“For years, it never occurred to me that these hot takes were not mine to hold, never mind that they might not be accurate.” Yes. This. All of it! Always love how your words reach me Caroline, thanks for putting these thoughts out there!
"Like many of us, this person carries some unhealthy, not to mention wildly inaccurate, views gifted unto them by family members." Caroline, please stop writing such on-the-nose sentences! :D Seriously, I fight this all the time...sigh...good essay!
This one struck home. I had recently been thinking about this. Which descriptors had been used, which did I agree with then and now, and did I respect the person who said it aloud then and now. I appreciate you flipping it around, too, to focus on my own spoken aloud descriptors of others. I needed that perspective. Thanks for the thoughtful writing!
Oooh, this one hits home. I am still unlearning others' not so hot takes about how I perceive myself, but bit by bit I'm letting them all go. Your finishing words: "These are the times when I am most myself — not a person so much as motion, energy, potential. Pure and whole and free" was gorgeous.
ps: as someone who is also fond of sloths, they *do* have their merits dammit!
Thank you, Maddy! The end of your comment made me laugh, but IT'S TRUE. Sloths are cute, sure, but also relaxed. And move at their own pace. Are these not things to aspire to? Is that not more than one can say about a whole lot of humans?
Great piece, Caroline. I wonder what would happen if we only believed the good things said about us, even for a day. And knew that anything negative was just bullshit. What would that be like? xo
This is just an inspired post, from beginning to end. I shared it with my Creators Circle and know that they too will find it similarly inspiring. Thank you for all of this.
So good! So resonant. Yes to turning inward, yes to tuning out the voices we did not invite but have digested, yes to being our own teacher. Thank you Caroline.
Is there something in the air? Speaking of getting rid of things that weigh you down, a couple of weeks ago I wrote about letting things go that don't "fit."
Thank you for your early support. I'm very excited to begin writing on substack. I've been writing and posting on LinkedIn and I'm working on a book of essays.
“For years, it never occurred to me that these hot takes were not mine to hold, never mind that they might not be accurate.” Yes. This. All of it! Always love how your words reach me Caroline, thanks for putting these thoughts out there!
Thank you so much, Patryce!
"Like many of us, this person carries some unhealthy, not to mention wildly inaccurate, views gifted unto them by family members." Caroline, please stop writing such on-the-nose sentences! :D Seriously, I fight this all the time...sigh...good essay!
Thank you, thank you! (Two thank you's — one for the comment and one for being a subscriber.) I appreciate you!
This one struck home. I had recently been thinking about this. Which descriptors had been used, which did I agree with then and now, and did I respect the person who said it aloud then and now. I appreciate you flipping it around, too, to focus on my own spoken aloud descriptors of others. I needed that perspective. Thanks for the thoughtful writing!
This essay reminded me of a poem featured in K-drama « Because it’s my first life ».
« Words are born in someone’s mouth and die in another’s ears.
But some words don’t die;
They go inside someone’s mind and live on. »
Park Joon (2017) Nothing will change although I cry
Oooh, this one hits home. I am still unlearning others' not so hot takes about how I perceive myself, but bit by bit I'm letting them all go. Your finishing words: "These are the times when I am most myself — not a person so much as motion, energy, potential. Pure and whole and free" was gorgeous.
ps: as someone who is also fond of sloths, they *do* have their merits dammit!
Thank you, Maddy! The end of your comment made me laugh, but IT'S TRUE. Sloths are cute, sure, but also relaxed. And move at their own pace. Are these not things to aspire to? Is that not more than one can say about a whole lot of humans?
Great piece, Caroline. I wonder what would happen if we only believed the good things said about us, even for a day. And knew that anything negative was just bullshit. What would that be like? xo
Oh, I wonder that, too. Sort of like "Eternal Sunshine" but for unwelcome negative feedback. What a novel (and unfamiliar) experience that would be!
This is just an inspired post, from beginning to end. I shared it with my Creators Circle and know that they too will find it similarly inspiring. Thank you for all of this.
Thank you so much, Hillary! I really appreciate it.
This week's newsletter resonated with me. Big time. Thank you and I hope you feel better soon.
Feel better--and just a note that I love the recordings!
Thank you! And I'm so glad to hear that — thanks for listening!
Grateful. Timely. Raw.
I met someone today with such different values and life goals than me. A teacher I never would have expected. Interesting and worthy, nonetheless.
Take care and thanks to keep writing and sharing and being one of our teachers.
Thank you, Valérie!
Thank you for sharing the delightful “Things I have drawn” account!
I'm so glad you like it!
It’s me, too. Loved this 💛
Thank you, Meg ❤️
So good! So resonant. Yes to turning inward, yes to tuning out the voices we did not invite but have digested, yes to being our own teacher. Thank you Caroline.
Is there something in the air? Speaking of getting rid of things that weigh you down, a couple of weeks ago I wrote about letting things go that don't "fit."
https://isanchez.substack.com/p/when-the-shoes-dont-fit
Always appreciate reading your work.
Thank you, and thanks for sharing, Israel. Happy to have found your work and excited to keep reading!
Thank you so much, Caroline! I really appreciate it,
Oh my god, your post on things that don't fit. It hit home in more ways than I expected. You've got a new subscriber. Thanks, Israel.
Thanks so much, Hillary! I really appreciate it. Looking forward to reading your work. I'm glad my post was helpful.
Thank you for your early support. I'm very excited to begin writing on substack. I've been writing and posting on LinkedIn and I'm working on a book of essays.
That's fantastic! I'm working on a memoir about my early life and immigration story. Happy writing!
That's wonderful and I look forward to reading it. Happy writing to you as well.