Note: I’m not big on trigger or content warnings, but I did want to include this note to readers: This essay touches on Buddhism’s first noble truth: In life, there is suffering.
And thank you for being one of my mentors. Years ago (maybe 20?) I printed out the college recommendation you wrote for me, and your words helped me to see my worth during some difficult times. The words thank you don’t feel weighty enough for the level of gratitude I have but I will leave them here regardless: Thank You.💜
PS- I would love the syllabus for Spirituality in Literature!
Oh, Mary! Thank you for reading and your lovely comment! You got it! Will send one of my Spirituality syllabi. You are also my mentor, as it turns out; I read your cookbook about cooking for tummy health, and I've made some changes! Thank you. Love to you, and to your brother, too. xo
On the subject of trying to figure difficult life events out, I recommend Aminatta Forna's memoir The Devil That Danced on the Water. As we age, we are constantly trying to figure out things that stumped us in the past. My friend Jai Jordan died 5 years ago, and I never really understood him. We can't fix the past but we can come to understand some of it. Mind how you go.
Great entry here. Such a good take on the hard and beautiful. The straight man. The gray man. Naming those who move us. I’ll think on it. Appreciate your candor sharing it and honesty about only sharing what is able to tumble out. So to speak. 💛
Thank you, cousin Karen, for your honesty, for your eloquence, for your generosity and for this poem. Would love to take a look at your syllabus for m since my official teaching days are now of the past. Love the Emmet quote too!
THANK YOU, Liana! Just sent along a syllabus to you, along with an initial "inventory" of questions I used to give kids that we'd start the course with, and revisit as we went along over the 20 weeks or so...xoxo
This is amazing. Thank you for writing it - and for sharing your experiences, especially your most difficult mentor - and this incredible poem.
Thanks, Morg!! xo
Wow. Beautifully written.
And thank you for being one of my mentors. Years ago (maybe 20?) I printed out the college recommendation you wrote for me, and your words helped me to see my worth during some difficult times. The words thank you don’t feel weighty enough for the level of gratitude I have but I will leave them here regardless: Thank You.💜
PS- I would love the syllabus for Spirituality in Literature!
Oh, Mary! Thank you for reading and your lovely comment! You got it! Will send one of my Spirituality syllabi. You are also my mentor, as it turns out; I read your cookbook about cooking for tummy health, and I've made some changes! Thank you. Love to you, and to your brother, too. xo
On the subject of trying to figure difficult life events out, I recommend Aminatta Forna's memoir The Devil That Danced on the Water. As we age, we are constantly trying to figure out things that stumped us in the past. My friend Jai Jordan died 5 years ago, and I never really understood him. We can't fix the past but we can come to understand some of it. Mind how you go.
Yes; that's what we can do, and I think it can be enough. Writing is very handy for that, I think. Always minding...xo
Also, will check out that memoir. Thanks, Brooks!
Good one mom! That's so powerful what you said about cropping out... It's difficult to know how to deal with these types of things.
Thanks, Emmet. True. I love McHugh's line "What followed/taught me something about difficulty." This experience definitely did that. Love you, xo
Govinda the NPC lol I love you for putting that💀
HAHA. Another Emmet quotable! xo
Great entry here. Such a good take on the hard and beautiful. The straight man. The gray man. Naming those who move us. I’ll think on it. Appreciate your candor sharing it and honesty about only sharing what is able to tumble out. So to speak. 💛
Oh.... thank you! I name you! xo
I must reread…
(Ok so maybe I distinguish candor from honesty. Sue me.)
I think you're distinguished. xo
Thank you, cousin Karen, for your honesty, for your eloquence, for your generosity and for this poem. Would love to take a look at your syllabus for m since my official teaching days are now of the past. Love the Emmet quote too!
THANK YOU, Liana! Just sent along a syllabus to you, along with an initial "inventory" of questions I used to give kids that we'd start the course with, and revisit as we went along over the 20 weeks or so...xoxo