I’m so glad. I appreciate that feedback especially since this was one I wasn’t sure about it in some ways. My writing instructor’s advice was about revision this week and she said that when we go back to our work, we should breathe love into it. I kind of like that idea.
Read your post yesterday and loved it so much that I listened to it today and plan to reread it again. I’ve thought a lot in the past few years how the family stories we’re told as children are only part of the story...and reflect the storyteller’s perspective only...and I find now that I’m an adult I’m revising some of those stories as I gain more experience and knowledge of the individuals involved.
Sherri, this makes me so happy. Thanks for sharing. I’m glad it struck a chord with you. Not sure if you saw my other message but I have 3 free month subscription to the isolation journals since I became a paid subscriber. Let me know if you are interested in one.
Thanks so much for the offer, but I already subscribe to The Isolation Journal—a gift to myself that has been immensely helpful to me as a person living with metastatic breast cancer. Suleika is so wise and generous and her 100 day projects have a source of inspiration and joy. ❤️
Sherri, I agree with all that you say about Suleika and will say that I feel like you are an inspiration too- you emanate joy and light. Thanks for sharing this piece of your story with me. I listened to this interview with Andrea Gibson last week. You might like it. She talks openly about her cancer and how she’s moving through and loving life. It was a beautiful interview. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-can-do-hard-things-with-glennon-doyle/id1564530722?i=1000615232394
Thank you. I sometimes lose balance and perhaps devote less energy to some things that are deserving and need my attention and vice versa but I’m committed to the process in a way that I haven’t been before and grateful for how I’ve been able to integrate it into my life.
This post resonates with me in many ways. I was writing every morning until a few months ago when work and life started demanding more of my time. How I miss my morning ritual. I have a stack of short essays I’ve been wanting to revise since your helpful critiques and suggestions, yet I haven’t made the time, or when I do have a few minutes to myself, I feel too overwhelmed and can’t relax and focus. I would love to take your writing class the next time you teach it. Please keep me posted on upcoming dates.
I will for sure. We would love to have you. I’m sorry your morning ritual has been usurped. I think I can see the light at the end of that tunnel. I hope it leads you back to your practice.
Ada’s prompts were pure gold. Makes sense why she’s so good. Nice catch there. That is probably one of the most vulnerable things I’ve shared as I don’t feel like it makes me look particularly good. I realized if I write memoir and I want people to read it, I should probably get used to that feeling. I dry ran that response with my writing class this week and then dropped it far down in my post thinking maybe folks would skim over it. I appreciate you noticing it. I’m glad the prompt sparked some good seeds for you.
I love that you know who Gabor Mate is ... I'm so enjoying this class and it's brought up so many things for me. Even though I've not written as much as I'd like to during the class, it's an opening of my soul that nothing else has seemed to affect as much. I feel encouraged, heard and pleasantly surprised to discover again how much I love to write.
Judith, I’m soaking this comment in like sunlight. I’m so glad you are in the class and so happy for the ways it is as Mary Oliver would say is softening you. I appreciate your wit and humor and will remind you that showing up and being open and being reminded of how much you love writing are giant steps. I think when I first took the class, I only mastered showing up and that was not a small thing. My husband gets the credit for introducing me to Gabor Mate, which is only fair, as I may have been less appreciative of him introducing me to Infinite Jest.😊
This is a beautiful share Mary thank you so much. That poem by Ada is an amazing insight the power of perspective. It is important to take the time to process and sit with the feelings we have coming up around a situation. However eventually those feelings may change if we have the courage to see things differently 🙏🏽😊
Thanks for reading and being here Vipul. I think both versions of Ada’s poem are true, and perhaps one is not truer than the other. I think they both probably led to healing. I’m thinking about this a lot as I write memoir, how opposing feelings can both be true. I think exploring different ways of telling deepens our understanding.
Absolutely agree. The idea of truth is interesting. I’m finding that it is very subjective, based on how we are and what we know in any particular moment. The more we learn about ourselves the more our truths may shift and change over time
So glad. The caption below the butterfly pic includes a link to one of my fav videos on teaching revision to kids and adults. It’s more on where specific and constructive feedback can take us, so more practical. I think you would like it Janisse. Also, the kids in the video just emanate joy.
I’m so glad. I appreciate that feedback especially since this was one I wasn’t sure about it in some ways. My writing instructor’s advice was about revision this week and she said that when we go back to our work, we should breathe love into it. I kind of like that idea.
I love the idea of revision as going forward, not going backward.
Read your post yesterday and loved it so much that I listened to it today and plan to reread it again. I’ve thought a lot in the past few years how the family stories we’re told as children are only part of the story...and reflect the storyteller’s perspective only...and I find now that I’m an adult I’m revising some of those stories as I gain more experience and knowledge of the individuals involved.
