Oh dear heavens! I’ve been a quiet fan of yours for years, Jen. I have a draft or two of reply emails to you. But this morning you inhabited my heart and soul. Thank you for your words. They are so validating. And if you think you’re running out of time, hah! I’m 86! Oy!
Your words will spur me on all day - and then some.
TOO OLD! This is sooo universal... In the creativity coaching classes I teach, I call on participants to share belief statements that stop them, and ask the rest to raise their hand if they, too, share the statement. Every time, the one that gets the most hands up is, "I'm too old." Often, it's all the hands, with some of the participants decades younger than me.
I see how the world is and I remind myself of The Black Death. Nearly a third or half of the population died in unimaginable pain and squalour but yet, from that, the Renaissance followed. During the Black Death, Chaucer wrote his Canterbury Tales. Julian of Norwich wrote "All will be well". The world needs your book. Artists are needed more than ever to shine the light, to remind us of our true humanity, our perhaps obscured magnificence... can't wait to read your book :-)
Jennifer...I related to SO. MUCH OF THIS! It made me chuckle as I recognized my own thoughts within your piece. At almost 74 (next month!), I often think I may not fulfill the dreams I have of being a successful fabric designer or sell a piece of my artwork, but then I remember that if I die tomorrow, I won't give a rat's a-- about that. In the meantime, I am thoroughly enjoying the process of creating. The reality we're living through is indeed horrible...but I remind myself that there are been worse times in history (and I'm talking WAY back) and that people still fell in love, had children, baked bread, enjoyed nature. It's a battle, but I keep trying.
Oh YES! I am in declutter, finish it up mode. But to what purpose? Well, maybe someday a great niece or nephew will say,That's cool. Or maybe a complete stranger will find my slim volume of poetry in a used bookshop and actually read it. It is that hope for an immortality that touches others' lives that pushes me to continue.
I just reread The Future by Naomi Alderman and I dream that we could find such a great solution to make the world a better place. And I escape into these books for the hope, but I am definitely in the process of figuring out how to approach the world as it is now. I love that our tenacity to keep being creative in spite of everything is a small way if creating the better world we want to live in.
My 2025 mantra: "I Surrender." Nearly 6 months in it still fits. If you're a meditator you have a leg up on the population - you understand that to be right here and right now, doing the thing without any expectations but simply being satisfied with the doing, is really the ticket to contentment. Release what's out of your control and enjoy the moment-to-moment creation. Release your expectations. It's the best we can hope for now.
This is exactly what I needed to hear on this dark, rainy morning as I close in on finishing the first draft of a memoir in essays at 68. Also tend towards optimism to a fault, but it's just not working these days...Thank you for this!
Thanks for this. Jen. I have so many of these same feelings. Somehow this mess is bringing up a determination in me to write more fully, laugh harder, almost in defiance of the rest of it. I really loved and appreciated the way you gave us everything that’s in you this morning. Keep writing for us. It amplifies your magic when we get to hear and feel it through your words. ❤️
If we try to predict the future we will kill ourselves with anticipation anxiety. So powerful it begins to identify who we are. Eventually your body will start telling you a story and it won’t be a good one.
We can only make the present moment the best it can be. We can only surrender to the present and wait-the outcome you dreaded might be better than you think. If it isn’t, you’ll deal with it then.
I agree. The whole point is to be in the moment, and to attempt to be yourself. We have no control over the future. It’s critical to make our statement, however irrelevant to others. I, too, am proceeding with a piece of fiction that I hope simply to self-publish. To say: “I was here.” I believe that all truth is contained in fiction.
I love the middle ground between ostrich w/head in the sand and chicken w/no head. What bird would that be? A robin? Singing in the tree just because….
Blessings Jennifer. This is exactly what I have been thinking for some time and this brings it to a point of action. I wrote in my journal the other day: "It's a process, not a product. The process is what holds the wisdom and the value. Trust the Process. Just write, don't worry about who will read it." Then I heard a YouTube visit with Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, "Write something TRUE, rather than something GOOD - be authentic." That all figures into this decision to just live my life even in the face of the fear and the hopelessness and the pessimism. I stand with you Jennifer. Thank you for so eloquently stating your feelings, which weave so well with my own.
Love the process enough that you’d do it regardless. That's my takeaway here. Not that I didn't know it, but how many times do we need that reminder? Off to do my Daily Doodle, and that will be the message.
Oh Jen -- You have so well encapsulated in this post what I've been dancing around with in my journal for the past week. Until now, when I've thought of 'running out of time', it was in regard to climate change...Now, I feel that about pretty much our whole way of life, as climate change takes a back seat to everything else (not that it's not connected to everything...I just didn't envision that there would be so many other battles I would feel the need to fight in my lifetime. ) Can't wait to read your book! Big hugs to you!
Oh dear heavens! I’ve been a quiet fan of yours for years, Jen. I have a draft or two of reply emails to you. But this morning you inhabited my heart and soul. Thank you for your words. They are so validating. And if you think you’re running out of time, hah! I’m 86! Oy!
Your words will spur me on all day - and then some.
Thanks my friend. I’m so glad the piece resonated. I wondered if it was too dark. ❤️❤️❤️
Not too dark. Eyes open real. We need eyes open truth right now!
No, it was honest. Thanks for that.
TOO OLD! This is sooo universal... In the creativity coaching classes I teach, I call on participants to share belief statements that stop them, and ask the rest to raise their hand if they, too, share the statement. Every time, the one that gets the most hands up is, "I'm too old." Often, it's all the hands, with some of the participants decades younger than me.
