Thank you, Blair. Your words remind me of another:
“To keep my mouth shut. To turn away my face. To walk back down the aisle. To slap the bishop back when he slapped me during Confirmation. To hold the word no in my mouth like a gold coin, something valued, something possible. To teach the no to our daughters. To value their no more than their compliant yes. To celebrate no. To grasp the word no in your fist and refuse to give it up. To support the boy who says no to violence, the girl who will not be violated, the woman who says no, no, no, I will not. To love the no, to cherish the no, which is so often our first word. No- the means to transformation.”
Wow. Thank you. 🫀 “To hold the word no in my mouth like a gold coin, something valued, something possible.” Thank you. Grateful for you in my life, John Blase.
As an incredibly shy girl growing up, I feel this. So much. I wish I could have been brave enough to say “No” as I was swept away by my religious world. I’ve had to spend a lot of time holding my younger self and telling her, “It’s ok. You didn’t know better. You’ll figure it out and it’s ok.” 🤍🪶🌲
Exactly that, Tawna. 🫀✨ We all get swept away in different worlds. I certainly have as well. And, what an exploration to travel back and meet our younger selves with compassion and admiration for navigating the best they could. Hi.
Also, I loved your piece on Vero too. Hi, Art and Sport and Horses and Quiet and Present and all of these things that mix together that help us not fit into any set boxes. Hearts sure ain’t square.
It’s wonderful when a beautiful piece of writing simultaneously provokes two responses: “I would never have guessed,” and “yes, of course.”
That makes me feel seen, Crowley. Thank you. A lot. 🫀🙏
Thank you, Blair. Your words remind me of another:
“To keep my mouth shut. To turn away my face. To walk back down the aisle. To slap the bishop back when he slapped me during Confirmation. To hold the word no in my mouth like a gold coin, something valued, something possible. To teach the no to our daughters. To value their no more than their compliant yes. To celebrate no. To grasp the word no in your fist and refuse to give it up. To support the boy who says no to violence, the girl who will not be violated, the woman who says no, no, no, I will not. To love the no, to cherish the no, which is so often our first word. No- the means to transformation.”
Louise Erdrich, The Blue Jay’s Dance
Wow. Thank you. 🫀 “To hold the word no in my mouth like a gold coin, something valued, something possible.” Thank you. Grateful for you in my life, John Blase.
As an incredibly shy girl growing up, I feel this. So much. I wish I could have been brave enough to say “No” as I was swept away by my religious world. I’ve had to spend a lot of time holding my younger self and telling her, “It’s ok. You didn’t know better. You’ll figure it out and it’s ok.” 🤍🪶🌲
Exactly that, Tawna. 🫀✨ We all get swept away in different worlds. I certainly have as well. And, what an exploration to travel back and meet our younger selves with compassion and admiration for navigating the best they could. Hi.
Also, I loved your piece on Vero too. Hi, Art and Sport and Horses and Quiet and Present and all of these things that mix together that help us not fit into any set boxes. Hearts sure ain’t square.
Love you, Friend.
🫀🫀🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛⚡️⚡️
🫀🐦⬛⚡️
Admiration for your current self and your younger self.
Thank you, Rob. It means a lot to me. 🫀🙏