PS. Parenting has been full-on lately... responding to comments has felt near impossible. But please know I read every single one, sometimes multiple times over, and am always so moved by your resonance and reflections. Thank you thank you thank you for reading and sharing what connected with you. It makes these letters feel like part of something outside of myself and that means everything. Hopefully I'll be back to responding soon. xx
Lisa, happy 37th birthday! I loved your list of 37 things. So many of them touched me deeply and resonated with my soul. "Yes, me, too," I could have said, now at 64, recognizing as you write "it's not too late..not too late...not too late". I wish I had had all your wise knowing at 37. I think I had a sense of it, but I wasn't ready to dig into what lay so deeply buried (which is why I held onto unhappiness in a marriage for much too long). But now that the knowing has come to the surface, it's not too late. Not for any of us, at any age.
The inclusion of the box mac and cheese sentiment brought me a great ole smile followed by a laugh hehe. I was so excited when your article for this week showed on my phone screen—couldn’t wait to sit back and read. Thank you thank you thank you
It always feels unsatisfactory to leave a comment that focuses on just one of your insights when so many of them touched me. But, in order to avoid leaving a long essay, I want to reflect on your thoughts about weaving new webs of connection.
I'm 71. Many assume that at that age new anything is unlikely. But, at least in the last few months, new connections keep emerging unexpectedly. (I started to describe some of them but realized I would quickly be in the middle of a long essay.) I am treasuring each new opportunity. I am looking for opportunities to initiate new connections myself. In the midst of sometimes feeling like I am leaning towards increasing irrelevance, I am encountering the joy of still having opportunities to connect.
I'm encountering all this vibrant newness even as I walk with my wife in dealing with her terminal diagnosis with a slow, continuous, progressive decline. This of course is the way of this world, death and new life side by side. And this is life isn't it, walking with both simultaneously?
Thank you for reminding me to treasure those opportunities to weave new webs of connection.
Happy birthday Lisa. I wish you everything beautiful in this life as this post is. You are my favorite writer on substack. I started following you on Instagram and was enjoying you there. One day, I saw your story with a substack link and I became your substack subscriber. Every time I will read your newsletter, I felt like the "start writing" button at the end of your newsletter is calling me. I ignored it for many months and one day I got courage and I created my publication. That's how my substack journey began. Thank you for your words and newsletter. They inspire me to observe myself more and write more what it is in my heart. Love and warmth to you. I hope you have the best time with your family on your birthday.
SUCH an emotional read, wow. We share the same birthday, and I'm turning 30 this year. You've encouraged me to compile a list of my own. Thank you for your beautiful words, and I hope this year is a soft, sweet one. <3
I could say more but I don't want to articulate it into words right now, I just want it to stay collected inside me. But what I would say and what I ought to say is that I am so so very grateful to get to read this in this phase of my inner life. This must have come to me because I needed the navigation this letter provides for. Thank you for being a medium for that, for me, for so many others, perhaps - and thank you for being who you are because that is where all of this beauty springs from. 🌸
Lisa, I’m always moved by your words. So deeply. They nourish every part of me. Know that you were saved for every one of us here who receive your words as soul medicine. My love and gratitude for all of you 🌟🔆🌟
What Cherry said. I never cry but I do well up often. I have several self soothing behaviors that I turn to. Nothing toxic. Writing Black Sonnets is one… back to your beautiful prose with pictures. Beautifully done. I think this piece resonates with women who have had lost, destitute or angry mothers… i know several. I was fortunate to have had a magnificent mother who kept me and rushed me to the front but I was not her ideal daughter. She forgave me. Peace and love to this dear Bay Area writer!
This one really sticks with me: 'Building friendship as an adult is so tender, so deeply vulnerable, and one of the most meaningful processes you’ll ever be in. Allow it. Seek it. Tend to it.'
PS. Parenting has been full-on lately... responding to comments has felt near impossible. But please know I read every single one, sometimes multiple times over, and am always so moved by your resonance and reflections. Thank you thank you thank you for reading and sharing what connected with you. It makes these letters feel like part of something outside of myself and that means everything. Hopefully I'll be back to responding soon. xx
Thank you for this article. I needed to hear this message now.
