Blogger Diary: The Wisdom Of Insecurity

I did something last week that I rarely do.  I took a vacation — a whole week off, with no plans.  Well, the only plans were to drive to my beach house, where I would spend the week relaxing, taking long beach strolls, reading, writing, and just being.  Life is funny…it always has other plans. It tends to hit you hardest at the worst of times, as if to test your strength and resilience.  And when it does, every time, we amaze ourselves again and again with just how strong we really are.  My week off may not have gone as planned, but it just may have been exactly what I needed.  When we go through difficult times, we really get down to the bare bones of who we are.  We discover things we didn’t know or think we could ever be capable of.  We unlock hidden creaking doors of the mind that may not ever have been opened, suddenly giving us the courage to try new things.  We become empowered by these discoveries, and we come out stronger and fuller people.  I was back in the city one day last week, taking a walk, and passed a tattoo parlor.  I’ve been wanting to get a new tattoo for some time now, but just kept putting it off, waiting for a good time and a good friend who could go with me.  But on this day I stopped and just went in and did it, by myself.  And it felt really, really good.

A friend of mine loaned me a book that has really been helping me discover this new side of myself – The Wisdom of Insecurity, by Alan W. Watts.  It offers some truly incredible insights, some of which I’ve included below, interspersed with photos from the beach.  There’s a beautiful stillness to the beach in fall… everything has a washed out quality, as if you’re looking at it through a cloud.  The only trace of other people are in the footprints you come across in the sand.

beach in fall

boots in sand

“As the years go by, there seem to be fewer and fewer rocks to which we can hold, fewer things we can regard as absolutely right and true, and fixed for all time.”

beach in fall

seagulls

“Paradox as it may seem, we likewise find life meaningful only when we have seen that it is without purpose, and know the ‘mystery of the universe’ only when we are convinced that we know nothing about it at all.”

beach in fall

beach dunes

“It is of little use to us to be able to remember and predict if it makes us unable to live fully in the present.”

beach in fall

pinecone sand

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”

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Eva
10 years ago

sometimes all you need is for everything around you…including you – to stop, slow down and unwind. curious to see your new tattoo!

10 years ago

This was amazing and i can’t wait to start this book!

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Michelle
10 years ago

I love this book so much! His writings and his recorded lectures are incredible.

One of my favorite quotes from him:

“Faith is a state of openness or trust. To have faith is like when you trust yourself to the water. You don’t grab hold of the water when you swim, because if you do you will become stiff and tight in the water, and sink. You have to relax, and the attitude of faith is the very opposite of clinging, and holding on. In other words, a person who is fanatic in matters of religion, and clings to certain ideas about the nature of God and the universe becomes a person who has no faith at all. Instead they are holding tight. But the attitude of faith is to let go, and become open to truth, whatever it might turn out to be.”

kaly
10 years ago

this sounds like a wonderful book. you might also look into ‘the process of intuition’ by virginia burden tower. it’s also very enlightening and empowering AND written by a lady. truly wonderful!

Liz
10 years ago

Good for you. Too many people don’t take the necessary time for themselves, and it really takes a toll on our health as a society. Everyone needs to be still every once in a while.

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Kelsey
10 years ago

this is so relevant. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

10 years ago

I loved this quote: “It is of little use to us to be able to remember and predict if it makes us unable to live fully in the present.”

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xo

Anonymous
10 years ago

To be still. Ahhh! so many of us live fast pace lifestyles. We are taught in America to achieve success at a rapid pace. Go to a good college, get an internship, find a job after college, get married etc. The list goes on and on. But what about personal well-being? I believe that taking care of yourself is key to health and happiness.
So let’s learn to take time for ourselves. This could be simple as taking walk out in nature to clear the mind. I personally like to have me time by reading, painting, dancing, or walking by the lake.

9 years ago

Thank you for such a beautiful post.
Honest. Authentic. Beautiful.
I send you so much love.xoxoxoxoxo