LOVE AND HOPE IN DIFFICULT TIMES
What’s Your Vulnerability Quotient?
A tanka responding to Paper Poetry’s September prompt
Face fear with courage Strength to be vulnerable Embrace letting go Accept unacceptable Now need not last forever
Poet’s Notes:
Last week my dear friend of about 38 years, Pamela Busch, posted their first Medium story since they last wrote here two years ago. It’s a short and important read:
As Pamela has not written here in two years and only has 17 (now 18) followers, I figured the distribution algo may not treat the essay with the respect it deserves and I immediately started to think of how I could support Pamela, the story and the readers it might help. As Pamela wrote:
As far as this incident is concerned, my mouth is now open, not to an unwelcome tongue, but to honestly discuss this incident and support others who’ve undergone similar experiences.
Then upon reading this month’s Paper Poetry prompt, I suspected I could tie the two together, particularly because the prompt included these thoughts:
For September, we’re inviting you to poetically explore what it means to love and hope in the most difficult time. It is human to give into despair and stop loving and hoping It is human to keep loving and hurting oneself It is human to hope for the best in adversity It is human to lose faith or hold your faith tight It is OK to hold on tight It is OK to let go What is NOT OK is to lose the respect we have for ourselves.
Please read Pamela’s story.
So no one misunderstands what I mean by:
Accept unacceptable Now need not last forever
I write often about my views of acceptance, which include:
If you desire to change the world, great, I sure do. Acceptance does not mean turning the other cheek regarding either a person or the world. It means, in this respect, do not let the situation eat you up inside.
I interpret the quote as suggesting practicing acceptance in the moment and moment to moment but not having to accept the unacceptable as permanent.
I can often find serenity in accepting at and in the moment but not accepting permanence. Patrick Paul Garlinger eloquently described this balancing act thusly in his essay 9 Signs That You’re Healing Spiritually:
“There’s a balance to be found between being present and accepting the present moment while still opening to a new way of being in the world. As you heal spiritually, you know the present moment is full of possibility and, in its own way, is perfect just as it is. Yet you also know that you are capable of co-creating with the Divine, and there are wonderful opportunities that can emerge in the future if you focus your attention and take divinely inspired action.”
For more of my thoughts on acceptance, see my story:
and share your thoughts as well.
Vulnerability Quotient:
A couple of weeks ago I read Dr Mehmet Yildiz’s How I Increased My AQ to Live a More Peaceful and Enjoyable Life, Here’s how to craft and amp up the resilience index (adversity quotient) for a blissful and joyful life. In it, Mehmet wrote:
Now, let’s break down what this AQ thing really means. The adversity quotient is like a toolkit or skill set that helps us deal with all sorts of tough stuff — physical, mental, and emotional challenges. I relate it to Design Thinking from a problem-solving context. It is great to find solutions to our physical and mental health problems.
Simply put, it’s about transforming roadblocks into growth opportunities for better health and more satisfying life. The neat part is the higher our AQ, the smoother our interactions with others and the more adept we become at navigating life’s twists and turns. I see it as the path to a more serene and enjoyable life with meaningful relationships with others. [emphasis added]
I highlighted the bolded words and responded with:
“AQ seems to have much in common with VQ. What is VQ, you ask? Well, I may have just coined it as my Google search didn’t turn it up. Vulnerability quotient. Meaningful relationships thrive on mutual vulnerability. https://readmedium.com/communicate-vulnerability-9761f716c1c7 Moreover, vulnerability is also a superpower outside of the realm of love https://byrslf.co/vulnerability-is-my-superpower-199d9ef19c33, as is handling adversity with vulnerability.”
Feature Image
I chose the feature image to reflect Pamela’s desire for women to break the chains of patriarchy, misogyny, and violence. My search terms were “vulnerability and strength.”
I also recommend this essay by Douglas Giles, PhD, which the assault upon Jenni Hermoso also inspired:
I chose to respond to the prompt with only the first stanza. The poem continues for a total of two and a half pages and you may read it here.
Inviting Joseph Lieungh, Brooklyn Muse (editor), Chris Thompson, Terry Pottinger, Maria Rattray, and all of my subscribers to participate in the prompt:
In Rama I create, with soul energy surging through my body, inspiring me and breathing wind into my sails,
