on gentleness

[ginger_root]

There are a million and a half things that spark my interest when I first meet someone. Is she funny? Does he approach the world with joy? Does this family actually like one another? Etc. But really, the number one attention-grabber-- the thing that really makes my blood sear through my veins and rise to the surface of my cheeks-- is this person

Comments

[kit_a_licious]

I see a gentleness in who and how you are that might surprise you. The way you look at the world and the things you take from it into your heart denotes a quiet, appreciative grace, the grace that comes with the ability to say "shhh" and calm the world. Balanced with this quiet grace is your vibrancy for life, your ecstatic enthusiasm, your unchained love and milk chocolate triple layered hot air balloon bright purple golden retriever polka dot attitude. I think the electricity you put out perfectly balances your tender nature. You are an art exibit.

Without the snooty people in black turtlenecks holding martinis and circling you as if trying to figure out what would be the most fashionable opinion to have about you. ;)

[ginger_root]

Holy moly, Kit. When you wanna lay a compliment on someone, you really let loose. "You are an art exhibit." I actually blushed!

Thank you so much for your sweet words. The black turtlenecks can come in if they want to, but they'll have to keep their fashionable opinions to themselves. ;)

[ewigweibliche]

I love my (one) black turtleneck and my opinions are never fashionable!

[wayfaringmind]

Sometimes people i meet make me wonder if there are a bunch of giant human masses somewhere in time, and when we come to inhabit our bodies on this earth, we are merely broken off pieces of different wholes. This is to say, the more i read things you write, its like we have the same brain or soul...or something.

I have been to two yoga classes in the past two weeks. I feel like I fell into something my soul has been seeking. And I think the main draw for me is the allowance of time to yourself to be gentle to your mind, body, and soul. I want to learn more and more about the enitre practice of yoga, because to me its how I could achieve this gentleness, this sense of calmness with myself. So it was strange that as I am on this new path, you write this entry.

Like I've said before, but I mean it. I think you're a part of my soul. We were meant to be friends. :)

[ginger_root]

We're meant to be, Monsterbird.

And I love that you and Yoga have found each other. It truly seems like a match made in heaven.

I'm so happy to be able to surf the same wavelength as you, honey, and to have written an entry about gentleness just when you needed it. :)

Amen, sister.

[ewigweibliche]

Such a though provoking post. I sometimes wonder if we modern people can recognize authentic gentleness anymore. I think it's easy to confuse it with codependency or quiet arrogance, having known people who seem gentle but don't have that.... je ne sais quois that true gentleness contains. I also hope to learn the art of gentleness some day. I think I have moments of it, usually when I am so in love with some one in a specific moment (not amorous love, but the simple love you write of), but on the whole I could chill the fuck out too. I want to live more simply and deliberately. Yoga and meditation and prayer certainly help with that, but so does nature - and celebrating holidays!

Re: Amen, sister.

[ginger_root]

I think I have moments of it

I totally agree. I think I have moments of gentleness too, and I think that's why I want to have more of them. Because they just feel so gosh darn nice.

I think we can definitely recognize authentic gentleness. It has a texture all its own. It may be rare, but I've been lucky enough to feel it. I'm sure you have too. :)

Thank you for your thoughts-- awesome as always.

[storm_goddess11]

I agree with Kit, that you have your own form of gentleness. But I love the aggressive, exuberant parts of you, too. I have very little gentleness in me for people, much more for animals and children. My lack of gentleness I think manifests itself in how mean I am to people, completely unwittingly.

But you have a gentleness that makes people feel valued and loved. It's not a passive gentleness that allows for baths and coddling, but a gentleness that the people you love experience. And that's just as beautiful.

[ginger_root]

Oh, you wish you were a meanie. You're so not. You couldn't do that if you tried. But thank you for your sweet words. One of these days I'll be needing you to come over for a massage. ;)

kisskiss

what a lovely post

[goutwort]

That sort of gentleness you describe is one of the things that makes me feel lucky to live in the kind of society we do. How frequently can that sort of personality be cultivated when survival is not all but guaranteed like it is here? I like that we live in such a way that there is room for gentleness.

I also like the image of you running baths and tucking people in.

Re: what a lovely post

[ginger_root]

You're so right. I think we're so lucky that we can take the time to relax into our lives, take the time to be really quiet. I just hope that gentleness comes to be revered more widely. I feel like the US is so focused on aggressive personalities and hard stances right now, so I'm hoping that we can kind of refocus our energies to something a bit more tender.

I'd love to run the world a great big bubble bath.