{ on openness }

my thoughts keep returning to some of the things that have been emerging for me lately, in particular what cemented itself for me at the conclusion of yesterday's post: the concept of living with eyes open, heart open, with innocence and vulnerability.

instinctively, i don't like this --- who would? an ESFP, maybe. but not me. the word open immediately leads to exposed in my mind. exposed leads to raw and travels quickly to pain.

but.

it seems this theme is going to keep appearing (or am i subconsciously looking for it?). either way, i'm paying attention.

//

i've loved and listened to bjork for 15 years. she's one of the strongest women and artists i know. her projects are full of honesty, sometimes anger; a rawness, yes, and voice so full of emotion it actually makes my throat sore to listen to her sometimes. she is fearless, brutal, so real it hurts. but about 7 years into listening to her, i started to catch filaments of openness and generosity in her work that surprised me.

i've had this song on repeat for several weeks, but just this morning it came up in my playlist as i was cooking and the words struck me anew.

all that matter is:
who is open-chested
and who has coagulated
who can share
and who has shut down the chances

all that matters is:
who is open
and who has shut up
and if one feels closed
how does one stay open



//

from issue no. 12 of darling magazine, caught in my reading this afternoon. deb talan of the weepies wrote a short piece about songwriting, creativity, and her process:

expect that something magical could happen. sit down and do the work and maybe it will.

creating something from nothing has a bit of the mystical about it no matter what the endeavor. when igniting your own inner creative spark, look for what attracts you deeply, weave the sparkly bits together, and keep open in hopes of a deeper connection. 

sit down.
do the work.
expect.
look.
keep open --- with hope.