Problem, No Problem

I know a lot of peopleI do not know anyone who does not have problemsI know people who won’t talk about their problemsAnd people who won’t shut up about themI know people who handle their problems gracefullyAnd people who pretend they don’t existI know people who parlay problems into opportunitiesBut new problems still ariseIndeed, there’s a carousel of problems that ariseLike the wheel of fortunePhysical problems, financial problems, emotional problemsRelational, existential, socialSome we’re better equipped to deal with than othersSome we have support structures forBut are high and dry when a different kind befall usAll of this leads me to believeProblems are intrinsic to the design of lifeAnd while I feel our culture has had me chasing a problem-free lifeI don’t know if that’s trueAnd I certainly know such a life does not existNot to say there isn’t a way to live lifeThat embraces problems as enthusiastically as it embraces good fortuneAs just the next step, what facilitates evolutionBut even then, how to move through the pain of it?In evaluating my own lifeAreas of profound or relative comfortAreas of profound or relative discomfortAll swirling about, making up the story as I know itComparing it to a story I somehow hold of an exclusively positive lifeAs being a reward for being good, or even validating true effortI don’t know where I got that storyOr how I believed itOr, even, not believing it still dangle it over my head tauntinglyWhen I come back to my breathThere’s patience and curiosityAnd lots of compassionBecause even as I continue to be in this difficult placeI’m clear that everyone is experiencing a challengeAnd while we may have fantasies of evolving into a life without problemsMore poignantly, we’re just trying to get through the dayAnd you know what helps?Breath. Nature. Movement. Rest.And most of all: CompanionshipThanks for being here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fallingtenderly.substack.com