Today I was reading some of my favorite blogs, and came across Kim's entry about her friend, JC. Heartbreaking. And food for thought. Beware, this is a long post.
In posting a comment to Kim's blog, I signed off with "sending you hugs and pink light", and I realized that while 'pink light' is very, very real to me and my mother, I don't think many other people know what we mean when we write or say it.
If I remember correctly, pink light was a phrase that we got from my Montessori teacher while I was in elementary school. Pink light is all about visualization, in which I firmly believe, and positive energy, in which I also believe. So, sending someone pink light is like visualizing positive energy zooming across the distance between me and that person. It can have sort of a meditative, prayer-like feeling to it: pink light in the form of a cloud floating across the rivers, mountains and cities that separate me and the other person, wrapping around them like a big shawl, or it can be like a difibulator: ZAP! BAM! I'm sockin' it to ya with the pink light over the internet connection or the phone line!
You can send someone pink light without their knowing about it, or you can tell them you're doing it. I think both have real benefits: I do think positive energy can change how you think and feel; and it's helpful to know that when you're down or in a rough patch, that people are thinking of you. Just imagine being near an optimist vs. a pessimist - you feel better with one over the other, right? It's all sort of mystical, I agree, but it works for me in that it's not putting control in some other force - pink light comes from me! Actually, pink light sort of IS like The Force, but I don't think I am going to be able to lift spaceships with my mind or anything. Or be a Jedi.
Here's where I get all deep. What is a little strange is that this past week has been the first week where I've thought about trying to build myself a little pink light bubble around myself. I've been a little overwhelmed - I'm lying...a LOT overwhelmed - by what seems to be happening around me. Locally, the Big Dig tunnel collapse and the tornadoes in New England (?!) have me somewhat worried to leave the house. Nationally, the wildfires out west, the swearing in of a mayor who pistol-whipped his wife, and the expanding marketing to kids (Bratz dolls?!) and horrid movies (Little Man. Really?) make me wonder what is happening in our own country/society. Globally, North Korea, Israel and Lebanon, and Iraq make me think seriously about if humanity is inherently good. Shake that all up, and I feel like there just isn't much one person can do to change things. Depressing, isn't it?
I think this has a lot to do with my not wanting to knit much recently...so, if you want apply the concept of pink light, send some my way - maybe I'll start knitting again.
Maybe I am trying to think too big, though? What if we all tried to touch just a few people's lives, like Kim's friend JC did - wouldn't we all be happier?
9 comments:
At a loss for words. Thank you for the pink light.
It's hard. And hard to find a balance between obsessive activism and total apathy, both of which I've done. Haven't found the right balance yet, but I hope that writing about it helped you a bit.
Pink light to you!
Wonderful. I hope you make one hard-shelled pink light bubble for yourself... one that terrorist villany, natural disasters, human stupidity and pessimism just can't get through. I don't suppose that referred-to Mother's heavy dose of NEED had anything do to with having the pink light sucked away from you... Hope not... I got some of mine back... So, here ya go.
I know it's banal at best and at worst, ostrich-like, but both my shrinks have advised me to just skip watching the news because it upsets me so profoundly, so now I read celebrity blogs and tabloids instead. I have an RX and that is -- don't let it all get too close to home. But when it's the Big Dig, that's really hard to avoid. I wasn't in town when it happened and have not yet filled myself in on what is up. I'm waiting until I can handle it.
So that's my version of creating a pink light cocoon for myself. Call it hiding out or shirking my national and global responsibility, but I have to survive as a human being above all.
So I guess I'm sending you a pile o sand you can bury your head in until it's a little safer to come out.
Wonderful post, Wenders. Love the "pink light". One person can make a difference. A big one. Everyone has the power of one person. If we all choose not to try then nothing gets done. Even if you feel like the only petunia in a big ol patch of onions, your one beautiful bloom is making a positive difference to someone, somewhere. You make a difference to me.
With knowledge there is responsibility, but that place without knowledge is just as frightening in it's own way. Your pink light is so lovely and I am so glad to have the chance to read your words and share some of that light.
That is such an outstanding concept! "Pink light" -- I love it for so many reasons. Thanks for sharing this with us. I will definitely use it in my visualizations/meditations. It's truly lovely.
What a great post. I totally "get" the pink light and am happy to now have a name to call it!
i too am a firm believer of positive vibes and PINK LIGHT (love the phrase!) I really don't think I would have made it through the past two months without all the positive, supportive thoughts, and pink light from all my wonderful friends, family strangers and knitting blog buddies!
thanks for the post :D
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