“For reasons unexplained, every person in the world is born with a large gaping hole in the center of their chest...while not uncomfortable, it is widely considered unsightly, and pretty much everyone tries to fill it with something...some people fill it with religion, others just buy a bunch of stuff, and some even fill it with other folks...I left mine alone, though, because I found out if you run against the wind at just the right angle, it makes a whistling noise.”
Your post brings up wads of emotion in me and since you’re able to do that so effortlessly, I’d say no matter what or when you wish to write and publish something, anything, I would certainly read it and cherish it. Merry Christmas to you and yours, Mary. May your spirits be high and the laughter unabashed. ❤️
What a lovely and poignant telling of your letting go, Mary. I applaud your journey toward liberation and detailed my own journey of letting go of labels in this piece:
Merry Christmas my friend. The season of letting go. Perfectly said. This can apply to so many things in our lives, every single day. From big to small...it all makes us evolve into a better or worse version of who we are. I choose my mindset and it's not easy to remember my own power in this one choice.
Oh no. But I've been expecting something like this. It doesn't mean I don't wish you wouldn't go, but I get it. You certainly deserve to take a break. You've been at this since 2016!! Omg! I had no idea. Well, I can always go back and check out some of your earlier pieces. I can understand your conflicting thoughts about writing about the Art of Freedom, when you haven't been experiencing much of that yourself. So go with the wind and be as free as you can be. I'll miss you for sure. All of us will be practicing "letting go" of you now! And remember that song I sent you, "It's hard to imagine the "freedom" you find by the things you leave behind." So, there is that. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Since many of us accept the reality that our lives are an illusion (albeit a sometimes pleasant one), it is hard to take it seriously. And yet we do. Over and over. What am I "letting go of? The experience of chronic pain - thanks to the excellent BREAKTHROUGH PAIN book/cd by Shinzen Young. Praise Jesus & Merry Christmas.
Ah yes, the life-challenge've lettin' go! my fav-o-rite rule 've THUMB (where is thumbkin? here I am!) iz Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch's whizz-dom fer writers: You've gotta MURDER yer darlings! Harder than givin' up the size 6 "cigarette" leg pants that once fit me like a...glove an' now better fit my arm (ha ha!), harder than givin' up my ol' well-lined text books from college cuz I've convinced myself I'll READ MY UNDERLININ' one day again! (oh yeah, shake her head at that'un) but nope--the worst is cuttin' stuff ya wrote that sounded SO good ta yer ear, stuff ya labored over, loved...an' must lose. Editin' writin, film, jus' bout anything is givin' away a piece of ya--but it duz make a better WHOLE-not-hole... Shold we "Call it Murder?" -- a murder've crows flyin' away-- lettin' go 'er skeerin' 'em away (skere crows!). Merry Merry Christmas ta ya Mary, an' may whatever ya let go've come back at'cha in the form've double happiness (which is aka good luck too!)
BUT on the QT did ya quietly save it--whatever wuz cut--knowin' okay, it's gone from the piece but it "exists" as either (old skool) that one page or part of the draft with the big X over it gatherin' dust in the 3 ring binder on the high-up shelf or...today... the one odd document entitled "cuts & discards" likely in "doc" form or even .txt? I let go've them darlin's but--tho' I've never called a single one back fer dinner--I keep 'em in the literary attic (cwazy, right?) -- kinda like havin' a grave dug but not throwin' on the dirt...funny stuff that lettin' go of creative bits n' pieces...
We did have a good Christmas too--still sort'a feel we'ze in limbo land but adaptin' cuz it's whut we gotta do--thanks fer the good wishes fer ketchin' breaks (sounds good ta me, better than ketchin' colds 'er heck!)--good breaks yer way too fer the New Year--lordy we all need 'em now!
"...freedom is the power to do what is right" (for you). I like to change the lyrics to suit my purposes. You do the same, "feel free" LOL. You be sure to let us know if you start up something new, a podcast or whatever. God Bless. Good luck. xox
Dear Mary, I've been saving your post to read as I sort through my emails. So many emails give me angst - more to do - more to read. But, I always enjoy your down-to-earth-full of Truth posts. They always seem to resonate with me. As I've grown older I've become better at letting go and establishing stronger boundaries. Took me long enough!
Just the word "deadline" gives me the willies and when I started my own Substack I was honest with my readers about my Vata fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants writing schedule. I'm grateful for their patience when I hit a dry spell. Actually, it's not a dry spell so much as poor time management at finishing the pile of posts already started.
I'll be here, looking forward to what gems you send my way as you work on letting go. That cat photo though! :) XO
My favourite Aaron Diaz quote:
“For reasons unexplained, every person in the world is born with a large gaping hole in the center of their chest...while not uncomfortable, it is widely considered unsightly, and pretty much everyone tries to fill it with something...some people fill it with religion, others just buy a bunch of stuff, and some even fill it with other folks...I left mine alone, though, because I found out if you run against the wind at just the right angle, it makes a whistling noise.”
