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geography
November 2009 
sacred space
Posted on Jun 9th, 2009
by 
tinkonthebrink
tinkonthebrink
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for June 08, 2009:
I have this problem when I go to the optometrist and they make me choose things - "better here, or here?" - and the little lens flips back and forth and I'm all, like, well, they're both kind of interesting....or worse, "they look about the same". And this poor person has to say, "no, they aren't the same. Try it again." And then after awhile I just pick one to make them happy and to get them to stop asking. I'm pretty sure this is a metaphor for my life.
People say things like "I'm happiest when I'm at the ocean" and I say, "Oh, I LOVE the ocean!." Or "I really like the mountains" and I'm all like, "oh yeah, the mountains are amazing" and it just goes on and on. Mountains, deserts, oceans, lakes, stuck in traffic, sitting on the front porch, pretty much anywhere except the mall and I'm sure that on some level the mall is a sacred space too, I'm just oblivious to that one. Plus malls always smell funny. Not in a laugh-out-loud way, like funny weird. Like cinnabuns and fabric sizing and gluttony and some smell that comes off of bizarre mannequins wearing clothes that promise to make you cool and desirable and you can get 10% off your purchases today if you want to apply for a credit card. But I digress.
It sounds like one of those trite new agey things to say that all places are sacred, but if you can't be happy where you are, where are you going to be happy? If this spot right here, right now, isn't a sacred space, what exactly is wrong with it? Should we blow this particular spot up then? Let me leave first. Okay, whew, that was close. Oh, wait, new place, same problem. Oh look, I've created my own personal minefield of dissatisfaction! So although I'm not usually an all or nothing kind of person, it does seem that it's either all sacred or you have to commit to a lifetime of being almost happy and trying to figure out "better here, or here?" and I don't have the patience for that. Working on that mall thing.
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I have exactly the same problem at the eye doctor, but I've gotten an incredibly good couple of eye docs now and they are very patient with me and I love them for that.
and the rest– yes I agree. are you getting tired of me just coming over here to agree with you?
but I do still have preferences – like I just realized that if given the choice between reading your blog and my old standby, mark morford, I'd choose yours. but I like it when I have time to read them both. right now, the most recent post of mr morford is waiting til I'm done reading my gaia friends' blogs.
I LOVE the ocean and I LOVE The mountains and I have been known to have a reasonably good time at the mall – more like – been known to make a good time at the mall, but I still prefer the ocean and the mountains. this is a point you have made in the past, so I'm unoriginal there, but I had to say something beside just– I agree, again. :-)
xoxo
~d
Oh Dawn I love love love it when you stop by and you can agree or disagree or talk about something completely unrelated and I will be delighted. I actually left a comment on Mark's post today and I can't tell you how cool I now think I am that you would read my rants over his brilliant stuff because I do have kind of a crush on mr morford…wow. That's like the nicest compliment ever. I adore you.
Had to laugh at the optometrist bit … I've always wondered if they aren't just messing with us and putting the same thing on both sides. Here or there? This one or that one? Better or worse? Uhhmmm, okay.
I like the concept of every place being sacred, and more importantly, of not falling into the trap of living a life that is “almost happy”. As usual, your post has a unique twist, as well as a valid point. Brain food. Yum.
oh geez, I forgot to go finish reading his yesterday post. now I'll go and see if I can find your comment. :-)
I found your comment on Mark's post. whew. It's crazy over there in SFgate comment land. I had to get out fast. I'm happy to be back home at gaia. :-)
and about your comment there. I'll just say– “yeah, what she said.” :-)
This is fantastic. Thanks for posting it.