I see how the world is and I remind myself of The Black Death. Nearly a third or half of the population died in unimaginable pain and squalour but yet, from that, the Renaissance followed. During the Black Death, Chaucer wrote his Canterbury Tales. Julian of Norwich wrote "All will be well". The world needs your book. Artists are needed more than ever to shine the light, to remind us of our true humanity, our perhaps obscured magnificence... can't wait to read your book :-)
Thanks friend!! You are the best!
Jennifer...I related to SO. MUCH OF THIS! It made me chuckle as I recognized my own thoughts within your piece. At almost 74 (next month!), I often think I may not fulfill the dreams I have of being a successful fabric designer or sell a piece of my artwork, but then I remember that if I die tomorrow, I won't give a rat's a-- about that. In the meantime, I am thoroughly enjoying the process of creating. The reality we're living through is indeed horrible...but I remind myself that there are been worse times in history (and I'm talking WAY back) and that people still fell in love, had children, baked bread, enjoyed nature. It's a battle, but I keep trying.
Yes! Beautifully said!!
Oh YES! I am in declutter, finish it up mode. But to what purpose? Well, maybe someday a great niece or nephew will say,That's cool. Or maybe a complete stranger will find my slim volume of poetry in a used bookshop and actually read it. It is that hope for an immortality that touches others' lives that pushes me to continue.
There’s a weightlessness at times to this letting go, a peaceful aliveness. Also:
I love getting rid of stuff!
I just reread The Future by Naomi Alderman and I dream that we could find such a great solution to make the world a better place. And I escape into these books for the hope, but I am definitely in the process of figuring out how to approach the world as it is now. I love that our tenacity to keep being creative in spite of everything is a small way if creating the better world we want to live in.
I liked that book, she’s brilliant. I won’t ever be able to give up escaping in reading but maybe less escaping into fantasy :). and shopping :).
My 2025 mantra: "I Surrender." Nearly 6 months in it still fits. If you're a meditator you have a leg up on the population - you understand that to be right here and right now, doing the thing without any expectations but simply being satisfied with the doing, is really the ticket to contentment. Release what's out of your control and enjoy the moment-to-moment creation. Release your expectations. It's the best we can hope for now.
Yes again and again this is what I learn.
Hold on.
This is exactly what I needed to hear on this dark, rainy morning as I close in on finishing the first draft of a memoir in essays at 68. Also tend towards optimism to a fault, but it's just not working these days...Thank you for this!
I'm so glad!! Day by day we make the meaning. And we write the words.
Thanks for this. Jen. I have so many of these same feelings. Somehow this mess is bringing up a determination in me to write more fully, laugh harder, almost in defiance of the rest of it. I really loved and appreciated the way you gave us everything that’s in you this morning. Keep writing for us. It amplifies your magic when we get to hear and feel it through your words. ❤️
I appreciate you reading and yes there is a defiance that I can tap into when I accept what is. For sure!!
We never know the outcome of anything
If we try to predict the future we will kill ourselves with anticipation anxiety. So powerful it begins to identify who we are. Eventually your body will start telling you a story and it won’t be a good one.
We can only make the present moment the best it can be. We can only surrender to the present and wait-the outcome you dreaded might be better than you think. If it isn’t, you’ll deal with it then.
I agree. The whole point is to be in the moment, and to attempt to be yourself. We have no control over the future. It’s critical to make our statement, however irrelevant to others. I, too, am proceeding with a piece of fiction that I hope simply to self-publish. To say: “I was here.” I believe that all truth is contained in fiction.
yes! and thank you for reading!
I love the middle ground between ostrich w/head in the sand and chicken w/no head. What bird would that be? A robin? Singing in the tree just because….
Maybe a Robin ostrich hybrid?
The imagination boggles!
Blessings Jennifer. This is exactly what I have been thinking for some time and this brings it to a point of action. I wrote in my journal the other day: "It's a process, not a product. The process is what holds the wisdom and the value. Trust the Process. Just write, don't worry about who will read it." Then I heard a YouTube visit with Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, "Write something TRUE, rather than something GOOD - be authentic." That all figures into this decision to just live my life even in the face of the fear and the hopelessness and the pessimism. I stand with you Jennifer. Thank you for so eloquently stating your feelings, which weave so well with my own.
That’s gorgeous! Here’s to writing true!
Thank you for this. How am I running out of time? How am I living the life that’s here? Great contemplations!
❤️❤️❤️
And Sarah McLachlan’s “World’s on Fire “ came on my playlist shortly after reading this! Wonder what year she wrote that… 🔥☄️🔥
Lots to think about here.
Sitting with reality...too much time....too little time...staying current...drowning....optimism!
I am using my floaties to keep from drowning, but I think they may have sprung a leak.
Love the process enough that you’d do it regardless. That's my takeaway here. Not that I didn't know it, but how many times do we need that reminder? Off to do my Daily Doodle, and that will be the message.
Oh Jen -- You have so well encapsulated in this post what I've been dancing around with in my journal for the past week. Until now, when I've thought of 'running out of time', it was in regard to climate change...Now, I feel that about pretty much our whole way of life, as climate change takes a back seat to everything else (not that it's not connected to everything...I just didn't envision that there would be so many other battles I would feel the need to fight in my lifetime. ) Can't wait to read your book! Big hugs to you!
With you friend! It feels like we’ve lost the plot so now we have to make our own. ❤️❤️❤️