Here I am. Witnessing. One of the greatest gifts in life is just to witness. Witness what is happening in us. Witness what’s happening around us. Witness what’s happening in the world. And as we tell the truth of our stories and see the truth of our stories, we bring more Life. By noticing more life, we bring more life. Sending deep, dark, nourishing, maple syrup blessings to you.
Hey Hal. This is the first time I’ve left a comment, but I’ve been reading you almost a year now after a mutual friend suggested it. Thanks for your reminder to welcome it all. This disease isn’t easy to welcome. AND if it throws us into the arms of surrender, then I am grateful. Know that your gift to the world is your journey, your inner journey. It adds a needed vibration to this world. I am holding you in the light, brother.
Hey sister. Thank you for those words that my journey may be adding a needed vibration to the world. I like that thought. Thank you for commenting. I look forward to you commenting again. :). H
Although your purpose in life has changed, please don’t think you have no purpose. You have so much to teach us. Thank you for your thoughtful sharing Hal. Prayers, Hugs and love, Kay
Thank you Kay. Yes.. It seems that my purpose has changed. I'm grateful for my flexibility... but I sure do miss those circle dances, vocal warmups and Gramma Moses. :). I appreciate you, Kay.
Hi Hal, just one of the "crazies" and one who followed your saga but no more. So done with those who ignorantly judge others with not a freckle of knowledge nor experience. I'd suggest giving thanks to those who toil providing us with that silly little thing called freedom. At the very least you could be grateful caring strangers come to your bedside bringing you the "freedom" to insult.
Hi Diane. Thank you for this comment that made me rethink my choice of words. I'm sorry that I used such insulting language. I could have much more fairly expressed my fear and dislike of the current administration. I in no way intended to judge or alienate any of my readers. I appreciate you. Hal
I'm a fan for some time and I want to make a respectful suggestion. For about two years, I lived on the assumption that I had ME/CFS. I read what I could, joined the Facebook pages for ME/CFS. But I didn't tell my doctor because I expected he would do nothing and think of me as a hypochdriacal 80 year old bat! So I just tried to soldier on. But one day last August, I collapsed trying to walk to the bathroom. I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with heart failure! My arteries were pumping my blood at 22% of necessary force! Holy mackinoli!! You could have knocked me over with a feather!! Tons of medication, 3 months of cardio-rehab and the ever-present fatigue, I'm slowly regaining the energy I mourned losing for so long. So I just wanted to suggest -- if you haven't already -- check your heart. The physical heart. And if you're lucky, it might be broken. Because heart disease -- unlike ME/CFS -- is one disease they have a clue about. I still live with the possibility that I could have heart disease and ME/CFS. Because I'm far from a ball of fire. But I have been able to exercise moderately and -- on occasion -- I have had more than 2 days in a row of feeling good. And I have some optimism because frankly I'm happy to have heart disease!! I am able to welcome it. I was kinda nasty to ME/CFS!! Keep up your cool podcast. I'll be following. And saying a prayer that this horrible burden will be taken from you!!
Hi Annette. Thank you. I heard mention of the Friends for 300 years book at the Philly meeting this morning. I'm intrigued. I look forward to hearing about it. ❤️ H
Hal...I didn't listen to this podcast until early March, and then didn't respond right away, so you may never read this. But I'm writing it anyway. I have practiced (sort of) Zen meditation for decades, but not at all regularly. Your Mindful Leader suggestion might be just what I need.
But most of my comments are on Hallie's maiden podcast (so far, that's all that I've seen.) She could have cut out the initial meltdown....but I'm glad that she left it in. Her honesty and vulnerability were much more engaging than any practiced, sophisticated image could ever have been. And her collective approach to advice-giving reminds me of Ann's approach to solving her own problems. She talks to her friends and relatives about the problem until she gets tired of talking, and then just makes up her mind.
The other item that struck me was hearing about hallucinations brought on by a video game. Now I don't play video games...I made the deliberate decision years ago never to start. But I have experienced hallucinations. I went through Army basic training about 60 years ago. It was very intense. I remember lying in my bunk at night with the lights out, listening to the tramp of marching feet, the sergeants barking out orders, even the call-and-response chants that we sang. It was real! And yet it wasn't happening at all. I would open my eyes and see the inside of the barracks in dim light; my ears heard nothing but snoring and the occasional body shifting in its cot. But my mind could still hear it as plain as day. I never talked to anyone about it, so I don't know if was a common experience or just me. But I learned that the mind is a strange and wondrous thing, and there's a lot that we don't understand.
Hey Hal, reading you for the first time I couldn’t help but wonder if you might also be living with Long Covid, if you ever got Covid? Your descriptions of this cruel illness are eloquent and, as a fellow journey person, I deeply appreciate your courage from the eye of the storm.
This was another beautiful sharing. Thank you for helping me see my own increasing physical limitations from a new and wonderful perspective. Sometimes I thank my body for just keeping me alive. And for allowing me to love and be loved. Hal, hnever understimate how your creativity is flowing through you by your words. You are reaching many and it is powerful.
Here I am. Witnessing. One of the greatest gifts in life is just to witness. Witness what is happening in us. Witness what’s happening around us. Witness what’s happening in the world. And as we tell the truth of our stories and see the truth of our stories, we bring more Life. By noticing more life, we bring more life. Sending deep, dark, nourishing, maple syrup blessings to you.
Thank you so much. I'm really feeling those deep, dark, nourishing, maple syrup blessings. Those are the best kind of blessings. :) H
I hoped there would be a Substack ❤️.
Very few people in life, get to experience the depth of horror, that accompanies this illness.
Even fewer, walk towards its gaping jaws in surrender to what is, seeking its gifts.
You are moving mountains in your inner world, one moment at a time, and you shine ever brighter because of it.
