Day 58: Deborah Brackman
What do you do for a living?
I run a bed and breakfast retreat center in Nosara, Costa Rica.
What do you do to feel alive?
I live very closely connected to the beautiful jungle, ocean, natural environment that we’re blessed to be surrounded by. I also do yoga and get to do ceremonies with a wonderful shaman and I have a beautiful dog Catuka that’s scratching my leg for food right now and I get to meet all these beautiful people who come to stay and sing and dance.
A lesson you learned from your mother:
My mother passed away two years ago and when you asked that question it feels really poignant because I feel so connected to her even more so through her passing – I just feel her so present. I think the thing that stands out to me is her sense of unconditional love for me and through everything through all of the difficulties and challenges that never wavered in her. I feel such an incredible appreciation of that quality in her that I would like to be able to share that or live that.
A lesson you learned from your father:
I remember a phrase that he repeated – I think it might have been from the Bible, but I’m not sure. The saying was “The sins of the parents are visited on the children for 7 generations.” I feel that my dad really struggled with his own lineage. His father was orphaned in Hungary at a very young age. He was brought up by a cruel aunt. He came to the States at 13 years old and just managed to survive. There were just a lot of difficulties and suffering: being uprooted, being an immigrant, and so many psychological issues. My did really did his best to work through them. Both my parents were committed to making the world a better place and bringing peace. They were both activists. He would always say “Life is a struggle.” I know that he did the best he could to overcome the challenges that came to him in his life and to give his kids opportunities in life that he didn’t have.
What’s the most beautiful thing you saw today?
There’s a group here at the retreat center now – just seeing everyone sitting around the breakfast table connecting. Just feeling people very alive and enriched from the transformative experience of the workshop and just sensing all the healing that is taking place by being here in this profound pureness. Just witnessing that is very beautiful.
What’s one thing you wouldn’t want anyone to take away from you?
The freedom to live the life that I choose and to keep growing and creating and learning.
What’s a thought you would like to never have again?
“I can’t do this.”
If you could become an inanimate object what would it be?
A painting
When do you feel most loved?
When I’m able to serve others and to give and feel compassion.
If your life were to end tomorrow what would be left undone?
Nothing. I feel like I’m on a journey and I look forward to each step and to continuing that journey, but there’s nothing incomplete. It’s just an ongoing process and I don’t feel that it ends with death. I just pray for clarity and guidance to keep moving towards the light.
What global issue would you take on if you didn’t have to worry about how?
Inner transformation. A quote comes to mind “May there be peace on earth and may it begin with me”.
What’s the scariest thing that ever happened to you?
Being kind of plugged into the psychological state of total separation and alienation – feeling complete lack of connection to source or spirit or love. Just the feeling of darkness and isolation.