The river conversation: the course narrows, speeds. Just here, the falls. This is as far as most will go. To make it, your canoe must be well thought out, well constructed. You will probably survive, but likely you will be bloodied and lose some of your parts.
:- Doug.
Here is for us a central unanswered question: Which of these musings are the one or two things which are true? Can we get better at discovering our errors sooner, better at turning our errors to life’s use?
:- Doug.
A mystery: many times the most central feature of conversation is lack of a predictable, clear, and usable product; what’s the value then?
:- Doug.
Why would we ever want to emerge from the great depths of mystery of being? Isn’t this the good stuff?
:- Doug.
Sometimes, the real meaning of what you hear or what you say is only caught in the corner of the mind.
:- Doug.
The sounds of your words fade from ears quickly—so how then does the conversation bring about change?
:- Doug.
In meditation/contemplation I tell myself: Relax! I’m simply learning about myself and my so-called mind.
:- Doug.
So, let me invite you into what I don’t know about conversation, with the request that you help me add the word “yet.”
:- Doug.
So do we end up with everything being an unrolling as far as we can, or as far as close enough, and then leave the conversation? Is that the answer to all we do not or cannot know? That is too facile. Should we not keep wrestling? If so, what do we get? Surprised! Or, surprised? There is of course no answer or solution to life. We only keep on putting one foot ahead of the other. Beyond surprised, we discover, sometimes, a new branch to our path. And that is life!
:- Doug.
Footprints in the Windsm # 2124
In prior centuries art and beauty were in service of, were seeking, meaning in life. As Christopher Alexander noticed with architecture, all that changed in the 20th century and architects started to make image-heavy statements, to express themselves individualistically. Psychology also became a way to personal expression. So too conversation: where before we sought family and belonging, these 20th century forces inclined us to seek ways to be heard, to find our voice. But this all leaves us feeling hollow. We are missing what would carry us above all this “look at me”—to hallow our lives. Yet this can only be found in and amongst the real world.
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We can make some good guesses about what is implicit in conversation, we can make explicit what we want it to be about, knowing we can never know all that is enfolded, and these can help us unroll conversation a bit further. Far enough to take a next action.
:- Doug.
To what extent is getting inside each other necessary to conversation? What does getting inside the other even mean? Can the other even know what their own thoughts are in any full or complete way? Indeed, might this be where conversation helps entice us to being a person?
:- Doug.
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