Comments on: State of Grace

By: Jackie Nach

Jackie Nach — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 08:43:34 +0000

Tough enough keeping feet on terra firma. Still digging deep and trying to call a spade, a spade. (sigh).

By: Linda G.

Linda G. — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 16:07:01 +0000

You always say what I need to hear. I climb with excitement to reach the next level and then stall with self-doubt and clouds all around me. Thank you for inspiring me once again. Time to push on.

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 21:51:23 +0000

Your writing inspires me to climb my own mountains. Hopefully, one day we will all reach that state of grace.

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 07:24:28 +0000

Hi Martha – I just got back from riding my bike from San Francisco to Santa Monica with 299 other people shepherded by the Arthritis Foundation. There were riders with legs like gazelles who flew up the 'mountains' of Big Sur and their were riders with legs scared from surgeries that replaced joints ravaged by arthritis…and there were many others who 'got out of their own way.' and pedaled 525 miles, 'tipping the ordinary place of existence' on end". Thanks for your blog. So glad I found it. The timing was perfect.

By: Linda

Linda — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 19:52:09 +0000

I'm with you, Martha – I'm fascinated with these kind of stories. I read the book "Into Thin Air," watched the television mini-series twice, and saw "Everest" in IMAX the day it came out. There is something so compelling about people who take on these overwhelming challenges. I would put "Wild" and "Man on a Wire/The Walk" and "Into the Wild" in the same category. I live vicariously through their pursuits, and imagine what it would be like to be that brave. I wonder if I would be able to tolerate the physical hardships. I watch the films and read the books over and over. I think it has something to do with overcoming fear. I was a fearful child with an adventurer trapped inside me screaming to get out. Late bloomer. Every time I have done something I was afraid of and "made it out alive," I have become stronger. Not that I have ever accomplished anything as frightening as climbing Mt Everest or hiking the PCT alone, but every baby step helps. And thank the gods for those determined, crazy, noble people who go out there and live the adventures for us. They prove that if you put one step ahead of the other you might just accomplish something incredible.

By: Dorothy Ralphs

Dorothy Ralphs — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 15:37:14 +0000

As always, beautiful writing Martha. Thank you for encouraging me, from a beginner at writing to completion of a memoir. For taking a lifelong dream to reality. I am still climbing the mountain!

By: Gitta Rosenzweig

Gitta Rosenzweig — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 16:45:37 +0000

You did it Martha, you conquered the summit with your words. You achieved a state of grace. Very cool!

By: Maryrose Smyth

Maryrose Smyth — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 16:44:37 +0000

When I was a little Christian I saw everyone in my town in my own reflection. Everywhere, everyone I met — neighbors, the grocer, fellow students, co-workers — I found comfort that I was already there. Only as I got older did this seem unnatural, a child’s folly. Still my game persisted. Then I married, then I had a child, years later, another. My mirror not so firm in my grasp held shadows, spots, ruts, hues, a newness I did not remember there, was in want of something too. In plain light, a map of sorts within despite my not having left town.

By: Stephanie Voss

Stephanie Voss — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 16:35:43 +0000

I like the theme of achieving that "state of grace" through pain, persistence, losing footing, re-gaining footing. I think this society (especially the young) see fame and fortune coming (to truly just a few) through weird, unconventional means (Survivor, The Voice, American Idol, etc). and then there's the Kardashians that through sex & notoriety achieved the weirdest celebrity in history! And Kaitlin Jenner! We've become a nation that worships circus clowns….Very few people truly realize SIGNIFICANT feats of achievement. The fact that celebrity of whatever kind always seems to "TRUMP" true achievement (forgive the pun) I find quite pathetic in our modern age. Social media and a general "dumbing-down" of the population has contributed to that. I have always been interested in movies like Wild and Into Thin Air (and might go see "Meru" today) – because the people that really do "SUMMIT" a mountain, or perform a feat alone that defies logic for them (i.e in Wild a single woman walking the CPT alone) – the people who do these things find it as much of an inner quest as an outer one. Myself, I was terrified of doing things alone, as I got into my 40's and 50's I was unmarried, no children, I had waited for my husband but he never materialized – But I wanted to see the world, so I overcame my fears and began traveling alone – Europe, Panama, Kauai, various places inside the U.S. too – I invented excuses to go visit places (having friends there, relatives, etc.) and I got over my fear as I saw it could be done. Now I am moving to another state, buying a house, just sold mine, because I have no more fear because I JUST DID IT. NIKE AD – JUST DO IT – You just do it – and there's a feeling of the Universe watching out for you – overcoming your fears makes you so much stronger. It's the bogeyman in the closet, who isn't really there, or is really not that scary – not a reason not to try, anyway! Also, sometimes, getting something done takes much more time than you thought it would – an endless project that never seems to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but then one day you do – you see daylight, see that you have almost finished, almost achieved your goal. There is a palpable State of Grace in that – finishing a painting, finishing a college term paper (do they even still call it that?) or a very long letter or essay that you pour your heart out into, or helping someone move who has endless things to be boxed up, carried, and brought into a new house. No project of any significance comes easy. There's blood, sweat and tears involved. But the payoff – in the end – is worth it – in accomplishing a goal, something NOTHING OR NO ONE can ever take away from you!! Thanks so much for the beautiful theme this month, Martha!!

By: Patricia

Patricia — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 08:45:24 +0000

Wow Martha I'm climbing with you ….. BTW I have emailed twice but no reply ?? Xxxx