P – Path

These are very short extracts from Susan E. Schwartz and my recently released book “Aging & Becoming ~ A Reflective Enquiry”. Susan E. Schwartz is represented as SES, my words as SS – italicised. From ‘Path & Pain’.

SS: We plan as best we can though the unplanned actually happens more often than we care for. Death of loved ones floors us. Receiving a diagnosis of a grave illness knocks the wind out of our sails. Or being in a terrible car accident, or losing one’s job or finding out that one’s partner cheated on us, or a still birth, even metaphorically. Unplanned, unwelcome. We become more aware and consciously anticipate the unexpected. pg 98

SES: This journey has twists and turns and each day and each moment we select this one and not that. We are held and expanded at the same time. One moment we are private, passive, personal and protected and then public and seen. One is often integral to the other. The path has and will alter as we prefer this to that. In fact, we are what we have chosen from the past as it emerges into the present. The path defines us as much as we do it. pg 100

The truth will set you free but first it will piss you off.

Gloria Steinem

26 Comments on AtoZ Blog Challenge P Path

  1. Reacting to your words, ‘we are what we have chosen from the past as it emerges into the present’ It’s so true we eventually reap what we sow. We shouldn’t be surprised when we find ourselves on a certain path. This can be a good thing!

    “Female Scientists Before Our Time”
    Shells–Tales–Sails

  3. I’ve gone down an array of good and bad paths in my lifetime so far, but I’m happy because it’s gotten me to where I am now. My journey is not yet done!

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

  4. Hi Susan – our path we may not understand … yet we learn from all aspects of it – why do I need to suffer this – there’s a reason … but I do feel for some who seem to have been dealt a dreadful blow for them to recover from … and I’m thinking of a mother whose son died, and whose husband blamed himself and then killed himself … that’s much worse than so many things …

    I have learnt a lot since I experienced the years with my mother as her life came to an end – I’m aware … but it’s still not easy – but that’s my path … and I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t trod my own way through life … cheers Hilary

    http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/q-is-for-quirky-quizzy-facts-and-quaggas.html

    • Hi Hilary, thanks for coming by. We feel deeply for those who suffer such tragedies as you illustrate above. I’m unsure I could live with such. Makes me think of Job and also of this warring world we live in, in which we have our own path to tread in amongst it all …not easy as you say. Susan ..

  5. I find myself fascinated by the path one takes in life. My own path in particular, obviously, and I find these questions seep into my writing. Where would I be if I did this instead of that? What kind of person would I be? I don’t have any answers for myself, which is maybe why I write about it, so I can find answers for my characters. 😉

    • Thanks Sara – I also find that writing is an inner exploration and giving it shape and form as you do, is an act of creation or creativity as one meanders through the various paths, many to be navigated, sometimes seeming impossible – 🙂

  9. Today’s post really fits in with something I’ve been noodling about for a while. We often think of paths as set tangible things and that we choose between one or the other. But I’m starting to think that the path doesn’t actually exist until we take the first step. I know that sounds a bit vague and likely unclear, but that’s the path my thinking is taking at the moment. 🙂 I’m enjoying these excerpts Susan – always food for thought.

    • Thanks Deborah, I’m thinking about the crossroads as I write, and the uncertainty of which path to then take. Although standing still at the crossroad may be the best action (or non-action) for the time being. Thanks for saying about enjoying these excerpts 🙂

  11. I agree with Jacqui’s comment. I’ll bet the short posts makes the Challenge easier. I especially LOVED Gloria Steinem’s quote! Boy, she nailed it! Thanks!

    • Thanks for coming by Gwynn! No, I wouldn’t say the short posts made it easier for reasons too detailed to explain 🙂 … I like Steinem’s quote too – pithy and to the point –

  12. Beautiful SS & SES 🙂 I would like to reflect on this statement today
    “The path has and will alter as we prefer this to that. In fact, we are what we have chosen from the past as it emerges into the present.
    The path defines us as much as we do it. … very well expressed, thanks susan, great job !! keep it up !!

    • Thanks Genevive! Those were Susan Schwartz’s words – believe me I (need to) reflect on them often – thank you for your encouragement!

  13. I have to say, I’m really enjoying these posts, Susan. They are brief, easily-understood, and on point. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

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