“Lady Liberty”
[Note: If you’re a human with a heart who has experienced loss and pain, this one’s for you, no matter what your voting preferences may be.]“One could say that going through loss is the great awakener. It is a potential opening if you don’t run away from it. What is usually condemned as ‘bad’ by the mind and the mind-made self is actually grace coming into your life.”–Eckhart Tolle.
Me. I’m heartbroken.
All I can do is be. Be like the tree above that continues to stand, and thrive, with such grace in the face of everything she’s had to deal with and weather.
I took the photo above weeks ago – pulled in by a sea of flags fluttering in the breeze on the grounds of nearby town library on my drive home from Costco. There, in the center of this temporary art installation, stood the permanent steward and ultimate space holder: a magnificent, gnarly old tree.
I had to get out of the car to take it all in.
At the time I thought, perfect! I’ll post this picture on Instagram on the day after the presidential election to celebrate the first woman president of the United States. I’m mean, really. From this angle, this tree looks like Lady Liberty herself!
What I didn’t realize is that the photo would be serving a very different, significant purpose; a different kind of freedom message than what I’d intended. It would be serving to buoy me up; to keep me steady; to remind me to take the long view.
For those of you grieving, like me, hoping for a different outcome in one of the most intense and divisive presidential elections that we’ve experienced as a nation in our lifetime, may this tree give you comfort too.
And if not that, perhaps there is a different kind of loss or unspeakable sadness that you are grieving today. May it buoy and steady you, too. May it remind you that there is nothing that light, and love, and time cannot handle.
And heal.
I dedicate this post to our beautiful country, world, and the human spirit that unites us all.
And to Hillary Rodham Clinton: I thank you for showing us how to follow your dreams with all of your heart… and when things don’t work out, how to feel the pain, concede with spaciousness… and keep moving forward. 🙏
Could you use more inspiration? Some good tips in this post: “Don’t Bite the Hook: Five Things to Remember Post Election”
Photo: “Lady Liberty” by Stephanie Bennett Vogt
Thank you Stephanie for your beautiful picture and sentiments….I am working through the grieving process and your picture and words do help! And I also thank Hillary….she is our model of how to gracefully go forward and keep working toward our goals of love, light, kindness, peace and freedom for All!
Keep Expanding my dear teacher! Just keep expanding.
Your approach to ways to cease resistance are always excellent.
I continue to surrender old ideas and live in new awareness
and simplicity . . . striving for simple elegance.
Thank you for all your excellent insights.
Lady Liberty here resembles and Angel as well.
Lovingly,
Aryel / RLP
Courageous and poignant post. Thank you, Stephanie. I had a similar experience with a poem I wrote and posted on my blog on Election Day. The words I had written took on an unexpected meaning in the wake of the election, and I had to absorb my own prayer in a new way. Thank you for all your inspiring work, Stephanie.
Ahhhhh, Stephanie, thank you so much! I let myself simply be with my grief yesterday, not doing anything I didn’t absolutely need to do – so I spent most of the day on my couch, sometimes with my dear cat, Mars, snuggled up close. It was a very loving gift to myself in surrender, simplicity, sense, self-care and slow down – I had the opportunity to share your 5 S’s Monday evening (that have supported me since first reading them in your book) – my male friend suggested a 6th S – Silly – I pass that on, thought Tom had a great idea! Your pic is deeply meaningful to me – I have always loved trees, especially gnarled ones – (I love to draw the bark and roots!) The Statue of Liberty is another devoted love – many years ago during an important spiritual/intuitive deepening, I received inner knowledge that The Statue was going to be refurbished, only to read about it being organized several years later! What a confirmation! The first time I saw her from a ferry in NYC I burst into tears, and did not have the opportunity to see her up close and go inside until 30 years later, which was an unforgettably meaningful experience! Thank you! Blessings! Sherry
What a marvelous visual anchor. Strong and imperfect – all of us that are over 60 have an important job to do now. We need to stand stronger than ever for the younger women who are so disheartened. My beautiful daughter who is coping with helping her young daughters (my precious grand daughters) deal with the middle school bullies who are calling them names for being “Hillary supporters” and walking down the halls chanting “build the wall” – these women and girls are our future and like that marvelous old tree I plan to stay strong for them.
Thank you Stephanie. The photo of the gorgeous gnarled tree and your grace filled thoughts are a balm to my hurting heart. Your post and the comments have helped me feel less alone as I process my grief over a profound loss for our country.