In speaking to my son about the grind and muck of graduate school and the uncertainty and trials of putting the pieces of his dream together, I showed him a beautiful book I’m currently reading that I thought was relevant to his situation. Written by renowned Zen Buddhist master, Thich Nhat Hanh, it’s called “No Mud, No Lotus.”
He looked at it, and before I had a chance to explain, he commented in his usual quick-witted, totally unselfconscious way, “Suffering is annoying, but it will pass.”
Dang, boy! (Yes, my twenty-four year old son will always be “my boy!”) Wandering fool or twenty-first century sage?
Either way, he’s dead on. What I have worked hard on for over half a century—am still working on! And he nailed it with just a wave of his hand and a twinkle in his eye.
Suffering is annoying, but it will pass.
(And wisdom comes from the most unexpected places if we’re paying attention.)
Need I say more?
Have a Beautiful day!
Karyn
p.s. Come let’s talk about the stories of our lives that get in the way of healing—check out my e-book, Big Energy—How We Bravely Reclaim Our Health, Our Potential, Our Lives—It’s All In Our Stories. If you like it, if you’re inspired, let me know! And please share it with a friend.
And from my Archives:
Live the Questions. 2018.