This article made me think about how our bodies themselves are like origami, constantly folding and unfolding as we move through life. Our experiences leave creases and marks, shaping who we are. Maybe the key isn't to avoid the folds, but to learn to appreciate the intricate patterns they create.
When we were kids playing with a cootie catcher that someone else made, we never knew what we'd get in the unfolding. But now, we can write our own cootie catchers....unfolding and happily living with the revealed contents. It takes work...especially in these dark days. Emotion Regulation is key. I just saw a video on Youtube by a well known political writer who investigated the polls and if I believe her (which I do), a majority of the polls have been manipulated by asking just certain people and then flooding the airways being on X or even mainstream media with these fake numbers to appear like one side is winning so the election can be questioned. Judging by what happened in Georgia yesterday, I'm feeling a little calmer. "Keep calm and carry on."
Georgia is a light in the darkness right now. Early voting is high which favors Democrats and of course that judge’s ruling. Try not to worry too much—you don’t need the extra cortisol impeding your healing ❤️🩹
"Emotion Regulation is key. " I think this is so true. We are being called to master ourselves and understand another level of what it means to be human..
Circle, circle, dot, dot... now I've got the balanced nervous system shot!
Thanks for this lovely essay, Ilona. Yes, it's hard to elude the uneasiness as we await the election results and watch the uglinesses and disintegration of one sad camp emerge and expand. Breathing and almost daily yoga is also helping, particularly if my two rescue cats and dog cuddle beside and on me. Going out early to walk in the woods or gazing at the resident Great blue heron in his daily stillness also keep me sane. It's important for me to maintain these long term practices, to read lovely essays like yours, to know "We're in this Together!" I was bragging about you to my husband this morning - "you know Ilona whose newsletter I follow? She went out door belling and loved it!"
You're so sweet. I do love the canvassing! It's pay dirt when a like-minded person opens the door and we get to chat. I can't wait until it's over and yoga, nature, pets, and furniture refinishing are ways to keep my mind calm. We are in this together! Be brave and strong like Kamala.
Ilona Goanos: You bring Rilkean balm in Gilead in hard, very hard times, with the cacophony of white-fundamentalist-racism so prevalent, so very loud, and the polls all-too-close (although the Marist Poll has Kamala Harris at 52% vs. Trump at 47% -- JOY!!), we have to gain strength with each other and strength within Oneself, cordiality and love to Neighbor, reception to Friends, nurturing of one's Loved Ones, immersion in one's culture (poetry like Rilke or Ingeborg Bachmann, or great writers -- Virginia Woolf, today's Jasmyn Ward, or music (mine is Dmitri Mikhailovich Shostakovich, Belá Bartok).
I see this in what you say, and you have a profound, and a profoundly loving and good spirit. No wonder I find strength in 'Stack Friends like you!
The noise will fade but not for a while. Electing Kamala is just the beginning but in the end love will prevail. Don’t worry too much about the polls. The 100% increase in early voting in Georgia portends a good thing in favor of the Democrats even if we don’t win the state. Stay strong, friend!
This article made me think about how our bodies themselves are like origami, constantly folding and unfolding as we move through life. Our experiences leave creases and marks, shaping who we are. Maybe the key isn't to avoid the folds, but to learn to appreciate the intricate patterns they create.
Yes, great perspective! We are constantly changing with every morsel we take in. Love where you took this, Dr. Lovell.
This Is So Beautiful! Poignant!
Somehow I missed the sign vandalism. I don't want to say I look forward to hearing about the update, but I'll be watching for it.
I wrote about putting my signs out and it turned into a thing. Will share next time…
When we were kids playing with a cootie catcher that someone else made, we never knew what we'd get in the unfolding. But now, we can write our own cootie catchers....unfolding and happily living with the revealed contents. It takes work...especially in these dark days. Emotion Regulation is key. I just saw a video on Youtube by a well known political writer who investigated the polls and if I believe her (which I do), a majority of the polls have been manipulated by asking just certain people and then flooding the airways being on X or even mainstream media with these fake numbers to appear like one side is winning so the election can be questioned. Judging by what happened in Georgia yesterday, I'm feeling a little calmer. "Keep calm and carry on."
Georgia is a light in the darkness right now. Early voting is high which favors Democrats and of course that judge’s ruling. Try not to worry too much—you don’t need the extra cortisol impeding your healing ❤️🩹
All this shit is getting pretty biblical, huh?
"Emotion Regulation is key. " I think this is so true. We are being called to master ourselves and understand another level of what it means to be human..
Circle, circle, dot, dot... now I've got the balanced nervous system shot!
Yes to all this ⬆️⬆️⬆️ Thanks ladies and love that little ditty, Corie.
Thanks for this lovely essay, Ilona. Yes, it's hard to elude the uneasiness as we await the election results and watch the uglinesses and disintegration of one sad camp emerge and expand. Breathing and almost daily yoga is also helping, particularly if my two rescue cats and dog cuddle beside and on me. Going out early to walk in the woods or gazing at the resident Great blue heron in his daily stillness also keep me sane. It's important for me to maintain these long term practices, to read lovely essays like yours, to know "We're in this Together!" I was bragging about you to my husband this morning - "you know Ilona whose newsletter I follow? She went out door belling and loved it!"
You're so sweet. I do love the canvassing! It's pay dirt when a like-minded person opens the door and we get to chat. I can't wait until it's over and yoga, nature, pets, and furniture refinishing are ways to keep my mind calm. We are in this together! Be brave and strong like Kamala.
"I don't know if I'm extremely sensitive or life is unbearable."-- Vincent Van Gogh
I love this! Fantastic post, Ilona!
Thanks, girl🩵
Ilona Goanos: You bring Rilkean balm in Gilead in hard, very hard times, with the cacophony of white-fundamentalist-racism so prevalent, so very loud, and the polls all-too-close (although the Marist Poll has Kamala Harris at 52% vs. Trump at 47% -- JOY!!), we have to gain strength with each other and strength within Oneself, cordiality and love to Neighbor, reception to Friends, nurturing of one's Loved Ones, immersion in one's culture (poetry like Rilke or Ingeborg Bachmann, or great writers -- Virginia Woolf, today's Jasmyn Ward, or music (mine is Dmitri Mikhailovich Shostakovich, Belá Bartok).
I see this in what you say, and you have a profound, and a profoundly loving and good spirit. No wonder I find strength in 'Stack Friends like you!
The noise will fade but not for a while. Electing Kamala is just the beginning but in the end love will prevail. Don’t worry too much about the polls. The 100% increase in early voting in Georgia portends a good thing in favor of the Democrats even if we don’t win the state. Stay strong, friend!
The Herbert quote about fear reminds me of another from a German film: Fear devours souls.
Thanks, Frederick. I need these quote reminders to keep myself fortified.
Love Rilke so much.
This is a gorgeous piece of writing and I love your origami analogy.
Yes, thank you ❤️ and I love Rilke too.
Me, too! I came across it when I heard an interview with Kathy Bates who puts the quote on every episode’s script.