The 60-Second Sabbath

self-compassion

  • Dreaming

    At night they come to me–my sister or my father,my mother or her mother–mutually recognizingthat they have diedand that we have,for whatever reason,been given a few more minutes together. Sometimes,I ask questions,because I need to know,to understandmyself. Sometimesit is enough… Continue reading

  • This Morning

    Furnace hums;coffee mug warms hands;cat on lap chews pen. This morning,too contentto write. Text and image © 2014 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • Ego? Egad!

    I. My egoneeds less stage-time.He needs a caring cast memberto escort him into the wings,assuring him that he's doing a fine joband can now take a break,have a smoke and chill.The play goes on;we will retrieve him if needed. Sadly,… Continue reading

  • Self-Compassion

    I recommenda lot less self-critiqueand much more self-compassion. We're far too quick to bash ourselves–or feel like crap when others bash us–but seldom respondby honestly acknowledgingthat these things hurt,and what we really needis understanding and comfort. "Yes, that hurt.What she… Continue reading

  • The Party

    Throw a party. Invite all of your various and sundry selves:    the one you enjoy    and the one you ignore,    the one you honor    and the one you fear,    the selfish    along with the selfless,    the… Continue reading

  • Your Own Suffering

    Unawareof his own suffering,covering itwith a sticky shellacof bravado,he formed a crustthat buffered him from othersas well as himself,a mantleof insulating indifference. Unawareof his own suffering,unable to touch it,to heal it,it festered,until finally,sickened by the infection,he could no longer pretendhe… Continue reading

  • The Wounded Child

    Somewhere in the woodsa wounded child wanders.His survival dependson your kindness and compassion.     Can you find him in time? He's a good child,a boy whose heart has great capacityfor joy and trust,for delight and laughter,but now he hides… Continue reading

  • Abandoned Heart

    The heart I abandonedwaits where I left it.It knows its painand understands that I was unequippedto handle a troubled heartand therefore had to leave. But I cannot livewithout my heart;incomplete,I live unconsciously.I go back;I shall find and comfort by heartand… Continue reading

  • Toward Healing

    I peeled back the bandage."This is my wound,"I said. "It looks like it's healing,"he said. "Yes, it is.It still hurts some,but nothing like before." "What's made the difference?" "I stopped pretendingit didn't exist,stopped telling myselfI shouldn't be hurt that badly.I… Continue reading