Kelly, I scanned this post just now, and see so much gold here, so much wisdom. I will return to it, and do the exercise. I'm so grateful you're here. You're a teacher, you're a fellow, and I appreciate so much, the contribution you make to my life. Thank you. xo
Thank you so much for this—it means more than I can say. I’m glad the post resonated, and I trust you’ll take exactly what you need from the exercise when the time is right. I’m grateful for your presence here too. We’re all in it together! xo
I believe this as well. I don't recall how old I was when I realized that I had come here not to live but to carry stories. Hmmm...,maybe that will be my next post on Substack.
In Martha Beck’s The Way of Integrity I read that she claims that creativity is the antidote to anxiety. This really resonated with me. I agree with you that writing is not exactly therapy. But, it is in writing that I make sense of things, work things out, where I never hold back on the pain, but by writing it out of my system I can circle back to love and gratitude - what you describe here as the right side, the creation side! And I say this as a yoga teacher and meditation practitioner (of almost 30 years of daily practice): writing has saved my life over and over again. I attribute my sanity to writing, much more so than to yoga/ meditation. And while I totally believe in therapy, I have done very little therapy in my life. Just to say, I hear you about the creation!
Such a wonderful article! When we write, just the process alone brings what is yet inarticulate but there within us into language, so we can name it, express it, hear it, share it, fully acknowledge it. This bit really moves me "Quiet, but change is underway. The air is heavy, expectant—like the world is holding its breath. Writing feels like that now. Not urgency, but presence. Not arrival, but migration." Thank you Kelly for all you give! I feel nourished.
‘I’m not here to rehearse despair.’ Living on the right side of the page. Writing as a creative resistance. Just a few of the nuggets that I received from this amazing post it is my most favorite yet.
If I were to write what it was like, the transformation and how it is now. Wow there are not enough empty pages to fill. Life is so full of narrative I could never have imagined. It does not mean that it’s easy but it’s one continuous transformation that I am exceedingly grateful for. I needed to read this tonight. Thank you.
There’s a lyric in the song city drops into the night by the Jim Carroll band. It goes like this:
It’s when the body at the bottom
That body is my own reflection
And it ain’t hip to sink that low
Unless you’re gonna make a resurrection.
I love it so much because as I progress on my journey of recovery, all the past pieces that seemed evil or irrelevant or useless or wasted suffering suddenly become integral pieces of the person I am becoming I can’t have this without that. Wonderful!
Kelly, I'm happy to have found you. Controlling religion. check. left as a teenager. check. 12-step recovery. check. Now I lead writers in 12 step recovery in writing short pieces to a prompt. This week, it's the higher power.
Kelly, I scanned this post just now, and see so much gold here, so much wisdom. I will return to it, and do the exercise. I'm so grateful you're here. You're a teacher, you're a fellow, and I appreciate so much, the contribution you make to my life. Thank you. xo
Thank you so much for this—it means more than I can say. I’m glad the post resonated, and I trust you’ll take exactly what you need from the exercise when the time is right. I’m grateful for your presence here too. We’re all in it together! xo
We sure are, sister, we sure are. Love you!
"Storytelling is resistance in a world where policies and cultural narratives continually shape who is seen, heard, and valued." I love this so much.
Thanks @StoryCarrier. Tapping into the power of narrative has changed my life!
I believe this as well. I don't recall how old I was when I realized that I had come here not to live but to carry stories. Hmmm...,maybe that will be my next post on Substack.
Thanks for the restack @Kelly Verret 🥰
When I can read it all…which will be nourishment… I will also leave a comment 💛
Ooo thank you. 😊
In Martha Beck’s The Way of Integrity I read that she claims that creativity is the antidote to anxiety. This really resonated with me. I agree with you that writing is not exactly therapy. But, it is in writing that I make sense of things, work things out, where I never hold back on the pain, but by writing it out of my system I can circle back to love and gratitude - what you describe here as the right side, the creation side! And I say this as a yoga teacher and meditation practitioner (of almost 30 years of daily practice): writing has saved my life over and over again. I attribute my sanity to writing, much more so than to yoga/ meditation. And while I totally believe in therapy, I have done very little therapy in my life. Just to say, I hear you about the creation!
I agree wholeheartedly!
Such a wonderful article! When we write, just the process alone brings what is yet inarticulate but there within us into language, so we can name it, express it, hear it, share it, fully acknowledge it. This bit really moves me "Quiet, but change is underway. The air is heavy, expectant—like the world is holding its breath. Writing feels like that now. Not urgency, but presence. Not arrival, but migration." Thank you Kelly for all you give! I feel nourished.
‘I’m not here to rehearse despair.’ Living on the right side of the page. Writing as a creative resistance. Just a few of the nuggets that I received from this amazing post it is my most favorite yet.
If I were to write what it was like, the transformation and how it is now. Wow there are not enough empty pages to fill. Life is so full of narrative I could never have imagined. It does not mean that it’s easy but it’s one continuous transformation that I am exceedingly grateful for. I needed to read this tonight. Thank you.
Beyond well done
👏👏👏👏👏
Thank you Prajna - that means a lot to me! 🫶
Thank you, Kelly. A awesome essay.
“Agency, initiative, and the thrill of creation.” ♥️
Yes writing! My passion. Thank you for reading! 🔥
There’s a lyric in the song city drops into the night by the Jim Carroll band. It goes like this:
It’s when the body at the bottom
That body is my own reflection
And it ain’t hip to sink that low
Unless you’re gonna make a resurrection.
I love it so much because as I progress on my journey of recovery, all the past pieces that seemed evil or irrelevant or useless or wasted suffering suddenly become integral pieces of the person I am becoming I can’t have this without that. Wonderful!
Yasssssssss I love this!!!!
xoxoxo 💕🖤💕🖤💕
Kelly, I'm happy to have found you. Controlling religion. check. left as a teenager. check. 12-step recovery. check. Now I lead writers in 12 step recovery in writing short pieces to a prompt. This week, it's the higher power.
Love it! So glad we connected. To be continued…
So heartfelt and filled with wisdom . The depth of the writing is immersive and rejuvenating. It holds ,asks to transmute.
Such a great response. Thank you. Appreciate being in conversation here!