My belief is this: we are Divine Creators, and each and everyone of us is unique. Our job is to be true to ourselves and express that uniqueness in a way that rings true to US. We can only find out what IS true for us if we go within, deep within. Feel it, sense it, love it. And then express it – your genuine, unique contribution to the world. I am a happy writer, in my eighties, with no writer's block, and I live this way. The outside world, the people in it, will react to what I write, each in their own unique way. If they like what I write – fine. If they don't – fine. That leaves everyone FREE. And I believe that only in freedom can we thrive creatively. And freedom comes from within!
Maria, thank you so much for this. I often feel like I'm on a cliff edge, and I am looking across a chasm to a place over there where I am freely feeling my truth and writing the words deep inside me. Sometimes the chasm shrinks and I can step across to that place of freedom. But often if feels wide and scary.
Dear Julie, Thank you for your reply. I understand how you feel as I have also been there. The place on the other side of the chasm is where your true self resides, in its given place of freedom. The chasm is really an illusion, created by you. If it were real it would not shrink and widen, depending on you. We do that to ourselves in the process of finding out what we are and what we are not. Nothing wrong with that. When you understand how it works, it is no longer scary. When you are done with the cleft you can let it go. It has served its purpose. And you can rest in that safe place within you where you and your truth reside as one. And express it in freedom, like I do here in our exchange.
This is amazing!!! My #3 movie was Labyrinth, and I watched it with a friend. When we were even younger it was Babes in Toyland. Now I have a Labyrinth poster on my wall!
One of my quotes is from a friend who told me "People only seem normal until you get to know them and then you find out they're weird just like you." I've yet to meet an exception to this. And weird doesn't mean bad, it simply means human beings are complex creatures driven by complex, conflicting drives. I personally prefer weird people because they're so much more fun and interesting to get to know.
Love the niche LFL's! A Little Free Rock Library is by my house, full of crystals and river-polished stones. It might as well be full of kryptonite because they make me weak in the knees (I love rocks entirely too much).
Such a fun list! I especially love the "Ew" list and "The Way It Is Now" letter. Though I kinda wish letting myself be weirder was my problem; Elayne La La land is all TOO comfortable, alas. Instead, maybe I should spend a bit more time being weird in more social ways (so, so much harder for me). I have joined a sketching group, though--so! 🤞
I love that you joined a sketching group! That's so cool. And I am weak in the knees even imagining a rock library (I have a problem where the entire world is a rock library, and I have to remember that it's not good for any of us if I take all the rocks and bring them home with me).
I was just thinking of you again three days ago, because right after you posted about the LFL varieties, the Seattle Times did a whole article about them, and I was like, "Do they read Julie's blog or something?" Anyhow, https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/seattles-little-free-libraries-offer-a-catalog-of-collections-and-connections/ - not that you have to read it. But the highlight was the Little Free Dog Stuff one where they had to stop doing dog food/treats because the raccoons learned how to operate it. (Which you KNOW I loved hearing about.) Hugs!
I loved reading that article! (We have a Little Free Stick and Dog Toy library in town also, but as far as I know, there are no raccoons involved, alas.)
I'm in love with this list. The window to your small self that ambiguously is just - around, is very relatable to me. There is a theory (admittedly not my own, but the incredible Abby Hanlon's) that people who make books for kids fall into one of three categories: 1) they spend a lot of time with children 2) they have very strong memories of childhood 3) they never really grew up and are still a child.
This list is kind of embodying all three states of being, covering all the bases of how to gain access to the good stuff.
Of course Abby Hanlon is throwing the excellent theories at us. I'm glad you said the list seemed like all three, because I couldn't figure out which of those applied to me. So maybe it is all three.
I couldn't love this list more! It's a hard call, but I think #16 is my favorite. My child self would have been thrilled to receive such a letter. Thanks for helping me remember and better appreciate the girl I was in the 1970's. I want to stay in touch with her more often.
The most fun for me? Thinking of you and the fun you must have had making those lists! And after talking about all those parts, you’ll understand why my stack is “Partly There!” We have more in common than I knew! Hope your new year is all you wish for and more!
My belief is this: we are Divine Creators, and each and everyone of us is unique. Our job is to be true to ourselves and express that uniqueness in a way that rings true to US. We can only find out what IS true for us if we go within, deep within. Feel it, sense it, love it. And then express it – your genuine, unique contribution to the world. I am a happy writer, in my eighties, with no writer's block, and I live this way. The outside world, the people in it, will react to what I write, each in their own unique way. If they like what I write – fine. If they don't – fine. That leaves everyone FREE. And I believe that only in freedom can we thrive creatively. And freedom comes from within!
