Thank you for this beautiful and interesting read. Staying with you is easy. I didn't precisely know the Hero's journey, and understand it well now. The heroine journey rung true for me too, stirring up the balance I hold inside. It's such a pleasure to read your writing sometimes, and other times not so much. I want to set the pace when I read and when I read you it's like a server moving through a busy Pub; kicking just the ankles of incredible insights, familiar charm and cherished moments. You leave us in spots to contemplate using a flashlight or floodlight. Without saying "try" I am doing my best to barrel past some objective, resolute facts and you won't let me! Now, what balance of fem/mas am I displaying there? I have seven sisters, worked in restaurants and now have a Yoga Studio. Your heroine journey today is precise to my Empirical evidence generally of course, and answers one of the biggest questions I have had for years; why are so many extraordinary woman single? Most woman are now domestic empresses and competitive clerks, so a partner isn't absolutely necessary. These days, relationships (and sex) are extra and not a duty. I would like to know a timeline on the hero and heroine journey's and how to shorten it so that we don't lose decades and wind up alone with just a pet. My desire is to see a balance of both in my life, and I'm willing to do the work. I'll know when my questions seek equilibrium. lotsa love, Chris
Thanks for your thoughtful comments Chris. I'm glad this one resonated.
Wow 7 sisters? I like what you said about wanting to find balance in both and being willing to do the work. I have a feeling you are more balanced than most, but interesting I also feel a very masculine vibe from you as well. Your comments about wanting to set the pace when you read or your opinions on what you like or don't like has me curious. I can tell that you're intelligent and to be honest I smile when I see your comments because I know I'll probably have to read them more than once to take them in fully.
To be perfectly honest, I like some of my essays more than others too, but I also suspect that there were over 250 different versions read of my essay yesterday. I was reading about the artist Georgia O'Keefe today and she stood her ground against sexual interpretations of her work, and for fifty years maintained that there was no connection between vulvas and her artwork. Firing back against some of the criticism, O'Keeffe stated, “When people read erotic symbols into my paintings, they’re really talking about their own affairs.”
Interesting.
I wonder if it's the same with writing. Some people get triggered with God talk. I think most of my readers seem to like my personal stories mixed in with something to ponder for themselves and others like something denser or more serious because I get a flood of emails with very different opinions. I like mixing it up depending on my mood or what inspires me, but I've only been doing this for a couple of short months so I'm imagining I'll find my own favourite style before long. Funny, my girlfriend just gave me a fictional book that she loved and for the life of me I can't finish it. What does that say about me? ha. I find it fascinating.
Your Bridgewater yoga studio looks incredible (the mural is awesome) and I loved the puppy yoga pics and the work you're doing in your community. Coincidentally my next post is about dogs. And speaking of pets, I'm afraid that I don't have any clever responses for you about shortening timelines and extraordinary single women, but I do get the sense now that things unfold perfectly and take as long as they do. Maybe it's all the Georgia O'Keefe, but I like the idea that when we're in our feminine or receiving mode we're like a flower and the right bees come to us, but I'm all for women in their masculine going after what they want.
I will add that while I think I could be happy living the rest of my days with a dog in a cabin in the woods, my husband sure makes my life more fun. He's hilarious and we love to hike and ski, play cribbage most days and just enjoy hanging out. He's pretty handy with the vacuum and InstaPot too (which is hot;), but I sometimes wonder what is going on inside of us that half of our marriages are failing or ending in divorce?
I have no answers, just more questions. I suspect there's a relationship post in here somewhere:)
Thanks for reading. I'm grateful for your interest and comments you always get me thinking!!
I appreciate the encouragement Laura! Thanks for taking the time to comment Scott told me it's a pain to like my posts because he has to sign in to Substack? Nice to know some people will go the extra mile! haha x
well written, presented, and very thought provoking.
Thank YOUuuuuu so much. Looking forward to seeing you next week!! xx
Great piece … I highly recommend taking the time to sit with all of this information!
Irene, thank you that means so much and YEEEES to sitting with it. I have a picture of the 5 of us on my bulletin board and think of you often.
