Your words are a wise solace. Thank you so much. I live in Asia so I get your newsletter on a Monday morning and it is the perfect way to start a week, with wisdom, clarity and intention.
“Who are you to write when you never formally studied it?”
“Who are you to share any part of your spiritual experience?”
“Who are you to speak out when you’re just one person?”
“Who are you to try when you can’t possibly make a difference?”
Limitless people gavd told me to "write a book", for countless years. Yes, dome asxz cliched way of saying "You're a good writer" (not, however, via a one-finger-typed comment, full of typos, on another's newsletter or blog, late at night).
What to do??
A newsletter, a blog, a book??
Eeeeeeeeeeee!!!
I cannot. Yet, your post, today, makes me question that possibility.
First I, I must theal from the trauma of domestic abusesnd coercive control.
Or, maybe noy?
Tonight, as I sit curled up in my "blankie" (it's cold here in Australia now), I ponderwhether wriying might just be the healing in itself??
Thank you, Caroline. Yet again, you encourage me to think outside of the chained, box of darkness.
Rusty 🥰
P.S. Did you happen to read about my Safe House Room Makeover, over on EHD??
First off, thank you for sharing the Safe House Room Makeover! The finished space looks fantastic, and what a testament to the power of paying it forward. Hats off to you (and Emily)! Wonderful humans indeed. ❤️
As for writing, yes! Do it! Why not? As someone who has been there, wondering how to start/what to create, I would say to just let your words be what they are, for now. Let them flow in whatever way feels safe and natural for you, without the need to figure out where they should live or the pressure of who will see them. I’ve found that free writing (especially by hand) can sometimes lend itself to discovering those answers, and in the process it can be a healing act all its own. (And of course, please keep me posted!)
Yesterday was one year since Sienna jumped out the window to freedom!
She's dping great!
I'm in the middle of writing a funding proposal for a "Self-care Starter Kit" for women who connect with services to receive when they first connect with social workers, counsellors, etc. Doing crowd-sourced research, with common ideas being fluffy socks, journal with pen, adult colouring book with pencils, and all the usuals like lotions, potions and personal hygiene kits.
I love this idea! All of those items sound wonderful.
And yes... the difficult part is (always) starting. Even after you've done it a million times, the first step feels hardest. Then it eventually becomes like having a conversation with yourself, and while some days can still feel tricky, momentum helps carry you through. ❤️
Dear Caroline, thank you so much. I look forward to Monday morning so that I can read your beautiful words. My faith was shattered last night when a friend told me unexpectedly that he was having mental health issues and also drug and alcohol issues and that our friendship was over. I wasn't aware and it caught me off guard and I don't know what to think anymore as I put my faith in that person and I wonder if what he is telling me now is the truth or just a way to terminate our friendship. If he's being truthful, I admire his courage in telling me but I wish that he would been honest and transparent sooner. I know that you're not a therapist but when things like that happen, it's easy to lose faith as I invested time and energy in that friendship and I have to accept the outcome of losing that friendship. Pardon me rambling but I am hurt.
Yvonne, I'm sorry to hear that you're hurt. Humans are so complicated (on their own, and certainly within relationships) and it sounds like your friend is going through a lot. As we can never know what's going on in another's mind, it can be hard to make sense of those times when we feel hurt or disappointed. I hope you're taking good care of you.
Your words are a wise solace. Thank you so much. I live in Asia so I get your newsletter on a Monday morning and it is the perfect way to start a week, with wisdom, clarity and intention.
Wow. Those quotes you pulled from Anne Frank were a balm for my broken heart. Thank you for this wise, beautiful piece Caroline.
Thank you, Michelle.
This was so beautifully written. It brought tears to my eyes. All of it resonated with me. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Christina.
Oh, Caroline, you've done it again!
“Who are you to write when you never formally studied it?”
“Who are you to share any part of your spiritual experience?”
“Who are you to speak out when you’re just one person?”
“Who are you to try when you can’t possibly make a difference?”
Limitless people gavd told me to "write a book", for countless years. Yes, dome asxz cliched way of saying "You're a good writer" (not, however, via a one-finger-typed comment, full of typos, on another's newsletter or blog, late at night).
What to do??
A newsletter, a blog, a book??
Eeeeeeeeeeee!!!
I cannot. Yet, your post, today, makes me question that possibility.
First I, I must theal from the trauma of domestic abusesnd coercive control.
Or, maybe noy?
Tonight, as I sit curled up in my "blankie" (it's cold here in Australia now), I ponderwhether wriying might just be the healing in itself??
Thank you, Caroline. Yet again, you encourage me to think outside of the chained, box of darkness.
Rusty 🥰
P.S. Did you happen to read about my Safe House Room Makeover, over on EHD??
https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/feel-good-safe-house-room-makeover
Seeeee???? Gah! The typos on my tablet!🤣
Rusty! So much goodness to reply to here.
First off, thank you for sharing the Safe House Room Makeover! The finished space looks fantastic, and what a testament to the power of paying it forward. Hats off to you (and Emily)! Wonderful humans indeed. ❤️
As for writing, yes! Do it! Why not? As someone who has been there, wondering how to start/what to create, I would say to just let your words be what they are, for now. Let them flow in whatever way feels safe and natural for you, without the need to figure out where they should live or the pressure of who will see them. I’ve found that free writing (especially by hand) can sometimes lend itself to discovering those answers, and in the process it can be a healing act all its own. (And of course, please keep me posted!)
Thank you!🤗
Yesterday was one year since Sienna jumped out the window to freedom!
She's dping great!
I'm in the middle of writing a funding proposal for a "Self-care Starter Kit" for women who connect with services to receive when they first connect with social workers, counsellors, etc. Doing crowd-sourced research, with common ideas being fluffy socks, journal with pen, adult colouring book with pencils, and all the usuals like lotions, potions and personal hygiene kits.
You, Caroline, are an inspiration!!!
Perhaps the difficult part is starting?!?🤔💞
I love this idea! All of those items sound wonderful.
And yes... the difficult part is (always) starting. Even after you've done it a million times, the first step feels hardest. Then it eventually becomes like having a conversation with yourself, and while some days can still feel tricky, momentum helps carry you through. ❤️
Dear Caroline, thank you so much. I look forward to Monday morning so that I can read your beautiful words. My faith was shattered last night when a friend told me unexpectedly that he was having mental health issues and also drug and alcohol issues and that our friendship was over. I wasn't aware and it caught me off guard and I don't know what to think anymore as I put my faith in that person and I wonder if what he is telling me now is the truth or just a way to terminate our friendship. If he's being truthful, I admire his courage in telling me but I wish that he would been honest and transparent sooner. I know that you're not a therapist but when things like that happen, it's easy to lose faith as I invested time and energy in that friendship and I have to accept the outcome of losing that friendship. Pardon me rambling but I am hurt.
Yvonne, I'm sorry to hear that you're hurt. Humans are so complicated (on their own, and certainly within relationships) and it sounds like your friend is going through a lot. As we can never know what's going on in another's mind, it can be hard to make sense of those times when we feel hurt or disappointed. I hope you're taking good care of you.