You have a gift. I don't only want to brag on you, but the instinct is here. I don't want only talk about your craft, the hard work you put into spinning this yarn into gold. I don't want to tell you my sad stories. But somehow, I really really want to convey that what you do matters. Like, driving some kind of a sensor into the heart of the collective, gathering up all of the need, and mixing up your own brand of medicine.
Laury, you just made me cry (in a good way) so I thank you for this. I felt that right in my heart and I appreciate it so much. And you. Thank you for being here ♥️
Ally, my god. This one hit me right between the eyes. I lost my mom 3 years ago, my sister the year after, and my dad last December. My stepdad is now in memory care w/Alzheimer’s, and I feel completely untethered. Without my own kids, I would be floating away. But I, too, know how I choose to live. How sad and lonely it must be to choose the other way. Much love to you, friend. 💙
The amount of loss people endure is staggering. I didn’t realize, and I guess you really can’t until it’s happening to you, but it’s not for the faint of heart and there’s no opt out button, I looked. It’s just part of the deal. I will say it has opened me and softened me and I don’t think I have much armor left, not that I had a lot to begin with, but I can’t even pretend anymore. Which doesn’t mean I don’t have rage because I have a ton of it. I just don’t have the mechanism to hide it. Same with grief and joy and all of it. Probably better this way, but people aren’t always ready for it. Anyway, I agree, I can’t imagine making the other choice. That has to be sadder than anything. I’m so glad you’re here, Katrina ❤️
Since you mentioned children and dogs, I'll start with a few funny things I experienced with Anneke today. She randomly told me that during a wedding her mum took her to a lady came to her and said "I had to come to you and tell you that you have a very warm smile." which I found super sweet. And she also asked me to walk her dog when they go away for a week or two in summer. The way she acted a bit surprised when I said of course I would was also funny.
I guess what I am saying is that I totally agree with you. There is more of us. Whilst I am quite pessimistic about human nature and I think world is truly fucked up, I'm beginning to think that if I pay attention, I might be able to enjoy this ride.
You remind me of my other favourite writer Sarah Manguso. I thought this excerpt might fit:
There are two kinds of decay: mine and everyone else’s.
This is the usual sort of book about illness. Someone gets sick, someone gets well.
Those who claim to write about something larger and more significant than the self sometimes fail to comprehend the dimensions of a self.
Most people consider their own suffering a widely applicable model, and I am no exception.
This is suffering’s lesson: pay attention. The important part might come in a form you do not recognize.
You might not know to love it.
But to pay attention is to love everything.
To see the future as brightness.
Everything that happens is the last time it happens. We see things only as their own fatal brightness, and there is nothing after that brightness.
You can’t learn from remembering. You can’t learn from guessing.
You can learn only from moving forward at the rate you are moved, as brightness, into brightness.
Anyway, thank you as always for being here. I absolutely love your writing and it helps me to stay sane.
I loved every bit of this, Peter, thank you for sharing. I love that the woman at the wedding told Anneke her smile was warm because it’s so specific and I don’t think you can have a warm smile unless you have a warm heart. I love that she got that reflected back to her. And I love that you’ll walk her dog while she’s away. You’re a good man and a good dad and things like that matter so much. And Sarah Manguso is phenomenal and thank you for putting me in her company, you made my day. That passage is perfect. Sending lots of love to you and Anneke ❤️❤️ Two more people who are part of the “us” I was talking about ☺️
The thing I love about Substack, what everyone says, is the community. Reading this, every sentence, I realize yea, community, as in there are people here I literally want to live in close proximity to. The world is burning, and I want our own little town, filled with women and men I read and have or haven’t met in life. People who share my moral code, my ethics, my fierce mamaness (despite my not having children), my innate sense of fair and share, a sense of humor, some hope, some scars. I hear about senior villages all the time now. Folks banding together and building a community where they can care for each other.
We have that in theory, but how I’d love to live across the street, to run into us in the grocery store, to share coffee on each others stoops. ❤️
Also, I endorse a good throat punch for anyone who takes advantage of the elderly. I shame them when they call here.
More and more my fantasy is to find a piece of land somewhere that is big enough for this community, Jodi. I’d love that so much. In my perfect world we have enough space that everyone can build their own house, but we have a communal garden and huge outdoor table when people want company. And other little spaces for reading and writing, tiny libraries obviously, and easels for the painters. And everyone feels safe because they are. And we just write and make art and take care of each other. But also go inside sometimes because half of us are introverts, and no one worries about that. And there are a lot of trees. And shops and restaurants and bars and people on their porches with guitars sometimes. Anyway.
