This: "my carefully crafted comfort zone" has been my downfall, as well. Getting curious has helped me move into my getting to know Joy phase. For which I am grateful. Thank you for your beautiful essays.
Thank you, Joy. Delving into being curious instead of being resistant is recent for me. It requires a mindful, patient attitude most of the time, a pause, which is sometimes hard for me…because I’ve been a reactor for so long! Good lessons.
I sure get this. How old was I when I went back to get my MFA in writing? Your honesty is admirable and eye-opening learning about me as much as about you! xo
Thanks, Nancy. You've been an inspiration to me in your willingness to go after the things that are important to you. And to pursue them with such passion and belief in yourself.
I keep getting to know you as your mother. Keep examining yes & no. My mantra was YES starting at age 6. Now 85 it’s never too late for me to say NO. Thank you wise daughter. ❣️
Balance is key. I'm proud of you. Yes can be as hard on us as no. And I completely relate. I did the "yes" thing too, much to my detriment. I was saying yes to things I should have been saying no to, and no to things that I might have said yes to, that would have benefitted me!
Thanks Amy, again, for your always thoughtful responses. Yes. You are just meeting me in these stories. There’s more to come, I promise. My life has definitely been interesting, and extremely challenging at times. I think I’m moving into a period of peace and acceptance, and more moments of appreciating the joys in life, even in the midst of what feels like growing chaos. I need peace. I need quiet. I need to write and share and be part of this world wherever I might fit in. And I need laughter. Oh, and love! All the best to you.
"I’ve said no to so many things in my life. No to travel, to new experiences, to anything, ANYTHING outside of my carefully crafted comfort zone."
Having "read" you for a few months now, your no-ness comes somehow as a surprise! I will guess that is because those of us meeting you on the page at this point are seeing a newly empowered Nan, the one who can fly. Me.... I might take a hundred years debating it and agonizing about it, but I'm still almost always going to say no. I think you've got a much better approach, and I hope your "yesses" are leading to lots of new discoveries.
OMGoddess, Nina! I love this. I remember when it was first released. We thought things were scary then. Couldn't have imagined how bad it would get. KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT, cause baby we're in deep shit. But I'll never give up. Don't tell me what to do! Love Lesley Gore. Thanks for sharing. xoxo
Nan, I am so impressed by all the work you’ve done to get where you are now, glad you’re claiming your identity as a writer, and grateful I get to be one of your readers.
It's like you've read my mind. I lobe the insights and the growth. Powerful essay!
This: "my carefully crafted comfort zone" has been my downfall, as well. Getting curious has helped me move into my getting to know Joy phase. For which I am grateful. Thank you for your beautiful essays.
Thank you, Joy. Delving into being curious instead of being resistant is recent for me. It requires a mindful, patient attitude most of the time, a pause, which is sometimes hard for me…because I’ve been a reactor for so long! Good lessons.
I sure get this. How old was I when I went back to get my MFA in writing? Your honesty is admirable and eye-opening learning about me as much as about you! xo
Thanks, Nancy. You've been an inspiration to me in your willingness to go after the things that are important to you. And to pursue them with such passion and belief in yourself.
Thanks so much. I don't know if it's so much belief in myself as "act as if." A saying from my past days working with drug treatment programs. xoxo
Seems to be working for you! A useful tool.
I keep getting to know you as your mother. Keep examining yes & no. My mantra was YES starting at age 6. Now 85 it’s never too late for me to say NO. Thank you wise daughter. ❣️
Balance is key. I'm proud of you. Yes can be as hard on us as no. And I completely relate. I did the "yes" thing too, much to my detriment. I was saying yes to things I should have been saying no to, and no to things that I might have said yes to, that would have benefitted me!
Thanks Amy, again, for your always thoughtful responses. Yes. You are just meeting me in these stories. There’s more to come, I promise. My life has definitely been interesting, and extremely challenging at times. I think I’m moving into a period of peace and acceptance, and more moments of appreciating the joys in life, even in the midst of what feels like growing chaos. I need peace. I need quiet. I need to write and share and be part of this world wherever I might fit in. And I need laughter. Oh, and love! All the best to you.
"I’ve said no to so many things in my life. No to travel, to new experiences, to anything, ANYTHING outside of my carefully crafted comfort zone."
Having "read" you for a few months now, your no-ness comes somehow as a surprise! I will guess that is because those of us meeting you on the page at this point are seeing a newly empowered Nan, the one who can fly. Me.... I might take a hundred years debating it and agonizing about it, but I'm still almost always going to say no. I think you've got a much better approach, and I hope your "yesses" are leading to lots of new discoveries.
Glad you've discovered your YES to writing! But here's a great example of "Don't tell me what to do" in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMxtbAP2cyU Enjoy!
OMGoddess, Nina! I love this. I remember when it was first released. We thought things were scary then. Couldn't have imagined how bad it would get. KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT, cause baby we're in deep shit. But I'll never give up. Don't tell me what to do! Love Lesley Gore. Thanks for sharing. xoxo
Awesome my dear Nan. So happy you are discovering your YES! What a contribution to all of us wherever our NO kicks in!
Thank you Karen. Yes, yes, yes!
Nan, I am so impressed by all the work you’ve done to get where you are now, glad you’re claiming your identity as a writer, and grateful I get to be one of your readers.
Thank you so much Meryl. I love being a writer. I'm starting to get more comfortable saying I am one! xoxo
“I was a NO waiting to happen because input from others made me feel small, stupid, and inconsequential.”
Love this line.
Thank you, Jodi!