"Even our names can make us afraid" is something that I knows resonates with a lot of people (myself included) and can be a prompt to seek environments that don't raise those sorts of fears. Or maybe more realistically, a better sort of fear. A permutation of Proverbs 1:7 ("the beginning of wisdom is fear of g-d") is actually recited every morning by many observant Jews (while washing hands).
Hola, Steven 👋🏻 I found you on Juan Diego's day! Did he help me find a new friend? 😊
I feel this essay in my blood vessels. It was just speaking with my husband yesterday about how many of us have lost parts of our ancestry and the cultures that were handed down for generations only to fit into an artificial American box. Even today as I gave a presentation on Our Lady of Guadalupe, I could not do so in two* languages because my father decided that I would have a better chance if I learned English predominantly and Spanish occasionally. It makes me sad, but I understand. The trials he went through were heart-wrenching, and I don't fault him for wanting to save me that pain.
Anyway, I look forward to learning more from your POV. Peace.
I'm savoring your progression through fear: "even our names can make us afraid." Biologically, the feeling of fear simply demands that we focus attention. Like, is it a snake or a stick on the path? Through fear, we begin to understand what is actually threatening, and what is not. "But at the end of the day, my soul was exhausted. I had been fueled by a fear of the scarce and not the sacred." I'm so with you in this recognition, many of us are burning with versions of this fear. I'm subscribing with the hope that you'll walk with us, step by step, across this shining bridge that you call out: to understand for ourselves how "what we fear is what we revere and our reverence reveals our destiny." Oh yeah.
Beautiful essay, Steven! Felt these lines so deeply: "I can now see scarce things look their biggest when we are not in the wilderness. This is why we can’t spell scarcity without a city."
Found scarcity coursing through me on Monday and spent the evening by the sea staring up at the stars and was reminded of just how vast this life & our world is
"I can now see scarce things look their biggest when we are not in the wilderness. This is why we can’t spell scarcity without a city." wow
Love this essay Steven. It reminded me that when I was younger, I thought I couldn't succeed abroad because my last name had a "ñ" in it. Now, my concept of success is totally transformed, and my last name plays no role. Thank you for sharing this story!
Love this insight and loved the way your brought it to us in the form of a question: “I wondered if there might be a way to leave this place with less of the world and more of myself.” I hope you are enjoying Mexico.
I remember when you told me this story, glad you wrote and expanded on it. It reads like a shedding of identities, revealing a truer and more "you" skin, nice! And the other nice things is the amazing picture at the begginning, Iñarritú would be proud!
"Even our names can make us afraid" is something that I knows resonates with a lot of people (myself included) and can be a prompt to seek environments that don't raise those sorts of fears. Or maybe more realistically, a better sort of fear. A permutation of Proverbs 1:7 ("the beginning of wisdom is fear of g-d") is actually recited every morning by many observant Jews (while washing hands).
Hola, Steven 👋🏻 I found you on Juan Diego's day! Did he help me find a new friend? 😊
I feel this essay in my blood vessels. It was just speaking with my husband yesterday about how many of us have lost parts of our ancestry and the cultures that were handed down for generations only to fit into an artificial American box. Even today as I gave a presentation on Our Lady of Guadalupe, I could not do so in two* languages because my father decided that I would have a better chance if I learned English predominantly and Spanish occasionally. It makes me sad, but I understand. The trials he went through were heart-wrenching, and I don't fault him for wanting to save me that pain.
Anyway, I look forward to learning more from your POV. Peace.
All of heaven conspires to unity. What a delight to read your comment on Juan Diego’s day. 😊
Thank you for saying hi. Peace abundantly to you as well Angela!
I'm savoring your progression through fear: "even our names can make us afraid." Biologically, the feeling of fear simply demands that we focus attention. Like, is it a snake or a stick on the path? Through fear, we begin to understand what is actually threatening, and what is not. "But at the end of the day, my soul was exhausted. I had been fueled by a fear of the scarce and not the sacred." I'm so with you in this recognition, many of us are burning with versions of this fear. I'm subscribing with the hope that you'll walk with us, step by step, across this shining bridge that you call out: to understand for ourselves how "what we fear is what we revere and our reverence reveals our destiny." Oh yeah.
Many of us with odd sounding names can relate! Also enjoyed your weaving with the story with tech career & Castillo Chapultepec photo!
Beautiful essay, Steven! Felt these lines so deeply: "I can now see scarce things look their biggest when we are not in the wilderness. This is why we can’t spell scarcity without a city."
Found scarcity coursing through me on Monday and spent the evening by the sea staring up at the stars and was reminded of just how vast this life & our world is
"I can now see scarce things look their biggest when we are not in the wilderness. This is why we can’t spell scarcity without a city." wow
Love this essay Steven. It reminded me that when I was younger, I thought I couldn't succeed abroad because my last name had a "ñ" in it. Now, my concept of success is totally transformed, and my last name plays no role. Thank you for sharing this story!
Love this insight and loved the way your brought it to us in the form of a question: “I wondered if there might be a way to leave this place with less of the world and more of myself.” I hope you are enjoying Mexico.
There are few who play with words with effortless ease and yet don't waste a single one on the page. You're a rare breed my friend.
I remember when you told me this story, glad you wrote and expanded on it. It reads like a shedding of identities, revealing a truer and more "you" skin, nice! And the other nice things is the amazing picture at the begginning, Iñarritú would be proud!