So lately I’ve noticed a “happiness” trend. I heard the “pursuit of happiness” originated as the “pursuit of property,” which is interesting if it’s true. Also, the pursuit of happiness was to be expressed in the context of community rather than today’s interpretation of Individual Happiness Above All. It was written with the assumed context … Continue reading can pursuing happiness foster unhappiness
Unhealed women often parent out of fear and control. We just can’t help it. We know we’re lost, we know we’re inadequate, and along comes this beautiful, tiny human bean, and we begin wrapping our hearts around him or her. We were hoping a man would complete us, but we realize we were mistaken, and … Continue reading growing human beans
from brainpickings.org by Maria Popova But the magic of human communication, Le Guin observes, is that something other than mere information is being transmitted — something more intangible yet more real: In most cases of people actually talking to one another, human communication cannot be reduced to information. The message not only involves, it is, … Continue reading Ursula K. Le Guin on the Magic of Real Human Conversation
She took her questions to her dad. “Am I interesting? Am I beautiful? Do you enjoy my words? Do you enjoy me?” She offered an invitation into her world, but the doorway was too small And she had no magic potion to make it bigger. She took her loneliness to her books and songs. And … Continue reading incomplete portrait of a life
Recently I felt the loneliness of never being truly and completely loved, followed by a longing for who I wish I was, and a love so consuming I can’t breathe. Then I thought, “Don’t be such a girl.” In a moment I felt shame I probably haven’t felt since childhood…shame for being a girl. Which … Continue reading breathe it in & let it out
I received eight pieces of chocolate this morning in a red heart-shaped box. And almost immediately I wondered how quickly I’d eat them. And then I thought about making some rules to make them last longer. And then I thought why in the world would I do that? And then I thought perhaps it would … Continue reading a conversation with self regarding chocolate
It been a bullshitty kind of day. I feel like I’m shedding a couple layers of skin. And I’m aging. Which I used to love. I loved how every birthday I felt stronger and better and More. I never thought much about age, and often said I was older than I was, just because I … Continue reading invisible and maybe not worth it
I’ve been reading Sherman Alexie’s memoir You don’t have to Say You Love Me. He shares such beautiful and raw poetry and prose on grief, injustice, racism… just for starters. (read a sample here) He credits his successful escape from poverty to one gigantic leap of bravery he made during high school into white culture. … Continue reading braving the unknown: blending culture
My oldest daughter moved out today and I’m thinking about Troy Dyer. I’ve been preparing for this day for eighteen years (about 3.5 blinks for parents) and it feels a little anticlimactic. She’s ready. I think she’s amazing. Despite current parenting trends, I do not expect everyone she meets to also think she’s amazing. But … Continue reading why ethan hawke still makes me crazy
I am beautiful because we need it. I am beautiful because something in us is longing for more, and I’m an invitation. Beauty beckons us to journey for a moment, or a lifetime, into what’s possible. Beauty comforts, strengthens, inspires. Beauty embraces the boy and arouses the man. Beauty cuts off the head of seduction … Continue reading Why Beauty Matters
