Wow Reema, I’m deeply touched by you featuring my Substack, what an honour, thank you so much. Appropriate for the theme of the post, I’m actually writing this from my sick bed with the cold from hell, I do have more to say so I’ll be back when I feel a little better! 💕
Thank you Jane! I am hoping you did not feel an obligation to respond immediately and hope for ease as you get through the cold from hell so please take all the time that you need <3
Wonderful piece! I had so many associations to it, so evocative, thank you. I thought about cultures that allow community members to let it all hang out in grieving - aren’t threatened by periods of dysregulation. Will read this again.
Thank you Li! I would be curious to learn more about the cultures you mention. I also wonder whether this has changed with more countries becoming market-oriented and therefore competitive which leaves little room for "letting it all hang out"
One vignette I thought of was MartÍn Prechtel's recounting of an Native American man's profound grief - the expression of it was that he was intoxicated and screaming in the street. The community found this to be acceptable and supported his pain; they didn't pathologize him. To your point, there are so many ways that our culture inhibits us (market economy and, perhaps, historically even Western psychology) from expressing our full range of emotions/experience. I'd love to talk to you about the possibility of doing an exchange of an essay on some topic if you were ever to be game. I so appreciate your thinking. I don't know how to private message on Substack : )
I just started “Head Above Water” so thank you for the recommendation Reema. The quote in your piece where she talks about finding solace in a third space of belonging, outside the dominant narrative really resonated. I think it’s true there is another space to inhabit, or belong when living with chronic illness or disability. For me it’s starting to feel like more than solace but a new way of looking at the world, strengthened by the new communities I’ve found online, by my own acceptance, and determination to find different ways of doing things.
I appreciate reading what resonated for you and your additional reflections! It has me think how relationships can be transformational; our new perspectives and ways of being in the world don't come out of the blue.
Just read the article, thank you for the share! I'm so bad with catching up with shows that I end up being disconnected with what's trending but articles like these remind me of the value of at least trying.
Wow Reema, I’m deeply touched by you featuring my Substack, what an honour, thank you so much. Appropriate for the theme of the post, I’m actually writing this from my sick bed with the cold from hell, I do have more to say so I’ll be back when I feel a little better! 💕
Thank you Jane! I am hoping you did not feel an obligation to respond immediately and hope for ease as you get through the cold from hell so please take all the time that you need <3
Wonderful piece! I had so many associations to it, so evocative, thank you. I thought about cultures that allow community members to let it all hang out in grieving - aren’t threatened by periods of dysregulation. Will read this again.
Thank you Li! I would be curious to learn more about the cultures you mention. I also wonder whether this has changed with more countries becoming market-oriented and therefore competitive which leaves little room for "letting it all hang out"
One vignette I thought of was MartÍn Prechtel's recounting of an Native American man's profound grief - the expression of it was that he was intoxicated and screaming in the street. The community found this to be acceptable and supported his pain; they didn't pathologize him. To your point, there are so many ways that our culture inhibits us (market economy and, perhaps, historically even Western psychology) from expressing our full range of emotions/experience. I'd love to talk to you about the possibility of doing an exchange of an essay on some topic if you were ever to be game. I so appreciate your thinking. I don't know how to private message on Substack : )
Thanks for sharing that, I will look it up. I’m also quite honored that you want to collaborate on an essay. I will drop you a private message :-)
I just started “Head Above Water” so thank you for the recommendation Reema. The quote in your piece where she talks about finding solace in a third space of belonging, outside the dominant narrative really resonated. I think it’s true there is another space to inhabit, or belong when living with chronic illness or disability. For me it’s starting to feel like more than solace but a new way of looking at the world, strengthened by the new communities I’ve found online, by my own acceptance, and determination to find different ways of doing things.
Disability representation in TV, films etc is really interesting to me and I applaud you for raising it. There is such a long way to go on this but there are some sparks of change - a brilliant example of representation that doesn’t follow the tired narrative of pity or hero is the recent Doctor Who anniversary series in the UK: https://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/news/the-tardis-has-a-ramp-why-ruth-madeley-in-an-accessible-doctor-who-means-the-universe-to-us/
Thank you for the work you do 💛.
I appreciate reading what resonated for you and your additional reflections! It has me think how relationships can be transformational; our new perspectives and ways of being in the world don't come out of the blue.
Just read the article, thank you for the share! I'm so bad with catching up with shows that I end up being disconnected with what's trending but articles like these remind me of the value of at least trying.