{"id":2928,"date":"2013-03-26T14:55:20","date_gmt":"2013-03-26T19:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.womens-spirituality.com\/?p=2928"},"modified":"2013-03-16T14:55:46","modified_gmt":"2013-03-16T19:55:46","slug":"respecting-the-boundaries-between-us-and-our-fellow-travelers-is-another-name-for-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.womens-spirituality.com\/?p=2928","title":{"rendered":"Respecting the boundaries between us and our fellow-travelers is another name for “freedom.”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Attachment to people deadlocks our growth<\/strong>. \u00a0Those women and men on our journey are blessings, for sure.\u00a0 Every one of them.\u00a0 Even those people who seem to be difficult to be around.\u00a0 It\u2019s been said by the really wise that the more difficult an encounter, the greater the lesson and ultimate wisdom gained.\u00a0 However, if we let the presence of any one on our path, those people we adore as well as those we abhor, side track us from the \u201cwork\u201d we are here to do, we will be cheating ourselves.\u00a0 And when we cheat ourselves, we are cheating every one else too.\u00a0 That\u2019s simply how it works.\u00a0 Our interconnection to all humanity makes this so.<\/p>\n

Attaching ourselves to others seems like a natural response.\u00a0 The feeling of aloneness, of separation from others is palpable and haunting.\u00a0 And then we cling to whomever wanders too close like the moth to the flame.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t something to be ashamed of.\u00a0 Wanting connection with others is good.\u00a0 It\u2019s normal.\u00a0 It\u2019s also very healing for both parties.\u00a0 But nurturing a connection for the purpose of healing our wounded inner spirit and forming an attachment that stifles the growth of either party is not the reason we have found each other on this journey.\u00a0 We have found each other solely to act as listeners, healers, prayerful companions.\u00a0 Not to be hostages to one another.<\/p>\n

We are free to grow and help each other grow.\u00a0 Consider every expression of consideration like the rain drops that are so necessary to the seedlings the farmer plants each spring.\u00a0 We are doing our part every time we offer an attentive heart.\u00a0 Nothing more is asked of us. \u00a0Nothing more need be offered.<\/p>\n

One of the greatest gifts I’ve received on this recovery path is the gift of observation. \u00a0Simply watching how the wise in my circle behaved toward the others we traveled among taught me more than words could have conveyed. \u00a0I have heard it said that we all want someone to witness our journey. \u00a0But witnessing, or observing, are far different from involving ourselves.<\/p>\n

Even when others request our help doesn’t necessarily mean we should get involved. \u00a0Our journeys are unique. \u00a0Be wary of the invitations to go where we don’t belong. \u00a0Being free to love and honor each of us is the purpose of the journey. \u00a0For sure. \u00a0However, we can do this only when we allow our companions the freedom they need, the same freedom we too must value<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Attachment to people deadlocks our growth. \u00a0Those women and men on our journey are blessings, for sure.\u00a0 Every one of them.\u00a0 Even those people who seem to be difficult to be around.\u00a0 It\u2019s been said by the really wise that the more difficult an encounter, the greater the lesson and ultimate wisdom gained.\u00a0 However, if […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reflections-in-the-mirror-you-and-yourself"],"yoast_head":"\nRespecting the boundaries between us and our fellow-travelers is another name for "freedom." | Karen Casey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.womens-spirituality.com\/?p=2928\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Respecting the boundaries between us and our fellow-travelers is another name for "freedom." | Karen Casey\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Attachment to people deadlocks our growth. \u00a0Those women and men on our journey are blessings, for sure.\u00a0 Every one of them.\u00a0 Even those people who seem to be difficult to be around.\u00a0 It\u2019s been said by the really wise that the more difficult an encounter, the greater the lesson and ultimate wisdom gained.\u00a0 However, if […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.womens-spirituality.com\/?p=2928\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Karen Casey\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2013-03-26T19:55:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"karencasey\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"karencasey\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.womens-spirituality.com\\\/?p=2928#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.womens-spirituality.com\\\/?p=2928\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"karencasey\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.womens-spirituality.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/be42ec49697eba07d84ddf86ace97639\"},\"headline\":\"Respecting the boundaries between us and our fellow-travelers is another name for “freedom.”\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-03-26T19:55:20+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.womens-spirituality.com\\\/?p=2928\"},\"wordCount\":435,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.womens-spirituality.com\\\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Reflections in the Mirror - 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