I believe you are tapping into something in the zeitgeist; this is the third or fourth piece I've read in the last two days on a similar theme. Sometimes I feel far too many of us have been talking far too much, and my response has been to want to go silent. That's feeling inadequate for the current moment. I so appreciate what you are saying here. I have more to say, but I need to let it marinate a bit.
I will add: This week I was you in that grocery store. I was on an airplane, and there was a guy in the seat in front of me. I took in his age, his race, his hair, his tattoos, the way he looked at my daughter (or I thought he did), and the way his body took up space, and I spun a whole story in my head about what kind of guy he was. Then, we had an actual interaction while disembarking the plane--in which he gave way to us so that we might be more likely to make a tight connecting flight--and I realized what I had done. I don't know anything about who he really is, only that I now don't know anything about who he really is. I didn't like what the whole thing showed me about myself.
Thank you, Elizabeth. It takes just a wee bit of effort to take a moment to connect with someone. Even just a smile can make a difference. And it can have a ripple effect. The book, One Smile, that I used to read to my first graders was about that.
One of my guilty pleasures during my travels was stealing glimpses of other people’s passports at airports and borders. It gave me a way to see them as something other than a placeholder ahead or behind me, especially if I had experience in their countries, and knew a few words of their language. Combined with clues such as clothing, luggage, watches and jewelry, hair styles, and all the other little clues people give about themselves, I thought of all the connections I might have with them.
I guess I’m a plain old-fashioned people watcher and it is my way of feeling more at home in the world.
honestly, i was a little grumpy reading through the first bits of this. I've learned though, that each one of your offerings deserves to be looked at top to bottom and properly chewed on before it smacks you in the middle of your forehead.
Whether timing, universal energy, my ever growing acceptance of vulnerability- in this moment, in my world, I believe this piece to be the most impactful of all of your writings todate.
Thank you.
I encourage all of your wonderful readers to take advantage of the beautiful work that you did , the rabbit holes that you dove into and the resources that you've shared.
Oh my goodness sweet Elizabeth. How beautifully you write. My heart is undone. I hear you. My heart.. hears you. You have a beautiful and magnificent way with words. Grateful, my friend
I've sent it to those who matter in my life, espeically the next generation because I believe they feel overwhelmed by the negative odds perpetuated by the media.
But I live in a rural area whose population is scattered and numbers 500 out of season. We live insular lives and TBH, I really enjoy the quiet, the lack of chatter (that's what Substack is for...). Husband and self no longer watch TV news and grab a quick headline scan online before breakfast. Our anxieties have lessened and I believe we have more productive days. Just getting on and growing our food, with daily intellectual forays (him with consulting, me with writing) online. It feels enough.
I can't fight the rightwing or centre right out there. My fight has to be at the ballot box (we have a state election in 4 weeks - Westminster system) and I have to be big enough to accept whatever result. If I were to engage with folk here from my political standpoint, I would be branded a leftist greenie and probably have my fence smeared with unappealing epithets! Better to save it for my vote.
But I so enjoyed all the points you offer and agree with them wholeheartedly. I'm just a timid brown mouse...
I believe you are tapping into something in the zeitgeist; this is the third or fourth piece I've read in the last two days on a similar theme. Sometimes I feel far too many of us have been talking far too much, and my response has been to want to go silent. That's feeling inadequate for the current moment. I so appreciate what you are saying here. I have more to say, but I need to let it marinate a bit.
I will add: This week I was you in that grocery store. I was on an airplane, and there was a guy in the seat in front of me. I took in his age, his race, his hair, his tattoos, the way he looked at my daughter (or I thought he did), and the way his body took up space, and I spun a whole story in my head about what kind of guy he was. Then, we had an actual interaction while disembarking the plane--in which he gave way to us so that we might be more likely to make a tight connecting flight--and I realized what I had done. I don't know anything about who he really is, only that I now don't know anything about who he really is. I didn't like what the whole thing showed me about myself.
Thank you, Elizabeth. It takes just a wee bit of effort to take a moment to connect with someone. Even just a smile can make a difference. And it can have a ripple effect. The book, One Smile, that I used to read to my first graders was about that.
Loved this article!
One of my guilty pleasures during my travels was stealing glimpses of other people’s passports at airports and borders. It gave me a way to see them as something other than a placeholder ahead or behind me, especially if I had experience in their countries, and knew a few words of their language. Combined with clues such as clothing, luggage, watches and jewelry, hair styles, and all the other little clues people give about themselves, I thought of all the connections I might have with them.
I guess I’m a plain old-fashioned people watcher and it is my way of feeling more at home in the world.
honestly, i was a little grumpy reading through the first bits of this. I've learned though, that each one of your offerings deserves to be looked at top to bottom and properly chewed on before it smacks you in the middle of your forehead.
Whether timing, universal energy, my ever growing acceptance of vulnerability- in this moment, in my world, I believe this piece to be the most impactful of all of your writings todate.
Thank you.
I encourage all of your wonderful readers to take advantage of the beautiful work that you did , the rabbit holes that you dove into and the resources that you've shared.
Connection.
Oh my goodness sweet Elizabeth. How beautifully you write. My heart is undone. I hear you. My heart.. hears you. You have a beautiful and magnificent way with words. Grateful, my friend
What a powerful Vimeo!
I've sent it to those who matter in my life, espeically the next generation because I believe they feel overwhelmed by the negative odds perpetuated by the media.
But I live in a rural area whose population is scattered and numbers 500 out of season. We live insular lives and TBH, I really enjoy the quiet, the lack of chatter (that's what Substack is for...). Husband and self no longer watch TV news and grab a quick headline scan online before breakfast. Our anxieties have lessened and I believe we have more productive days. Just getting on and growing our food, with daily intellectual forays (him with consulting, me with writing) online. It feels enough.
I can't fight the rightwing or centre right out there. My fight has to be at the ballot box (we have a state election in 4 weeks - Westminster system) and I have to be big enough to accept whatever result. If I were to engage with folk here from my political standpoint, I would be branded a leftist greenie and probably have my fence smeared with unappealing epithets! Better to save it for my vote.
But I so enjoyed all the points you offer and agree with them wholeheartedly. I'm just a timid brown mouse...
Oh Elizabeth, I couldn't quite see where this post was going to be taking me, and then BOOM!!!!!
There, I'd landed right where I needed to go!
Wonderful words. And yes, I'm ready. ✔️