And as a sidenote, and not at all unrelated: just before Wednesday’s event I was given a couple of gifts - objects, material items - and they were unexpected and felt like real treasures. In fact, they are real treasures! Thank you again to the giver of gifts. Receiving gifts can be a lovely thing, as well as giving them.
Thank you for this text on Robin Wall Kimmerer. It was a pleasure to read - a real treat and lots of food for thought. I was very lucky to listen to her on the Wednesday and the Thursday's interview sounded very interesting.
I keep meaning to read this book, and now I definitely must! One of your hallmarks (that I've observed) is how you give. You give much without attaching demands, and I hope to emulate that way of engaging the world.
And thank you for the thoughts about mothers. It's deeper than simply giving for me, I feel like it's connected to nurturing. We can toss seeds into a field and that may be good enough, but to carefully tend and nourish; that's the challenge.
As a recovering people-pleaser, I have to resist the urge to "fix" people's problems, to over-give and leave myself empty. To know when to give is wisdom, for me.
Thank you for sharing this! As always, much food for thought, here.
Thank you! I guess that though giving and nurturing are connected, giving is usually a simpler act. For some reason I’m thinking of the scene in the movie Peter’s Friends, where they’ve all agreed not to give Christmas presents but Emma Thompson shows up with books wrapped up for everyone. Turns out her character works for a publisher, so free books! (I can relate to this only too well 👀) But her friends - and Peter’s! - make a fuss. ‘Oh - you shouldn’t have!’ ‘Oh, but we said!’ And then she storms out of the room and says, ‘Just take the f—king books!’
I guess there can be a simplicity in gifts: just giving them, and receiving them. And I guess the giver doesn’t need to know if they’ve been regifted, or sent to Oxfam. Just take the books!
Now: the takers are another story … and a good subject for a story.
Love your description of her presentation. It reminds me of watching Sonia Sanchez present at Naropa about 20 years ago and having everyone in tears. It was about the power of language and how hurtful words created weird patterns in the ice when frozen inside it. Surreal.
I also (while undergoing the horrors of querying agents) love the idea of focusing on the things we can control and the gifts that we have to give through our writing and also through our lives. Beautiful!
I remember that lecture! About The Hidden Messages in Water? Such a compelling subject.
And thank you! Especially during the query stage, when doubts can creep in, it’s good to focus on strengths. And it’s easier to pay attention to the good stuff than dwell in the frazzle!
And as a sidenote, and not at all unrelated: just before Wednesday’s event I was given a couple of gifts - objects, material items - and they were unexpected and felt like real treasures. In fact, they are real treasures! Thank you again to the giver of gifts. Receiving gifts can be a lovely thing, as well as giving them.
Thank you for this text on Robin Wall Kimmerer. It was a pleasure to read - a real treat and lots of food for thought. I was very lucky to listen to her on the Wednesday and the Thursday's interview sounded very interesting.
I keep meaning to read this book, and now I definitely must! One of your hallmarks (that I've observed) is how you give. You give much without attaching demands, and I hope to emulate that way of engaging the world.
And thank you for the thoughts about mothers. It's deeper than simply giving for me, I feel like it's connected to nurturing. We can toss seeds into a field and that may be good enough, but to carefully tend and nourish; that's the challenge.
As a recovering people-pleaser, I have to resist the urge to "fix" people's problems, to over-give and leave myself empty. To know when to give is wisdom, for me.
Thank you for sharing this! As always, much food for thought, here.
Thank you! I guess that though giving and nurturing are connected, giving is usually a simpler act. For some reason I’m thinking of the scene in the movie Peter’s Friends, where they’ve all agreed not to give Christmas presents but Emma Thompson shows up with books wrapped up for everyone. Turns out her character works for a publisher, so free books! (I can relate to this only too well 👀) But her friends - and Peter’s! - make a fuss. ‘Oh - you shouldn’t have!’ ‘Oh, but we said!’ And then she storms out of the room and says, ‘Just take the f—king books!’
I guess there can be a simplicity in gifts: just giving them, and receiving them. And I guess the giver doesn’t need to know if they’ve been regifted, or sent to Oxfam. Just take the books!
Now: the takers are another story … and a good subject for a story.
Love your description of her presentation. It reminds me of watching Sonia Sanchez present at Naropa about 20 years ago and having everyone in tears. It was about the power of language and how hurtful words created weird patterns in the ice when frozen inside it. Surreal.
I also (while undergoing the horrors of querying agents) love the idea of focusing on the things we can control and the gifts that we have to give through our writing and also through our lives. Beautiful!
I remember that lecture! About The Hidden Messages in Water? Such a compelling subject.
And thank you! Especially during the query stage, when doubts can creep in, it’s good to focus on strengths. And it’s easier to pay attention to the good stuff than dwell in the frazzle!
I did not think anyone else had read The Hidden Messages in Water! I love that book.
It was like watching magic happen. I'd never seen someone hold an audience like that. I don't believe I have seen it again since!
I will remember this and keep holding on to it!