Gorgeous post. I’ve been thinking a lot about this because of a book I read recently called What Alice Forgot. The writing is eh but the story is about inverting the onion -- Alice can’t remember why she’s getting divorced from the man she loved so deeply at 28. She has amnesia because she hits her head. And she starts treating him like she did when they first met. She starts to want the life she’s got instead of looking for an upgrade. It was so familiar and your essay brings home the theme in a poignant way. Thank you
I actually love that book!!! I read it several years back and recommend it fairly often as a light but introspective read. I had totally forgotten about it, so thank you for making this connection and reminding me of it :) and thank you for the kind words!
Had in my head the paradox between thinking we’re just outside some inner ring, like our real lives are always just about to start, yet also thinking we exist at the centre of the universe (like DFW talks about in This Is Water)
Anyways - thank you for sharing this. I think the world is a little more beautiful because of it.
beautiful piece, Isabel! one of the things that we often don't make explicit to ourselves is *why* we yearn for more – do we yearn from a place of lack? because we deem ourselves to be ambitious?
love the compelling reminder to shift our perspective from outside-in to inside-out, owning that it's possible that every moment, we're at the center of the Inner Ring
I’ve loved every post of yours! And I want to always be present when reading them because there is such wisdom in them. Thank you for sharing! I tend to strive towards the future more than appreciate the present, but have been making the shift more towards the present in recent years, so this resonates with me a lot! Also I’ve felt like I didn’t belong in my current work group A LOT, but have been playing with the idea of trying to believe that I do belong, so I’ll def take your ideas and try to work them into that situation as well 😊
"Recently it has felt like everyone around me is constantly thinking of the next city they want to live in, move to, visit. They have so thoroughly gone through all the reasons why their city is not the place to be"
Although sometimes you actually aren't in the inner ring, and you really are failing. Failing isn't bad, happens all the time, but to pretend you've made it when you haven't is nothing more than arrogance, not compassion. I think you have to be realistic to be aligned with the universe writ large.
"It means: harness the moment, meet it fully and trust that in doing so, your future is unfolding as it is meant to. It means: believe that getting what you want starts with being where you are."
"Presence does not equate to complacency. Presence means trying hard when life calls upon you to try hard and relaxing when it asks you to be at ease. It means being exactly where you are and responding to that moment consciously. When you do that, life starts to seem euphoric and angelic even in its mundanity. Every day can feel ecstatic if you wake up and believe that where you are is the place to be. That there is not something outside of yourself that you need to seek out to be cool, beautiful, valuable, Worthy. That you are already at the center of the Inner Ring."
"Want what you have" is actually a great mantra. A few months ago I had this yearning to be somewhere else. But I think what's really going behind is: I wanted to 'escape' from myself. So instead of homesick, I call that 'self-sick'. But I realize that no matter where I go, I'll always be with myself. The desire (if it's ever achieved) will soon turn into an average day anyway.
I'm finding comfort through your post, especially when you wrote about treating your experiences as if it was the first time. Thank you!
My unofficial mantra this year has been “put in the work, surrender. Put in the repetitions, and be grateful. Be where you are, and know where you’re going”
The post resonates perfectly well with researchers who sometimes feel they are off yet the have all the need for the next phase. We should all pause and rethink
Amazing post! It coincides with what I've been thinking about these days.
What I used to struggle with was enjoying the present moment, while still looking forward to the future. But there's a sweet spot where you find yourself being immersed in the now, creating the moment the way you wish it to be, with what you have while working towards your future.
Life is fun when you take it as an experiment and play, instead of looking too deep into everything and then falling into spirals (happened to me a few weeks ago... but it's nice to bounce back again with more energy and a new way to look at life). 🧚🏼♀️
Gorgeous post. I’ve been thinking a lot about this because of a book I read recently called What Alice Forgot. The writing is eh but the story is about inverting the onion -- Alice can’t remember why she’s getting divorced from the man she loved so deeply at 28. She has amnesia because she hits her head. And she starts treating him like she did when they first met. She starts to want the life she’s got instead of looking for an upgrade. It was so familiar and your essay brings home the theme in a poignant way. Thank you
I actually love that book!!! I read it several years back and recommend it fairly often as a light but introspective read. I had totally forgotten about it, so thank you for making this connection and reminding me of it :) and thank you for the kind words!
