Thank you Janisse. I'm going to read your observations about WWC and the charge to "put them in hard places" to a new class starting in a few hours today. I become like a preacher (secular in this case) on the first day of class, fueled by my own questions about the new group in front of me. "I'm always nervous on the first day of class," I tell them, even after 24 years of teaching. They will love the reference to WWC, seeing themselves in your words.
I read your pep talk last week, right when I needed it, when I'd grown weary of my own vigilance about my little household, in addition to the world. What does my hyper-vigilance buy me? Nothing but an aura of unsettlement and stress that repels teens like DEET to mosquitoes in an Atlanta suburb. I'm not here to be a friend to them, but a bumper in this wild life they're exploring with brains that operate like an ancient philosopher or a flea, depending on the hour. Lord grant me the wisdom to know when to put my bumpers up and the serenity to dive back into a bigger writing project that calls me. Even though I'm still working out the big picture in my head. Remind me I do not have to see the big picture. I just have to keep doing the next right thing with the information I have at this point in time. LAWD this life is not for the faint of heart though!
We all need a pep talk. Thank you for giving me one, which I could then share along the way.
Mallory, I think you & I need a weekend retreat to talk about this. I am hearing you 100 percent. Also, I think you ARE here to be a friend to the children. They need you, whether they know it or not. You are their stability, their walls, their fields. And they're here to be a friend to you. There's so much weirdness right now in the world that divides folks in different age groups. And, you already see the big picture. You're one of the most visionary, wide-seeing people I know. All the young people at WWC, including in your home, are incredibly blessed to have your love & wisdom & hyper-vigilance, YES, in their lives. LUCKY & BLESSED. Last thing, I'm so glad to hear that you're going to keep working on the "bigger writing project" you talked about. You've done such marvelous books that I am eager & ready to see what's on your mind. Thinking of you, as always.
Thank you friend! I love knowing my writing mentors are there as friends to me, and that's the message I'm sharing with my new class this morning as well. I'm bringing your words and a pair of boots sent to me by yoga master/meditator Elena Brower. We can be in conversation with those who inspire us! As you know, this world needs our connections more than ever.
And yes, I agree we can be that stable loving presence--that lifelong friend--for our children. You are so right on. I see that on the other side with my 24-year old. In so many words, I think my mom was telling me not to seek their approval at this age. She died when my oldest was a toddler, but she was the dearest consistent presence in my life, when I was a teen and a young adult. And the marvel of marvels is that I can draw on her words more than two decades later. Indeed, connection abounds when we pause. Lastly, thank you for the encouragement on writing as well! I'm looking forward to your essay class in January and to sharing whatever comes from my next right writing step! Love YOU and your words beyond measure...
“The violence in Israel and the Gaza Strip is gutwrenching. I imagine people trying to lead sensible, functional, fulfilling lives with rockets flying, limited food, and no electricity. The narrative in the Middle East is an old, useless narrative. It is beyond time for a new narrative.”
I got to listen to Bryan a Stevenson talk last week. He said we need to change the narrative.
Writing is the only way I know to think through the hard things. Thanks for inspiring me to share it with the world. I hope that what I write in turn inspires & comforts. It’s a continuous cycle of interconnection. The spider webs of life. 🕸️
Thank you, Janisse. I started the day very stressed about how things are going in the world right now. I’m also grateful for so much. I can write; I must write. Blessings to you.
Thank you Janisse. I'm going to read your observations about WWC and the charge to "put them in hard places" to a new class starting in a few hours today. I become like a preacher (secular in this case) on the first day of class, fueled by my own questions about the new group in front of me. "I'm always nervous on the first day of class," I tell them, even after 24 years of teaching. They will love the reference to WWC, seeing themselves in your words.
I read your pep talk last week, right when I needed it, when I'd grown weary of my own vigilance about my little household, in addition to the world. What does my hyper-vigilance buy me? Nothing but an aura of unsettlement and stress that repels teens like DEET to mosquitoes in an Atlanta suburb. I'm not here to be a friend to them, but a bumper in this wild life they're exploring with brains that operate like an ancient philosopher or a flea, depending on the hour. Lord grant me the wisdom to know when to put my bumpers up and the serenity to dive back into a bigger writing project that calls me. Even though I'm still working out the big picture in my head. Remind me I do not have to see the big picture. I just have to keep doing the next right thing with the information I have at this point in time. LAWD this life is not for the faint of heart though!
We all need a pep talk. Thank you for giving me one, which I could then share along the way.