God has a plan. Freedom from suffering awaits. Keep going.
Sending my lurve ❤️
I was hoping there would be an Emma comment ❤️. Your comment hits home and I believe you. Sending my luuuuuuuuuuuurve from Ohio. ❤️
The eye of the storm. We’re all in it. Thank you again hal walker, somehow you managed to get us where your inner life welcomes us to ours.
Thanks for this, Margot. I like that reminder that here we are -- all in the eye of the storm. I'm so grateful for your presence in my life. H
Hey Hal. This is the first time I’ve left a comment, but I’ve been reading you almost a year now after a mutual friend suggested it. Thanks for your reminder to welcome it all. This disease isn’t easy to welcome. AND if it throws us into the arms of surrender, then I am grateful. Know that your gift to the world is your journey, your inner journey. It adds a needed vibration to this world. I am holding you in the light, brother.
Hey sister. Thank you for those words that my journey may be adding a needed vibration to the world. I like that thought. Thank you for commenting. I look forward to you commenting again. :). H
Although your purpose in life has changed, please don’t think you have no purpose. You have so much to teach us. Thank you for your thoughtful sharing Hal. Prayers, Hugs and love, Kay
Thank you Kay. Yes.. It seems that my purpose has changed. I'm grateful for my flexibility... but I sure do miss those circle dances, vocal warmups and Gramma Moses. :). I appreciate you, Kay.
Hi Hal, just one of the "crazies" and one who followed your saga but no more. So done with those who ignorantly judge others with not a freckle of knowledge nor experience. I'd suggest giving thanks to those who toil providing us with that silly little thing called freedom. At the very least you could be grateful caring strangers come to your bedside bringing you the "freedom" to insult.
Hi Diane. Thank you for this comment that made me rethink my choice of words. I'm sorry that I used such insulting language. I could have much more fairly expressed my fear and dislike of the current administration. I in no way intended to judge or alienate any of my readers. I appreciate you. Hal
Hi Hal,
I'm a fan for some time and I want to make a respectful suggestion. For about two years, I lived on the assumption that I had ME/CFS. I read what I could, joined the Facebook pages for ME/CFS. But I didn't tell my doctor because I expected he would do nothing and think of me as a hypochdriacal 80 year old bat! So I just tried to soldier on. But one day last August, I collapsed trying to walk to the bathroom. I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with heart failure! My arteries were pumping my blood at 22% of necessary force! Holy mackinoli!! You could have knocked me over with a feather!! Tons of medication, 3 months of cardio-rehab and the ever-present fatigue, I'm slowly regaining the energy I mourned losing for so long. So I just wanted to suggest -- if you haven't already -- check your heart. The physical heart. And if you're lucky, it might be broken. Because heart disease -- unlike ME/CFS -- is one disease they have a clue about. I still live with the possibility that I could have heart disease and ME/CFS. Because I'm far from a ball of fire. But I have been able to exercise moderately and -- on occasion -- I have had more than 2 days in a row of feeling good. And I have some optimism because frankly I'm happy to have heart disease!! I am able to welcome it. I was kinda nasty to ME/CFS!! Keep up your cool podcast. I'll be following. And saying a prayer that this horrible burden will be taken from you!!
Jody Byrne
Thanks so much Jody. I'm open to your suggestion. I'll look into it. Thanks! Hal
Greetings Uncle Hal, I love your intention and I hold your intention with mine in my heart and my prayers. Feel better, granny Geraldine
Thank you for being here Geraldine. H
Love the title and the story about it. You are brave. You are strong. You are a model. You bring heartache. You bring love. Isn't that what life is?
Hi Annette. Thank you. I heard mention of the Friends for 300 years book at the Philly meeting this morning. I'm intrigued. I look forward to hearing about it. ❤️ H
🙏blue skies and a restful night to you!
Thank you, CeeJay! H
Hal...I didn't listen to this podcast until early March, and then didn't respond right away, so you may never read this. But I'm writing it anyway. I have practiced (sort of) Zen meditation for decades, but not at all regularly. Your Mindful Leader suggestion might be just what I need.
But most of my comments are on Hallie's maiden podcast (so far, that's all that I've seen.) She could have cut out the initial meltdown....but I'm glad that she left it in. Her honesty and vulnerability were much more engaging than any practiced, sophisticated image could ever have been. And her collective approach to advice-giving reminds me of Ann's approach to solving her own problems. She talks to her friends and relatives about the problem until she gets tired of talking, and then just makes up her mind.
The other item that struck me was hearing about hallucinations brought on by a video game. Now I don't play video games...I made the deliberate decision years ago never to start. But I have experienced hallucinations. I went through Army basic training about 60 years ago. It was very intense. I remember lying in my bunk at night with the lights out, listening to the tramp of marching feet, the sergeants barking out orders, even the call-and-response chants that we sang. It was real! And yet it wasn't happening at all. I would open my eyes and see the inside of the barracks in dim light; my ears heard nothing but snoring and the occasional body shifting in its cot. But my mind could still hear it as plain as day. I never talked to anyone about it, so I don't know if was a common experience or just me. But I learned that the mind is a strange and wondrous thing, and there's a lot that we don't understand.
Hey Hal, reading you for the first time I couldn’t help but wonder if you might also be living with Long Covid, if you ever got Covid? Your descriptions of this cruel illness are eloquent and, as a fellow journey person, I deeply appreciate your courage from the eye of the storm.
This was another beautiful sharing. Thank you for helping me see my own increasing physical limitations from a new and wonderful perspective. Sometimes I thank my body for just keeping me alive. And for allowing me to love and be loved. Hal, hnever understimate how your creativity is flowing through you by your words. You are reaching many and it is powerful.
Love you 🧡🧡🧡