People had often told me to ‘let go’ more, to give myself up to music or impulse, or rest, and I had always thought it meant a passive plunging in to the oblivion of my blind thought. But always, when given its head, my blind thought had carried me away into hot, fussy anxieties or long-winded scheming for things it wanted, some plan or another which would not let me rest. And this state had spread from my mind to my body, so that my muscles were always taut with the effort to get what I wanted. Now, however, when I had at last learnt the restraining act which was real ‘letting go’, the chatter of blind effortful thought dwindled from an exhausting distraction to the far-away twitter of sparrows high up in the eaves.
~ Marion Milner, A Life of One’s Own (First Published, 1934)
Notes:
- Art Source: mennyfox55
- Related Posts: Marion Milner
Live & Learn 
Oh, to learn this lesson!
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And to consistently execute….
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Oh yeah!
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I have occasional glimpses of this state, but they usually involve a tropical island and rum punch….
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Oh, and I’ve seen movies of that.
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Laughing…
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Another peaceful gift from our Mother, if we choose to be aware and accept.
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Cracking photo which going to try and recreate great words as always
– you need to take a chill pill every so often
have a great weekend
Scott
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I try. I try. I try.
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David can you do me a favour and correct my typos – couldn’t have been wearing my glasses 😎
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Which* and take*
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laughing. did I make the corrections right?
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No could you 😐 i cant edit on ur feed once posted 🙄
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Yes. I did. Is this what you meant to say – let me know and I will correct.
Cracking photo which going to try and recreate great words as always
– you need to take a chill pill every so often
have a great weekend
Scott
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… “the last restraining act of real letting go”… does make me wonder what she refers to. Is there more here David?
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You are asking me Sensai?
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No matter how much we know, there is always more to be open to. I do wonder if the “restraining” she refers to is the withdrawal of the senses in order to explore the one pointed mind.
Right now, I’m enjoying not considering anything at all. 💛
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Smiling. Yes, much to consider….
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“Restraining act”…
” the restraining act which was real ‘letting go’.”
Such contradiction in terms.
Did not read the book but saw parts of it here and there.
I’m from the other extreme and always happy when I see people like her cross over, or come to visit near the fence.
Though, truth be told, the whole universe is still riding on the shoulders of people like her.
Those sparrows ought to twitter louder. 🙂
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WOW. GREAT comment. Gold badge for comment if the day.
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“…Will somebody or something please start to sing?”
~ Mary Oliver, The Roses
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Oh, we’re singing.
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BIG smile.
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“People had often told me to ‘let go’ more, to give myself up to music or impulse, or rest” suggests to me letting the guard down, living in the moment that that activity is bringing you. Meditation comes to mind.
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I’m such a long way from letting go and meditating in the purest sense. It is closer to seconds, moments, than minutes. But I’m at least acknowledging I need to start the journey. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Rob.
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I absolutely agree. You should be very happy with that, it leads to everything else…
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at least for a long moment here and there…
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