What We Run From
Dear friend,
What we run from might be what we need to run to.
An incredible wave of calm just settled over our home.
The bells of an ice cream van float and peer over my shoulder, playing Popeye the Sailor Man—stronger than Desperate Dan—and a warm breeze brushes past.
My old school friend and bandmate Luke is staying over, and we’re working on the guitar tracks for some of the musical material he’s been crafting over recent years.
Collaboration is key to creating music.
Which really just comes down to hanging out, inspiring and encouraging each other, and bringing yourself.
Come as you are.
That meant I had to schedule my coaching calls for the morning and block out the rest of the day for time with Luke.
Sonni’s family also came by at 5 p.m. to drop him off for his weekend stay—to see how we’d get on.
Of course, I fell in love with him.
Luke went to the shops and now Sonni is sitting in the hallway waiting for him to return.
Bless him.
They only met an hour ago and Sonni has already formed a bond.
I went up to him and explained where Luke was and what he was doing, and when he’d be back.
As I gently massaged his heart area and held the place between his shoulder blades, he let some of the tension go.
That’s when calm landed like a blanket we’re all now under.
The heart of a mastiff is something to experience.
I was worried about looking after Sonni—he’s had a difficult start in life and defaults to defensive behaviours when he sees a certain breed and type of dog.
Well.
Who isn’t.
Dippa’s found a place to stretch out too, so I’m here writing to you while Luke’s out buying yoghurt and cucumber.
The dogs behind us are playing with a squeaky toy while their owners say things out loud.
Good job I love dogs.
And I’m learning to love people in a similar way.
Not the same way—but really focusing on noticing my judging mind, and cauterising the impulse to follow it when it opens up.
No matter how enticing or slippery the path.
And then, you learn to stop judging yourself for judging yourself.
And that gets you closer to something that feels like peace.
A safe space inside.
I’m enjoying Sonni’s calm presence so much—and realising that my false self is made up of the parts of me that still believe my ego is in charge.
It’s a picture that keeps shifting in front of you.
This inward journey.
Luke’s back with the shopping.
He’s writing out lyrics to one of his songs, and we’ll start on the vocals next.
Is there something you’re resisting,
that might actually be good for you?
It gets like that sometimes,
when you’re wading into the depths of you.
Till tomorrow,
Love,
Mikey