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.
Another great lesson in writing. Another great lesson in strengthening the bonds of our shared humanity in times of heightened emotions and stress. Thank you for brining us along with you, Marya.
"I tell myself this is not an absurd or futile task."
I have a ghost of a sense that to do your writing any other way would be untenable to you.
Albert Camus wrote of the absurdity of life. Maybe he was the one who coined absurdism as an actual philosophical aesthetic, I don't know. But I always equate living as a kind of absurdity, knowing as we do that all life has one universal, terminal outcome. In that vein, nothing is futile except not even trying to do a thing just because you're not sure you'll succeed at it. It's impossible to tell whether you, Marya, personally believe the end result of your work is futile or adequate or perfectly captured. I just want you to know that your effort makes it the opposite of futile, to me.
There's a rattle of words, as you called it, from the stories you've been given. You take it upon yourself to create a shape for them out of your own words, in order to give their voices a weight they didn't have on their own, a sound no one would likely hear otherwise. Instead of a rattle of words, there would continue to be a terrible silence.
Thank you for this, my friend. Camus—the meaning is the meaning we find, the meaning we give, whatever it is. You always seem able to find and give some to me. I so appreciate you.
I hope it is not too forward to say that I take your words to heart and consider you friend as well, a person who injects some meaningfulness into my life just by your presence in it, such as it is.
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
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!
Allison, I'm so happy to have you here! It is such a strange time, and the places where we've been and where we're from are changing all the time; it's a wonder any of us recognize ourselves right now, you know? So glad to have you along.
Thank you, Marya! What a kind welcome. And somehow, you just added positivity to this election with your warmth!
I absolutely agree. It’s so wild right now and you can feel everyone experiencing that sense of confusion. This is going to be one heck of a time and election- I wonder what we will have learned once the dust settles.
I appreciate you and look forward to getting to know you better! 🕊️✨🕊️
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. ♥️
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.
All the unsaid of this rises up raw and deafening. A maven piece.
Jan, what a beautiful way of putting this. Thank 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. 💕
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. 🙏🏻
Your telling always leaves me awestruck, Marya.
The feeling is mutual, Dana. Thank you.
Who are we but an answer to someone’s question. So many questions needing to hear our response.
Said wisely and well.
Another great lesson in writing. Another great lesson in strengthening the bonds of our shared humanity in times of heightened emotions and stress. Thank you for brining us along with you, Marya.
Paulette, thank you so much for your generous words, and for joining me for the journey.
"I tell myself this is not an absurd or futile task."
I have a ghost of a sense that to do your writing any other way would be untenable to you.
Albert Camus wrote of the absurdity of life. Maybe he was the one who coined absurdism as an actual philosophical aesthetic, I don't know. But I always equate living as a kind of absurdity, knowing as we do that all life has one universal, terminal outcome. In that vein, nothing is futile except not even trying to do a thing just because you're not sure you'll succeed at it. It's impossible to tell whether you, Marya, personally believe the end result of your work is futile or adequate or perfectly captured. I just want you to know that your effort makes it the opposite of futile, to me.
There's a rattle of words, as you called it, from the stories you've been given. You take it upon yourself to create a shape for them out of your own words, in order to give their voices a weight they didn't have on their own, a sound no one would likely hear otherwise. Instead of a rattle of words, there would continue to be a terrible silence.
Thank you for this, my friend. Camus—the meaning is the meaning we find, the meaning we give, whatever it is. You always seem able to find and give some to me. I so appreciate you.
I think that, too, defies futility.
I hope it is not too forward to say that I take your words to heart and consider you friend as well, a person who injects some meaningfulness into my life just by your presence in it, such as it is.
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.
Thank you for being a part of it. Truly.
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.
The fullness—that's what it is. I hope it will be more easeful for more people soon. I really do. Thank you, Sarah.
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
It's a balance of presence and witness and space. Being human with other humans is such an unexpectedly fragile and delicate task.
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!
Allison, I'm so happy to have you here! It is such a strange time, and the places where we've been and where we're from are changing all the time; it's a wonder any of us recognize ourselves right now, you know? So glad to have you along.
Thank you, Marya! What a kind welcome. And somehow, you just added positivity to this election with your warmth!
I absolutely agree. It’s so wild right now and you can feel everyone experiencing that sense of confusion. This is going to be one heck of a time and election- I wonder what we will have learned once the dust settles.
I appreciate you and look forward to getting to know you better! 🕊️✨🕊️
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. 🫶
🤗
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.
It's real. And no, I'm not gone. I wish I could be more present more places more of the time. Thank you for being here, Elizabeth.
This message hit me hard, too, and I'm grateful and glad. Thank you for saying it better than I could. I'm so happy to cross paths with you here.