A thoughtful post and one I have enjoyed as usual. Regarding hostile comments: just remember please, they do not matter. Be who you are because you have wonderful insights and unique perspectives. I’m sure you tell your daughters the same thing.😊
Your stories about growing up in red rural 'Merica remind me of how my life could have gone. I dated a guy from 15-18 with the idea that we would get married and move to his family farm when I graduated high school. (Just typing that makes me throw up a little in my mouth.)
I lived in the biggest city (population ~80K) in the state, and he lived 4 hours away in farm country (population ~400). When I spent time in his area, I could feel the judgement and closed circuitry of that tiny population. As much as he appealed to me, the area did not nor did that life. Luckily, the sense of the world being a big place for a newly minted adult to adventure into called stronger than farm life as a farm wife.
Hindsight shows me how I would have been miserable and would not have fit in there. I'm grateful for heeding the call to explore the world instead. Can you imagine if I had moved there and become a Republican?! And a trump supporter? Please, someone get me some smelling salts and a fainting couch!
I think that call would have lured you away eventually, but you went before it got too painful, so that's good.
I appreciate your affirming comments. I get so many people telling that I'm remembering my lived experience wrong. Comments like yours help reduce the effectiveness of those attacks.
I think your girls are the luckiest girls in the world to have you as their dad. How many kids can say their dad's write their stories that get read at bedtime. Also sometimes free flow writing can be more meaningful and impactful when you don't agonize over every little thing. Keep up the good you do for all of us. You have gift. thanks for your articles.l
Thank you so much Teri! Writing those stories for them has changed the way I write, I think for the better! Your words are kind, I try to do my best and I'm hopeful they'll think kindly of me :) That's all I want!
Thank you for writing. So many great stories and truth. Your post are thoughtful and self-reflection for me. You do matter. Your precious family matters. Blessings on your continued journey of truth.
All very good and helpful. Over that same last 6 months my brain has gone the opposite direction as far as writing goes. But people like you are helping "Turn my ship around." Hopefully, more will soon be revealed. Keep it up. You are an inspiration.
A thoughtful post and one I have enjoyed as usual. Regarding hostile comments: just remember please, they do not matter. Be who you are because you have wonderful insights and unique perspectives. I’m sure you tell your daughters the same thing.😊
Thank you Christine! Some of them are fake, but some of them are people who are desperate and I do learn from them all. Thank you so much!
TOTALLY AGREE
Your stories about growing up in red rural 'Merica remind me of how my life could have gone. I dated a guy from 15-18 with the idea that we would get married and move to his family farm when I graduated high school. (Just typing that makes me throw up a little in my mouth.)
I lived in the biggest city (population ~80K) in the state, and he lived 4 hours away in farm country (population ~400). When I spent time in his area, I could feel the judgement and closed circuitry of that tiny population. As much as he appealed to me, the area did not nor did that life. Luckily, the sense of the world being a big place for a newly minted adult to adventure into called stronger than farm life as a farm wife.
Hindsight shows me how I would have been miserable and would not have fit in there. I'm grateful for heeding the call to explore the world instead. Can you imagine if I had moved there and become a Republican?! And a trump supporter? Please, someone get me some smelling salts and a fainting couch!
I think that call would have lured you away eventually, but you went before it got too painful, so that's good.
I appreciate your affirming comments. I get so many people telling that I'm remembering my lived experience wrong. Comments like yours help reduce the effectiveness of those attacks.
I think your girls are the luckiest girls in the world to have you as their dad. How many kids can say their dad's write their stories that get read at bedtime. Also sometimes free flow writing can be more meaningful and impactful when you don't agonize over every little thing. Keep up the good you do for all of us. You have gift. thanks for your articles.l
Thank you so much Teri! Writing those stories for them has changed the way I write, I think for the better! Your words are kind, I try to do my best and I'm hopeful they'll think kindly of me :) That's all I want!
Thank you, Walter. I really enjoy hearing about your process and your compassion and empathy always shine through.
Thank you Suzanne!
Little wins every day add up to a big score in the long run. And that's really what it's all about - the long game.
Absolutely! Keep at it!
Thank you for writing. So many great stories and truth. Your post are thoughtful and self-reflection for me. You do matter. Your precious family matters. Blessings on your continued journey of truth.
Thanks Jo! If I didn't share these stories they'd rattle around in my mind like whispering voices. I appreciate your kind words very much!
Thank YOU for writing for us.
You're very kind Kathy! I appreciate that!
Walter,
All very good and helpful. Over that same last 6 months my brain has gone the opposite direction as far as writing goes. But people like you are helping "Turn my ship around." Hopefully, more will soon be revealed. Keep it up. You are an inspiration.
Thanks. Fred
Thank you Fred! Yes, keep it going! Sometimes we're not good judges of our own progress!