Holding On

From the Albano-Waite Tarot, the Nine of Wands; from the Rumi Cards, 'Don't Despair:'

There are times in life when people must know when not to let go. Balloons are designed to teach small children this. ― Terry Pratchett 

          Both the cards today reflect tenacity - refusing to give up while holding onto hope without clinging to expectation. Usually, when I want to retreat and curl up in a cocoon of pity, it's because I have lost any meaning of life beyond a self-centered purpose. Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen wrote:

Meaning does not change the particulars of our lives; it changes our experience of those particulars. Finding meaning requires seeing beyond the superficial to the essential, seeing what is familiar and even commonplace in new ways.

How do we discover such a purpose? Viktor Frankl wrote that we can find meaning in three ways: experiencing reality authentically (experiential), expressing oneself through art or craft and doing deeds for others (creative), and changing our attitude when faced with a situation we are powerless to change (attitudinal). That sounds like an ongoing, lifelong task; I'd better get cracking.

Rachel Maddow speaking about our community.