Thanks Nick. I do have Elaine Scarry’s book and have had for many years but never understood it much till now. It is small print and lengthy so tough to work through, but I got it out today and will begin again! These references you give me are sensational, but not easy, especially if brain fog sets in:-)

Elaine Scarry: The Body in Pain

“Though the capacity to experience physical pain is as primal a fact about the human being as is the capacity to hear, to touch, to desire to fear to hunger it differs from these events and from every other bodily and psychic event by not having an object in the external world. Hearing and touch are of objects outside the boundaries of the body, as desire is of x, fear is fear of y, hunger is hunger for z; but pain is not of or for anything-it is itself alone. This objectlessness, the complete absence of referential content, almost prevents it from being rendered in language but this is also what may give rise to imagining by encouraging the process that eventually brings forth the dense sea of artifacts and symbols that we make and move about in.”

Kudos on finding your unique creative act. I look forward to hearing more about ‘the sea of artifacts’ brought forth.

Dear Abot : Thanks for your comments. Fear is our worst enemy isn’t it? Living IN the moment is not easy. It differs from living FOR the moment. Trying to remap our brains seems to be the best we have to offer so that the past does not lead us down those depressing and anxious paths while building new maps that will help us with living in the present. It is true that aging is not easy. I watch my 91 year old parents and their challenges and wonder about my own future. But it seems to me that living in the moment is a better alternative. Best wishes, Barbara

too true to be forgotten. responsible to many, children, mates, employers, and then ourselves. we do become lost in activity and sometimes require more self time and self encourgament that a mother or any woman would get. i try to live more in the moment, but aging, itself, is scary so the past and the future are forever there. sometimes a comfort and sometimes in fear.