Getting What’s Mine

59 Don’t expect applause.

Photo by olaniyan oluwapelumi on Unsplash

this is the perfect slogan to place at the end. at a time when we would typically celebrate & feel a sense of conclusion–

this is just the beginning.

this is another one of my favorite slogans partly because it reminds me of my Ancestors. in their day & as i witnessed in my intergenerational home, they toiled, saved, created & died without any reassurance to keep going.

& while receiving approval isn’t bad thing, turning our power over to it is disempowering.

when we have an expectation of praise, we place our ground outside of us.

& we all know we are not guaranteed praise.

this is an invitation to do good because it is choiceless. it is the necessary thing to do. & whatever anyone offers– praises or curses– let that too become our teacher & inspiration to do what is right.

this is one of the reasons why i appreciate sesshin (a period of practicing zazen over a period of days). it is fortunate when i am able to participate because when i do i have the opportunity to just do the next best thing. when i am offered correction, i bow to that. when i think i have done a good deed, i bow to that.

expectation, drops

& what rises is an internal strength that can weather hard times… just like these.

when i first started posting these slogans on Substack in May 2024, i did so because i wanted to share a practice i loved. something i could do everyday without much struggle, because i was struggling.

the practice started from reading the slogan once a day, sometimes knowing the meaning, often not.

then i began to study them with others, learn their meaning.

then i forgot.

then i remembered them, because a few always stick out & i started reading about them again.

i placed some of my favorite slogans around my home on hand written notecards…

then bought fancy ones.

then started it as a practice with a spiritual friend when i felt lost how to practice.

& repeated them over & over again for years.

& then i had the passion to share them with others.

all the blessings as you return to these slogans– may they enrich your practice.

those able to be paid subscribers can return to all slogans anytime & everyone else can still view some of the subscriber favorites.

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