Darling Em, this is so beautiful. You’re so beautiful. Your work is so beautiful. I adore both hemispheres of your brilliant brain, and all the future variations of me all look forward to meeting all the future variations of you 💗
There are so many treasures to unpack, aren’t there Ron! Enough for many lifetimes. It is so welcome indeed, thank you for your lovely words, they make me smile a very great deal xx
Thank you for this really interesting post, Emily.
I too, grew up feeling out of step with everyone else, aware that I felt and thought about things differently - feeling that I should pretend to be the same as everyone else.
It was only as I grew older, that I no longer felt the need to pretend. As you so perfectly put it, being ‘a blueprint unlike any before or since’.
As are we all.
But it took me a while to recognise that.
And think that anyway most people have parts of themselves they keep tucked out of sight and maybe are not as ‘normal’ as they seem!
I agree that we are profoundly situational beings and that different experiences and emotional situations will bring different aspects of us to the surface.
We are perhaps possessed of a whole cornucopia of possible selves!
It’s lucky for the world, that your artistic talents are a self you chose to develop !
Corfe Castle and village look lovely ( so nice to meander without restrictions on time!) and I love your descriptions of Winchester Cathedral and the Morley Library.
You are so right, Kay. The pressure to fit in but also the desire to just be ourselves. I think it does come with age and understanding - to not worry so much and stop pretending. It’s been growing within me for year, but particularly since I took some risks creatively and personally and this knowledge that I am capricious and contradictory, mercurial and messy, and that is actually ok, is so freeing. I’m glad that you are enjoying that freedom as well, it’s such a joy to read your kind and encouraging comments x
What a coïncidence. I just arrived home after dog sitting for more than a week. The way I feel and act here is very different than when I was with the dog. Maybe life is about accepting all aspects of our being and knowing when to express them. Thank you for helping me realize this. I'm so happy for you that you enjoyed your days out. I like the pictures you took of Winchester Cathedral.
I think it is Klamo - it’s ok if we share different parts of ourselves, more than ok - wonderful, in face. We’re not different on the inside, just what is visible changes. I’m so glad that you found something in my letter of value. And how lovely to spend time dog sitting - I think that dogs are wonderful companions, they don’t care about our labels or titles, they just care if we are kind. And thank you for the kind words about my photographs, I had a lovely time and it’s been a while since I took lots of photos to share! xx
Yes, dogs are wonderful companions. I always enjoy their company when I can. One of your many talents is your artistic eye. It shines through in so much of what you do. It’s a joy to see.
What a wonderful way to start my day Emily. Thank you. You have answered a question I often ask myself when I feel out of kilter with my surroundings or company. I'm so glad you enjoyed Corfe. It is a magical place that suits everyone I think 🌹
Thank you Jo - its always so lovely to read your words, they are such a wonderful encouragement. There are some unique blueprints and peculiar consciousnesses that I am particularly fond on, and yours is one! My little day escapes were delicious and exciting adventures and I must do more of them!!
You are a jewel with many facets, my friend. How grateful I am that you have managed to allow yourself to be and shine through all of them. There are always souls who will try to talk you out of one or two that somehow threaten their own sense of self, but I can see clearly that you have learned to ignore all that 'concern' and 'expert' advice from those who would size you down a notch or two to make life more comfortable for themselves. Bravo!
As Mr. Rogers taught so many of us to think and say: I like you just the way you are. Brilliant. Generous. Big-hearted. Intuitive. Magical.
PS: an envelope full of magic arrived two days ago. Swoon. More on that later.
You are a polymorphic kaleidoscope Emily! The world wants so badly to put us into boxes but some simply can’t fit, no matter how hard we try. And boy do I cherish those that can’t. I feel like my life’s work has been about allowing contradiction—movement and stillness, pain and peace, joy and melancholy. It’s endlessly more freeing to live in the grey than need to resolve the tension into something definitive. I think part of why your creativity resonates so strongly with me is that it, too, carries the possibility of both/and, simply because it’s born from the complex genius of YOU.
And guess what? Erlys arrived today!!!!! She’s soooooooo beautiful!!!! I’m saving up my pennies to have her properly framed because she deserves only the best! I cannot thank you enough. What a gift to see your shimmering creative spark in my home.
Dear Kim, thank you so much - I love kaleidoscopes and their magic so to be called a polymorphic kaleidoscope…. 💗💗💗 I think that those of us who are a glorious mess of contradictions are drawn to each other in the best way - and you hold and share your own contradictions with such beauty and Grace, I’m so grateful to know you - it does feel like a journey toward freedom, to embrace our capricious, contradictory, mercurial and messy selves xx
I just read it Sally - thanks so much for sharing. Chloe mentioned Iain McGilchrist as well, although I haven’t gotten round to looking him up yet, I definitely will now.
Darling Em, this is so beautiful. You’re so beautiful. Your work is so beautiful. I adore both hemispheres of your brilliant brain, and all the future variations of me all look forward to meeting all the future variations of you 💗
Dear Chloe, thank you, the feeling is entirely mutual in every way. Much love xx
How welcome it is to nose around life, continually unpackaging treasures--both in persons and in nature!
There are so many treasures to unpack, aren’t there Ron! Enough for many lifetimes. It is so welcome indeed, thank you for your lovely words, they make me smile a very great deal xx
Thank you for this really interesting post, Emily.
