Wow, Leslie. Wow. I am speechless. Especially at this line, “Instead, I keep wanting a point in the calendar where we stop counting up from 2020 as hard years, but I haven’t seen the window.” I’m still clamoring in the darkness myself along the wall, feeling blindly for a window, a door, even a crack where maybe a single ray of light will peer through and warm my skin with hope and open my eyes with life.
I think this piece of it might deserve another essay. Maybe we stop looking for the old doorways that could lead us back to a kind of peace we used to have and maybe we change the game. Maybe we can start creating what we’re looking for while still reeling. It’s one idea.
This really moved me. The way you describe grief, survival, and finding small pieces of ourselves in the ashes is so powerful. I felt comforted by your words — especially the reminder that we’re still whole, even when we feel broken. Thank you for writing this.
Wow, Leslie. Wow. I am speechless. Especially at this line, “Instead, I keep wanting a point in the calendar where we stop counting up from 2020 as hard years, but I haven’t seen the window.” I’m still clamoring in the darkness myself along the wall, feeling blindly for a window, a door, even a crack where maybe a single ray of light will peer through and warm my skin with hope and open my eyes with life.
I think this piece of it might deserve another essay. Maybe we stop looking for the old doorways that could lead us back to a kind of peace we used to have and maybe we change the game. Maybe we can start creating what we’re looking for while still reeling. It’s one idea.
Oh, I think each paragraph in this piece could justify its own series, or at least own piece.
I have chills. Counting up from 2020 as the hard years—holy hell. Thank you for the slow conversation you keep with your soul; we are wiser for it.
Holy hell is right, friend. I love the conversations we keep up, with ourselves and with each other.
Phew. Just. Dear lord, woman. ❤️❤️❤️
🙏🏼 I’m so glad the words landed in a kind place for you.
I especially love this line, "I am surrounded by a great cloud of intact things."
Thanks it was like an inside joke to myself/allusion to a similar Bible verse, which maybe you caught. :)
I love this! I love the fire metaphor comparisons to our lives.
Thank you, I felt it was fitting for the things a lot of us are feeling these days.
Speechless. Restacked. And you just gained another follower.
Welcome! I’m glad my words resonated with you. 🙏🏼
This really moved me. The way you describe grief, survival, and finding small pieces of ourselves in the ashes is so powerful. I felt comforted by your words — especially the reminder that we’re still whole, even when we feel broken. Thank you for writing this.
Beautiful writing on a difficult theme. Reminds me of the idea that everything gets shaken so that what remains is unshakable.