As a boy, I would stare into things
a bit too long for the adults around
me. They told me I was sad and that
I should cheer up. I know now that
I was feeling depth not sadness.
Later, when I was silent too long,
those afraid of silence warned me
that being empty would make me
lonely.
I know now that I was not drown-
ing in emptiness, but gliding like a
small bird in the spaciousness
that humbles us alive.
I know now, it is the depth and
spaciousness that is our home.
A Question to Walk With: Describe the difference between sadness and depth as you understand it.
This is from my book of poems in progress, Tales of the Ferryman.
Mark will be offering retreats and a few special journeys in 2024. Below are some of his offerings:
May 6: Drinking from the River of Light, Talk on the Creative Process, The Gilmore Festival, Kalamazoo Public Library Central Branch, VanDeusen Room | 2 pm
https://www.thegilmore.org/event/mark-nepo/
May 31 — June 2: Saying Yes to Life: From Brokenness to Tenderness, reading and weekend retreat, The Sophia Institute, Charleston, SC, or call 843–720–8528
https://thesophiainstitute.org/events/saying-yes-to-life-from-brokenness-to-tenderness/?occurrence=2024-04-26
June 28–30: Falling Down and Getting Up: Discovering Your Inner Resilience and Strength, weekend retreat, Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY
http://tinyurl.com/5n79swbd
Aug 16–18: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Net of Friendship, weekend retreat, Mercy By the Sea, 167 Neck Rd, Madison
https://www.mercybythesea.org/programs-and-retreats/upcoming-programs/you-don-t-have-to-do-it-alone/
Sept 8 11am PT/2pm ET Mark Nepo and Joel Fotinos in Conversation — You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship. REGISTER HERE for this Free Live Webinar sponsored by Banyen Books & Sound for the zoom link. (https://www.banyen.com/events/36410)
Sept 16–21: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship, a Mastery Week Retreat at the Modern Elder Academy in Santa Fe, Mexico, .
https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-friendship-with-mark-nepo
Sept 29 1pm PT/4pm ET: Mark Nepo in Conversation with Brooke Warner — You Don’t Have to Do It Alone, ticketed event hosted by Book Passage
https://www.bookpassage.com/event/mark-nepo-brooke-warner-you-dont-have-do-it-alone-online-event
Nov 1–3: Harmony Hill Retreat Center, You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Net of Friendship weekend retreat, Union WA, Contact Harmony Hill for info: https://www.harmonyhill.org/contact-connections/
Dec 8–14: This retreat is being rescheduled for 2025. Date to be determined
Saying Yes to Life: The One Life We’re Given, a weeklong retreat in Costa Rica, hosted by Global Journeys
https://globalj.org/mark-nepo-costa-rica-overview/
