The timing of your post is incredible. I’ve been struggling for some time now, trying to put together the pieces of the life I’m trying to build post-divorce. Married for more than 40 years, I had no clue who I even was anymore - I only knew who I didn’t want to be. So now you have revealed to me what I couldn’t understand until now - let go of the banana. Just let go.
This was a great read Ryan because it resonated so deeply with the time of my life I am in now. I finished reading a book called Let It Go - It All Leaves for A Reason.
I've always been a control freak. My mom use to say 'let it go' ALL the time but it was dismissive, not motivational. How can you let go of something you still yearn to understand? Now, at 60 I finally understand what message she was trying to get across. But I don't think you can blindly say 'let it go' and expect your inner world to find peace. This is the work I am passionate about right now. Finding peace. Finding pieces of the hidden self.
I agree that we should only write about our passion because then it is easy..and not work. Our aim is to satisfy ourself at the end of the day. Thank you for this great read to start my day Ryan!
This is the risk with commoditizing one's passions. They become obligations, something to strategize. It's why I still don't ask people to pay for my Substack. Nothing against folks doing this, but for this writer, it robs me of the freedom I find in just writing.
You've also got me wondering about the utility of novelty, as if reminders are not enough. There is so much I desire to remember against the unfathomable backdrop of what remains unknown.
Is it wise for me to churn all my gained knowledge to plant more novel seeds of knowing, considering I will never sow it all in this one brain? Surely, our most educated humans have only grazed the surface of what's knowable.
Is it wiser to stay in this narrow-but-deep space of knowing, letting that much be good enough?
I really don't know. You have me wondering. I doubt I will find an answer.
Thank you Ryan. The dilemma seems to spring from the desire to be the earthworm and simply "be" or to reach out and connect with others...I'm not sure if we can do both at the same time? I've found that more earthworm and less "person" seems the best fit for me right now. I do wonder how people that want to be still and silent seem to have so much to say? But what would I listen to if we all remained silent? How would I know that I'm not alone in my experience if we all remained silent? This is a shared dilemma I think.
Thank you for this incredibly real and transparent account of your inner and out experience here, Ryan. This resonates deeply with me, as I know it will with scores of others too, albeit that there will be a fear for many to exclaim it publicly, for all the reasons you’ve described. I’m excited to see where your writing takes you from here, and I suspect it will be incredibly attractive to others as your passion and interest shines through.
The timing of your post is incredible. I’ve been struggling for some time now, trying to put together the pieces of the life I’m trying to build post-divorce. Married for more than 40 years, I had no clue who I even was anymore - I only knew who I didn’t want to be. So now you have revealed to me what I couldn’t understand until now - let go of the banana. Just let go.
This was a great read Ryan because it resonated so deeply with the time of my life I am in now. I finished reading a book called Let It Go - It All Leaves for A Reason.
I've always been a control freak. My mom use to say 'let it go' ALL the time but it was dismissive, not motivational. How can you let go of something you still yearn to understand? Now, at 60 I finally understand what message she was trying to get across. But I don't think you can blindly say 'let it go' and expect your inner world to find peace. This is the work I am passionate about right now. Finding peace. Finding pieces of the hidden self.
I agree that we should only write about our passion because then it is easy..and not work. Our aim is to satisfy ourself at the end of the day. Thank you for this great read to start my day Ryan!
This is the risk with commoditizing one's passions. They become obligations, something to strategize. It's why I still don't ask people to pay for my Substack. Nothing against folks doing this, but for this writer, it robs me of the freedom I find in just writing.
You've also got me wondering about the utility of novelty, as if reminders are not enough. There is so much I desire to remember against the unfathomable backdrop of what remains unknown.
Is it wise for me to churn all my gained knowledge to plant more novel seeds of knowing, considering I will never sow it all in this one brain? Surely, our most educated humans have only grazed the surface of what's knowable.
Is it wiser to stay in this narrow-but-deep space of knowing, letting that much be good enough?
I really don't know. You have me wondering. I doubt I will find an answer.
Thank you Ryan. The dilemma seems to spring from the desire to be the earthworm and simply "be" or to reach out and connect with others...I'm not sure if we can do both at the same time? I've found that more earthworm and less "person" seems the best fit for me right now. I do wonder how people that want to be still and silent seem to have so much to say? But what would I listen to if we all remained silent? How would I know that I'm not alone in my experience if we all remained silent? This is a shared dilemma I think.
Thank you for this incredibly real and transparent account of your inner and out experience here, Ryan. This resonates deeply with me, as I know it will with scores of others too, albeit that there will be a fear for many to exclaim it publicly, for all the reasons you’ve described. I’m excited to see where your writing takes you from here, and I suspect it will be incredibly attractive to others as your passion and interest shines through.
This was an incredibly exceptional post that spoke to the quiet dilemma so many of us are facing but not speaking about. Thank you @Ryan Delaney 🙏