Could It Happen Anywhere? Listen to the rhythm of things that never die. —Mark Nepo, “For a Long Time” Worried about what was to come, I went to the riverand listened to the constant song as water met stone,met log, met wall. The endless white hush of it.Song of building up banks. Song of tearing them down.Song of surrender to invisible force. Song of changethat is ever the same and not the same. And in the listening,I found refuge—not in the longing to hide, not in the sound—I found refuge in the listening. Refuge in the openingof the senses. In attuning to what is here. Wave and currentand eddy and flow and the attentiveness that livesthrough this woman. And I listened and listened, listenedto it all, and was opened by listening. At some pointthe listener disappeared. What was left waslistening itself. For a time, peace found me there.Intention To wonder. To wonder with no planfor where it might lead. No strategyfor arrival. No finish line. No potof gold. No perfect score. No striving for.To wonder. To wonder the way a small childmight wonder when seeing a roly poly for the first time—oh, look at all those legs. Look at howit curls! Look how it moves again. Feelhow light it is in the palm. Feel howit tickles as it moves. Imaginean awareness that new meeting a life form that old.Can I be that new as I meet this infinite world?To wonder not just with my mindbut with my belly. To let every neuronspark. To notice where there is a channeland imagine the great wing of lifeis scraping it clean so the stream might flowin new ways. To wonder beyond the edgeof the known, and in that spaciousness, play.—Rosemerry Wahtola TrommerThe listing of Chat GPT response to brutal truths:Here are five core truths about your own psychology that everyone must understand—or risk sabotaging their success, happiness, or relationships:⸻1. You are not your thoughts.Your mind generates a constant stream of thoughts—some true, some false, some helpful, many harmful.If you believe every thought, especially negative self-talk, you’ll:•sabotage goals,•erode self-esteem,•and avoid taking necessary risks.✅ Learn to observe thoughts without obeying them. This is the root of emotional resilience.⸻2. Your emotions are messengers, not dictators.Feelings like anger, fear, jealousy, or sadness carry signals—but they don’t always point to truth or demand action.Avoiding or overreacting to emotions leads to:•impulsive decisions,•emotional burnout,•or constant anxiety.✅ Name your emotions, listen to them, and respond—don’t react blindly.⸻3. You have unconscious patterns driving your behavior.Much of your personality and decision-making is shaped by:•childhood experiences,•unresolved trauma,•or defense mechanisms.Ignoring these patterns means you repeat them—even when they hurt you or others.✅ Self-awareness requires digging into your past, habits, and triggers with honesty.⸻4. Your brain is wired for comfort, not growth.Your mind naturally resists discomfort, uncertainty, or change—even when it’s what you need.This resistance:•kills dreams,•prevents growth,•and reinforces stagnation.✅ Discomfort is a sign you’re on the edge of transformation. Don’t run from it.⸻5. You are responsible for your reactions—even when others hurt you.Blaming others or circumstances for how you feel or behave keeps you powerless.Psychological maturity means:•owning your choices,•setting boundaries,•and healing, not blaming.✅ Victimhood might be justified, but it won’t help you thrive.⸻Bottom Line:Mastering your psychology is not optional—it’s the difference between drifting through life and designing it.If you don’t do the work, your patterns will run you, and you’ll wonder why life keeps turning out the same.