Thank you for this beautiful and interesting read. Staying with you is easy. I didn't precisely know the Hero's journey, and understand it well now. The heroine journey rung true for me too, stirring up the balance I hold inside. It's such a pleasure to read your writing sometimes, and other times not so much. I want to set the pace when I read and when I read you it's like a server moving through a busy Pub; kicking just the ankles of incredible insights, familiar charm and cherished moments. You leave us in spots to contemplate using a flashlight or floodlight. Without saying "try" I am doing my best to barrel past some objective, resolute facts and you won't let me! Now, what balance of fem/mas am I displaying there? I have seven sisters, worked in restaurants and now have a Yoga Studio. Your heroine journey today is precise to my Empirical evidence generally of course, and answers one of the biggest questions I have had for years; why are so many extraordinary woman single? Most woman are now domestic empresses and competitive clerks, so a partner isn't absolutely necessary. These days, relationships (and sex) are extra and not a duty. I would like to know a timeline on the hero and heroine journey's and how to shorten it so that we don't lose decades and wind up alone with just a pet. My desire is to see a balance of both in my life, and I'm willing to do the work. I'll know when my questions seek equilibrium. lotsa love, Chris
Thanks for your thoughtful comments Chris. I'm glad this one resonated.
Wow 7 sisters? I like what you said about wanting to find balance in both and being willing to do the work. I have a feeling you are more balanced than most, but interesting I also feel a very masculine vibe from you as well. Your comments about wanting to set the pace when you read or your opinions on what you like or don't like has me curious. I can tell that you're intelligent and to be honest I smile when I see your comments because I know I'll probably have to read them more than once to take them in fully.
To be perfectly honest, I like some of my essays more than others too, but I also suspect that there were over 250 different versions read of my essay yesterday. I was reading about the artist Georgia O'Keefe today and she stood her ground against sexual interpretations of her work, and for fifty years maintained that there was no connection between vulvas and her artwork. Firing back against some of the criticism, O'Keeffe stated, “When people read erotic symbols into my paintings, they’re really talking about their own affairs.”
Interesting.
I wonder if it's the same with writing. Some people get triggered with God talk. I think most of my readers seem to like my personal stories mixed in with something to ponder for themselves and others like something denser or more serious because I get a flood of emails with very different opinions. I like mixing it up depending on my mood or what inspires me, but I've only been doing this for a couple of short months so I'm imagining I'll find my own favourite style before long. Funny, my girlfriend just gave me a fictional book that she loved and for the life of me I can't finish it. What does that say about me? ha. I find it fascinating.
Your Bridgewater yoga studio looks incredible (the mural is awesome) and I loved the puppy yoga pics and the work you're doing in your community. Coincidentally my next post is about dogs. And speaking of pets, I'm afraid that I don't have any clever responses for you about shortening timelines and extraordinary single women, but I do get the sense now that things unfold perfectly and take as long as they do. Maybe it's all the Georgia O'Keefe, but I like the idea that when we're in our feminine or receiving mode we're like a flower and the right bees come to us, but I'm all for women in their masculine going after what they want.
I will add that while I think I could be happy living the rest of my days with a dog in a cabin in the woods, my husband sure makes my life more fun. He's hilarious and we love to hike and ski, play cribbage most days and just enjoy hanging out. He's pretty handy with the vacuum and InstaPot too (which is hot;), but I sometimes wonder what is going on inside of us that half of our marriages are failing or ending in divorce?
I have no answers, just more questions. I suspect there's a relationship post in here somewhere:)
Thanks for reading. I'm grateful for your interest and comments you always get me thinking!!
ps. And I'll admit that I too see vulvas when I look at Georgia's paintings. haha Sorry Georgia!
Your beautiful writing speaks to me. Thank you for sharing with your heart and soul.
I appreciate the encouragement Laura! Thanks for taking the time to comment Scott told me it's a pain to like my posts because he has to sign in to Substack? Nice to know some people will go the extra mile! haha x
it's well worth the extra step! Best wishes to you and your family. xx