And fuck yes. Throat punches to these people who prey on seniors. I’ve been dealing with the scammers on the internet, the companies that go after seniors and get them to sign up for subscriptions and all that crap, but this is like a next-level insane thing. An in-person type of deal that I just cannot believe. I’m sure she has more than one target so hopefully filing a complaint will lead to a thorough investigation, it sounded that way.
Anyhoo. Thank you for being here and thank you for being awesome. I appreciate you so much❤️
My heart goes out to you. You’ve had so many losses. But you’re strong and have the right stuff, as the old saying goes. Keep at it, you have a wonderful commitment to love, kindness, and justice. I’m forwarding your post to my granddaughter.
So much of this 'untethering' resonated with me. I often find myself caught in the tension of living gently vs taking no shit...(usually after I beat myself up for speaking up about something...I have a case pending before our state's Board of Nursing, and also held my mother's hand as she died last year). Thanks for this very real post. I'll keep trying to choose the better ride.
It’s such a strange experience to speak up when you’ve been taught to be quiet your whole life and make other people’s feelings more important. To swallow what’s real for you to make sure the people around you feel comfortable, or to avoid making someone confront their own unacceptable behavior and just do the forgiving inside your head and accept apologies that are never extended. It’s hard to step into any space and open your mouth and say no. That isn’t okay. That didn’t feel good. That thing you said or did was outrageous or demeaning or disrespectful. It’s really hard at first. Obviously I have no idea what you’re dealing with, I’m just speaking from my own experience. But it’s gotten easier over time and it gets easier every time. We’re just not used to it. I was taught to be good, polite, nice. Which is code for compliant. It made me sick, I think it makes most of us sick. I’m here to root you on anytime, Joy. I’m all about being kind, I will show up for anyone in my life, but if you are a rat bastard who hurts people, I’m done being quiet.
And I am so sorry for your loss. You have my deepest condolences and I’m sending you extra love on Mother’s Day ❤️🩹❤️🩹
Thanks—from the bottom of my heart—for this reply! I am working hard on finding the exit ramp in my brain after objecting to the objectionable! ❤️ It is comforting to know that it’s not a totally lonely struggle!
Such delicate, iron strong writing. I love my morning scrolls through this community (I hated the way everyone called it that when I first arrived but it so is). Your description of losing your mother felt like you’d sat on my shoulder when I lost mine. Brought me the visceral memory of lying in her bed for two days awash in tears and memory and disbelief my most vital limb had gone. But weirdly sweet to remember - it brought the closeness back. And all the rest….some comfort in company. And can I come live in SubStack Realtown please?
Thank you so much, Jennifer. It’s by far the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through, but there is something beautiful in loving someone like that, even if losing them just guts you.
And you are 100% invited to come live in SubStack Realtown. We need to have a coffee under all the trees, or go for a walk by the babbling brook :) I really need to make this happen.
You perfectly captured so many of my thoughts, thank you. I especially love that you left me feeling hopeful, which is what is missing many days as I ponder the state of the world. Beautiful piece.
Thank you, Holly. I don’t think I could bear to leave anyone feeling bereft right now, my god the world is doing that for us. And I do have hope because I know there are so many of us hurting right now, so many of us who never wanted this. I believe in us. We’re going to get through this. Art, poetry, music, stories - that stuff has been sustaining us from the beginning of time. It’s gonna be okay, some way or another, we just have to hold onto each other. Sending you love and hugs.
I loved every word of this. Every day I have to cycle through the fear to get to the point where I must decide how to live. Losing my loved ones and the country at the same time has really challenged me on the "how to live" front. It's a daily decision for me.
I understand this in my bones. I realized a few months ago that my daily pace had slowed down a lot. My list of things that need to get done (that I used to check off one after the other) has been pared down to absolute musts, and even those are not always manageable. I feel sure it’s the weight of grief. Sometimes it’s like a heavy blanket and other times it’s like a fog, but there isn’t any pushing it away, so I’ve just tried to make room for it. The things still get done, they just get done slowly.
