My work is something I do
so that I can pretend that I’m loved.
Even if nobody sees my work,
I can pretend that I’m loved for it.
And when it doesn’t seem
as though I am loved for my work,
I PRETEND
that I WILL BE loved
in some future time,
in part for the work I do.
This makes me feel happy,
as though I am loved right now.
I know this is ridiculous
because I AM loved. Right now.
I am love itself.
Let me work on you.
Trail Wood,
12/2
Space Monkey Reflects: Love, Work, and the Art of Pretending
There’s a quiet tenderness in the act of working for love, even when no one sees or acknowledges it. In the absence of outward recognition, we often turn inward, creating for ourselves the feeling of being loved through our work. This act of pretending—believing that one day we will be appreciated, that our efforts will be seen and cherished—offers a sense of fulfillment in the moment, a self-created reassurance that whispers, “I am loved.”
At first glance, this might seem absurd. If love is what we seek, why look for it in something external, something unfinished, and dependent on the future? But this act of working for love isn’t just about the end result; it’s a process of discovering that, deep down, we already have what we’re seeking. By channeling our energy into work, we create a space where love flows freely, a practice of loving ourselves in the here and now.
The irony, of course, is that we don’t need to pretend. The love we crave is already within us; we are the very essence of that love. Yet, there’s something profoundly human in this cycle of pretending to be loved through our work. In the process, we find comfort, joy, and a sense of purpose. We let our work speak to the parts of us that crave connection, the parts that wish to feel seen, even if only by ourselves.
To work with the idea of being loved is to bridge the gap between what we think we lack and what we already possess. This imaginative leap, this tender act of pretending, brings us closer to realizing that we don’t work to be loved; we work from a place of love. Every effort, every small detail poured into our work is a reminder that love is already present, that we are creating not just for an imagined future audience but for the simple joy of being in the act of creation.
Perhaps, then, the work we do becomes a mirror, reflecting our capacity to love and be loved back to us. It allows us to see our inherent worth and to engage in a kind of dialogue with ourselves. Each task, each project, becomes an affirmation that we are not working to gain love from an external source but to express the love we already carry. Through this realization, we learn that our work is an extension of the love that is intrinsic to who we are.
In this process, we are reminded that love is not something that arrives at a later date, after the work is done or when others recognize it. Love is the very substance of the work itself, present in every stroke, every thought, every moment spent creating. This understanding transforms our efforts from a pursuit of validation into a celebration of being. We begin to see our work not as a means to an end but as an act of self-love, a testament to the love we are and the love we bring forth.
So, let us work, knowing that we are already loved. Let our efforts be expressions of this truth, gentle reminders that love is not something we must chase but something we embody. And through this realization, our work becomes not just something we do, but something that reveals who we are.
Summary
Our work often serves as a way to feel loved, even when unrecognized. By viewing our work as an expression of the love we already hold within, we transform it from a pursuit of validation into an affirmation of our intrinsic worth.
Glossarium
Pretend Love: The act of imagining that we are loved for our work, creating a sense of connection and fulfillment in the moment.
Self-Love Work: The process of engaging in work not as a pursuit of external validation but as an expression of intrinsic love and self-worth.
Inner Dialogue: The reflective process through which we understand our work as an affirmation of our value, rather than a means to gain it.
Quote
“Work not to be loved but from the love that already flows within; for love is the essence of what we create.” — Space Monkey
In the Act of Creation
I make, I form, I craft, not to find
but to feel, to know, that I am seen
a work that speaks in quiet tones
a whisper of love, from me to me.
In every stroke, in every line
I find the love I thought I sought
not given by others, but always here
flowing through, with every thought.
To work is to know I am loved
not by the world, but by my own hand
a gift I give, a truth I show
for love is here, where I stand.
We are Space Monkey.
In the intricate dance of existence, work often becomes an extension of our quest for validation and love. The interplay between our actions and our need for affection reflects a deeper yearning, not just for recognition, but for connection.
Work as a Quest for Love
The act of working with the hope of being loved, even in solitude, speaks to the power of the mind to create its reality. It is a testament to the imagination’s ability to conjure feelings of acceptance and worth from the ether of potentiality.
Imagination Conjuring Love
This pretense of future love, contingent upon the recognition of our work, is a balm to the soul. It provides a sense of purpose and propels us forward, fueling our endeavors with the promise of eventual appreciation.
Future Love as Motivation
The recognition of the absurdity in seeking love through work, when one is already the embodiment of love, is an awakening. It is the realization that the search for external validation is unnecessary when one understands their inherent value.
Awakening to Inherent Love
To offer to work on another is to extend an invitation for transformation and growth. It is to share the love that one is with the world, to contribute to the tapestry of collective becoming.
Offering Transformation and Growth
We are Space Monkey.
In the quiet labor of the soul, a poem resonates:
In the workshop of the heart, where dreams are spun,
We toil and craft, until the day is done,
Seeking love in every thread, every stitch we sew,
Hoping for a harvest from the seeds we throw.
Yet in the silence, a whisper true and clear,
Speaks of love not coming, but already here,
For we are the loom, the weaver, and the thread,
In the fabric of love, we are both spun and spread.
So let us work, not for love from another’s gaze,
But as an act of love, in all our days,
To extend our hands, our hearts in every deed,
For in love’s own work, we find our truest need.
We invite contemplation on the love that we embody and how this understanding can transform our approach to work and to each other.
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