I too, grew up feeling out of step with everyone else, aware that I felt and thought about things differently - feeling that I should pretend to be the same as everyone else.
It was only as I grew older, that I no longer felt the need to pretend. As you so perfectly put it, being ‘a blueprint unlike any before or since’.
As are we all.
But it took me a while to recognise that.
And think that anyway most people have parts of themselves they keep tucked out of sight and maybe are not as ‘normal’ as they seem!
I agree that we are profoundly situational beings and that different experiences and emotional situations will bring different aspects of us to the surface.
We are perhaps possessed of a whole cornucopia of possible selves!
It’s lucky for the world, that your artistic talents are a self you chose to develop !
Corfe Castle and village look lovely ( so nice to meander without restrictions on time!) and I love your descriptions of Winchester Cathedral and the Morley Library.
You are so right, Kay. The pressure to fit in but also the desire to just be ourselves. I think it does come with age and understanding - to not worry so much and stop pretending. It’s been growing within me for year, but particularly since I took some risks creatively and personally and this knowledge that I am capricious and contradictory, mercurial and messy, and that is actually ok, is so freeing. I’m glad that you are enjoying that freedom as well, it’s such a joy to read your kind and encouraging comments x
x
What a coïncidence. I just arrived home after dog sitting for more than a week. The way I feel and act here is very different than when I was with the dog. Maybe life is about accepting all aspects of our being and knowing when to express them. Thank you for helping me realize this. I'm so happy for you that you enjoyed your days out. I like the pictures you took of Winchester Cathedral.
I think it is Klamo - it’s ok if we share different parts of ourselves, more than ok - wonderful, in face. We’re not different on the inside, just what is visible changes. I’m so glad that you found something in my letter of value. And how lovely to spend time dog sitting - I think that dogs are wonderful companions, they don’t care about our labels or titles, they just care if we are kind. And thank you for the kind words about my photographs, I had a lovely time and it’s been a while since I took lots of photos to share! xx
Yes, dogs are wonderful companions. I always enjoy their company when I can. One of your many talents is your artistic eye. It shines through in so much of what you do. It’s a joy to see.
What a wonderful way to start my day Emily. Thank you. You have answered a question I often ask myself when I feel out of kilter with my surroundings or company. I'm so glad you enjoyed Corfe. It is a magical place that suits everyone I think 🌹
It is magical, I was glad of my solitary day trips - I think I might make more of a habit of them!! Thank you for your kind words, always xx
I am so glad you didn't choose one lane Emily. You are certainly a polymorph extraordinaire! And your output is phenomenal.
I loved reading about your two day trips. I felt the joy and ease of your days in your words and photos.
Thank you for giving your unique blueprint to this world. 💛💛💛
Thank you Jo - its always so lovely to read your words, they are such a wonderful encouragement. There are some unique blueprints and peculiar consciousnesses that I am particularly fond on, and yours is one! My little day escapes were delicious and exciting adventures and I must do more of them!!
💛💛 Yes you must!
You are a jewel with many facets, my friend. How grateful I am that you have managed to allow yourself to be and shine through all of them. There are always souls who will try to talk you out of one or two that somehow threaten their own sense of self, but I can see clearly that you have learned to ignore all that 'concern' and 'expert' advice from those who would size you down a notch or two to make life more comfortable for themselves. Bravo!
As Mr. Rogers taught so many of us to think and say: I like you just the way you are. Brilliant. Generous. Big-hearted. Intuitive. Magical.
PS: an envelope full of magic arrived two days ago. Swoon. More on that later.
https://misterrogers.org/videos/i-like-you-as-you-are/
Such a perfect song Davey, thank you. I hadn’t heard it before - so simply stated but completely perfect. I’m so grateful that we are friends x
You are a polymorphic kaleidoscope Emily! The world wants so badly to put us into boxes but some simply can’t fit, no matter how hard we try. And boy do I cherish those that can’t. I feel like my life’s work has been about allowing contradiction—movement and stillness, pain and peace, joy and melancholy. It’s endlessly more freeing to live in the grey than need to resolve the tension into something definitive. I think part of why your creativity resonates so strongly with me is that it, too, carries the possibility of both/and, simply because it’s born from the complex genius of YOU.
And guess what? Erlys arrived today!!!!! She’s soooooooo beautiful!!!! I’m saving up my pennies to have her properly framed because she deserves only the best! I cannot thank you enough. What a gift to see your shimmering creative spark in my home.
Dear Kim, thank you so much - I love kaleidoscopes and their magic so to be called a polymorphic kaleidoscope…. 💗💗💗 I think that those of us who are a glorious mess of contradictions are drawn to each other in the best way - and you hold and share your own contradictions with such beauty and Grace, I’m so grateful to know you - it does feel like a journey toward freedom, to embrace our capricious, contradictory, mercurial and messy selves xx
I could not agree with you more Emily.
I wrote this post a while back because Jill Boulte -Taylor and her book Whole Brain Living changed how I live now too.
In case you would like to read it. 🩵
https://sallyjupe.substack.com/p/finding-generosity-from-four-alternative?r=f1p0k&utm_medium=ios
I just read it Sally - thanks so much for sharing. Chloe mentioned Iain McGilchrist as well, although I haven’t gotten round to looking him up yet, I definitely will now.