As long as I show up for my kids and the people I care about, I can live with it. The joy seeps in faster when I don’t fight the grief, and I’m trying to fill my tank every day with the whatever reminds me of all the beauty in this world, no matter how dark things might feel right now. I think that’s how I choose to live, and that’s what keeps me going. Sending you so much love, Elizabeth. It was a joy to see your name pop up here, so you are one of my beautiful reminders today ✨ Message me anytime if you need a little solidarity xo
That was really beautiful! It's insane how quickly we can lose something, anything—a family member, a friend, a pet, an entire democracy. More and more I feel the need to look around and appreciate what's good, what's working, who's being kind, etc. I'm trying to notice moments of joy and peace and remind myself that there is still good in this world. The more we focus on the good, maybe the more it will multiply? We can only hope!
It’s shocking, isn’t it? I think one of the silver linings is that you do realize on this visceral level that time is short and you want to make sure you’re telling people how you feel and making the art you want to make and seeing the places you want to see (if you can) and eating the food, and y’know, just generally making sure you are not missing the ride. But then also paying attention to all the things that are happening which are devastating and trying to help. And balancing the horror out by looking for the helpers. And since there is so much that’s painful I think it is important for us to hold onto the things and people who give us hope and remind us all is not lost. So, basically yes to everything you said, Kate ♥️ Hugs and love to you xx
Oooh when you said that if you get crossed too many times you channel your mother…YEP.
I will use my skills to try and foster a peaceful resolution as much as I can. But you come for me and mine? A person no one wants to meet emerges from me. It’s a combination pack of my mother and seasoned New Yorker. No one wants this.
Yes it’s funny, the first time I felt it happen I was upset with my brother, but I was upset with him doubly because I knew our mother would be upset. And I called him and I said listen, if Mom was alive she would be freaking out right now. She would be saying ________ and then this whole thing poured out of me, but I swear the intonations and every other thing, it was like she was speaking through me from beyond the grave, Kari. My brother and I were both like, holy shit, what just happened lol. I am not suggesting she actually spoke through me from
beyond the veil, mind you, but she might as well have. So yeah, I can channel it and it’s probably a good thing because it’s not a gear I have on my own. But it comes in handy sometimes.
And Newark is over for me. I used to always fly into LGA if I could get a nonstop or JFK otherwise, but when my mom was in the ICU and I was flying back and forth, Newark was great because it’s so easy to get into the city. Train and a couple of subways. But I want to live, Kari. So I switched my flights to JFK. I’ll message you my dates!
JFK is a pain in the ass but since we live in hell, its gonna be worth the hassle. The AirTrain isn't TOO horrible - takes you to the E - just a longish ride.
My stomach is tight reading this. You put words to so many painful truths. Beautiful ones, too. The way you always do. I hope desperately that this changes someone who reads it. I don't even know if that's possible. But if the only thing you do is describe what we're feeling in ways we never could, that's enough. It's so much. Your person is lucky you're in their corner. I wouldn't bet against you. Not that I'd ever want to.
Thank you so much, Wendy. I don’t even know if I’m writing to try to change anyone anymore. It would be so nice to get through, but it feels futile. I think sometimes just saying these things out loud helps. So anyone else feeling this way doesn’t feel so alone.
And I know I’m trying to put an end to this personal situation/fiasco I was writing about. We’ll see what happens, some people make it *really* hard to help 😑 Love you x
Glennon Doyle, in her all-too-short stint here, said this in an interview with Liz Gilbert. I loved it so much I wrote it down:
"...my favorite story in the whole world. The man who was standing outside of the White House every night during the Vietnam war, and he had just this one little candle, just by himself with this one little candle, every single night. Finally, some people caught on, a reporter came and said: What are you doing here? Like, do you actually think that you and this candle is gonna change the administration? Change the war? And he said: Oh, I don't come here to change them. I come here every night and stand with this candle so they don't change me."
I don’t know how I missed this comment, but I’m so glad I just saw it because it’s the best, Wendy. You’re the best. Totally have tears streaming down my face. Thank you and love you 🕯️
God girl, i love your mind. Your heart. Your brilliance heres to the gentle ones.
I love yours, too, and your big heart. Here’s to the gentle ones. May we protect them, may we be them, may we love them, may we keep them safe❤️🩹❤️🩹
You have a gift. I don't only want to brag on you, but the instinct is here. I don't want only talk about your craft, the hard work you put into spinning this yarn into gold. I don't want to tell you my sad stories. But somehow, I really really want to convey that what you do matters. Like, driving some kind of a sensor into the heart of the collective, gathering up all of the need, and mixing up your own brand of medicine.
