Be that in actions, words or just being there. It’s all aspects of caring for me.Your posts are full of care for this broken world as well as its inhabitants of all sizes from insects to trees.
It absolutely is the inner core of being, how beautifully put. I think being completely honest with ourselves and each other, truly ourselves, is one of the most generous ways we can give ❤️
Productivity and usefulness, the engine of capitalism 😢 I too am trying to unlearn the usefulness=worth, it’s so ingrained. Thank you for your words, a gentle and lovely reminder 🩵
I find this post very touching, thank you for writing it! I think it's not surprising to feel like we need to be "useful", and useful all the time - this is such a dominant theme in society. If someone is ill for a while, the main goal is not to improve their health to increase their wellbeing/happiness/quality of life - no, the main goal is to make them fit for work again. I think it can be difficult to shield oneself from these voices.
It really is difficult to shield from it. I think noticing it AS a voice, and not one that has our best interests at heart, is a really good start. Thank you so much for reading!
Beautiful Josie. Your friend reminds me of my step-daughter, now 30 but cheerfully frozen as a young child. She is sunshine to anyone lucky enough to be near.
And the full-circle of caring. Yes. I’ll never forget a man with Crohn’s shared how not asking for care/help from another is depriving them of their spiritual gifts. Caring is also receiving. Receiving is caring.
Gosh that hit hard. Thank you Kimberly. I know Fraser really loves when I trust him enough to ask for what I need. Asking for care can be such a beautiful act OF care, can't it? x
This is an incredible piece of writing. I'm a carer. My disabled children are those I care for. And my son, my son, oh how I saw him in how you describe your friend. He is sunshine. He is love. Everyone feels better for being around him. He cannot speak, or offer a hug, or make a cup of tea but he shares his care with his presence, his aura, his very being. I feel like he has shown me what's really useful for us as human beings in this life and really it's just that.
Josie, this was beautiful. The way you write about Nicola makes her feel so alive—her rollator, her doll, the way she talks to everything. It’s like her love spills out into the world without hesitation. I too feel the pressure to always be something instead of just being. It’s exhausting. Nicola’s way of living, so unapologetically herself, is a kind of wisdom we’re all trying to reach. Thank you for writing this. It gave me a lot to sit with and a lot to let go of.
This is beautiful and so enlightening. That beings give out love naturally when they're not wrestling with shame, self-consciousness and judgement. Thank you.
“What little work and activity I usually manage to do, I have not managed lately.” Josie, here is a quote from St. Therese of Lisieux, who died at 24 from tuberculosis, “Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, or even at their difficulty, as at the love with which we do them.”
You write from a heart of love and never fail to inspire me - I would call that great work flowing from a great, loving heart and an incredible gift given to you. Nothing “little” about that!
Nicola's lack of shame and her inherent understanding of the 'meaninglessness of usefulness' is profound. It's a perspective that many of us struggle to grasp, especially in a society that often equates our worth with our productivity. It's a reminder that perhaps true wisdom lies in embracing our inherent value, simply for being who we are. It's a radical thought, but one that feels incredibly liberating.
I love the idea that Usefulness is the thing we hold onto as if it is more precious than anything else- people are obsessed with our jobs, our careers, our pay - as if it is the only measure of success and happiness.
I had a lot happen in the last 6 months,my Mum died, my daughter struggled with depression, I lost my job .. I could go on !
So now I’m having a rest . My mind and body hasn’t quite caught up yet, never mind recovered. So I’m quietly looking for jobs but mainly having a rest . Because that’s what I need .
Thanks for your words . They do resonate with me and are helpful.
Oh gosh, what a time for you, I, am sorry. I am so so glad that you are leaning into rest. It isn't defeat or weakness, it's the most beautiful embrace of reality and our shared humanity. I hope it brings healing and insight to you xx
What is this word called Care ?
All I know is that it is the inner core of being,
The need to share what we can of ourselves
Be that in actions, words or just being there. It’s all aspects of caring for me.Your posts are full of care for this broken world as well as its inhabitants of all sizes from insects to trees.
As you care, so do we.
Thank you for the beautiful reminders xxx
It absolutely is the inner core of being, how beautifully put. I think being completely honest with ourselves and each other, truly ourselves, is one of the most generous ways we can give ❤️
Thank you for this. I really feel that self-pressure to be useful. It helps to read your thoughts about it.