Your post brings up wads of emotion in me and since you’re able to do that so effortlessly, I’d say no matter what or when you wish to write and publish something, anything, I would certainly read it and cherish it. Merry Christmas to you and yours, Mary. May your spirits be high and the laughter unabashed. ❤️
What a lovely and poignant telling of your letting go, Mary. I applaud your journey toward liberation and detailed my own journey of letting go of labels in this piece:
• https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/my-two-year-stackiversary-lattice
Merry Christmas my friend. The season of letting go. Perfectly said. This can apply to so many things in our lives, every single day. From big to small...it all makes us evolve into a better or worse version of who we are. I choose my mindset and it's not easy to remember my own power in this one choice.
PS - I forgot to say "Thank You!! for all you've given us! There's gonna be a big hole in my Sunday. I'm just sayin."
Oh no. But I've been expecting something like this. It doesn't mean I don't wish you wouldn't go, but I get it. You certainly deserve to take a break. You've been at this since 2016!! Omg! I had no idea. Well, I can always go back and check out some of your earlier pieces. I can understand your conflicting thoughts about writing about the Art of Freedom, when you haven't been experiencing much of that yourself. So go with the wind and be as free as you can be. I'll miss you for sure. All of us will be practicing "letting go" of you now! And remember that song I sent you, "It's hard to imagine the "freedom" you find by the things you leave behind." So, there is that. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Since many of us accept the reality that our lives are an illusion (albeit a sometimes pleasant one), it is hard to take it seriously. And yet we do. Over and over. What am I "letting go of? The experience of chronic pain - thanks to the excellent BREAKTHROUGH PAIN book/cd by Shinzen Young. Praise Jesus & Merry Christmas.
So beautifully painful and true for all of us. The great uniter. Thank you always for your sweet wisdom.
Ah yes, the life-challenge've lettin' go! my fav-o-rite rule 've THUMB (where is thumbkin? here I am!) iz Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch's whizz-dom fer writers: You've gotta MURDER yer darlings! Harder than givin' up the size 6 "cigarette" leg pants that once fit me like a...glove an' now better fit my arm (ha ha!), harder than givin' up my ol' well-lined text books from college cuz I've convinced myself I'll READ MY UNDERLININ' one day again! (oh yeah, shake her head at that'un) but nope--the worst is cuttin' stuff ya wrote that sounded SO good ta yer ear, stuff ya labored over, loved...an' must lose. Editin' writin, film, jus' bout anything is givin' away a piece of ya--but it duz make a better WHOLE-not-hole... Shold we "Call it Murder?" -- a murder've crows flyin' away-- lettin' go 'er skeerin' 'em away (skere crows!). Merry Merry Christmas ta ya Mary, an' may whatever ya let go've come back at'cha in the form've double happiness (which is aka good luck too!)
"Our feline friends show us: to birth ourselves into any New World, we can’t be clinging to the Old. Relax, they say. Have faith."
Beautiful reflection, Mary, and yes, I'll join you. (We are all in training. And I think- like it or not - have moved into advanced classes!)
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and upcoming New Year! Thanks for the shout-out. ❤️
re "I've never cut something from a play and wished for it back later. "
yup yup, noddin' my head--ditto! Travelin' Light's the way ta go when it comes ta writin' (or in life an' singin' 'bout it):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-yMb5Bo6VU
BUT on the QT did ya quietly save it--whatever wuz cut--knowin' okay, it's gone from the piece but it "exists" as either (old skool) that one page or part of the draft with the big X over it gatherin' dust in the 3 ring binder on the high-up shelf or...today... the one odd document entitled "cuts & discards" likely in "doc" form or even .txt? I let go've them darlin's but--tho' I've never called a single one back fer dinner--I keep 'em in the literary attic (cwazy, right?) -- kinda like havin' a grave dug but not throwin' on the dirt...funny stuff that lettin' go of creative bits n' pieces...
We did have a good Christmas too--still sort'a feel we'ze in limbo land but adaptin' cuz it's whut we gotta do--thanks fer the good wishes fer ketchin' breaks (sounds good ta me, better than ketchin' colds 'er heck!)--good breaks yer way too fer the New Year--lordy we all need 'em now!
Shifting from Deadlines to LifeLines certainly does require feline style Faith in landing paws down and tail up after taking a leap into the unknown
Mary, here's the link to the song https://youtu.be/w3xZ6V86ws4?si=JzOWfqDOYKGOkY2h
"...freedom is the power to do what is right" (for you). I like to change the lyrics to suit my purposes. You do the same, "feel free" LOL. You be sure to let us know if you start up something new, a podcast or whatever. God Bless. Good luck. xox
Dear Mary, I've been saving your post to read as I sort through my emails. So many emails give me angst - more to do - more to read. But, I always enjoy your down-to-earth-full of Truth posts. They always seem to resonate with me. As I've grown older I've become better at letting go and establishing stronger boundaries. Took me long enough!
Just the word "deadline" gives me the willies and when I started my own Substack I was honest with my readers about my Vata fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants writing schedule. I'm grateful for their patience when I hit a dry spell. Actually, it's not a dry spell so much as poor time management at finishing the pile of posts already started.
I'll be here, looking forward to what gems you send my way as you work on letting go. That cat photo though! :) XO
Poignant. Honest, as ever. Needful, as ever.
I’m voting for a podcast so I can hear your voice, as if you still lived in the town you let go of. Xx