Can't believe you read it too.. Thanks for writing such a great reminder Isabel!
Amazing stuff as always.
This line right here resonated the most: "believe that getting what you want starts with being where you are."
Thank you for sharing these thoughts.
Lovely essay Isabel (: so much goodness
Had in my head the paradox between thinking we’re just outside some inner ring, like our real lives are always just about to start, yet also thinking we exist at the centre of the universe (like DFW talks about in This Is Water)
Anyways - thank you for sharing this. I think the world is a little more beautiful because of it.
"to want what you have while yearning for more"
beautiful piece, Isabel! one of the things that we often don't make explicit to ourselves is *why* we yearn for more – do we yearn from a place of lack? because we deem ourselves to be ambitious?
love the compelling reminder to shift our perspective from outside-in to inside-out, owning that it's possible that every moment, we're at the center of the Inner Ring
Beautiful stuff, thanks for sharing it with the world
I’ve loved every post of yours! And I want to always be present when reading them because there is such wisdom in them. Thank you for sharing! I tend to strive towards the future more than appreciate the present, but have been making the shift more towards the present in recent years, so this resonates with me a lot! Also I’ve felt like I didn’t belong in my current work group A LOT, but have been playing with the idea of trying to believe that I do belong, so I’ll def take your ideas and try to work them into that situation as well 😊
"Recently it has felt like everyone around me is constantly thinking of the next city they want to live in, move to, visit. They have so thoroughly gone through all the reasons why their city is not the place to be"
😠
But some of us are classy about it
Although sometimes you actually aren't in the inner ring, and you really are failing. Failing isn't bad, happens all the time, but to pretend you've made it when you haven't is nothing more than arrogance, not compassion. I think you have to be realistic to be aligned with the universe writ large.
"It means: harness the moment, meet it fully and trust that in doing so, your future is unfolding as it is meant to. It means: believe that getting what you want starts with being where you are."
"Presence does not equate to complacency. Presence means trying hard when life calls upon you to try hard and relaxing when it asks you to be at ease. It means being exactly where you are and responding to that moment consciously. When you do that, life starts to seem euphoric and angelic even in its mundanity. Every day can feel ecstatic if you wake up and believe that where you are is the place to be. That there is not something outside of yourself that you need to seek out to be cool, beautiful, valuable, Worthy. That you are already at the center of the Inner Ring."
Speechless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Want what you have" is actually a great mantra. A few months ago I had this yearning to be somewhere else. But I think what's really going behind is: I wanted to 'escape' from myself. So instead of homesick, I call that 'self-sick'. But I realize that no matter where I go, I'll always be with myself. The desire (if it's ever achieved) will soon turn into an average day anyway.
I'm finding comfort through your post, especially when you wrote about treating your experiences as if it was the first time. Thank you!
truly beautiful
My unofficial mantra this year has been “put in the work, surrender. Put in the repetitions, and be grateful. Be where you are, and know where you’re going”
Beautiful. Want what you have. Do what you’re doing. Thank you.
The post resonates perfectly well with researchers who sometimes feel they are off yet the have all the need for the next phase. We should all pause and rethink
Beautiful🥹
Thank you for sharing this!🤎
Amazing post! It coincides with what I've been thinking about these days.
What I used to struggle with was enjoying the present moment, while still looking forward to the future. But there's a sweet spot where you find yourself being immersed in the now, creating the moment the way you wish it to be, with what you have while working towards your future.
Life is fun when you take it as an experiment and play, instead of looking too deep into everything and then falling into spirals (happened to me a few weeks ago... but it's nice to bounce back again with more energy and a new way to look at life). 🧚🏼♀️