Comments on: The Art of Belonging–Happy Birthday, Canada!

By: Molly Gordon

Molly Gordon — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:15:42 +0000

Dear, dear, Hiro,

Happy belated birthday!

Your words, “I’ve rolled into the nest that perfectly cups my heart” are balm to the wounded spirit (and confetti to the not-so-wounded spirit). Thank you for being you.

Molly

By: Molly

Molly — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:00:13 +0000

G’day, Hira – I really loved reading your comments about being home in Canada. I came truly alive when I moved to Australia from the UK in 1972, it was as if my soul was waiting to pour forth its song here in a way I never could in England. I love the splendour of this huge country, the Aboriginal heritage, the distances, and I guess I could go on and on. We – my husband and I – tried returning to the UK permanently in 2002 and I felt constricted and constrained, like a stranger in a strange country. I cried buckets when the plane started on the runway to leave Perth, Western Australia, and I had a huge grin on my face when the plane left the runway at Manchester to return to what I had never truly recognised as my home until I had left it. We got back to my friend’s home after the hugely long journey to be greeted by the chirp-chirp of a Willie Wagtail, a black and white medium-sized bird which wags its tail like mad. It’s considered a spirit messenger by Aboriginal people, and so spirit welcomed me back to my own heart and hearth. The other birdlife which brings joy to my heart is the wedge-tailed eagle which we regularly saw when we lived in northern New South Wales and which we occasionally see here in Gippsland, Victoria. When I was visiting a friend in the Pilbara in WA’s north-west, we were hurtling along in a big 4-wheel drive when my friend braked sharply and started creeping along. When I asked him why he pointed to a ‘roo carcase by the road and a wedge-tailed eagle having a feed. He told me it was wise to creep by eagles like this as they have no enemies and no fear. They see vehicles as a threat and if you go to fast towards them, they’ll attack, which isn’t good for bird nor vehicle. I will never forget going past this huge, majestic bird and meeting its awesome, arrogant eyes as we crawled past. Yeay for Australia and finally feeling at home.

By: Laurie Foley

Laurie Foley — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:54:28 +0000

I was completely smitten when I read "I'm an egg that's found its nest." Your blog feels like a nest for me! Thank you, Hiro. Laurie Foley´s last blog post..What is Stopping You?

By: Char

Char — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:52:41 +0000

Wow –

Another awesome creation of yours – and how it slipped in that you’re home after feeling so out of step for much of your life. . . I completely relate to that.

As I was walking today, I realized that I really love being home – inside and out.

Thank you for once again inspiring me in so many ways Hiro.

xoxox

By: Jessica Reagan Salzman

Jessica Reagan Salzman — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:49:21 +0000

Hiro, here is the link to my blog post that was inspired by this post of yours yesterday! http://tinyurl.com/iamme

Thank you so much! xo xo xo

Jessica Reagan Salzman´s last blog post..This is real, this is me. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

By: Karen Chaffee

Karen Chaffee — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:31:02 +0000

Hello Hiro…you said it well. So many of the good things “slip in” when we are not looking. I am glad you “belong.”

Karen

By: Uma

Uma — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:18:51 +0000

Dear Hira; What a wonderful encapsulation of the experience of not belonging. I wish I had seen this article before as I struggled in my life to “belong.” Like you, at age 66, I have finally come home to myself.

Thank you for your wonderful words,

Love, Uma

By: Gail McConnon

Gail McConnon — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:14:53 +0000

If I didn’t know differently, I’d imagine you climbed inside my head and was reading me from the inside out. To Canada I’ve only been a visitor. But to the belonging and not belonging mindset, ahhh I’m very present to that one. I spent most of my years believing I was out of step as well. And so I was.

And you couldn’t be more right: There’s only one place – and every place – we do truly belong. That’s the place where we’re most authentically ourselves. If we aren’t there, we’re no where. If we don’t feel at home within ourselves, we’ll never be home regardless of where we are or the beauty that surrounds us.

Give my good wishes to Canada, Hiro. I’m glad you found home there. And I’m even more glad you’ve found belonging.

Gail McConnon´s last blog post..Where The Scary Aging Alone Stuff Lives

By: Heidi Fischbach

Heidi Fischbach — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:50:43 +0000

Gosh, Hiro, you and I must have been writing about home at the same time yesterday! Wow. How curious and wonderful. I love Canada. You say it well: so shyly generous. Yes. Love you and your country (or, one of them ;) Also, yes, nature feels a whole lot like home too, doesn't it? Where I live is not nearly as quiet and serene as you describe your home, and yet there is nature... every day it moves me and helps me feel at home in myself, in the world. Thanks for stirring more thoughts! xo heidi Heidi Fischbach´s last blog post..Time Capsule Thursday #4: where there's a way there's a way. Oh and a bunny.

By: Rosaland

Rosaland — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:26:38 +0000

Your post is very touching and how true are your words about the longing, being different, and the journey away from ourselves searching for what is already there, at home, inside each of us. Thanks Hiro. Rosaland´s last blog post..Theme Thursday - Mindfulness