Philosophy – Page 4 of 4 – Writing in the Stream

The Bow

Eyes. Horizon. Look down. Look up.

There are at least six kinds of bow.

1. A device for launching arrows with the force from a flexed piece of wood, bone, fiberglass, or other material drawn under tension from the pull of an archer upon its cord.

2. The front of a boat.

3. What some people tie around a gift or their heads or their throats to be classy at a party.

4. A stick with horse hair drawn across strings of an instrument to produce music.

5. A gesture of respect.

6. The handle or “fingerle” of a key.

Today, I will talk about #5. There is something amazing that happens when you incorporate a bow into your daily life, at meals or at the beginning and end of gatherings. I’m not quite sure how it works, but it brings everyone together in a neat way. Suddenly everyone is paying attention to each other and to their surroundings. It is a good way to appreciate the moment.

You bow momentarily when you sit down to write. Become aware of this next time. To what or to whom do you bow? What is the intention you set? You bow again when you stand up. How do you feel and what do you understand or appreciate that you may have missed before?

Thank you for your attention.

The Outward Turn

I just took an extraordinary professional development class with the Nova Scotia Sea School. In it, we learned some sailing. But more importantly, every day, we followed a pattern of daily life that was remarkably fulfilling.

In the morning, we jumped into the water. Everyone. Into the north Atlantic. It was better than coffee, though that was served too.

We practiced what we called the “outward turn.” A small open-deck sailing boat with ten people on it can get claustrophobic, so each day, we would take some time and turn our backs to each other and look out across the water. It was a reminder of the vast space around us, and when we turned back, we were more spacious, relaxed, refreshed.

How can you take an outward turn every day, no matter where you are? How can you regain a sense of spaciousness?

As a writer, what does the outward turn offer your writing?

Wisdom of Guida

“We spend so much time thinking about what could go horribly wrong. But things can also go… horribly right. We could also think about that. Everything is impossible. So…”