It's such a pernicious undercurrent in our society, but together we get to say no, we choose to believe life is worth more. Thank you Ramona.
Productivity and usefulness, the engine of capitalism 😢 I too am trying to unlearn the usefulness=worth, it’s so ingrained. Thank you for your words, a gentle and lovely reminder 🩵
So hard to unlearn when it is whispered through EVERYTHING! It takes real courage to choose a different story, but we can, we can xx
I find this post very touching, thank you for writing it! I think it's not surprising to feel like we need to be "useful", and useful all the time - this is such a dominant theme in society. If someone is ill for a while, the main goal is not to improve their health to increase their wellbeing/happiness/quality of life - no, the main goal is to make them fit for work again. I think it can be difficult to shield oneself from these voices.
It really is difficult to shield from it. I think noticing it AS a voice, and not one that has our best interests at heart, is a really good start. Thank you so much for reading!
Beautiful Josie. Your friend reminds me of my step-daughter, now 30 but cheerfully frozen as a young child. She is sunshine to anyone lucky enough to be near.
And the full-circle of caring. Yes. I’ll never forget a man with Crohn’s shared how not asking for care/help from another is depriving them of their spiritual gifts. Caring is also receiving. Receiving is caring.
Gosh that hit hard. Thank you Kimberly. I know Fraser really loves when I trust him enough to ask for what I need. Asking for care can be such a beautiful act OF care, can't it? x
This is an incredible piece of writing. I'm a carer. My disabled children are those I care for. And my son, my son, oh how I saw him in how you describe your friend. He is sunshine. He is love. Everyone feels better for being around him. He cannot speak, or offer a hug, or make a cup of tea but he shares his care with his presence, his aura, his very being. I feel like he has shown me what's really useful for us as human beings in this life and really it's just that.
Oh how glad I am that your son is in the world! Thank you so much for telling me about him and for all you do to help him thrive xx
Oh my. Such tenderness. She chose you Josie. She chose you to love.
❤️ I am so blessed in this community. So many wonderful people!
Josie, this was beautiful. The way you write about Nicola makes her feel so alive—her rollator, her doll, the way she talks to everything. It’s like her love spills out into the world without hesitation. I too feel the pressure to always be something instead of just being. It’s exhausting. Nicola’s way of living, so unapologetically herself, is a kind of wisdom we’re all trying to reach. Thank you for writing this. It gave me a lot to sit with and a lot to let go of.
Thank you for sharing your friend with us…. Your words reverberate in me!
I'm so glad. Thank you Stella.
Oh, Josie, what could possibly be more ‘useful’ than to share words like this with the world?!!!
Thank you Michelle. This came just at the right time today xx
This is beautiful and so enlightening. That beings give out love naturally when they're not wrestling with shame, self-consciousness and judgement. Thank you.
Lovely - and very wise - as always. Thank you! x
Thank you 💛
“What little work and activity I usually manage to do, I have not managed lately.” Josie, here is a quote from St. Therese of Lisieux, who died at 24 from tuberculosis, “Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, or even at their difficulty, as at the love with which we do them.”
You write from a heart of love and never fail to inspire me - I would call that great work flowing from a great, loving heart and an incredible gift given to you. Nothing “little” about that!
Nicola's lack of shame and her inherent understanding of the 'meaninglessness of usefulness' is profound. It's a perspective that many of us struggle to grasp, especially in a society that often equates our worth with our productivity. It's a reminder that perhaps true wisdom lies in embracing our inherent value, simply for being who we are. It's a radical thought, but one that feels incredibly liberating.
I love the idea that Usefulness is the thing we hold onto as if it is more precious than anything else- people are obsessed with our jobs, our careers, our pay - as if it is the only measure of success and happiness.
I had a lot happen in the last 6 months,my Mum died, my daughter struggled with depression, I lost my job .. I could go on !
So now I’m having a rest . My mind and body hasn’t quite caught up yet, never mind recovered. So I’m quietly looking for jobs but mainly having a rest . Because that’s what I need .
Thanks for your words . They do resonate with me and are helpful.
Oh gosh, what a time for you, I, am sorry. I am so so glad that you are leaning into rest. It isn't defeat or weakness, it's the most beautiful embrace of reality and our shared humanity. I hope it brings healing and insight to you xx