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Mike Hale's avatar

"The only way to flourish is to stand in the gap between desire and reality, the what-would-have-been and the what-is, and not feel the sting of loss, but see the gap not as a gap, but as a sweet spot of acceptance.

Only then can you settle into your body and the earth and notice that, right in front of you, a butterfly is draining every drop of nectar from purple blossoms — and you are reminded, so should you." (Virginia Gilbert-American Author and Essayist)

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Sandra Riccardi's avatar

“it wasn’t that avenues had been closed off to me throughout life. It was that I wasn’t present enough to notice them.” So true.

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Susan henderson's avatar

Well said Virginia..there is something so wonderful about just accepting where you are.

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Bette's avatar

I loved this post and thank you for mentioning Life Would Be Perfect If I Lived in That House -- now on my library list. I've always enjoyed walking by dream houses and imagining how great it would be to actually live in one -- you know, the house where everyone's happy and there are pets and photos and probably a piano in the living room. I stop myself now by imagining cleaning the entire thing and then paying to upgrade the HVAC when it breaks. Real life, LOL!

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Virginia's avatar

Haha yes!! I do the same thing, walk by those houses and think "what a lovely money pit."

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Tom Lease's avatar

I love the way you write and the words you choose and the language you use.

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Virginia's avatar

Wow, thank you so much! I'm glad to know I'm getting my points across :)

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