The roads you are traveling this autumn are heavy.
I’ve just gotten the image that you are a carrier of souls, your backpack and your heart full with each until you’ve finished editing those words and hit publish. I hope that you are able to set them back down after a time and have a day that you aren’t carrying one with you.
I had to learn how to do this for my profession. There isn’t always a clear path as to how to accomplish it.
Your art of conveying hundreds of words within 2 or 3 is profound.
I often think of you & others in your profession, for the very reason you mention. I have plenty to learn about setting things down, that’s certain; I also believe that we all have our task, more or less clear at times, but right now the carrying seems the least I can do. So glad you are here, Teyani.
You’re a profoundly good soul carrier, Marya. I am certain that your skilled listening and writing allows people to feel seen and heard. It’s important.
You didn’t ask, but I’d like to share how I am able to set things down at times.
I practice doing what you said exactly, knowing my task. And the beginning and end of my task as well. I’m always honored when a person shares their story with me. And it’s my job to listen to what they need right now, and to be a bit of a guide for this time in their life. I’m able to set my work down because I have defined for myself the limit of my work. I wish I have been able to help even more people, but I am just me. To take the best care of myself so I may be the best I am able for each person, I limit what I do. I hope this makes a little sense. It is not easy by any definition. 💕
My god this is gorgeous. You open the space of an interview and bring us in. Grateful for your heart that opens to these spaces and the people that make them possible, your eyes that look away from tears and file gestures, and for your mind that probes gently and keenly and with trust. Grateful you’re out there is what I’m saying.
Gorgeous writing from a gorgeous human. And clearly no futile task - as you are witnessing these people, regardless of the editing process, and that matters. ♥️
How vividly you create the forms of strangers. You use your ability to listen to more than what our fellow Americans are saying with words. Absorbing the bodies, the surroundings, and even some glints off the soul. It’s impressive, deeply necessary work.
Stunning as always Marya. You write so eloquently about what it's like to have the experience of all these conversations in you. I can feel the fullness, the awe, the gratitude, and the pain you're carrying for and with these people right now. May it become more easeful soon.
It's not rude to watch others cry; sometimes it's the opposite, a way of being with them in their pain. Of course, if they want privacy, looking away can give them the freedom to let go
Ah, Marya -- there is so much of your heart here, and I can only imagine the burdens it now attempts to hold. I have no answers, no bits of wisdom, but I see you as a source of light. You can't know what it means to folks that you are listening for understanding. No, it's not enough. Of course it isn't. But it's real, and it's something. You may leave, but you're not gone. Thank you for your work.
Wow, first time reader and you’re amazing. Your style is captivating and I need more.
As an independent voter in SE PA, it’s a challenge to organize any of my thoughts on this election. Somehow, those words don’t apply? And you have to pull that out of multiple people and make sense of it? I can’t imagine doing this!!
I apologize for my fellow swing staters testing you!
The roads you are traveling this autumn are heavy.
I’ve just gotten the image that you are a carrier of souls, your backpack and your heart full with each until you’ve finished editing those words and hit publish. I hope that you are able to set them back down after a time and have a day that you aren’t carrying one with you.
I had to learn how to do this for my profession. There isn’t always a clear path as to how to accomplish it.
Your art of conveying hundreds of words within 2 or 3 is profound.
I often think of you & others in your profession, for the very reason you mention. I have plenty to learn about setting things down, that’s certain; I also believe that we all have our task, more or less clear at times, but right now the carrying seems the least I can do. So glad you are here, Teyani.
You’re a profoundly good soul carrier, Marya. I am certain that your skilled listening and writing allows people to feel seen and heard. It’s important.
You didn’t ask, but I’d like to share how I am able to set things down at times.
I practice doing what you said exactly, knowing my task. And the beginning and end of my task as well. I’m always honored when a person shares their story with me. And it’s my job to listen to what they need right now, and to be a bit of a guide for this time in their life. I’m able to set my work down because I have defined for myself the limit of my work. I wish I have been able to help even more people, but I am just me. To take the best care of myself so I may be the best I am able for each person, I limit what I do. I hope this makes a little sense. It is not easy by any definition. 💕
All the unsaid of this rises up raw and deafening. A maven piece.
Jan, what a beautiful way of putting this. Thank you.
Your telling always leaves me awestruck, Marya.
The feeling is mutual, Dana. Thank you.
My god this is gorgeous. You open the space of an interview and bring us in. Grateful for your heart that opens to these spaces and the people that make them possible, your eyes that look away from tears and file gestures, and for your mind that probes gently and keenly and with trust. Grateful you’re out there is what I’m saying.
I’m grateful to them, too. And very much so for you. 🙏🏻
Gorgeous writing from a gorgeous human. And clearly no futile task - as you are witnessing these people, regardless of the editing process, and that matters. ♥️
Not so clear, though the task is. Thank you, love. ❤️
Turning away from tears.
That strange space of witness without being able to give anything more, you know? Thank you for reading, Barri, and for the work you do.
You. 🫶
🤗
How vividly you create the forms of strangers. You use your ability to listen to more than what our fellow Americans are saying with words. Absorbing the bodies, the surroundings, and even some glints off the soul. It’s impressive, deeply necessary work.
Stunning as always Marya. You write so eloquently about what it's like to have the experience of all these conversations in you. I can feel the fullness, the awe, the gratitude, and the pain you're carrying for and with these people right now. May it become more easeful soon.
It's not rude to watch others cry; sometimes it's the opposite, a way of being with them in their pain. Of course, if they want privacy, looking away can give them the freedom to let go
Ah, Marya -- there is so much of your heart here, and I can only imagine the burdens it now attempts to hold. I have no answers, no bits of wisdom, but I see you as a source of light. You can't know what it means to folks that you are listening for understanding. No, it's not enough. Of course it isn't. But it's real, and it's something. You may leave, but you're not gone. Thank you for your work.
Wow, first time reader and you’re amazing. Your style is captivating and I need more.
As an independent voter in SE PA, it’s a challenge to organize any of my thoughts on this election. Somehow, those words don’t apply? And you have to pull that out of multiple people and make sense of it? I can’t imagine doing this!!
I apologize for my fellow swing staters testing you!