Sherri, this makes me so happy. Thanks for sharing. I’m glad it struck a chord with you. Not sure if you saw my other message but I have 3 free month subscription to the isolation journals since I became a paid subscriber. Let me know if you are interested in one.
Thanks so much for the offer, but I already subscribe to The Isolation Journal—a gift to myself that has been immensely helpful to me as a person living with metastatic breast cancer. Suleika is so wise and generous and her 100 day projects have a source of inspiration and joy. ❤️
Sherri, I agree with all that you say about Suleika and will say that I feel like you are an inspiration too- you emanate joy and light. Thanks for sharing this piece of your story with me. I listened to this interview with Andrea Gibson last week. You might like it. She talks openly about her cancer and how she’s moving through and loving life. It was a beautiful interview. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-can-do-hard-things-with-glennon-doyle/id1564530722?i=1000615232394
I’ll give it a listen! Thanks 🥰
Thank you for finding the time to write and teach!
I am inspired by your dedication to this process. I will reread this when things settle a bit. There is a lot to think about in this piece.
Thank you. I sometimes lose balance and perhaps devote less energy to some things that are deserving and need my attention and vice versa but I’m committed to the process in a way that I haven’t been before and grateful for how I’ve been able to integrate it into my life.
Thanks for this, Mary—especially for the insights on revision, and your brother/sister writing about Mateo. Powerful.
This might be my favorite post of yours yet. You’ve shared so much wisdom here. Thanks for continually showing up and being vulnerable.
Listening now, thank you!
This post resonates with me in many ways. I was writing every morning until a few months ago when work and life started demanding more of my time. How I miss my morning ritual. I have a stack of short essays I’ve been wanting to revise since your helpful critiques and suggestions, yet I haven’t made the time, or when I do have a few minutes to myself, I feel too overwhelmed and can’t relax and focus. I would love to take your writing class the next time you teach it. Please keep me posted on upcoming dates.
I will for sure. We would love to have you. I’m sorry your morning ritual has been usurped. I think I can see the light at the end of that tunnel. I hope it leads you back to your practice.
Wow Mary that paragraph about Mateo is so good and powerful. That Brother/sister prompt is SUCH a good one!!! Sparked an idea for me - thank you!
Ada’s prompts were pure gold. Makes sense why she’s so good. Nice catch there. That is probably one of the most vulnerable things I’ve shared as I don’t feel like it makes me look particularly good. I realized if I write memoir and I want people to read it, I should probably get used to that feeling. I dry ran that response with my writing class this week and then dropped it far down in my post thinking maybe folks would skim over it. I appreciate you noticing it. I’m glad the prompt sparked some good seeds for you.
I love that you know who Gabor Mate is ... I'm so enjoying this class and it's brought up so many things for me. Even though I've not written as much as I'd like to during the class, it's an opening of my soul that nothing else has seemed to affect as much. I feel encouraged, heard and pleasantly surprised to discover again how much I love to write.
Judith, I’m soaking this comment in like sunlight. I’m so glad you are in the class and so happy for the ways it is as Mary Oliver would say is softening you. I appreciate your wit and humor and will remind you that showing up and being open and being reminded of how much you love writing are giant steps. I think when I first took the class, I only mastered showing up and that was not a small thing. My husband gets the credit for introducing me to Gabor Mate, which is only fair, as I may have been less appreciative of him introducing me to Infinite Jest.😊
This is a beautiful share Mary thank you so much. That poem by Ada is an amazing insight the power of perspective. It is important to take the time to process and sit with the feelings we have coming up around a situation. However eventually those feelings may change if we have the courage to see things differently 🙏🏽😊
Thanks for reading and being here Vipul. I think both versions of Ada’s poem are true, and perhaps one is not truer than the other. I think they both probably led to healing. I’m thinking about this a lot as I write memoir, how opposing feelings can both be true. I think exploring different ways of telling deepens our understanding.
Absolutely agree. The idea of truth is interesting. I’m finding that it is very subjective, based on how we are and what we know in any particular moment. The more we learn about ourselves the more our truths may shift and change over time
I love your post today, Mary. Insightful and helpful.
I’m so glad Sandra. I was thinking of you this week. I listened to this interview with Andrea Gibson. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-can-do-hard-things-with-glennon-doyle/id1564530722?i=1000615232394 I was awed by her. I thought you would like it as you were the one who introduced me to her. 😊
Your info on revision is very helpful. Thank you!
So glad. The caption below the butterfly pic includes a link to one of my fav videos on teaching revision to kids and adults. It’s more on where specific and constructive feedback can take us, so more practical. I think you would like it Janisse. Also, the kids in the video just emanate joy.