A few days after we returned from suddenly “going off the grid“, we received this remarkable comment from a reader named Susan Taylor:

I think it is too soon for your return, take a couple of steps back off the grid. Your communique is too full of things to be done, perhaps urgently and the tone is anxiety filled. Step back again, breathe, resolve or give away some things.habits.wishes. The rush you feel is yours, not the universe. We want you to be where you need to be. With love

We’ve never met Taylor*, though know her as part of Improvised Life’s community through comments she’s left over the years.  Reading her words, we felt like a good friend was calling us out, saying Hey! Don’t kid yourself. That you are tired and not fully healed is showing like a big loud sign. And if you can’t see it, then I am going to point it out because I care about you!

Serious candor, concern and some very bold words! Taylor was right in reading the signs. We were better, but not fully. We did push to get back to publishing, in part because we feel such a big connection and obligation to our readers.

But the real gift of Taylor’s message are these words: “The rush you feel is yours, not the universe.“

She put her finger right on the pulse of what we —and many people we know— have been mulling. What is the rush we feel?

What if we opt NOT to rush, to let go of some of the things we think are so important: “things.habits.wishes.”?

Taylor’s compelling words made us seek out a quote from Albert Einstein we’d heard years ago, something to the effect of “The universe is friendly.”  It turns out, it is more complex than that. Here’s the gist (you can read the full quote here):

Einstein’s and Taylor’ words pointed us to the heart of the matter: How DO we view the universe?

While we were “off the grid”, life did indeed go on. We found people subscribing and reading and still there. Our community of readers seemed to gather in close. We received stunning letters of support…

…a reminder, when we forget, that..

…the universe is not in a rush…

…it IS a friendly place…

and has way more answers and paths than we can possibly imagine.

 

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*Wondering who the very wise Susan Taylor is and how she came to be that way, we wrote her and received this answer back:

…I am a native daughter of San Diego who has lived an adventurous life here and in Baja.  Taught my three children Spanish first so they could know the fluidity of life on the border.  Yes, I am a Master Gardener who is a fruit tree planter, with 49 crammed into my urban home lot, and I grow red wine grapes as well.  My passion is to volunteer in elementary schools teaching children how to plant a seed, watch it grow and make a big salad-it is always such a joy for us all during the process!  I write a random garden column for the San Diego Free Press called “Gardening: America’s new Front Porch“.

I can only claim to have read what you said in your post as a thoughtful reader. I wish you help and support as you sort out the losses, emotions, financial constraints and detritus that landed in your path.