question
a small conversation in shanghai
In Shanghai I met someone who felt unsatisfied and uncertain what to do with her life. She felt bad, she explained, through Chinese I could barely understand, and a translation app, “even if I get a bunch of money and freedom, I don’t know what I want to do with my life, except spend more time with friends.”
The truth is, I didn’t have a good answer, and it was impossible for me to express one in Chinese anyway.
So I wrote on my phone that we were all just trying to figure it out and earth itself was floating in space, and nobody even knows why we’re here, and despite all the lack of meaning and uncertainty she felt now, as long as she kept the desire to find her passion that, paradoxically, was the certainty it could be found.
Daring to ask the question was the first step of finding the meaning.
Besides, the meaning itself was probably not really out there. But it could be created by the act of trying to find it.
She took a picture of a translated version of what I wrote, and thanked me. I wasn’t sure if she was relieved by what I said, or by the fact we had moved beyond the question.
Both of us unable to continue the conversation, we silently walked together at night, for a little while, before going different ways.
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Ah, this might be one of my favorites and so timely 🙏💖
Quite beautiful to share those moments, I’ve zero doubt your presence and all you shared impacted her as much as it has you, given you’ve carried it and now share the beauty and wisdom it offers 🌹The mark of a true teacher I think, to offer not even the questions to ask but simply a reminder one can ask the question which may lead to far more than what was expected if worrying about the answer. My favorite is when you speak on acting on creating meaning and moving beyond the question ⚡️It reminds me of how we fall into rhythmic entrainment with water or each other, but a sort of entrainment with the greater rhythm of life’s tapestry 🕸️🌊 It also reminds me of a glimmer found in the Tantra Bhairava, highly recommend the translation The Radiance Sutras by Lorin Roche 📚✨ You’re just channeling some ancient wisdom here 🌹✨
And alright Mr Alexander Webb, Emissary of Serendipity — this is getting ridiculous 🙈😆 gotta love Serendipity and artists in the ether of her web conspiring to bring similar messages in various forms on the same timeline.. but are we psychically sharing the same journal? 😅 I’m finalising a creation on essentially coherence and presencing Mystery, and had wrote copy for how often the answers are in walking into the questions and living inside or from them even if unknown 🤭 Ah Life lol. Your piece is a beautiful reminder and again, so timely as I sit as you say, to cocreate meaning from simply the act of showing up to presence the creation, trusting it unfolds as it needs to ~ So much delight and gratitude 🙏✨