Me? I'm right here: "...I want someone else to sing and hold the note so I can take a breath." These are exactly the words for it. So beautiful and so heartbreaking. So dead-on. Thank you, Summer!
In rapid succession: my mother passed and my husband went to the hospital. He's got a new cancer diagnosis for his trouble. So I'm frying my big fish in the heat while I shift my shape.
I'm also writing, in my Morning Pages and in a blue notebook that holds the first drafts of a short story collection. Getting them on my laptop is my next step.
Sometimes, Defiance is telling the Nonsense to fuck all the way off and tend to Life Unfolding before us. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I feel this. I’m so sorry about your mom and your husband. That nonsense could and should fuck all the way off. I love your writing. Definitely think you should put some essays out into the world.
ah, a reminder about beauty. always appreciated. and flowers grow in the most inhospitable places...i do believe they can be a gift to help us through turmoil. anyway, you deserve flowers. i almost always have flowers in my abode--a luxury, i know.
i returned from a sojourn to Scotland last week. it went awry. or perhaps it didn't. perhaps it reflected this unsettled world in a microcosm sort of way. slowing piecing together a stack as i reflect on my time away.
may your kiddos grow to appreciate each other this summer, Summer. ;) big hugs
I find great comfort in writing. know it's a bit cocoon-ish, but then I read this from another Substacker, and for the life of me cannot remember who (would love to give them credit if they read this) but it made me feel good, b/c----- "Writing can be a sacred act that saves your sanity.
Whether your debt is taller than your fridge or your body feels like a stranger - writing can be the place you reclaim yourself. And there's science behind it too:
-- It lowers cortisol (your stress hormone).
-- It activates your prefrontal cortex, helping with problem-solving and emotional regulation.
It makes space for reflection, pattern recognition, and intuitive insight.
In other words, writing helps you think straight and feel again."
I love that it's science/brain based. That there really IS something to it!!!!!
I love that too so much! It definitely makes me feel like myself, the self that I like. My good friend said that once I started writing, he noticed a real shift in my personality for the better. Thank you for sharing this.
Glad to, Summer. I also read a great book some years ago now titled Story Genius by Lisa Cron, she taught at USC, and also did a zoom class on storytelling. It was quite amazing, how she takes it back to our early cave days, when it was imperative to listen to the storyteller b.c they might be telling you what forest to avoid (mt lions) or where the berries were. Bringing me back to the power of story, and also I guess, in healing we writers
Lisa Cron’s Story Genius is, well, genius. I love it. And thank you for the reminder that writing itself can be healing (emotionally and neurologically).
I am turned inward right now - my own life is just starting to feel some kind of stability. There is no ease to it, I wouldn’t call it comfortable, but the constant fear is gone. It hasn’t been replaced by anything that lingers too long, but the visitors moving through the place that once held fear are much more welcome. Curiosity, confusion, quiet, even exhaustion and anxiety are welcome in their own ways. I have had to give all my energy to myself, I have not a drop to spare for the world.
Yet. I have not a drop to spare for the world, yet. I keep a weather eye on the horizon because I know there are dark things there and I can only sail away from that storm for so long. My time to join the fight will come and I just hope that I am strong enough for it when it does. Nourish yourself and live the life you can. The storm is always coming.
This was wonderful, powerful, whispered strength like leaning over our kids in heavy turbulence, holding hands and saying we will be ok, while pleading quietly with your god that it will, or take us all together.
I have been frantically committed to writing, painting, dancing to exhaustion. I feel you deeply.
I swear to whatever goddesses you believe in that you are inside my head watching my thoughts go by. Peace Summer and play the music when you can and remember to dance like no one is watching
Me? I'm right here: "...I want someone else to sing and hold the note so I can take a breath." These are exactly the words for it. So beautiful and so heartbreaking. So dead-on. Thank you, Summer!
Thank you, Cindy!!! 💖
I'm waving from my Crucible.
In rapid succession: my mother passed and my husband went to the hospital. He's got a new cancer diagnosis for his trouble. So I'm frying my big fish in the heat while I shift my shape.
I'm also writing, in my Morning Pages and in a blue notebook that holds the first drafts of a short story collection. Getting them on my laptop is my next step.
