Elizabeth Gilbert asked Love to write me a letter
A power exercise in accessing the wisdom within
I had the great honor being the special guest this week on Elizabeth Gilbert’s Substack “Letters from Love” this week.
Interestingly enough, this was not my first “run-in” with Liz, although we never actually ran into each other the first time around. I was invited to lead a retreat at the Omega Institute of Holistic Studies in 2023 during the same weekend as Liz.
Nearly every guest I spoke to that weekend was there for her, and as I’ve come to familiarize myself with her work more, I can see why. She has fostered an uplifting, positive, and wholesome community on the internet through her Substack. I was touched not only by the way her readers responded to my letter, but the way they interacted with each other’s comments and responses with genuine good will. It’s not often I see this online, and I’m grateful Liz invited me to be a part of it. I also appreciate her using her platform to share my work with her audience. Thank you, Liz!
My participation in her Substack meant writing myself a letter from Love. I wrote my letter last weekend in the middle of the night while dealing with a wretched illness that’s been making its way through my family. I didn’t know what Love would say to me, but I found encouragement in Love’s words.
Read the letter & listen to me read it aloud below.
Greetings, Little Sprout.
This is Love. Thanks for checking in. It's been a little while despite walking this path together for so long. To watch you grow — what a joy, but why so often is joy so little of what you have?
I remember when no challenge, big or small, had the power to truly challenge us — we were bonded one. What happened? When did the world’s problems become so large that I, Love, and your joy could no longer exist in tandem? And for how long?
It happened because the obstacles and betrayals began to stack up. It happened because you became concerned with the things blocking your growth instead of focusing on your roots and what supports them.
Little sprout growing in the cracks of the sidewalk, despite being tossed around, trampled every now and again, you decided to keep growing. Resilient, determined, you stand to remind yourself there is no other way but growth.
At odds with yourself, the same anger with this world that motivates you to achieve has also turned to a fire burning the very connections you wish to deepen.
Use passion to fuel your connections, or the passions will push us further apart.
Train crashes, hurricanes, floods, fires . . . there have been numerous disasters. Passing of grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, friends within a short period of time. There has been no shortage of tragedy.
If you focus too much on the storms somewhere else, you don't take advantage of the sun where you are. If you focus too much on the losses you encounter, you don't welcome the blessings in store. Focus on the love around you. Counter anger with gratitude. Easy to say but hard to do when you think so few care.
Yet, here I am. Here I have always been. Here I will always be.
Trust me more and we can smile again — not just to be kind to our fellow life travelers, but because we are one once more. Remember I am everywhere in everything, and you need only ask to be embraced.
Magical and magnificent, the universe awaits you. Go, be bold and love hard.
May every step you take be guided by grace. May every breath you take bring us closer together.
Your old pal and lifelong companion,
Love
My advice for this week? Listen to what Love has to tell you. It may not be easy to hear, and it may not be what you want to hear. But if it’s coming from Love, it will help you grow.
Much Love, everybody.
Marcus
For more personal reflection, check out my guided journal SEASONS OF GROWTH: A JOURNAL FOR WELL-BEING INSPIRED BY TREES
Join me in SEATTLE February 22-23 for The North West Flower and Garden Festival! I’ll be leading and participating in events throughout the weekend.
Allow me to inspire your team this February with an interactive POTTING WORKSHOP focused on well-being & community!
Read my personal growth book inspired my plants HOW TO GROW: NURTURE YOUR GARDEN, NURTURE YOURSELF
The honor was all mine, dear Marcus! Thank you for showing up with such an open heart, as you always do!
Thanks. Grateful for your authentic voice. And because we all experience loss, grief, confusion and angst over many things, we are connected. And the way that you choose to navigate these challenging waters, reminds us that this often difficult and higher choice is available to us, to me, today.