Laury, you just made me cry (in a good way) so I thank you for this. I felt that right in my heart and I appreciate it so much. And you. Thank you for being here ♥️
Ally, my god. This one hit me right between the eyes. I lost my mom 3 years ago, my sister the year after, and my dad last December. My stepdad is now in memory care w/Alzheimer’s, and I feel completely untethered. Without my own kids, I would be floating away. But I, too, know how I choose to live. How sad and lonely it must be to choose the other way. Much love to you, friend. 💙
The amount of loss people endure is staggering. I didn’t realize, and I guess you really can’t until it’s happening to you, but it’s not for the faint of heart and there’s no opt out button, I looked. It’s just part of the deal. I will say it has opened me and softened me and I don’t think I have much armor left, not that I had a lot to begin with, but I can’t even pretend anymore. Which doesn’t mean I don’t have rage because I have a ton of it. I just don’t have the mechanism to hide it. Same with grief and joy and all of it. Probably better this way, but people aren’t always ready for it. Anyway, I agree, I can’t imagine making the other choice. That has to be sadder than anything. I’m so glad you’re here, Katrina ❤️
Hi Ally,
Thank you for this wonderful essay!
Since you mentioned children and dogs, I'll start with a few funny things I experienced with Anneke today. She randomly told me that during a wedding her mum took her to a lady came to her and said "I had to come to you and tell you that you have a very warm smile." which I found super sweet. And she also asked me to walk her dog when they go away for a week or two in summer. The way she acted a bit surprised when I said of course I would was also funny.
I guess what I am saying is that I totally agree with you. There is more of us. Whilst I am quite pessimistic about human nature and I think world is truly fucked up, I'm beginning to think that if I pay attention, I might be able to enjoy this ride.
You remind me of my other favourite writer Sarah Manguso. I thought this excerpt might fit:
There are two kinds of decay: mine and everyone else’s.
This is the usual sort of book about illness. Someone gets sick, someone gets well.
Those who claim to write about something larger and more significant than the self sometimes fail to comprehend the dimensions of a self.
Most people consider their own suffering a widely applicable model, and I am no exception.
This is suffering’s lesson: pay attention. The important part might come in a form you do not recognize.
You might not know to love it.
But to pay attention is to love everything.
To see the future as brightness.
Everything that happens is the last time it happens. We see things only as their own fatal brightness, and there is nothing after that brightness.
You can’t learn from remembering. You can’t learn from guessing.
You can learn only from moving forward at the rate you are moved, as brightness, into brightness.
Anyway, thank you as always for being here. I absolutely love your writing and it helps me to stay sane.
All the best to you and your family always.
Namaste 🙏
I loved every bit of this, Peter, thank you for sharing. I love that the woman at the wedding told Anneke her smile was warm because it’s so specific and I don’t think you can have a warm smile unless you have a warm heart. I love that she got that reflected back to her. And I love that you’ll walk her dog while she’s away. You’re a good man and a good dad and things like that matter so much. And Sarah Manguso is phenomenal and thank you for putting me in her company, you made my day. That passage is perfect. Sending lots of love to you and Anneke ❤️❤️ Two more people who are part of the “us” I was talking about ☺️
The thing I love about Substack, what everyone says, is the community. Reading this, every sentence, I realize yea, community, as in there are people here I literally want to live in close proximity to. The world is burning, and I want our own little town, filled with women and men I read and have or haven’t met in life. People who share my moral code, my ethics, my fierce mamaness (despite my not having children), my innate sense of fair and share, a sense of humor, some hope, some scars. I hear about senior villages all the time now. Folks banding together and building a community where they can care for each other.
We have that in theory, but how I’d love to live across the street, to run into us in the grocery store, to share coffee on each others stoops. ❤️
Also, I endorse a good throat punch for anyone who takes advantage of the elderly. I shame them when they call here.
More and more my fantasy is to find a piece of land somewhere that is big enough for this community, Jodi. I’d love that so much. In my perfect world we have enough space that everyone can build their own house, but we have a communal garden and huge outdoor table when people want company. And other little spaces for reading and writing, tiny libraries obviously, and easels for the painters. And everyone feels safe because they are. And we just write and make art and take care of each other. But also go inside sometimes because half of us are introverts, and no one worries about that. And there are a lot of trees. And shops and restaurants and bars and people on their porches with guitars sometimes. Anyway.
And fuck yes. Throat punches to these people who prey on seniors. I’ve been dealing with the scammers on the internet, the companies that go after seniors and get them to sign up for subscriptions and all that crap, but this is like a next-level insane thing. An in-person type of deal that I just cannot believe. I’m sure she has more than one target so hopefully filing a complaint will lead to a thorough investigation, it sounded that way.