Sometimes, Defiance is telling the Nonsense to fuck all the way off and tend to Life Unfolding before us. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I feel this. I’m so sorry about your mom and your husband. That nonsense could and should fuck all the way off. I love your writing. Definitely think you should put some essays out into the world.
I think I'll have a better idea after today about how things will unfold. Then there's always the matter of getting my rewired brain to cooperate.
So beautiful, Summer… you said it all for me. Fight, resist— but, dammit, we have to take care of ourselves. A daily shifting balance to be sought.
Thank you, Bill
ah, a reminder about beauty. always appreciated. and flowers grow in the most inhospitable places...i do believe they can be a gift to help us through turmoil. anyway, you deserve flowers. i almost always have flowers in my abode--a luxury, i know.
i returned from a sojourn to Scotland last week. it went awry. or perhaps it didn't. perhaps it reflected this unsettled world in a microcosm sort of way. slowing piecing together a stack as i reflect on my time away.
may your kiddos grow to appreciate each other this summer, Summer. ;) big hugs
I always love your framing, Anne! Sorry the trip went awry….
I find great comfort in writing. know it's a bit cocoon-ish, but then I read this from another Substacker, and for the life of me cannot remember who (would love to give them credit if they read this) but it made me feel good, b/c----- "Writing can be a sacred act that saves your sanity.
Whether your debt is taller than your fridge or your body feels like a stranger - writing can be the place you reclaim yourself. And there's science behind it too:
-- It lowers cortisol (your stress hormone).
-- It activates your prefrontal cortex, helping with problem-solving and emotional regulation.
It makes space for reflection, pattern recognition, and intuitive insight.
In other words, writing helps you think straight and feel again."
I love that it's science/brain based. That there really IS something to it!!!!!
I love that too so much! It definitely makes me feel like myself, the self that I like. My good friend said that once I started writing, he noticed a real shift in my personality for the better. Thank you for sharing this.
Glad to, Summer. I also read a great book some years ago now titled Story Genius by Lisa Cron, she taught at USC, and also did a zoom class on storytelling. It was quite amazing, how she takes it back to our early cave days, when it was imperative to listen to the storyteller b.c they might be telling you what forest to avoid (mt lions) or where the berries were. Bringing me back to the power of story, and also I guess, in healing we writers
Lisa Cron’s Story Genius is, well, genius. I love it. And thank you for the reminder that writing itself can be healing (emotionally and neurologically).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isgqj4TK0QA
I wrote a song with the same name! They plagiarized me! 😝
I am turned inward right now - my own life is just starting to feel some kind of stability. There is no ease to it, I wouldn’t call it comfortable, but the constant fear is gone. It hasn’t been replaced by anything that lingers too long, but the visitors moving through the place that once held fear are much more welcome. Curiosity, confusion, quiet, even exhaustion and anxiety are welcome in their own ways. I have had to give all my energy to myself, I have not a drop to spare for the world.
Yet. I have not a drop to spare for the world, yet. I keep a weather eye on the horizon because I know there are dark things there and I can only sail away from that storm for so long. My time to join the fight will come and I just hope that I am strong enough for it when it does. Nourish yourself and live the life you can. The storm is always coming.
This was wonderful, powerful, whispered strength like leaning over our kids in heavy turbulence, holding hands and saying we will be ok, while pleading quietly with your god that it will, or take us all together.
I have been frantically committed to writing, painting, dancing to exhaustion. I feel you deeply.
I'm waving from Australia where the already cold weather is about to turn to freezing as we head into winter.
I love to feel the warmth on my skin, and all the pretty cottage flowers of spring/summer.
Thank you Summer, you have turned my bleak, dark grey, rain filled day into remembering blue sky, sunshine and flowers. Dream on.....
I swear to whatever goddesses you believe in that you are inside my head watching my thoughts go by. Peace Summer and play the music when you can and remember to dance like no one is watching
Thank you for this candid essay, Summer! I think I'm a burrower...in the garden....burrowing my feet in shallow dirt in a grove of trees. 🌲🌳🌲
I soon will flee CA to live “happily ever after” in another state. Sadly, I will be there when I arrive with all my baggage, but I’ll try to swim.
Hope the move is a good one. I feel stuck here in CA; seems Hotel California keeps queuing up in my head…