a boredomless pit

cut open a papaya and this is whatcha get!

October 26th meant that I hit the 9 month mark. Could have created, grown, and born a baby somewhere on this cluster of islands. Please feel free to take a deep sigh of relief, because that absolutely has not happen. But it coulda!

One thing you say here when people ask either A. why you are single, B. if you want to marry man-Vanuatu, specifically his or her son, or C.  why you don’t have babies yet, you say “Mi no gat taem” or I don’t have time. This cracks them up! And it’s the truth. Rumi happens to put it (like many points he makes) quite nicely: “And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself?” Well it’s happening now, right this very instant, and I’m enjoying as much me time as humanly possible. We get along great and haven’t gotten sick of each other yet. I was thinking about this the other day and came to the realization that I haven’t felt boredom since being at site. That is an amazing thing! Just by enjoying myself, I have completely surpassed the feelings of dullness and monotony. Life is far too amazing for that! Even the mundane days have lessons and laughter hidden within them. So i tru tumas, mi no gat taem lo wan man o stap kam bod! Laef i swit we swit!

Here are a few great quotes on being alone:

“Learn to be alone and to like it. There is nothing more freeing and empowering than learning to like your own company” –Mandy Hale
“Do not look for a sanctuary in anyone except yourself” –The Buddha
“The greatest thing in the world to know is how to belong to oneself” –Michael de Montaigne
“The best teacher you’ll ever have is the one singing and dancing in your heart” –Mark Stephens
“Language has created the word ‘loneliness’ to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word ‘solitude’ to express the glory of being alone” –Paul Tillich
“Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you” –Jalaluddin Rumi

I’ve got a pretty extensive quote journal going. Favorites from books and other places where good words can be found. It is both fun and comforting to come back to it and ponder on the wise words people have said and someone felt the need to write down. And to think of all the wonderful conversation that floats away with the breeze. Which is just as good a way to go, if you ask me!