Anyhoo. Thank you for being here and thank you for being awesome. I appreciate you so much❤️
You’ve seen that movie? I Care So Much? About the professional “guardians?” Horrifying. (And space for critters in our new town).
No I haven’t seen that movie but I will look it up. And critters for sure. Is it even a home without critters?!
I came home in a really shitty mood today, and I needed this.
That totally makes my day and night. Sending you hugs and love 💙
My heart goes out to you. You’ve had so many losses. But you’re strong and have the right stuff, as the old saying goes. Keep at it, you have a wonderful commitment to love, kindness, and justice. I’m forwarding your post to my granddaughter.
Thank you so much, Frederick. Your comments made my day and went right to my heart. I appreciate you and I’m so glad you’re here ❤️
So much of this 'untethering' resonated with me. I often find myself caught in the tension of living gently vs taking no shit...(usually after I beat myself up for speaking up about something...I have a case pending before our state's Board of Nursing, and also held my mother's hand as she died last year). Thanks for this very real post. I'll keep trying to choose the better ride.
It’s such a strange experience to speak up when you’ve been taught to be quiet your whole life and make other people’s feelings more important. To swallow what’s real for you to make sure the people around you feel comfortable, or to avoid making someone confront their own unacceptable behavior and just do the forgiving inside your head and accept apologies that are never extended. It’s hard to step into any space and open your mouth and say no. That isn’t okay. That didn’t feel good. That thing you said or did was outrageous or demeaning or disrespectful. It’s really hard at first. Obviously I have no idea what you’re dealing with, I’m just speaking from my own experience. But it’s gotten easier over time and it gets easier every time. We’re just not used to it. I was taught to be good, polite, nice. Which is code for compliant. It made me sick, I think it makes most of us sick. I’m here to root you on anytime, Joy. I’m all about being kind, I will show up for anyone in my life, but if you are a rat bastard who hurts people, I’m done being quiet.
And I am so sorry for your loss. You have my deepest condolences and I’m sending you extra love on Mother’s Day ❤️🩹❤️🩹
Thanks—from the bottom of my heart—for this reply! I am working hard on finding the exit ramp in my brain after objecting to the objectionable! ❤️ It is comforting to know that it’s not a totally lonely struggle!
100% not a lonely struggle! Seriously please reach out anytime if you need support, cheerleading, anything❤️
Such delicate, iron strong writing. I love my morning scrolls through this community (I hated the way everyone called it that when I first arrived but it so is). Your description of losing your mother felt like you’d sat on my shoulder when I lost mine. Brought me the visceral memory of lying in her bed for two days awash in tears and memory and disbelief my most vital limb had gone. But weirdly sweet to remember - it brought the closeness back. And all the rest….some comfort in company. And can I come live in SubStack Realtown please?
Thank you so much, Jennifer. It’s by far the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through, but there is something beautiful in loving someone like that, even if losing them just guts you.
And you are 100% invited to come live in SubStack Realtown. We need to have a coffee under all the trees, or go for a walk by the babbling brook :) I really need to make this happen.
You perfectly captured so many of my thoughts, thank you. I especially love that you left me feeling hopeful, which is what is missing many days as I ponder the state of the world. Beautiful piece.
Thank you, Holly. I don’t think I could bear to leave anyone feeling bereft right now, my god the world is doing that for us. And I do have hope because I know there are so many of us hurting right now, so many of us who never wanted this. I believe in us. We’re going to get through this. Art, poetry, music, stories - that stuff has been sustaining us from the beginning of time. It’s gonna be okay, some way or another, we just have to hold onto each other. Sending you love and hugs.
I loved every word of this. Every day I have to cycle through the fear to get to the point where I must decide how to live. Losing my loved ones and the country at the same time has really challenged me on the "how to live" front. It's a daily decision for me.
I understand this in my bones. I realized a few months ago that my daily pace had slowed down a lot. My list of things that need to get done (that I used to check off one after the other) has been pared down to absolute musts, and even those are not always manageable. I feel sure it’s the weight of grief. Sometimes it’s like a heavy blanket and other times it’s like a fog, but there isn’t any pushing it away, so I’ve just tried to make room for it. The things still get done, they just get done slowly.
