65 Comments
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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

What a beautiful gift and honoring of your sweet soul, Susan.

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

It made my week in a beautiful way, that's for sure! Thanks, Stephanie, and hugs to you from Denver airport, where I'm between flights....

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Safe travels and loving visits.

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Deborah Gregory's avatar

That was so beautiful! Thanks for sharing the love and creativity, Susan. I love this place so much! 💚

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

Isn't it a wonderful community, Deborah! I so appreciate the creativity and generosity people here show. Blessings to you!

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Christina M. Wells's avatar

That is a beautiful illustration of your beautiful words.

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

It is beautiful and so generous of Candace, Christina, and thank you!

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Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

Yes, Susan J Tweit! <3

(y)our terraphilia matters.

Earth cries thanks tears too.

...

Plaited, intertwined,

trees’ tall branches reaching out

shield understory.

...

Roots go deep, spread wide,

weave and braid with other roots,

link forces, find fuel.

...

From their unity,

browns, greens, water, make compost,

fertilize the soil.

...

From our unity,

virtues shall germinate, grow,

feed, help heal the ground.

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

What a glorious image your poem conjures, Marisol! Thank you for the gift of your words and your heart.

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Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

Thank you for your ongoing inspiration

and promotion of green generous goodness!

Just subscribed to Candace's publication. :)

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

I know you'll enjoy Candace's posts, Marisol. She's an inspiration.

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Sue Kusch's avatar

What a lovely gift! I agree wholeheartedly about Substack. I have been introduced to so many kind and thoughtful people including you! I recently posted a Note about feeling low after 19 people unsubscribed on a recent benign essay and over 70 writers offered kind thoughts, helpful advice, and genuine empathy. It's a culture of kindness.

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

Substack is a community of the best sort, Sue, and I'm so glad to have "met" here. Your story perfectly illustrates what makes this platform such a gift, especially in these difficult times. AS for losing subscribers, one thing I've taught myself over a long writing career is that my work will not please everyone, and indeed, if it did, I wouldn't be writing my truth. It's hard to see people unsubscribe, but I remind myself that those unsubscribes are about them, not about me. I'm sending a hug from Denver airport, where I'm between flights.

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Beth Kephart's avatar

Incredible, Just incredible! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. As are you. I am so very sorry for the hard times. I feel we are all pressed against big boulders by the world itself, and then when personal private matters creep in ... it all gets just too big. Please know you are loved.

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

Oh, Beth! Thank you. I feel your love and your empathy, and it lifts me. What a gift that we reconnected here. Bless you for being you, and for your courage in writing and creating. Much love!

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Jean's avatar

Thank you for sharing this.

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

You are welcome, Jean. Thank you for commenting. Blessings!

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Marlena Maduro Baraf's avatar

Susan, thank you and Candace Rose for that visual of difference and then understanding. Profoundly moving

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

Isn't it a beautiful illustration, Marisol? I am honored bytes my words reached Candace and that she responded with her art. This Substack community is such a gift! Blessings to you.

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Cheryl Grey Bostrom's avatar

Beautiful.

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

Thank you, Cheryl! It gave me such a lift, as you can imagine. Blessings to you.

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Karen Lynne Klink's avatar

Beautiful.

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

Thank you for reading/watching Karen. Blessings to you!

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Melinda Emily Thomas's avatar

This is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing your heart with us.

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

Thank you, Melinda! It's always scary to put my heart out on the line, and all of the support in response to this is heartening.

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Patricia Crow Herlevi's avatar

Just when we believe that humanity has lost its way and fallen by the wayside, someone offers a gift or a kind deed. Indeed, kindness matters.

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

It does. And in these times, it matters more than ever. Thanks for offering your kindness and your words. Blessings!

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Camilla Sanderson's avatar

What a treat to see a video of you Susan🥰 Thanks for sharing it here. And I'm sending lots of loving kindness, compassion, hugs, and tea & sympathy to you too - also sent to Stephanie Raffelock this week. It seems that the adversity in the world is extra intense right now - but one thing that heartened me are the election results in Australia, and I discovered the Substack "Brave Women Write" with a note about the election results that went viral https://substack.com/@carolyntatewriter/note/c-114256551

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

Thank you, Camilla! agree that the adversity in the world seems very intense right now, and I'm usually good at dissipating that energy. But right now I've got a serious family health issue going on, and I'm not doing well with dealing with both at once. It really helps to feel the support of this community. And thank you for the recommendation of "Brave Women Write."

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Camilla Sanderson's avatar

Lots of compassion for the double whammy and I'm happy to hear you feel supported by your Substack community♥️🙏🕊️

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Jude's avatar

Oh, that is absolutely gorgeous and brought tears to my eyes. Such a personal and heartfelt gift. And, dear Susan, so worthy of you! XO

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

Dear Jude, Thank you! It came at just the right time for me, and honestly, it brought tears to my eyes. Hugs to you.

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Penny J Leisch's avatar

It is a wonderful feeling to find a community that supports us with hope and love even when it's online. Many of us have no other way of finding or reaching those who share what we care about.

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

It is wonderful, Penny. And you are right: finding a community like that can be a challenge. Partly, I think, because it's scary to try new things and new groups. And I will confess that I procrastinated about moving to Substack because it involved change and learning new things and I was overwhelmed. But now that I'm here, I'm glad I made the effort. Blessings to you!

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Ken Lamberton's avatar

Beautiful, Susan. Thank you for sharing this.

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

Thank you, Ken! It was such a lift to have Candace respond with such generosity and creativity. Sometimes we just need to know that our words matter, and this was one of those times. That was a great post from your new writing retreat, BTW--what a wonderful reminder of the joy of migration! Blessings.

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Ken Lamberton's avatar

Yes, the joy of migration--my favorite time of year! Best to you, Susan!

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