It’s been way too long since I’ve last posted. And if I’m honest, I feel ashamed of that. I set out to be consistent with this “blogging” thing but have since realized, it’s really hard to be consistent in blogging. Let’s be real, it’s hard to be consistent with anything.
So, here I am, struggling to not feel like I’ve failed at this goal I set for myself. And it would be way too easy for me to just say, “I’m not a blogger” and be done with this whole endeavor. But, I’ve decided not to do that because even if I only post occasionally and even if I don’t gain some sort of following, I’m realizing that sticking with things is an important exercise because anything valuable is worth working for.
And, by the way, the thing of value for me isn’t this blog. It’s consistently working through tough things and sharing them here in the hope that someone else might connect with what I’m sharing, and find some encouragement in it too.
An Exercise In Connecting With Others
One thing I’m proud of myself for is sticking with an exercise routine. I’ve been either walking or rowing every day now, since January. And on those walks or sessions on the rowing machine, I regularly listen to podcasts. This past week I listened to one that I think is worth sharing.
Simon Sinek’s, “A Bit of Optimism” is one that I listen to often and I highly recommend. I love this podcast because it infuses much-needed love and hope into a time when most people seem to prefer the easy, dare I say lazy, path of simply joining forces with others who hate the same things they do, calling it love. We all need to be reminded that the exercise of knowing and loving others is so much harder but so much more rewarding.
In this episode of the podcast, Simon interviews poet IN-Q about the work he does to help people connect on a deeper level. IN-Q recites a couple of powerful poems during the episode (which are alone worth the listen) but also has a deeply insightful conversation with Simon about the importance of connecting with others. He walks Simon and his team through an exercise where they write a poem together (you don’t hear this part on the podcast) and then Simon not only shares the poem he wrote, but talks about how moving the process was.
The takeaway of the episode for me is that it’s much more fulfilling to search for common bonds of love with people, even people you might disagree with (on a whole host of topics), rather than letting the common bond that holds our relationships together be hate. If mutual hate is the sum of how we relate to people, our lives are built on a foundation that’s not sustainable. We will not survive. But, if we realize we all share the common bond of life, and look for ways to love each other through the struggles life brings our way, that’s a bond that holds firm.
If we’re going to thrive in this one life we have to live, we have to make the conscious effort to choose to work at love. Like all things that are valuable, it won’t come easy, but it will be so worth it!
This is really true and I have not thought about the origins of the bonds we make. Thank you for sharing the podcast and your takeaway as excellent food for thought!
Thanks for the comment, sis! I’m doing my best to become someone who looks for the best in others and seeks to build bonds of love because it’s far too easy (especially these days) to commiserate with those who dislike (hate) the same things I do, calling that “love.” That kind of life breeds misery. I want to live a life of joy.
Great post and great blog Josh. Keep it up!
I have come to learn the real definition of love, at least as Charles Stanley states it. I’ve adopted it as my understanding of agape love – the relentless pursuit of the well-being of another. Putting it into practice can be hard sometimes, having people to share it with consistently is a real blessing.
What’s up, Lou?! Great to hear from you! Thanks for the feedback. And yes, the relentless pursuit of the well-being of others (love) is really hard work! And, if I’m honest, I fail at it most of the time. However, I’m thankful for grace and for opportunities to grow. I’m learning (in my old age) that’s what life’s about, right? Acknowledging the ways we’ve screwed up and failed to love, apologizing, and then doing it better the next time around!