Oh this was achingly beautiful and the format is awesome, I'm jealous I didn't think of it, in the good way hehe .... Hmm the youth one stood out for me, being at that half way point resonates of course 🥰
Such a great feat you accomplished here, wow! Although very different in nature and intent, it reminded me of Kevin Kelly's "Excellent Advice on Living", mostly his original birthday lessons.
I swear that it's not because my name starts with that letter, but my favorite was the O. Its simplicity makes it very memorable. Alongside Daylight, which could also have been Season. But Slow was perfect.
Glad you took that bookstore detour. Anyway... could make a comment on all of them but won't.
Oh man, I don't have excellent advice on living, yet. At what point is someone able to even offer advice on living? Surely, he's earned it, but I can't be dishing out birthday lessons--or can I? lol
Perhaps, I'll one day make a list with names, and write a section just for "Oscar."
"I notice when I can’t move in a way that’s inherent to me, I’m no longer thinking about me and making the thing. I’m probably thinking of someone else and then it is no longer pure or play. And I no longer feel like me. I only need to focus on the thing. It’s better that way. Everything else is irrelevant."
This is how I felt earlier this year with Twitter! Engaging with big accounts rather than just taking that time to be curious about my own shit. Thanks for sharing Sandra!
Totally feel this with Twitter. Was not expecting to hear this resonated in relation to it, though! That's fascinating. "be curious about my own shit" is the way.
I like you, I am glad we are friends now is the best way to say it.
Did you find your diary entry about moonlight yet? I would like to read it. I'm assuming you were going to share it with me, not just find it for yourself, but is that assumption incorrect?
p.s. I like you too and I am also glad we are friends now.
Art - I notice that my mind drifts when I paint too and I’m wondering how do you bring yourself back to doing the thing? Because most of the time when I paint, I’m not thinking about the thing but something or someone else.
Bookstore - Did you visit Hell Yea Books? I started working there and I made sure to reduce the literary dust sprinklings (we sometimes add it for ambiance). And we’ll shave the cats next time.
Community - “Sometimes being in community looks like time with one other person who gets it.” I love this and wholeheartedly resonate with this. Also, if you make your own community, I will join.
You have two options, I think. The first: Step 1. Open head. Step 2. Remove brain. Step 3. Close head.
The second: Tell the monkey inside your head to let you focus on The Thing and when you get distracted, tell him he needs to make loud noises to ground you.
Bookstore
Can I just say that I love how it’s supposed to be my bookstore, but somehow you created it, named it, work there, and are in charge of the dust and cats? Are you co-owner? Do I even do anything?
There's so much in here Sandra. I need to bookmark and come back. I find the "Useful" entry most alive for me. You ask a simple question here, but I definitely grapple with the same thing. "I still haven’t figured out how to untangle my worth from how useful I am to everyone."
This is so interesting, Rick. I wonder how many of us grapple with this same thing. Perhaps, most people, I would think. If you ever figure out how to do that untangling--send solutions my way 😬
Wowowow I’m into this format. It’s really fun to flick through really fast, then suddenly stop and be surprised on where I land! I have a loooong comment in the works!
Whoa, whoa, whoa. I appreciate that, Chao. And your continuous support. What would Chao's writing look like if it was experimental? [I need to catch up on your writing]
Do you mean what I've learned and felt about writing or something else?
Wow I felt over and over again like I was seen. Loyalty! Jealousy! But most of all this is such beautiful poetry.
This line didn’t have to do with those moments that resonated but it was so musical I had to stop and read it again, “I want my life to be a meditation. Not one filled with a humdrum nervy tension; more like the same kind of mindful sensations I get from the sensual experience of a morning at my local rose garden.”
Out loud felt the Loudest to me. I couldn't sleep last night so I did what I always do when that happens: I turned on the lights and I just wrote and wrote and wrote. All the stuff I'm scared to say out loud, all the stuff I'm scared to admit to myself.
Oh this was achingly beautiful and the format is awesome, I'm jealous I didn't think of it, in the good way hehe .... Hmm the youth one stood out for me, being at that half way point resonates of course 🥰
Hahaha awwww, SARAH<3
So sweet. Thank you for saying that. I'd love to see a collection of notes from you. I bet you have lots of insightful and beautiful things to share.
So happy to see your name pop up here in the comments, by the way.
Such a great feat you accomplished here, wow! Although very different in nature and intent, it reminded me of Kevin Kelly's "Excellent Advice on Living", mostly his original birthday lessons.
I swear that it's not because my name starts with that letter, but my favorite was the O. Its simplicity makes it very memorable. Alongside Daylight, which could also have been Season. But Slow was perfect.
Glad you took that bookstore detour. Anyway... could make a comment on all of them but won't.
Great, unexpected list!
Oh man, I don't have excellent advice on living, yet. At what point is someone able to even offer advice on living? Surely, he's earned it, but I can't be dishing out birthday lessons--or can I? lol
Perhaps, I'll one day make a list with names, and write a section just for "Oscar."
