My Philosophy

WILD GEESE

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things. - Mary Oliver

VULNERABILITY: Connecting with our inner nature, and others in the world around us, in open and honest relationship takes courage. It takes courage, because it requires us to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is the foundation for healthy connection; it enables us to get in touch with our soft, animal body, listen to what it loves, and then share that inner truth with others.

CONNECTION: Vulnerability is scary, because we fear being judged or rejected for our inner truth. But when we allow ourselves to connect on this level, it becomes clear that it is very difficult to judge someone once you get a glimpse of their true inner nature and life journey. This is mainly because there will be aspects of our stories that carry the universal themes of the human experience: love, pain, struggle, growth and joy. These experiences connect us on a deep level, and in sharing our inner truth with others we will may find safety, acceptance, and ultimately, growth.

SAFETY:

GROWTH: When we connect through vulnerability, we lay the foundation for growth. Growth will inevitably take place when we engage in open and honest relationship with ourselves, and others. Asking ourselves the hard questions, saying what needs to be said, and being accountable for our actions. Learning the beauty and freedom in recognizing