I find the idea of accepting things as already broken (or changed or gone) interesting. I can see how that could foster a greater appreciation… maybe even a healthier acceptance of risk or vulnerability- not clinging or being overprotective.
Lived your piece. Laughed outloud at the olantar warts. Soiritual truth rings solid bi am s Baha'i and basically it is same message. Delightful snd lovely to
Having this view has been very helpful for me. As you point out, it fosters appreciation as well as non-attachment, which is vital when things break or get lost or stolen. Vulnerability is an interesting word. If we're attached to something, we're vulnerable to suffering. But if we can not be attached in the first place, we are protected from future suffering.
Your exploration of impermanence has ignited a sense of gratitude within me for the present moment. It's so easy to get caught up in worries about the future or regrets about the past that we forget to appreciate the beauty of what's right in front of us. Your words serve as a gentle reminder to savor each moment, to cherish the connections we have, and to find joy in the simple things, for they too are fleeting.
I'm confident you cultivated that sense of gratitude long ago, but I appreciate the sentiment, Alex. I enjoy reading your comments for your beautiful and affirming words.
We're all down to accept that change is constant until it's happening to us in an aversive way.
If we can tune in closely enough, we can notice that there never was a benchmark from which change is altering anything. What's changing never was in any permanent way.
That's such a wise and penetrating insight, Damon. Your understanding must give you much freedom. It is awesome...when we can see this truth. Grateful for your comment.
Great story Ryan, I loved it. What the pandemic brought home to me is that we never know what’s coming around the corner. The importance of being prepared without worrying about what may never happen. As I read your post, a vision of sitting in the centre of a storm in a calm yoga pose came to me. I think that’s a good metaphor for living. Thank you Ryan.
This is such a profound reflection, Ryan. The concept of accepting impermanence, and seeing things as "already broken," really struck me. It’s a subtle but powerful shift in mindset—one that could help us embrace vulnerability and release the need for control. It’s a gentle reminder to appreciate life as it unfolds, knowing that both the good and the challenging moments are temporary. Your writing gives me permission to let go of my need for everything to be perfect and to accept the ebb and flow of life. Thank you for this insightful perspective!
It’s something I’ve been working on for a long time—probably before I was even aware of the concept—trying to let go, with an awareness that things will change and a certainty that they will. Life, in general, has become much more about being present, and accepting that things will be what they will be has certainly made navigating the journey of life far easier.
However, as I get older, I find the constant frenetic pace of change a little more difficult to deal with, despite my best intentions and practices. It seems certain environments change faster than others, and I find myself shying away from them. The corporate environment in which I work my day job is always very fast-moving, and despite my best efforts at acceptance, it still leaves me exhausted. By the end of the week, I’m looking for somewhere to hide.
It’s probably self-evident, but as I’m considering a significant life change, I still feel the need to ask: is all chaos equal? Is it wrong to try to bring that change to a more manageable level? Is it even possible? Does changing scope matter?
Thanks Ryan. Beautifully true. "Impermanence isn’t a curse. It’s life. It’s raw and messy, beautiful and fleeting". I loved your laundry list of the things in your life that happen to constantly remind us of change. We just had a 24 hour power outage...put that in your.."I have an article to write" pipe and smoke it.🙂 Go well Ryan.
This was a lovely piece. I'm in the middle of clearing out my office space and old artwork. It's had me thinking a lot lately about dukka and attachment. Even to the parts and pieces of who I thought I was and wanted to be. Only I believed dukka translated more like suffering. Which honestly, seems a bit dramatic! I like the translation of it as being unsatisfactory as that sometimes fits better. Both work. Thank you!
Clearing out a space brings up memories and emotions, doesn't it? I find it therapeutic and informative. I'm glad you liked "unsatisfactory." I chose it because that's how I felt when I hit bottom.
I found myself wanting to write down all the quotes you mentioned about impermanence...as there were many. My favorite being Colorado "if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes"...in Maui they say the same thing, except it is 5minutes.
I had this conversation with my nephew last night. He was having a sad/worried/frustrated/angry moment and didn't want to talk about it. He was afraid that talking about it would make it worse and make it last longer. I told him that we didn't have to talk about it now, but he would eventually probably have to talk about his feelings, and that those feelings would go away, and come back, and go away again, and come back again...and probably be the same and different each time they go away and come back. Same with happiness, joy, fun, and play. I don't know if he heard me. But damn, I wished someone had told me that when I was his age.
Oof, how such a message at his age could change one's entire experience of life. I love how you described it for him. I remember Sheryl Sandberg saying that her mom taught her to be emotionally intelligent as a child. No wonder she reached the highest echelons of the corporate world.
It was during a big upheaval in my life that I had an awakening of life's impermanence. Looking out into the garden I noticed a broken flowerpot. It was unbroken the day before.
During this moment I experienced an unfamiliar calmness that all was well and it became clear that everything was as it was meant to be.
What I'm learning from this makes life all the more richer and paradoxically gives comfort because what I experience is more of the present.
I find the idea of accepting things as already broken (or changed or gone) interesting. I can see how that could foster a greater appreciation… maybe even a healthier acceptance of risk or vulnerability- not clinging or being overprotective.
Lived your piece. Laughed outloud at the olantar warts. Soiritual truth rings solid bi am s Baha'i and basically it is same message. Delightful snd lovely to
Tead. Thanks dear heart
Yes, if I understand correctly, both wings of a bird need to be developed to fly. I'm glad you laughed, and I appreciate your reading and commenting.
