"Talking Story"

My “meandering” continues and the fact that you have dropped in to take a few minutes and read is sincerely appreciated – I love the idea that there may be even one other human-suited earth-school traveler who experiences some type of “connection” during or after reading the words that land on the page of this “Perfectly on Time” Substack post.

The Hawaiian Islands and particularly Lahaina have been on my mind a lot these past weeks. Not right in my backyard, but within less than 200 hundred miles of my hometown, we too have been experiencing significant devastation due to wildfires. When I stepped outside this afternoon the mountains remained underneath the “smoke clouds” and the air was harsh.

This morning I spent a few hours listening to my favourite YouTube music channels, while at the same time reading several Substack posts, and as tends to happen after reading there were suddenly:

“SO MANY THINGS TO THINK ABOUT!”

And poof! The Hawaiian expression about “talking story” presented itself and this “Crone/Wise Woman” (in training) felt a nudge to consider the words a little more deeply. Perhaps from a bigger, wide world, perspective. Some of my own story related to Lahaina was included in my blog last week and included this explanation:

“Every culture around the world has its own way of sharing information. Here in the islands, we share informally by “talking story”—slowing down and taking time to explore ideas, stories, opinions and history with the people around us. We hope our Talk Story will help to inspire and connect our community!”
(available at: https://mauiculturallands.org/talk-story)

So, today as I read and felt a connection with all the writers and their “stories”, it suddenly felt like a new view and understanding about “talking story” was unfolding. For, isn’t that what all of us are doing here (in one way or another)?

Donna shares about her Mom and their story/journey.

Ramona asks a question and then generously responds to comments.

David provides us with another portion of his book set in his homeland of Africa.

Felicity touches our hearts with continuing stories of resilience and courage in the Ukraine

Of course this is an acknowledgement of only a few because I couldn’t begin to read the thousands of posts available at Substack. But… from where I’m reflecting today what speaks to me at a deep level is that perhaps all of us are simply here “living a story” and… some of us get to write about it.

Add to this the “talking story” segment that took place during an event I attended yesterday. A level of heart and soul recollection and sharing of “stories” that evoked wide and varied responses, from tears to laughter and everything in between. To once again be able to sit in a room, face-to-face and in-person, and engage and connect with one another was more than significant. As my friend Tracy said later….”My soul was singing”. And there we are/were.

And, one more small snippet about “talking story”. The phrase was first introduced to Don and me on one of our visits to Maui. I don’t recall exactly how the exchange and conversation came to take place but I DO recall the young man who engaged with us was a local who exuded that Aloha Spirit the islands are so famous for. We ended up “talking story” for over an hour and at the end of it I felt as though I had been given a piece of the islands that I could have missed had I not been “Perfectly on Time” in that moment!

Embracing the Moments

So, I continue to be completely convinced that every single post, in-person exchange, and “talking story” is/was/will continue to be “Perfectly on Time”. The reason I persist in my attachment to that mantra, at least in part, is because it provides me with a way to stop and take a moment to consider a moment and at that moment find myself filled with an abundance of awe and gratitude at what has been put in front of me.

Author’s Photo of Perennial/ Vivace Hibiscus [SUMMERIFIC® ‘Candy Crush’]

I recently purchased this new plant: Perennial/ Vivace Hibiscus [SUMMERIFIC® ‘Candy Crush’]. Perhaps my love of the Hawaiian Islands and the recent destruction and heartbreak attached to beautiful Lahaina was somehow tied into the discovery of this most spectacular version of the hibiscus flower. It seemed to provide one of those “Perfectly on Time” moments to just STOP - PAUSE - WONDER - at the work of Mother Nature in all her glory.

What’s not to be in awe of when the details are considered:

• Hibiscus possesses both male and female reproductive organs in them.

• Each blossom has five perfect petals.

• The centre of a blossom deepens in colour to perfectly complement those petals.

• A columnar stamen holds five perfect stigmas at the end; and

• Every single blossom on the plant contains the identical details.

Is there anything within my control?

There is much taking place in our world today that remains completely out of my control and this writer pretty consciously decided to disengage from mainstream media a number of years ago. It’s not that I don’t receive “headline information” … I have friends and family who keep me in the loop. Rather it’s about stepping away from the idea of “control dramas” I was introduced to (a long time ago - LOL) by James Redfield in his book “The Celestine Prophecy”.

I don’t like conflict and I have no desire to expend my precious energy getting caught up in dramas that I can do nothing about. At the same time, I do not want to “feed” the dramatic energies of others by giving chase and/or opinions.

Why?

As part of entering this next phase of my own story my perceptions continue to shift and morph through what sometimes feels like a long and arduous process of uncovering, discovering, and discarding pieces that no longer fit this Crone. History seems to suggest that we are a somewhat cyclical species (like many other species) in that we arrive, live out a story that we may have agreed to come and experience, and ultimately exit [date unknown].

By remaining willing to consider that what goes on at a heart and soul level - as an “inside job” so to speak, then I also have options to make choices and undertake changes that move me into a much softer, kinder, gentler, way of being.

Seems to be working for me a lot of the time… guess I’ll continue.