
He who tries to grasp it,
thereby loses it.
It is natural for things to change,
sometimes being ahead, sometimes behind.
There are times when even breathing
may be difficult,
whereas its natural state is easy.
Sometimes one is strong,
and sometimes weak,
sometimes healthy,
and sometimes sick,
sometimes is first,
and at other times behind.
The sage does not try
to change the world by force,
for he knows that force results in force.
He avoids extremes and excesses,
and does not become complacent.
To you, 2001, I give you a relationship ended, a promise returned, an apartment burned down, a family loss, a terrible illness, family health crises, financial uncertainty, crimes against humanity, war, and emotional stress.
To you, 2001, I give you incredible job experiences, powerful activism, newly-developed friendships, recently rekindled friendships, dizzy crushes, a search of self, rediscovered writing, freedom to travel, independence, the exploration of the part of me I thought I'd had to give up forever, fraternal understanding, scholastic knowledge, a global call for healing and peace, and the birth of a superhero (and a babydyke).
The balance, as always, is in my favor. It is The Way that gets me through. Thank you, Deity. Thank you, gods and goddesses and spirits who have names, and those who do not. Thank you, friends and family.
At this particular moment, I am especially thankful to Jennifer for allowing me to let my guard down, just a little, and for being my protector, without question or judgment, on the rare occasion that I want one. And to Christina for telling me how strong I am, and meaning it. With pride. And to Jodie for being understanding and delivering well-placed humor. And to you, all of you, for keeping my father in your thoughts/prayers/sentiments.
The external world is fragile,
and he who meddles with its natural way,
risks causing damage to himself.
He who tries to grasp it,
thereby loses it.
It is natural for things to change,
sometimes being ahead, sometimes behind.
There are times when even breathing
may be difficult,
whereas its natural state is easy.
Sometimes one is strong,
and sometimes weak,
sometimes healthy,
and sometimes sick,
sometimes is first,
and at other times behind.
The sage does not try
to change the world by force,
for he knows that force results in force.
He avoids extremes and excesses,
and does not become complacent.