Maria Westlund
Maria, thank you so much for this. I often feel like I'm on a cliff edge, and I am looking across a chasm to a place over there where I am freely feeling my truth and writing the words deep inside me. Sometimes the chasm shrinks and I can step across to that place of freedom. But often if feels wide and scary.
Dear Julie, Thank you for your reply. I understand how you feel as I have also been there. The place on the other side of the chasm is where your true self resides, in its given place of freedom. The chasm is really an illusion, created by you. If it were real it would not shrink and widen, depending on you. We do that to ourselves in the process of finding out what we are and what we are not. Nothing wrong with that. When you understand how it works, it is no longer scary. When you are done with the cleft you can let it go. It has served its purpose. And you can rest in that safe place within you where you and your truth reside as one. And express it in freedom, like I do here in our exchange.
Maria
Oh, Maria, these words are so healing for me. I'm going to read them again and again until I remember them deep in my soul. Thank you.
This is amazing!!! My #3 movie was Labyrinth, and I watched it with a friend. When we were even younger it was Babes in Toyland. Now I have a Labyrinth poster on my wall!
Oooo, Labyrinth is a good one. Mine is Grease. (I do not have a Grease poster up on my wall, however.)
One of my quotes is from a friend who told me "People only seem normal until you get to know them and then you find out they're weird just like you." I've yet to meet an exception to this. And weird doesn't mean bad, it simply means human beings are complex creatures driven by complex, conflicting drives. I personally prefer weird people because they're so much more fun and interesting to get to know.
Ha, obviously I'm not coming from a place of "weird is bad." Weird is the best!
# 26. Print out this list & refer to it often. Thank you for the inspiration! I'm looking forward to getting rid of the "ew"s in 2025.
Yeah, me too! Here's to only doing "hell yes" things.
Happy 2025, Julie!
Love the niche LFL's! A Little Free Rock Library is by my house, full of crystals and river-polished stones. It might as well be full of kryptonite because they make me weak in the knees (I love rocks entirely too much).
Such a fun list! I especially love the "Ew" list and "The Way It Is Now" letter. Though I kinda wish letting myself be weirder was my problem; Elayne La La land is all TOO comfortable, alas. Instead, maybe I should spend a bit more time being weird in more social ways (so, so much harder for me). I have joined a sketching group, though--so! 🤞
I love that you joined a sketching group! That's so cool. And I am weak in the knees even imagining a rock library (I have a problem where the entire world is a rock library, and I have to remember that it's not good for any of us if I take all the rocks and bring them home with me).
I was just thinking of you again three days ago, because right after you posted about the LFL varieties, the Seattle Times did a whole article about them, and I was like, "Do they read Julie's blog or something?" Anyhow, https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/seattles-little-free-libraries-offer-a-catalog-of-collections-and-connections/ - not that you have to read it. But the highlight was the Little Free Dog Stuff one where they had to stop doing dog food/treats because the raccoons learned how to operate it. (Which you KNOW I loved hearing about.) Hugs!
I loved reading that article! (We have a Little Free Stick and Dog Toy library in town also, but as far as I know, there are no raccoons involved, alas.)
I'm in love with this list. The window to your small self that ambiguously is just - around, is very relatable to me. There is a theory (admittedly not my own, but the incredible Abby Hanlon's) that people who make books for kids fall into one of three categories: 1) they spend a lot of time with children 2) they have very strong memories of childhood 3) they never really grew up and are still a child.
This list is kind of embodying all three states of being, covering all the bases of how to gain access to the good stuff.
Of course Abby Hanlon is throwing the excellent theories at us. I'm glad you said the list seemed like all three, because I couldn't figure out which of those applied to me. So maybe it is all three.
I couldn't love this list more! It's a hard call, but I think #16 is my favorite. My child self would have been thrilled to receive such a letter. Thanks for helping me remember and better appreciate the girl I was in the 1970's. I want to stay in touch with her more often.
And I'm sure she wants to stay in touch with you!
The most fun for me? Thinking of you and the fun you must have had making those lists! And after talking about all those parts, you’ll understand why my stack is “Partly There!” We have more in common than I knew! Hope your new year is all you wish for and more!
Thank you, Deb! (And I did indeed have a lot of fun making this list.)
So much to love about this post. I may have to read it very slowly at least 1,000 times!