As long as I show up for my kids and the people I care about, I can live with it. The joy seeps in faster when I don’t fight the grief, and I’m trying to fill my tank every day with the whatever reminds me of all the beauty in this world, no matter how dark things might feel right now. I think that’s how I choose to live, and that’s what keeps me going. Sending you so much love, Elizabeth. It was a joy to see your name pop up here, so you are one of my beautiful reminders today ✨ Message me anytime if you need a little solidarity xo
That was really beautiful! It's insane how quickly we can lose something, anything—a family member, a friend, a pet, an entire democracy. More and more I feel the need to look around and appreciate what's good, what's working, who's being kind, etc. I'm trying to notice moments of joy and peace and remind myself that there is still good in this world. The more we focus on the good, maybe the more it will multiply? We can only hope!
It’s shocking, isn’t it? I think one of the silver linings is that you do realize on this visceral level that time is short and you want to make sure you’re telling people how you feel and making the art you want to make and seeing the places you want to see (if you can) and eating the food, and y’know, just generally making sure you are not missing the ride. But then also paying attention to all the things that are happening which are devastating and trying to help. And balancing the horror out by looking for the helpers. And since there is so much that’s painful I think it is important for us to hold onto the things and people who give us hope and remind us all is not lost. So, basically yes to everything you said, Kate ♥️ Hugs and love to you xx
Oooh when you said that if you get crossed too many times you channel your mother…YEP.
I will use my skills to try and foster a peaceful resolution as much as I can. But you come for me and mine? A person no one wants to meet emerges from me. It’s a combination pack of my mother and seasoned New Yorker. No one wants this.
Beautiful and true, as always ❤️
And I beg you, do NOT fly into Newark. ❤️ it’s too bad there’s no long hauls to the shiny new LGA
Yes it’s funny, the first time I felt it happen I was upset with my brother, but I was upset with him doubly because I knew our mother would be upset. And I called him and I said listen, if Mom was alive she would be freaking out right now. She would be saying ________ and then this whole thing poured out of me, but I swear the intonations and every other thing, it was like she was speaking through me from beyond the grave, Kari. My brother and I were both like, holy shit, what just happened lol. I am not suggesting she actually spoke through me from
beyond the veil, mind you, but she might as well have. So yeah, I can channel it and it’s probably a good thing because it’s not a gear I have on my own. But it comes in handy sometimes.
And Newark is over for me. I used to always fly into LGA if I could get a nonstop or JFK otherwise, but when my mom was in the ICU and I was flying back and forth, Newark was great because it’s so easy to get into the city. Train and a couple of subways. But I want to live, Kari. So I switched my flights to JFK. I’ll message you my dates!
JFK is a pain in the ass but since we live in hell, its gonna be worth the hassle. The AirTrain isn't TOO horrible - takes you to the E - just a longish ride.
Wow. Teary eyed through this Ally.
Had/have a lot of grief moving through me this week so thank you for meeting me where I am 🥹❤️🩹
My stomach is tight reading this. You put words to so many painful truths. Beautiful ones, too. The way you always do. I hope desperately that this changes someone who reads it. I don't even know if that's possible. But if the only thing you do is describe what we're feeling in ways we never could, that's enough. It's so much. Your person is lucky you're in their corner. I wouldn't bet against you. Not that I'd ever want to.
Thank you so much, Wendy. I don’t even know if I’m writing to try to change anyone anymore. It would be so nice to get through, but it feels futile. I think sometimes just saying these things out loud helps. So anyone else feeling this way doesn’t feel so alone.
And I know I’m trying to put an end to this personal situation/fiasco I was writing about. We’ll see what happens, some people make it *really* hard to help 😑 Love you x
Glennon Doyle, in her all-too-short stint here, said this in an interview with Liz Gilbert. I loved it so much I wrote it down:
"...my favorite story in the whole world. The man who was standing outside of the White House every night during the Vietnam war, and he had just this one little candle, just by himself with this one little candle, every single night. Finally, some people caught on, a reporter came and said: What are you doing here? Like, do you actually think that you and this candle is gonna change the administration? Change the war? And he said: Oh, I don't come here to change them. I come here every night and stand with this candle so they don't change me."
That's you. This is your candle.
I don’t know how I missed this comment, but I’m so glad I just saw it because it’s the best, Wendy. You’re the best. Totally have tears streaming down my face. Thank you and love you 🕯️
Love you, too. 🕯️
I love this. Keep shining the light, Ally. You made the ride a little better for me tonight and I’m grateful. 💙
Well, you just made my night a little better. I love when it works out that way. Thank you so much, Jennifer ❤️🩹