At dVerse Lisa is hosting Prosery (144 words) with an invitation to write prose and to include the line “In the tender gray, I swim undisturbed.” from the poem ‘In Sullivan County’ by Celia Dropkin (who was born on Decmeber 5), for more details follow the link below.
dVerse Poets – Prosery – On This Day: Happy December 5 Birthday Poets
Image: wall-art.nl
“Life is about the gray areas.” Emily Giffin
Into The Gray
I’ve always been allergic to moralisms. They’re like a feeling I have when I’ve eaten something that is past its use by date. It can look good, but the eating thereof leaves much to be desired. And it’s a smorgasbord. Every group has an opinion on what is right or wrong, what is black or white. Sadly, some of it can be so destructive as they turn into rules of exclusion, leaving individuals and groups open to judgement and senseless punishment.
For me, moralisms are dualisms preventing harmony and peace, preventing open hearted compassion. they thrive on fear. I no longer seek to be right, to have that egoic power at the exclusion of connection and love. Non-harming is my way through. Listening, accepting, sometimes setting things aside. These days I’m much happier in the tender gray, I swim undisturbed in that cosmic pond.
Copyright 2022 ©Paul Vincent Cannon
All Rights Reserved ®️
parallax 
This strikes a chord with me. The world, the joined-up virtual world, is loud and aggressively self-righteous. Too many people yelling about the evil people who don’t agree with them. Single-issue people with a hierarchy of victimhood. You’re right to try and blot it out. The biggest mouths are often the most ignorant.
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I do agree Jane, you speak my feelings, loud indeed.
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I’m glad it’s not just me.
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Well said, Jane. I completely agree.
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The internet allows any village idiot to throw inanities around and be cheered for doing it. I hate it.
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As do I, particularly because I developed and taught critical thinking courses for so many years. It rankles.
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In France, there seems to be far less blind following of the kind of cranky ideas that (usually) come from the US. Maybe it’s because the French are born sceptics, won’t follow rules and tend to want evidence before they believe anything. It might also be because philosophy is compulsory on the high school syllabus and is a part of all the baccalauréat exams. It certainly doesn’t do them any harm.
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Evidence-based decision-making, what a concept! (Excuse the sarcasm.)
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When you take religion out of the school system altogether, you replace it with something really revolutionary—thinking for yourself.
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In my last year of college teaching (2021), I found that the students right out of high school had no idea what I wanted when I posed an assignment that required them to think for themselves. It was quite disconcerting. And sad.
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It’s frightening. It means children grow up like sponges, soaking up whatever idiocy is poured into their ears and without the intellectual tools to work out what is fact and what utter fiction. And then they vote, buy guns etc etc.
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It is. 😦
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😦
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Scary to say the least
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😦
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Very sad, and the same over here.
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Or any mad idea. When I was on the parent body I was so disturbed by the wack ideas that people held, I thought then that we were perhaps doomed as a race.
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The school system here has enough on its plate trying to keep religious fanaticism out of the classroom without getting involved in any of the other lunatic theories that are going around.
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Ha, yes, everywhere you look there’s something looney.
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🙂
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Sadly the village is rapidly becoming a city of idiots. Cannot easily have sane conversation or think out loud on the net.
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There’s been a lot of talk about twitter not being a ‘safe’ place for certain people to voice their opinions. As far as I can see it’s exactly those people who make intelligent discussion impossible with their infantile abuse.
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Exactly so Jane.
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😦
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Me too
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I agree with you, Paul. I like “allergic to moralisms.” Yes, most things and situations are in a grey area, not black and white.
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I live in hope we can corporately get to that one day 🙂 Thank you Merril
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You’re welcome, Paul.
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Wise thoughts explained beautifully. To me it says, “Pick your battles wisely and make them few in order to do the least harm.”
Because some battles must ultimately be fought IMHO. Staying mostly “undisturbed” helps us make wiser and fairer decisions but hopefully doesn’t inspire complacency which is not at all kind.
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I find asking myself, “Is this the hill I want to die on?” helpful to move away from the need to be right. 99% of the time, my answer to this question is no. I save my battles for the 1%.
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❤
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Yes!
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Exactly so Susan, thank you.
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😁👍💜
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That must be wonderful swimming in that cosmic pond.
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When I manage it it is fabulous
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What a great use of the line. Yes.
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Thank you very much indeed
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Wonderful advice and philosophy to live by, Paul. I also think we shed things along the way when we (become able to) see they no longer serve us.
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Yes, I have experienced that, moe so in recent years.
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Wise words, Paul.
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Thank you very much Amy
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I like this, Paul…bringing a much needed perspective, especially in current times, but ultimately in any times.
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Yes, So many voices, some loud and shrill, compassion and empathy seem to go out the window. Thank you very much Mish
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Love the sentiment in this piece of writing 🙂
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Thank you so much 🙂
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You are welcome 💕
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Elegant rendering of a nearly impossible challenge. Bravo!
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Thank you so much Ana
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Beautiful – it only more were to swim in that cosmic pond
>
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Yes, just imagine how the world might be ….
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Pingback: 170 – Gray – Beach Walk Reflections: Thoughts from thinking while walking
Thank you
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I can relate to this Paul. With what seems like the whole world showing anger at the slightest inconvenience, I am sometimes comfortable slipping into the grey/gray. The exception would be if I witnessed someone being bullied or abused. Then I might turn blazing red and bare my teeth! LOL 🤣
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i get that Christine, I would react that way too, live and let live – except bullying and abuse, many thanks.
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