2023 · originally posted on LinkedIn
Time is Too slow for those who Wait, Too swift for those who Fear, Too long for those who Grieve, Too short for those who Rejoice, But for those who Love, Time is not. — Henry Van Dyke, 1904
The power of mindfulness continues to amaze me on my journey with inner work. This 1904 poem has been in the orbit of my consciousness for quite some time. That said, it's beginning to take on new meaning for me.
Love: the most powerful of forces, the brightest of life's beacons, and the admission ticket to the very best this world has to offer. It'll look different for each of us. Still, I'm convinced it feels pretty much the same, both in our neurochemistry and our spirituality.
I think it's vital to find contentment where we can in each of these emotional extremes too. After all, most emotional reactions and responses are irrational by their very nature. They lack choice and agency, some might even claim we're that way by design. Even with the best of therapists, coping mechanisms, and sacred Bodhi trees, our humanity is beautifully and dramatically unavoidable.
A few premises worth putting out there, distilling some Henry: the most patient and stoic of us will still wait. The most strong and resilient of us will still fear. The most reclusive and private of us will still grieve. The most humble and reserved of us will still rejoice.
I'm not self-righteous or temerarious enough to pretend I have all the answers. That's a journey without a destination for a mortal being, in my opinion. So what of love then? If it is not time, what is it?
Love is the way.