🩵
Lisa, happy 37th birthday! I loved your list of 37 things. So many of them touched me deeply and resonated with my soul. "Yes, me, too," I could have said, now at 64, recognizing as you write "it's not too late..not too late...not too late". I wish I had had all your wise knowing at 37. I think I had a sense of it, but I wasn't ready to dig into what lay so deeply buried (which is why I held onto unhappiness in a marriage for much too long). But now that the knowing has come to the surface, it's not too late. Not for any of us, at any age.
Your words always bring a deep breath of relief and a softening… thank you 🩵
I am so incredibly, profoundly grateful you exist. With heart wide open, mine to yours, I send my love x
The inclusion of the box mac and cheese sentiment brought me a great ole smile followed by a laugh hehe. I was so excited when your article for this week showed on my phone screen—couldn’t wait to sit back and read. Thank you thank you thank you
It always feels unsatisfactory to leave a comment that focuses on just one of your insights when so many of them touched me. But, in order to avoid leaving a long essay, I want to reflect on your thoughts about weaving new webs of connection.
I'm 71. Many assume that at that age new anything is unlikely. But, at least in the last few months, new connections keep emerging unexpectedly. (I started to describe some of them but realized I would quickly be in the middle of a long essay.) I am treasuring each new opportunity. I am looking for opportunities to initiate new connections myself. In the midst of sometimes feeling like I am leaning towards increasing irrelevance, I am encountering the joy of still having opportunities to connect.
I'm encountering all this vibrant newness even as I walk with my wife in dealing with her terminal diagnosis with a slow, continuous, progressive decline. This of course is the way of this world, death and new life side by side. And this is life isn't it, walking with both simultaneously?
Thank you for reminding me to treasure those opportunities to weave new webs of connection.
Lisa, your wisdom exceeds your years. Happy birthday and thank you for this gift 🙏
Happy birthday Lisa. I wish you everything beautiful in this life as this post is. You are my favorite writer on substack. I started following you on Instagram and was enjoying you there. One day, I saw your story with a substack link and I became your substack subscriber. Every time I will read your newsletter, I felt like the "start writing" button at the end of your newsletter is calling me. I ignored it for many months and one day I got courage and I created my publication. That's how my substack journey began. Thank you for your words and newsletter. They inspire me to observe myself more and write more what it is in my heart. Love and warmth to you. I hope you have the best time with your family on your birthday.
SUCH an emotional read, wow. We share the same birthday, and I'm turning 30 this year. You've encouraged me to compile a list of my own. Thank you for your beautiful words, and I hope this year is a soft, sweet one. <3
I could say more but I don't want to articulate it into words right now, I just want it to stay collected inside me. But what I would say and what I ought to say is that I am so so very grateful to get to read this in this phase of my inner life. This must have come to me because I needed the navigation this letter provides for. Thank you for being a medium for that, for me, for so many others, perhaps - and thank you for being who you are because that is where all of this beauty springs from. 🌸
37 gems to live by! Beautiful, insightful and True ❤️
Lisa, I’m always moved by your words. So deeply. They nourish every part of me. Know that you were saved for every one of us here who receive your words as soul medicine. My love and gratitude for all of you 🌟🔆🌟
What Cherry said. I never cry but I do well up often. I have several self soothing behaviors that I turn to. Nothing toxic. Writing Black Sonnets is one… back to your beautiful prose with pictures. Beautifully done. I think this piece resonates with women who have had lost, destitute or angry mothers… i know several. I was fortunate to have had a magnificent mother who kept me and rushed me to the front but I was not her ideal daughter. She forgave me. Peace and love to this dear Bay Area writer!
I felt something hard and high in my slowly melt and soften and I felt like crying.
This one really sticks with me: 'Building friendship as an adult is so tender, so deeply vulnerable, and one of the most meaningful processes you’ll ever be in. Allow it. Seek it. Tend to it.'
Also, happy early birthday. :).
Reading this felt like prayer. Thank you.