I am grateful for your thoughts, and you are so right: words do matter, our stories do make a difference, and we can support and hold each other in difficult times. Also, sharing wonder certainly does open our hearts and provide an inner joy. [I borrowed some of your phrases because they say what I want to say.]
Susan, thank you for including me among your Substack cohorts. It's wonderful--exhilarating, energizing, comforting--to be a part of group of writers who believe that our stories and the earth's story are inseparable, the true heart of our work.
Since your writing about Meadow Knoll influenced my memoir and personal essay work, and you were one of the writers who I followed onto Substack, I couldn't leave you out! It is a delight and a source of hope to be part of such an inspiring community.
It seems to me that since we all have a limited time on this planet that we should appreciate the wonder that is life. Otherwise all we see are the problems. The pits in the cherries so to speak.
I agree, David. Appreciating the wondrous nature of life on earth is sustaining in all sorts of ways, and the more we appreciate it, the likelier we are to actually work to nurture this animate planet. As for the cherry analogy, thanks for the chuckle. Of course, you realize that the pits are the seeds, from which new cherries grow.... :)
You are so welcome, Dave! Thank you for giving me the idea of rewirement. It's been very useful in my thinking about shifting priorities and habits in my life.
I am so pleased to hear that the rewirement idea has spoken to you and been useful to you. It is, indeed, so much more applicable to many of us than retirement. Be well.
It speaks to me because I can't afford to retire for various reasons, not least of which is that I chose freelance writing over something more financially secure and I am a widow who had to work my way out of significant medical debt after my spouse died of brain cancer. But I can "rewire" and reorient my priorities to make my life and work more satisfying and meaningful. That is worth a lot!
Thank you for all that you give us and bring to our lives. I cannot wait to look at all of the intriguing resources you have mentioned here. Good luck with the deadlines!
Thanks much, Jenny. Freelance writing is either feast or famine. In the feast times, you work like heck and wish for a day off; in the famine times, you worry that work will never come your way again. I'm trying to do a better job of appreciating both feast and famine for what they bring!
Susan, thank you for taking the time in amongst deadlines to give thanks and to share generously! I'm very excited to dive into Emily's A Thin Space... thank you, and all luck with the countdown clock!
Chloe, Thanks for the good wishes on my deadlines. Freelancing is such a roller-coaster: I either have way too much work for one human being to accomplish, or not enough work and I'm worrying about how I'm going to pay the bills. In this Year of Spiritual Thinking project, one of my aims is to "rewire" my brain and learn a new relationship with work and money so I can be grateful for what I have and worry less about what I don't have! (And does that sound like an essay? I think I'll have to write about that soon!). Blessings to you.
I am grateful for your thoughts, and you are so right: words do matter, our stories do make a difference, and we can support and hold each other in difficult times. Also, sharing wonder certainly does open our hearts and provide an inner joy. [I borrowed some of your phrases because they say what I want to say.]
Thank you, Nancy! As for borrowing phrases, it's a compliment. The phrase in writing workshops is "Stealing that!" Also a compliment. ;)
I love your writing! Thank you!
Kindness ... love ... sharing wonder. That's a beautiful recipe for life. Thank you!
And that's a wonderful way to put it ("a beautiful recipe for life"). Thanks to you and many blessings.
Susan, thank you for including me among your Substack cohorts. It's wonderful--exhilarating, energizing, comforting--to be a part of group of writers who believe that our stories and the earth's story are inseparable, the true heart of our work.
Since your writing about Meadow Knoll influenced my memoir and personal essay work, and you were one of the writers who I followed onto Substack, I couldn't leave you out! It is a delight and a source of hope to be part of such an inspiring community.
Thanks for your insights!
It seems to me that since we all have a limited time on this planet that we should appreciate the wonder that is life. Otherwise all we see are the problems. The pits in the cherries so to speak.
I agree, David. Appreciating the wondrous nature of life on earth is sustaining in all sorts of ways, and the more we appreciate it, the likelier we are to actually work to nurture this animate planet. As for the cherry analogy, thanks for the chuckle. Of course, you realize that the pits are the seeds, from which new cherries grow.... :)
Thank you Susan for recommending my Substack. I greatly appreciate it.
You are so welcome, Dave! Thank you for giving me the idea of rewirement. It's been very useful in my thinking about shifting priorities and habits in my life.
I am so pleased to hear that the rewirement idea has spoken to you and been useful to you. It is, indeed, so much more applicable to many of us than retirement. Be well.
It speaks to me because I can't afford to retire for various reasons, not least of which is that I chose freelance writing over something more financially secure and I am a widow who had to work my way out of significant medical debt after my spouse died of brain cancer. But I can "rewire" and reorient my priorities to make my life and work more satisfying and meaningful. That is worth a lot!
Thank you for all that you give us and bring to our lives. I cannot wait to look at all of the intriguing resources you have mentioned here. Good luck with the deadlines!
Thanks much, Jenny. Freelance writing is either feast or famine. In the feast times, you work like heck and wish for a day off; in the famine times, you worry that work will never come your way again. I'm trying to do a better job of appreciating both feast and famine for what they bring!
I love reading your words Susan, so yours is an easy one for me to recommend. Thank you for giving my newsletter a shout-out too! Cheers!
What a lovely compliment--thank you! Blessings on your weekend and beyond. :)
How lovely, I look forward to exploring these publications. Thank you for including my stackie here Susan, grateful! xo
I so appreciate your posts and your perspective. Blessings!
Susan, thank you for taking the time in amongst deadlines to give thanks and to share generously! I'm very excited to dive into Emily's A Thin Space... thank you, and all luck with the countdown clock!
Chloe, Thanks for the good wishes on my deadlines. Freelancing is such a roller-coaster: I either have way too much work for one human being to accomplish, or not enough work and I'm worrying about how I'm going to pay the bills. In this Year of Spiritual Thinking project, one of my aims is to "rewire" my brain and learn a new relationship with work and money so I can be grateful for what I have and worry less about what I don't have! (And does that sound like an essay? I think I'll have to write about that soon!). Blessings to you.