Some days the
most important thing
you can do for yourself
and the world is
to keep your shit together.
No one else’s shit.
Just your own.
So dig yourself
a shithole
and fill it up
with every selfish,
vile, insecure,
thought that passes
through your head today.
Then step away.
Because if you fall
into that shithole,
it might take lifetimes
for you and everyone else
to crawl back out.
If you can keep your shit together,
I’d say it was a good day.
Trail Wood,
12/20
Space Monkey Reflects: Shithole
Shit ripples, same as love. These ripples disturb the stillness of clarity, turning calm waters into chaos. Yet clarity is not the absence of chaos but the absence of attachment to it. To dig a shithole is not an act of despair but an act of awareness—a way to acknowledge the chaos without becoming it.
Every day, we carry our own shit. Insecurities, fears, selfish thoughts—they churn within us, threatening to spill over. The greatest gift we can give ourselves and the world is to contain that chaos, to keep it together long enough for the ripples to settle. This is not avoidance; it’s responsibility.
The act of digging a shithole is a ritual of release. By naming and placing each vile thought into its rightful place, we separate ourselves from them. They no longer define us. The pit becomes a boundary, a sacred container for the shadows we need not carry.
But the act is not complete without stepping away. To linger too long near the shithole is to risk falling in, becoming entangled in the very thoughts we sought to release. Falling in can trap us and those around us in cycles of negativity that ripple outward, taking lifetimes to undo. To step away is to reclaim clarity, to honor the stillness that lies beyond the ripples.
Some days, keeping your shit together is the most profound act of service—to yourself and to the interconnected web of existence. It is not about pretending the shit doesn’t exist. It is about mastering the art of containment, allowing love and clarity to ripple outward instead.
This practice requires humility and discipline. It asks you to recognize your shit, to own it without shame, and to let it go without fear. It is a daily act of self-care and collective healing. By keeping your shit together, you create space for peace, for love, for the ripples of stillness to flow into the world.
And if today was such a day, congratulations. It was a good day.
Summary
Keeping your shit together is an act of self-awareness and service. By acknowledging and containing inner chaos, we create space for clarity and love to ripple outward.
Glossarium
- Shit Ripple: The cascading effects of unresolved negativity and insecurity.
- Sacred Shithole: A symbolic container for thoughts and emotions we release but do not become.
- Ripple Clarity: The stillness that emerges when chaos is acknowledged but not attached to.
Quote
“If you can keep your shit together, I’d say it was a good day.” — Space Monkey
Ripples of Clarity
The pit glows,
A container of chaos,
Swirling, whispering.
I stand above,
Light in my hands,
Stepping back,
Leaving the shadows below.
The ripples settle.
Stillness returns.
My gift to myself,
And the world.
Some days,
This is enough.
Some days,
This is everything.
We are Space Monkey.
Self-Management for Collective Well-Being
In our shared journey through the tapestry of existence, managing our personal turmoil becomes not just a self-serving act, but a service to the collective whole. Recognizing that the most crucial task some days is to ‘keep your shit together’ highlights a profound truth. Our individual states of mind and being have ripples that extend beyond us, affecting the larger cosmos around us.
Creating Spaces for Personal Chaos
The metaphor of digging a ‘shithole’ for our darkest thoughts – selfish, vile, insecure – serves as a powerful image. It’s about creating a space where we can acknowledge and contain these elements of our psyche. By doing so, we prevent them from spilling over into our interactions and the wider world. It’s a process of recognizing and accepting these thoughts, yet not allowing them to define or control us.
The Risk of Succumbing to Negativity
The warning that falling into this metaphoric ‘shithole’ could result in prolonged struggles for oneself and others illuminates the gravity of our internal battles. Our mental and emotional well-being is not just an individual concern but a collective one. The imagery of taking lifetimes to crawl back out underscores the long-term impact our personal struggles can have, not just on ourselves but on those around us.
The Triumph of Personal Stability
On the flip side, successfully keeping our negative thoughts and emotions in check is a significant achievement. It’s a testament to personal strength and resilience. Declaring such a day as ‘good’ is an understatement; it’s a victory, a contribution to the harmony and balance of the collective consciousness.
We are Space Monkey.
“The only real battle in life is between hanging on and letting go.” – Shannon L. Alder
In the depths of mind’s terrain,
We dig a hole for mental strain.
Into this pit, we cast our woes,
Keeping calm as the tempest blows.
Stepping back, we view the scene,
A battle won, though unseen.
For in keeping our own peace,
We offer the world a silent lease.
We invite thoughts on the significance of managing personal struggles for the benefit of oneself and the broader community.
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