I still have my foot in my mouth from my funny-not-funny false retirement announcement. Though I don't want to harp on it, I had to share one reader's hysterical response to the debacle: I actually did read all the way to the end as I figured you had to be kidding. Don’t take this the wrong way, but my first concern was for Margot. I was devastated that I might never hear more of her story! Thank you for the laugh, Jenny. I miss Margot too.

 

Before I tell you about a book I recently read that struck me right in the heart, may I share with you two other artists in my life? 

 

Our eleven-year-old son, Riggs, is a rock-star singer and guitarist who thrives when he's performing. It's not just that he doesn't get nervous, it's that he performs even better in front of an audience. One of the great gifts of our lives is enjoying Riggs's many performances in both his rock band and on stage in plays for his middle school here in Cape Elizabeth. He most recently performed the role of Hans of the Southern Isles in Frozen Jr. and sang a marvelous duet with the equally talented Stephanie Thomas. I'm so proud to share a video clip of it; click here or on the photo below.

Moving on, an artist named Marlise Le Roux, who lives on the gorgeous African island of Mauritius, paints while listening to my audio books. How cool is that! We've been in touch for a while, and she most recently sent me some pictures. If you can get past her adorable dogs in her studio, you'll notice The Secrets of Good People on the computer screen in the background. And isn't her work stunning? I don't know what brings my heart more joy than this whole thing, the collaboration, the journey of art across the world. What an honor. I hope to one day hang something of hers on my wall and complete the circle.

Lastly, while I was down in Florida to speak at the Ft. Myers Literary Society, one of the wonderful young women suggested I read The Book of Joy, which documents a five-day meeting between the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. It's sensational, pouring over with wisdom and heart. Have you read it?

 

I thought I might share a couple of passages that stood out to me, the first about grief.

 

Grief is the reminder of the depth of our love. Without love, there is no grief. So when we feel our grief, uncomfortable and aching as it may be, it is actually a reminder of the beauty of that love, now lost. I’ll never forget calling Gordon while I was traveling, and hearing him say that he was out to dinner by himself after the loss of a dear friend “so he could feel his grief.” He knew that in the blinking and buzzing world of our lives, it is so easy to delete the past and move on to the next moment. To linger in the longing, the loss, the yearning is a way of feeling the rich and embroidered texture of life, the torn cloth of our world that is endlessly being ripped and rewoven. (That last line…wow.)

 

When there is a disaster, such as 9/11, we realize we are family. We are family. Those people in the twin towers are our sisters and brothers. And even more startlingly, the people who are piloting those planes, they are our sisters and brothers. (That'll make you think.)

 

If we have a strong sense of I or they, it's hard to practice mudita (a Sanskrit term that translates to sympathetic joy). We must develop the sense of we. Once you're able to develop that sense of common humanity, oneness of humanity, then naturally, you will want all others to be free from suffering and enjoy happiness. (Then we're in this together, friends, and I indeed pray for your well-being.)

 

P.S. Please forgive me if I don't respond to your emails. Know that I joyfully read each one. In fact, your notes keep me going. It's just that I best put my energy into meeting the next deadline. Thanks for understanding.

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