This is such an expansive essay, Alan. It reminds me of Mary Oliver's line from "The Summer Day":
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
And also the cumulative effect of life, which we tend to look at as one long line from birth to death, but in truth it's a deepening, and a cycling back and forth through.
How beautifully you integrate Baldwin's words into your story. Beautiful! The past few weeks have been "The Ma" in my life. A valuable assignment from Utö. My house is decluttered; everything that no longer brought me joy and took up energy has been given a different purpose. It feels like coming home again 🥰
What a blessing to read this. Alan, you are elder with incredible depth and grace. I'm grateful to know you. Thank you for the James Baldwin quote. I am working on find home within myself. Soon my husband I will be looking for our forever home - may it have the beautiful energy that you have expressed. Thank you for being exactly you
Thank you so much, Essence. Your words touch me. I, too, am grateful to have met you so many years ago. Thank you for what you bring to the world. And I wish you and your husband well as you look for your forever home.
As I grapple with selling and leaving the place I have felt true “home” for over 40 years, and like you is also the place I came with my parents… I see that this is a huge letting go for me. It is not definite but sits with me as I try to imagine living without it.
Your essay helped me to see why it is so huge for me. It also let me see that I can live without it .. and will still find ways to experience it without owning my home here.
The home is inside me and I can resurrect it when I visit.
As always, you are spot on with insights that comfort and stretch how I do this wonderful life.
Beautiful, Kathryn. I'm glad the essay is helpful for you. We come to a time in our lives when we are letting go and letting come. I choose for that to be a beautiful process, even if sometimes also tender.
Thank you, Alan. Such a great insight - useful both to reflect on my own life and to share with the younger generations in my orbit. "Be sure you are living your own life, or you won't live any life at all." Powerful!
This is such an expansive essay, Alan. It reminds me of Mary Oliver's line from "The Summer Day":
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
And also the cumulative effect of life, which we tend to look at as one long line from birth to death, but in truth it's a deepening, and a cycling back and forth through.
I love this, Cate. Thank you!
How beautifully you integrate Baldwin's words into your story. Beautiful! The past few weeks have been "The Ma" in my life. A valuable assignment from Utö. My house is decluttered; everything that no longer brought me joy and took up energy has been given a different purpose. It feels like coming home again 🥰
Wonderful, Tuutje! Congratulations on that accomplishment. And thank you for your kind words about the essay!
What a blessing to read this. Alan, you are elder with incredible depth and grace. I'm grateful to know you. Thank you for the James Baldwin quote. I am working on find home within myself. Soon my husband I will be looking for our forever home - may it have the beautiful energy that you have expressed. Thank you for being exactly you
Thank you so much, Essence. Your words touch me. I, too, am grateful to have met you so many years ago. Thank you for what you bring to the world. And I wish you and your husband well as you look for your forever home.
As I grapple with selling and leaving the place I have felt true “home” for over 40 years, and like you is also the place I came with my parents… I see that this is a huge letting go for me. It is not definite but sits with me as I try to imagine living without it.
Your essay helped me to see why it is so huge for me. It also let me see that I can live without it .. and will still find ways to experience it without owning my home here.
The home is inside me and I can resurrect it when I visit.
As always, you are spot on with insights that comfort and stretch how I do this wonderful life.
Beautiful, Kathryn. I'm glad the essay is helpful for you. We come to a time in our lives when we are letting go and letting come. I choose for that to be a beautiful process, even if sometimes also tender.
Thank you, Alan. Such a great insight - useful both to reflect on my own life and to share with the younger generations in my orbit. "Be sure you are living your own life, or you won't live any life at all." Powerful!
Those are powerful words from James Baldwin, Jane. Thank you for passing them on!
Thank you, Alan! This is beautiful!
Thank you, Johnathon.