I think he collects advice he's heard and received, which, in a sense, aren't we all? You're ready, no worries :)
And please don't write that section, I wouldn't know what to answer haha
Great quote:
"I notice when I can’t move in a way that’s inherent to me, I’m no longer thinking about me and making the thing. I’m probably thinking of someone else and then it is no longer pure or play. And I no longer feel like me. I only need to focus on the thing. It’s better that way. Everything else is irrelevant."
This is how I felt earlier this year with Twitter! Engaging with big accounts rather than just taking that time to be curious about my own shit. Thanks for sharing Sandra!
Totally feel this with Twitter. Was not expecting to hear this resonated in relation to it, though! That's fascinating. "be curious about my own shit" is the way.
They all resonate. I have no better way to say this, I like you, I am glad we are friends now.
I have a diary entry about moonlight. I will see if I can find it.
I like you, I am glad we are friends now is the best way to say it.
Did you find your diary entry about moonlight yet? I would like to read it. I'm assuming you were going to share it with me, not just find it for yourself, but is that assumption incorrect?
p.s. I like you too and I am also glad we are friends now.
I need to be home first. So your assumption is correct, but it is subject to me deciding if I ever want to leave Cape Town.
That is fine. I'm patient; I shall wait.
Art - I notice that my mind drifts when I paint too and I’m wondering how do you bring yourself back to doing the thing? Because most of the time when I paint, I’m not thinking about the thing but something or someone else.
Bookstore - Did you visit Hell Yea Books? I started working there and I made sure to reduce the literary dust sprinklings (we sometimes add it for ambiance). And we’ll shave the cats next time.
Community - “Sometimes being in community looks like time with one other person who gets it.” I love this and wholeheartedly resonate with this. Also, if you make your own community, I will join.
Art
You have two options, I think. The first: Step 1. Open head. Step 2. Remove brain. Step 3. Close head.
The second: Tell the monkey inside your head to let you focus on The Thing and when you get distracted, tell him he needs to make loud noises to ground you.
Bookstore
Can I just say that I love how it’s supposed to be my bookstore, but somehow you created it, named it, work there, and are in charge of the dust and cats? Are you co-owner? Do I even do anything?
Community
You are my community.
Eagerly awaiting your next round of responses :)
Loved this concept! Related very much to Slow <3
Ooh--in what way?
There's so much in here Sandra. I need to bookmark and come back. I find the "Useful" entry most alive for me. You ask a simple question here, but I definitely grapple with the same thing. "I still haven’t figured out how to untangle my worth from how useful I am to everyone."
This is so interesting, Rick. I wonder how many of us grapple with this same thing. Perhaps, most people, I would think. If you ever figure out how to do that untangling--send solutions my way 😬
Ok! Working on it!
I WILL WAIT 🫡
This was a great read! Like a tasting sampler of Sandra’s mind.
Aww, thank you, Leslie Sam Kim :)
What does my mind taste like?
Wowowow I’m into this format. It’s really fun to flick through really fast, then suddenly stop and be surprised on where I land! I have a loooong comment in the works!
First of all, love the alliteration. Are you a poet?
Second of all, I clearly didn’t design this right because flicking fast is not how it’s meant to be experienced! I have failed you again.
Perhaps an incoming design update is due soon to remedy this.
It’s like flipping through pages if this were a physical book... which it could be!
Nice save
Gimme an alphabet soup zine <3
It's soup season
Alphabet Soup everything
This is an excellent idea! NOTED ✍🏻
I feel melted, liquified, cut-open in the best way possible
Oh no. That doesn't sound like the BEST.
What melted you?
What liquified you?
What cut you open?
I need specifics!!!
your words!! feeling seen!!
👀
hahaha just "words" in general, huh?!
Love how experimental you are with your writing and formatting styles! Would love to hear what you’ve learned and felt looking back a year from now….
Whoa, whoa, whoa. I appreciate that, Chao. And your continuous support. What would Chao's writing look like if it was experimental? [I need to catch up on your writing]
Do you mean what I've learned and felt about writing or something else?
Wow I felt over and over again like I was seen. Loyalty! Jealousy! But most of all this is such beautiful poetry.
This line didn’t have to do with those moments that resonated but it was so musical I had to stop and read it again, “I want my life to be a meditation. Not one filled with a humdrum nervy tension; more like the same kind of mindful sensations I get from the sensual experience of a morning at my local rose garden.”
I do see you 👀
Thank you for calling that out---I will receive that compliment for today.
Even in the tactically fragmented pattern of this piece, there's a story here. It's your story, and it's beautiful.
"tactically fragmented pattern"--I kinda like that phrasing. Thank you for saying that, Nic. Super appreciate you taking the time to read.
This is beautiful, Sandra. And such a great idea.
Thank you, Silvio<3
And I'm looking forward to playing catch-up on all your beautiful words this week :)
Thank you, Sandra. Now I have to catch up on your catchups lol :)
Out loud felt the Loudest to me. I couldn't sleep last night so I did what I always do when that happens: I turned on the lights and I just wrote and wrote and wrote. All the stuff I'm scared to say out loud, all the stuff I'm scared to admit to myself.
What a gift to be able to turn to the page. It is the best place to confront oneself.