Back in March, my friend Eden and I went to an intensive yoga and meditation retreat at Kripalu in Western Massachusetts.

Towards the end of the retreat, we were invited to write a letter to ourselves beginning with the words, “My child, this is what I have to say to you… ”

After we wrote the letters, we were told to address an envelope to ourselves and to place our letter inside the envelope. The staff collected the envelopes and 6 weeks later mailed them out to our homes.

Here’s exactly what I wrote. I keep it handy and re-read it now and then.

My child, this is what I have to say to you…

Can you be open?

Can you be non-judging?

Can you be non-comparing?

Can you be non-fixing?

Can you be non-figuring it out?

Figuring it out, fixing, comparing, judging, being closed… these are not useful states of being. Occasionally, they might be useful skills  in the practical world. But only after a pause. Only after making the choice. Perhaps in a crisis when someone’s life’s at stake. In that very moment.

When, my child, you feel that sense of urgency that you must say something, do something, tighten up, fix, judge, compare or figure it out… pause right then. Wait. Ask yourself the question, “Can I be kind to myself and keep quiet? Can I allow others to live their own lives, to be on their own journey? Can I accept that other people have their own Inner Wisdom?” It may be Crazy Wisdom. I may not understand what benefits may come from their mistakes — or what I judge to be mistakes. Perhaps they desperately need the protection of those mistakes.

Love,

Valerie