Letters

Response on Mindfulness

Dear JFL
I wanted to respond to Ken Lebensold’s remarks regarding my article on “Mindfulness.” Perhaps it was too short to be totally clear.

I wasn’t advocating personal action over group action. I have always and will always engage in both, simultaneously. I feel personal action tends to be discounted and needs equal emphasis. It greatly enhances what can be accomplished when people come together. Mindfulness brought me to the place of seeing the connection between the two and that I had choices to make that had effects every moment of the day. In every group I have ever been a part of, I saw control issues that weren’t being worked out. In ten years of participation in an alternative program in the public school system with a very detailed mission statement, I saw the same power struggles over and over and the same attempts at building the same wheel without an awareness of what was going on. The constant turnover in population and staff disguised the fact that no progress was made towards realizing the original vision despite the fact that hundreds of hours were spent in meetings and reams of paper used. There was never any consensus achieved among the parents who came to the school.

Your relationship with yourself is inherently private, and work that has come out of this effort would not come out of work in groups. It enhances my future participation. I have found a whole new approach to life. Just as organic farming and natural medicine are about building up and working with the strength and health of the body or soil, so does this internal work result in a stronger self, less susceptible to negative influences from any source. My new sense of myself as a spiritual being makes the cultural overemphasis on physical appearance only a minor influence. No marketing campaign can remotely compete with my stronger, clearer desire to bring my actions in line with my deeper values. I’m not trying to change so much as embracing change when it seems to be needed in this alignment. I have become a participant in a larger process and know that I can’t change others. Focusing on processes and learning is also an important part. When individuals personalize and are too attached to the results of their labors in the group, it is impossible to improve the process. To talk about what could be improved is seen as a personal attack. In my experience, groups are too focused on action and don’t explore these types of things nor try to improve their own group process. There was no intention to present this as a dichotomy but only to point out that it’s easier to pursue something that only requires a consensus of one.

Diane Tweten
September 15, 2003
 

Is It Really Good-by?

Dear JFL
Thank you is inadequate for the joy, love and illumination JFL has brought to me. Thank you.

Suzanne Klaessig
Aurora, NY
 

Dear friends
What a Loss! I’m so sorry to hear you’re closing. But what a wonderful contribution you’ve made, with integrity and professionalism. I hope you will focus on celebrating your accomplishment!!

Dana Garber
Troy, NY


I am so proud to have all 27 copies on my self. It is a work of which you must be so proud of your selves – what an achievement! Opening up for discussion a domain that is so important, and just not heard consistently or sympathetically in any other medium, still less with the oceans of wisdom, imagination and political such that you brought to it. Twenty seven rich doses of such, served up with literary elegance – what a thing to have done in the world.

Bob
Philadelphia, PA


Hello to you all,
I was so pleased to get your letter explaining what’s happening with JFL—and so sad to find out it won’t be continuing.

Your magazine is absolutely unique. The intelligence level, the depth, the scope — all unique. There is no other magazine like it that I’ve found. Also, the warmth. It would only resonate with a minority of people (who operate on that level), I’m afraid. Doesn’t sound nice when you say it out, but I feel it’s true. I’m very grateful for the years I’ve had of enjoying your magazine. Thank you so much. You’ve enriched my life. I hope you all know how different you are, and valuable.

Carol Anderson
Temple Hills, MD


Thank you for all you high quality issues in the past. I hold your Journals in high esteem. I’ve kept all issues to read thoroughly for when I had time.

Jean Scott
Camarillo, CA


Thank you for your connection to the planet. Best wishes

Michelle Pavlik
Bellingham, WA


Dear JFL Volunteers,
JFL has allowed enlightening and empowering voices to be heard in a free and opening setting that is generally unavailable in ordinary publications or media. Thank you for your efforts over these years!

Joshua Diamond
Latham, NY
 

Dear JFL Folks
I’m sorry to hear of your decision to stop publishing, but trust that it is the right thing to do. However, I will miss this tangible token of my connection with your community.

Edwin Meyer
Cambridge, MA
 

We’ll really miss your magazine. It has been excellent. I look forward to the next incarnation of your communal creativity.

Eve Ilsen,
Boulder, CO
 

Dear JFL People,
Thank you for the years of heart and effort to help us all learn about and practice being more connected and loving beings. Blessings on your journeys!

Jeffrey Dewall
Nederland, CO
 

Thank you so much for all your hard work on such a wonderful publication… the journal has always been full of treasures.

Linda Fredericks
Boulder, CO
 

Thank you very much and I’m sorry that it couldn’t keep happening. Truly one of the best magazines ever!!!

M. Beeson
Billing, MT
 

My dearest ones!
I was so sad to read this letter and enclosures. JFL has been such a gift over the years and such an inspiration: writing, journalist interviewers and interviewees— poets, photographers.

Helen Von Rosenstiel
Lock Sheldrake, NY
 

I am deeply grateful that I had an opportunity to share your journey. You leave a wonderful legacy! Thank you for your vision, dedication and contributions.

Merry Brennan
Belmar, NJ
 

I am so sad to hear about the end of JFL – it’s an outpost of same thinking in a kind of crazy world. But I also know how draining it can be to keep something going with too little fuel – best of luck to all of you.

Susan Weseen
Brooklyn, NY
 

It’s a dismal day when your publication has to close shop. You are to be commended for your efforts, tireless and true. I’ve profited from reading your magazine; I’ve been gratified to publish with you over the nine years. There are very few places where I can place thoughtful content pertaining to human values. Fortunately, your magazine was one place.

Barbara DeMille
Rensselaerville, NY
 

I’ll miss your friendly, comforting, informing, honest and refreshing JFL. As a neurologist and local school board member , I’ve put JFL in teachers’ lounges and my writing room. Thank you and best of success in whatever you choose.

Patty Locuratolo
York, ME
 

So sorry to hear you’re closing down. You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished, and gratified to have put such an inspiring, challenging voice out there in the world

Denis Palumbo
Sherman Oaks, CA
 

Dear Friends,
The enclosed donation is just a token of the gratitude I feel for the way you have blessed and enriched my life with your publication.

I am deeply saddened by the prospect of not receiving any more issues of JFL in the mail—and the wait between issues never lessened my enthusiasm each issue was always worth waiting for.

Thank you all for your hard work, dedication and deep insight. May you be blessed!

Lucille Balukian
Wayne, PA
 

What a shock to hear of your situation. It is very sad news —another alternative publication caught in the financial struggle—a sign of our times.

Again, thanks so much for being there for me and my type of poetry. You will leave a big hole in my life. I know sometimes we all have to make hard decisions about our “labors of love.” I pray that out of the ashes some light will shine for you.
 

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