You Are Not Alone

 

Photos from a while back.

Anyone else out there listen to Josh Ritter? He's amazing. I was listening to some of his songs last night and feeling nostalgic. Reflecting on old memories, playing these moments in my head again and again. Like the lyrics of the song go:

Lucky are you who finds me in the wilderness

I am the only unquiet ghost that does not seek rest

-from "Bone of Song," by folk artist Josh Ritter

I met Josh Ritter a while back, and he's as awesome as his music is beautiful.

Sometimes we are surprised, astonished even, by what we find when we look backward. The amount of love that can linger for a person we hadn't thought of in a while, or hadn't taken the time to reach out to.

Wistful -- bracing -- effortless -- those are the words that come to mind. The way two people can find a way to fill up space without even trying. We were in a place, a time, a togetherness I have yet to find again. Words of my own float through my head when I listen to those songs.

There is a lot of value in taking the time to reflect. Meditation is not nothing.

Meditation is not for nothing.

Take the time you need to reflect on the experiences you have, the people you know, the love you can give that you haven't offered yet.

Look through the old photographs. Listen to the songs. Write down the music you didn't know you had inside. Then give them all away. 

Bikram says it too: if you can, you must.

Photo here and all below by Joelle Waskey, my lovely cousin.