Wow, Iris. I can “see”” all of that in my mind’s eye as if I had been there myself. You truly have a gift of bring the written word to life, my friend. If only the people living there (and similar places all around the world) would see and take action to make a positive change in their community.
Yes. Whether it be the inattentive stance to not see or the judgments without any compassion or empathy as to what may have occurred to another person to bring them to such states, callousness towards the stranger in our midst, it’s truly disheartening. And then social media, the bullies behind the keyboards, safety from afar to inflict pain towards others, often people they don’t know and sometimes friends, family, acquaintances- things they would hesitate to say to another’s face. Being aware with compassion and curiosity is a much better stance.
I was born and raised against the backdrop of Daytons and MTM. Your perspective offers the hard truth of what the unraveling of our city really looks like from a visitor’s perspective. Sometimes we sit to close to things to see what actually exists.
What you just described, sitting too close to see what exists, that’s the essay’s whole argument, lived from the inside. Thank you for trusting the piece with your own experience of it. You know and understand.
I get so lost in your writing and I feel all of it…beautifully written….really opens your eyes….thanks for sharing this beautiful image and statue and speechless at the trash at her feet….😔
Thank you Kelly. Part of the writing process, the glimmer I feel, is when I know that someone is walking alongside me, experiencing what I am seeing, feeling… Your comment is so very appreciated as we lock arms, eyes open, seeing together.
I love that you had eyes to see what you might have missed. It’s so easy these days to have our attention focused on other things. I had an eye opening experience while traveling about 15 years ago. Turns out it shifted things enough to prepare me for an alternate path meant for me down the road.
Isn’t it amazing how one moment can change a whole path forward. Powerful. Thank you for reading Sharon and especially commenting. It’s the connections that feel like the largest steps sometimes.
As ever, your words draw me in, right there beside you, seeing what you see, feeling what you feel. Your ability to capture that and so movingly reflect every bit of it...it hurts. Yet it's a gift Iris. A gift you're gifted with and a gift to us you share it with. I'm grateful and so thankful too for being sober minded and able to see and feel with you. Even if it does hurt.
“As ever” means everything. You named something I couldn’t quite say about this piece myself. It costs something to write. It should cost something to read. Thank you Reta for riding this one out beside me. Even when it hurts. Especially when it hurts.
Wow, Iris. I can “see”” all of that in my mind’s eye as if I had been there myself. You truly have a gift of bring the written word to life, my friend. If only the people living there (and similar places all around the world) would see and take action to make a positive change in their community.
Thanks Missy. One step at a time. That includes words, connection, donation and investment of time and vision. You get it.
Yes. Whether it be the inattentive stance to not see or the judgments without any compassion or empathy as to what may have occurred to another person to bring them to such states, callousness towards the stranger in our midst, it’s truly disheartening. And then social media, the bullies behind the keyboards, safety from afar to inflict pain towards others, often people they don’t know and sometimes friends, family, acquaintances- things they would hesitate to say to another’s face. Being aware with compassion and curiosity is a much better stance.
Like hearts. Like minds. And most importantly: like actions….thank you Lynn. It’s going to need to be done one step at a time.
I was born and raised against the backdrop of Daytons and MTM. Your perspective offers the hard truth of what the unraveling of our city really looks like from a visitor’s perspective. Sometimes we sit to close to things to see what actually exists.
What you just described, sitting too close to see what exists, that’s the essay’s whole argument, lived from the inside. Thank you for trusting the piece with your own experience of it. You know and understand.
I get so lost in your writing and I feel all of it…beautifully written….really opens your eyes….thanks for sharing this beautiful image and statue and speechless at the trash at her feet….😔
Thank you Kelly. Part of the writing process, the glimmer I feel, is when I know that someone is walking alongside me, experiencing what I am seeing, feeling… Your comment is so very appreciated as we lock arms, eyes open, seeing together.
I love that you had eyes to see what you might have missed. It’s so easy these days to have our attention focused on other things. I had an eye opening experience while traveling about 15 years ago. Turns out it shifted things enough to prepare me for an alternate path meant for me down the road.
Isn’t it amazing how one moment can change a whole path forward. Powerful. Thank you for reading Sharon and especially commenting. It’s the connections that feel like the largest steps sometimes.
As ever, your words draw me in, right there beside you, seeing what you see, feeling what you feel. Your ability to capture that and so movingly reflect every bit of it...it hurts. Yet it's a gift Iris. A gift you're gifted with and a gift to us you share it with. I'm grateful and so thankful too for being sober minded and able to see and feel with you. Even if it does hurt.
“As ever” means everything. You named something I couldn’t quite say about this piece myself. It costs something to write. It should cost something to read. Thank you Reta for riding this one out beside me. Even when it hurts. Especially when it hurts.