Having this view has been very helpful for me. As you point out, it fosters appreciation as well as non-attachment, which is vital when things break or get lost or stolen. Vulnerability is an interesting word. If we're attached to something, we're vulnerable to suffering. But if we can not be attached in the first place, we are protected from future suffering.
Your exploration of impermanence has ignited a sense of gratitude within me for the present moment. It's so easy to get caught up in worries about the future or regrets about the past that we forget to appreciate the beauty of what's right in front of us. Your words serve as a gentle reminder to savor each moment, to cherish the connections we have, and to find joy in the simple things, for they too are fleeting.
I'm confident you cultivated that sense of gratitude long ago, but I appreciate the sentiment, Alex. I enjoy reading your comments for your beautiful and affirming words.
Haha, sure… and yet I feel like gratitude will be something I will need a life long practice with. 😂
I relate. My gratitude practice has been weak for some time. Slowly it's returning.
This year I am truly focused on restoring my gratitude practice and compassion for all practice. It will be a challenge. 🩵
We're all down to accept that change is constant until it's happening to us in an aversive way.
If we can tune in closely enough, we can notice that there never was a benchmark from which change is altering anything. What's changing never was in any permanent way.
It's awesome, literally.
That's such a wise and penetrating insight, Damon. Your understanding must give you much freedom. It is awesome...when we can see this truth. Grateful for your comment.
Great story Ryan, I loved it. What the pandemic brought home to me is that we never know what’s coming around the corner. The importance of being prepared without worrying about what may never happen. As I read your post, a vision of sitting in the centre of a storm in a calm yoga pose came to me. I think that’s a good metaphor for living. Thank you Ryan.
That's a lovely image, Sue. If I remember it, I'll bring it to mind whenever life is storming. I appreciate you reading and sharing this.
This is such a profound reflection, Ryan. The concept of accepting impermanence, and seeing things as "already broken," really struck me. It’s a subtle but powerful shift in mindset—one that could help us embrace vulnerability and release the need for control. It’s a gentle reminder to appreciate life as it unfolds, knowing that both the good and the challenging moments are temporary. Your writing gives me permission to let go of my need for everything to be perfect and to accept the ebb and flow of life. Thank you for this insightful perspective!
Cheers, my friend.
Hi Ryan, and thanks for this, very timely.
It’s something I’ve been working on for a long time—probably before I was even aware of the concept—trying to let go, with an awareness that things will change and a certainty that they will. Life, in general, has become much more about being present, and accepting that things will be what they will be has certainly made navigating the journey of life far easier.
However, as I get older, I find the constant frenetic pace of change a little more difficult to deal with, despite my best intentions and practices. It seems certain environments change faster than others, and I find myself shying away from them. The corporate environment in which I work my day job is always very fast-moving, and despite my best efforts at acceptance, it still leaves me exhausted. By the end of the week, I’m looking for somewhere to hide.
It’s probably self-evident, but as I’m considering a significant life change, I still feel the need to ask: is all chaos equal? Is it wrong to try to bring that change to a more manageable level? Is it even possible? Does changing scope matter?
Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Thanks Ryan. Beautifully true. "Impermanence isn’t a curse. It’s life. It’s raw and messy, beautiful and fleeting". I loved your laundry list of the things in your life that happen to constantly remind us of change. We just had a 24 hour power outage...put that in your.."I have an article to write" pipe and smoke it.🙂 Go well Ryan.
I’m smoking on your 24-hour power outage, Ian. 🪈I’m glad you liked the list. I always enjoy peeking into people’s lives, so I made it long.
Thank you for your comment and encouragement. ☺️
This was a lovely piece. I'm in the middle of clearing out my office space and old artwork. It's had me thinking a lot lately about dukka and attachment. Even to the parts and pieces of who I thought I was and wanted to be. Only I believed dukka translated more like suffering. Which honestly, seems a bit dramatic! I like the translation of it as being unsatisfactory as that sometimes fits better. Both work. Thank you!
Clearing out a space brings up memories and emotions, doesn't it? I find it therapeutic and informative. I'm glad you liked "unsatisfactory." I chose it because that's how I felt when I hit bottom.
Thank you for reading and commenting. 💛
I found myself wanting to write down all the quotes you mentioned about impermanence...as there were many. My favorite being Colorado "if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes"...in Maui they say the same thing, except it is 5minutes.
I had this conversation with my nephew last night. He was having a sad/worried/frustrated/angry moment and didn't want to talk about it. He was afraid that talking about it would make it worse and make it last longer. I told him that we didn't have to talk about it now, but he would eventually probably have to talk about his feelings, and that those feelings would go away, and come back, and go away again, and come back again...and probably be the same and different each time they go away and come back. Same with happiness, joy, fun, and play. I don't know if he heard me. But damn, I wished someone had told me that when I was his age.
Oof, how such a message at his age could change one's entire experience of life. I love how you described it for him. I remember Sheryl Sandberg saying that her mom taught her to be emotionally intelligent as a child. No wonder she reached the highest echelons of the corporate world.
It was during a big upheaval in my life that I had an awakening of life's impermanence. Looking out into the garden I noticed a broken flowerpot. It was unbroken the day before.
During this moment I experienced an unfamiliar calmness that all was well and it became clear that everything was as it was meant to be.
What I'm learning from this makes life all the more richer and paradoxically gives comfort because what I experience is more of the present.
What a beautiful story and realization, Jules. You saw that because you were alert yet relaxed. I agree about being more present...and appreciative.
You’re always so generous with praise. Thank you for your ongoing kindness. ☺️
I'm glad you liked it. :)
I admire you for doing the inner work. Numbing out is much easier.
Ha! What a brilliantly visual analogy.