~ Useful ~

'The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.' ~ Elizabeth Kubler Ross (from an Unraveller)

Oh lovely blog, how I have missed you. Friday saw the last day of both my classes and the end of an intense period of working. I've worked every day including weekends for the last six weeks and have put everything i have into my new course while shepherding my original Unravellers. This time last year I was taking my first wobbly steps in a classroom full of strangers, telling them about my theories of 'unravelling' and hoping to inspire them to pick up their cameras and start investigating their lives. How far my idea has come since that nerve-racking beginning just blows my mind.

I've spent my whole life searching for my passion, and now I find myself doing something i'm insanely passionate about. I'm so grateful for this, because when I get those rollercoaster days of grief memories or sadness or loneliness I walk a little more gently, and remind myself that I'm doing something useful. And that is the key. I've never felt useful before, never felt like i was contributing anything to the world - just a big spaghetti mess of insecurities and neediness and rubbish. And now i've found a way to support my family of one while being useful to others, and that really does make me get out of bed every morning, eager to start the day. Of course, friends and family are now concerned that i'm showing signs of workaholism, but I've waited so long to do something i love I want to give it my all. I feel a sense of purpose these days and that helps make the grief and loss make sense to me; I'm so grateful for that too.

Comments

[Steffi]

Thank you!

1. I adore Elizabeth Kübler Ross and her work. This quote is just so awesome and true.

2. I totally feel like you felt before. This gives me hope that one day I, too, will feel useful. And I feel less alone in this feeling.

3. I am one of those who gets to benefit from your work, your usefulness, your experiences, you being you.

So three times a heart-felt "Thank you!" ♥ ♥ ♥

[Amanda]

such a lovely bog entry and I feel joy for you that you have come to this new place and found work you are passionate about.

[Carol Maguire]

What a lovely post....so heartfelt...and so inspirational to all who are still in the spaghetti mess. I agree...once you have felt true sorrow and loss....you have a different outlook on life. You so appreciate the good...and can understand and better judge the multiple levels of "bad". Thanks.

[Mel]

It is lovely that you are doing what you love so much. Just love this blog. I always go "awww" when I read it. So "awwww" from me.

[Clara]

How fortunate you are to have found such joy in your work, and to be working hard at something you love. I think of all of the people who work hard at things that stifle and deaden them, and never have the opportunity to feel the passion that you feel.

And you were useful, of course, before you realized yourself so. You were useful to all of us who read your words and admired your images.

[kathryn]

what a beautiful post...i love to hear where people are inspired and follow that path to their bliss...congratulations!!

[Mausumi]

I'm so happy you have found your passion!
I'm searching right now, and I must say, the search is nice too.

I don't know if you want to think about your next round of classes right now, but I thought I'd let you know that I have written down december 1st in my calendar, and I'm really looking forward to sign up for your january class! :)

[charlane]

what a beautiful quote - so beautiful and so very true.

i am grateful you and this blog - it touches me deeply in many many ways.

[Christianne]

This was a beautiful post. I agree with the Kubler-Ross quote, and I am so happy for your evolution to this place. I was following your blog through much of the grieving process, and I recently stumbled on it again. It's been a joy to see your embrace of the Unravelling e-courses and the opportunities you have been able to bring to others and yourself through them. I think one reason they've made such a difference in the lives of others is because you lead them from a place of integrity: you have unravelled, so you can help others unravel, too.

[Hemant]

Very inspirational.

I happened to know your blog a few days ago thru "white hot truth"' (Danielle LaPorte). Thankful to her to have found your blog. You have so much love in your heart.

[luna]

I am new to this blog and I am totally touched by this entry! It rings a bell and - yes - it gives me new hope to be one day useful, too! Thanks! :-)

[Shell]

To me being able to work at what you love doing heals us deeply. I say dive in and being a workaholic now and them is good for the soul.

[Marianne @ Zen Peacekeeping]

Amen! You are the epitome of that quote.

I believe that to know that we are useful is a fundamental human desire. You are useful in the most wonderful sense - the heart-felt sense.

But you were always so valuable to me. Just because you are. x

[poet]

This is very inspiring. I can only hope to be as lucky as you some day.

[gn.]

You have a beautiful and passionate soul, and it is slowly unraveling in your work. I'm glad it also transcends in your blog. :-)

Cheers to you!

[nathalie]

hello

this is wonderful to hear ... it fills me with joy, peace and faith for my dreams

[Amelia Critchlow]

Wow - this nearly made me cry as I identified with some of the things mentioned in the quote - powerful stuff . . .

Finding your passion is testament to the fact that by sharing it with others you are assisting them on a special journey . . . . it's all incredibly inspiring and fantastic that you started something so powerful only a year ago, and I'm so happy that I was able to be part of it as an Unraveller this sept just gone. I can tell this will move onwards and upwards in ever-more expanding ways . . . .

Lol and support,

Amelia.xx

[Jan's camera]

I wish I could also find a sense of purpose in my life. I am very happy to hear that you have found that. It is rare. I have been waiting all my life to find something worthwhile to do. I need to make it happen. Thanks for being such a positive inspiration.

[Laura Hegfield]

wow...that quote is fabulous! keep unravelling and allowing your light to shine between the yarns that have created your unique life journey!
namaste,
laura

[jodie]

i recently finished Kubler Ross' autobiography (wow.) and learned so much more than just the research side of her life. i too have stumbled through my grief into a life i could never have imagined. when my sister and brother-in-law were murdered 5 years ago, i could barely remember to brush my teeth in the morning. i have since completed a masters degree in social work and finally, a sense of purpose in my life. wonderful post on gratitude...

[Amisha]

Isn't it the greatest feeling to find your passion? It feels like you've come home. And aren't most of us searching for our passions? I think life is more the pursuit of finding the passion rather than happiness.

[robin]

I hope to follow in your footsteps in the niche I am passionate about-inspiring!