words of wisdom

<n>Sonnet XXXIV</n> by <n>Pablo Neruda</n>. Design by <n>Kajsa Quinterno</n>.

The quality of conversation is a two way street. When we listen intently, we invite the speaker to invest more of themselves into the dialogue. We welcome them to speak more honestly, openly, and dare them to go places they might hesitate to move toward otherwise.  In a world full of distractions, hardly anyone is listening, meaning there’s less care in what’s being said.  If you want to walk away with something, let them know you can hear & understand them.

A still from the 2015 film <n>45 Years</n>, directed by <n>Andrew Haigh</n>.

A still of Japanese actor <n>Haruma Miura</n>.

“Nature loves courage. You make the commitment and nature will respond to that commitment by removing impossible obstacles. Dream the impossible dream and the world will not grind you under, it will lift you up. This is the trick. This is what all these teachers and philosophers who really counted, who really touched the alchemical gold, this is what they understood. This is the shamanic dance in the waterfall. This is how magic is done. By hurling yourself into the abyss and discovering it’s a feather bed.” — Terence McKenna