Mallory, I think you & I need a weekend retreat to talk about this. I am hearing you 100 percent. Also, I think you ARE here to be a friend to the children. They need you, whether they know it or not. You are their stability, their walls, their fields. And they're here to be a friend to you. There's so much weirdness right now in the world that divides folks in different age groups. And, you already see the big picture. You're one of the most visionary, wide-seeing people I know. All the young people at WWC, including in your home, are incredibly blessed to have your love & wisdom & hyper-vigilance, YES, in their lives. LUCKY & BLESSED. Last thing, I'm so glad to hear that you're going to keep working on the "bigger writing project" you talked about. You've done such marvelous books that I am eager & ready to see what's on your mind. Thinking of you, as always.
Thank you friend! I love knowing my writing mentors are there as friends to me, and that's the message I'm sharing with my new class this morning as well. I'm bringing your words and a pair of boots sent to me by yoga master/meditator Elena Brower. We can be in conversation with those who inspire us! As you know, this world needs our connections more than ever.
And yes, I agree we can be that stable loving presence--that lifelong friend--for our children. You are so right on. I see that on the other side with my 24-year old. In so many words, I think my mom was telling me not to seek their approval at this age. She died when my oldest was a toddler, but she was the dearest consistent presence in my life, when I was a teen and a young adult. And the marvel of marvels is that I can draw on her words more than two decades later. Indeed, connection abounds when we pause. Lastly, thank you for the encouragement on writing as well! I'm looking forward to your essay class in January and to sharing whatever comes from my next right writing step! Love YOU and your words beyond measure...
I agree. Constant vigilance, concerted effort, timely pressure.
One In The Struggle
Written 1985 during Willie Nelson's Farm Aid projects
https://youtu.be/GkPuwO_5cyQ
I am a farmer, I’m trying to grow some food
Locked in a system that don’t do me no good
They think I’m beneath them, like the dirt under my nails
I am a farmer, but my farm is up for sale
I am a worker making money for my boss
When times are good he profits, when they’re bad we take the loss
We’re treated like children: supervised all day
I’d quit in a minute, if I didn’t need the pay
And the bottom line is greed and the
Bottom line is ignorance
and the bottom line is fear and the
Bottom line is power
And the bottom line is here and now
I have to realize
We’re all in this together
In the struggle to survive
We are one in the fight
To take control of our lives
We are one in the struggle,
We are one
I’m unemployed now
My job has taken flight
To some far country,
Where the workers have no rights
I’m deep in debt now
My insurance has expired
My wife is pregnant,
Some days I feel so tired
I am a refugee,
My country is at war
It’s the same old story,
The rich against the poor
And the rich get fatter on the
Lies the poor are fed
When I speak the truth,
They put a price upon my head
And the bottom line is greed and the
Bottom line is ignorance
and the bottom line is fear and the
Bottom line is power
And the bottom line is here and now
I have to realize
We’re all in this together
In the struggle to survive
We are one in the fight
To take control of our lives
We are one in the struggle,
We are one
I am a senior, living the golden years–
The pride of the drug firms, they’re playing on my fears–
And they’re mining my pockets to line their own with gold–
I am a senior, some days I feel so old
I am an Indian
I am an African
I am a woman
I am a homeless one
And the bottom line is greed and the
Bottom line is ignorance
and the bottom line is fear and the
Bottom line is power
And the bottom line is here and now
I have to realize
We’re all in this together
In the struggle to survive
We are one in the fight
To take control of our lives
We are one in the struggle,
We are one
Malcolm McKinney
That's a great song, Malcolm.
*wave wave*
“The violence in Israel and the Gaza Strip is gutwrenching. I imagine people trying to lead sensible, functional, fulfilling lives with rockets flying, limited food, and no electricity. The narrative in the Middle East is an old, useless narrative. It is beyond time for a new narrative.”
I got to listen to Bryan a Stevenson talk last week. He said we need to change the narrative.
Change the narrative. Change the world.
Just what I needed, right when I needed it. You are always on point, Janisse. Thank you so much for always showing us the way up and out.
Writing is the only way I know to think through the hard things. Thanks for inspiring me to share it with the world. I hope that what I write in turn inspires & comforts. It’s a continuous cycle of interconnection. The spider webs of life. 🕸️
We can all use a pep talk. Cheers!
Wonderful! The right words at the right moment. Thank you!
Thank you, Janisse. I started the day very stressed about how things are going in the world right now. I’m also grateful for so much. I can write; I must write. Blessings to you.
“Put them in hard places”. Oof. I love this. Thank you ❤️
TY, Janisse, I always hear these stacks in your warm Tupelo honey voice, which makes it even “mo’ better.” 😉 And the message was on time, too.
Amen ❤️