Wow this blew me away. These are words I couldn’t find to say what I am feeling. I too have a 7 month old and I too feel like I have less of me for myself.
I appreciate you sharing this so much and making this lonely mother feel seen.
What a beautiful list of noticing & heart. Thanks for sharing your week with us. Writing poetry is the hardest thing ever, yet so easy as to put a few words together. Right?😜
Anyway. I'm glad you found the calling and I hope you'll continue writing, because you're definitely a poet already. 💕
Thanks so much for this sweet encouragement! The greatest gift so far has been enjoying the craft itself. I'm a wordy person, so forcing myself to clarify thought is a challenge...
Thanks for this: "I’ve always believed that if I could pick a vocation—either writing or drawing—I’d excel at one instead of chugging away, moderately, at both. This program gave me permission to not choose sides." I have the very same issue (though more painting than drawing) and I seek permission to not choose sides. Just your small mention may have done that.
Such a beautiful exchange of friendship with a renewed promise each day to honor practice! I love the act of release that sending the poem off in the mail has—how freeing and symbolic.
Dec 15, 2023·edited Dec 15, 2023Liked by Meera Lee Patel
Meera! I read this to Walter this morning whilst still in bed (i generally check my sleep in the morning and unlike me to 'blueface' first thing!) but I teared up as I was reading it. What a delight to start my day a little weepy, and what a joy this has been to reveal these tiny sketchbook truths to one another!
Margaux! So much gratitude for letting me into this little world, which continues to claw at me in all of the right ways. So excited to write more to you this year. <3
I don’t have a lot of time to read newsletters lately but I saw the subject line of yours (and I’m not just saying this because I’m commenting to you, but I prefer yours to so many that I subscribe to - is it ok to unsubscribe...I need less clutter in the new year)...I saw the subject of yours and my heart flipped. I soaked every word in. Thank you, Meera. I know you don’t know me, and many of your readers, but I’m so grateful for your sharing! I want to do this. I would LOVE to find someone’s door inviting me to do this with and invite me in - and say yes.
I have struggled since moving to NC to “find my people” despite many efforts to make new creative friends. I have struggled to find my voice in writing. I have struggled to find my place in my art. But I have eyes that see beauty and words that I don’t put on paper. I don’t think my poetry is great. It’s not bad. It just is. Like you said. I love that you said that. Anyway, if you decide to open up opportunities for your readers to participate in something like this, please include me. I would LOVE this so much and know it would be extremely life-giving. ❤️ Thank you for putting yourself out there. I’m grateful for you and your words and heart.
Kelly, thanks so much for reading and for the kind words. It really means so much to know that you choose to subscribe and read my newsletter -- inbox clutter is real. I relate to a lot of what you're currently going through -- I, too, am new in my city and struggling to build a community. I know it takes time and effort, and I'm planning on investing more of myself into this venture this year.
I'll definitely keep this idea in mine -- a community where we can share more of our writing and art together. I don't have the bandwidth to support it right now, but it is definitely a goal of mine for the future. I'd love to build a little creative community together--it's one of the biggest reasons I continue to write. <3
What a joy to to read of the daily poem writing; you are a poet, Meera, it is tangible in your art , your thoughts and your writing, I'm so glad you are embracing the open door.
Mya, thanks so much for your kind message and for reading. The daily poem practice has opened up quite a few doors, and I'm excited to see where it will lead. Happy new year and many open doors to you.
What helps me most is believing you need both to live fully: the good and bad, the joy and disappointment. Thanks so much for continuing to read. I hope you continue to make your art.
Wow this blew me away. These are words I couldn’t find to say what I am feeling. I too have a 7 month old and I too feel like I have less of me for myself.
I appreciate you sharing this so much and making this lonely mother feel seen.
I'm so glad these words helped, Shaina. Thanks for reading. <3
What a beautiful list of noticing & heart. Thanks for sharing your week with us. Writing poetry is the hardest thing ever, yet so easy as to put a few words together. Right?😜
Anyway. I'm glad you found the calling and I hope you'll continue writing, because you're definitely a poet already. 💕
Thanks so much for this sweet encouragement! The greatest gift so far has been enjoying the craft itself. I'm a wordy person, so forcing myself to clarify thought is a challenge...
Thanks for this: "I’ve always believed that if I could pick a vocation—either writing or drawing—I’d excel at one instead of chugging away, moderately, at both. This program gave me permission to not choose sides." I have the very same issue (though more painting than drawing) and I seek permission to not choose sides. Just your small mention may have done that.
I'm so happy to hear this letter possibly gave you permission, honestly, to be who you already are. I hope it did.
Such a beautiful exchange of friendship with a renewed promise each day to honor practice! I love the act of release that sending the poem off in the mail has—how freeing and symbolic.
Yes! And to practice craft for craft's sake...that isn't shared publicly...I plan on writing more about the power of that.
Meera! I read this to Walter this morning whilst still in bed (i generally check my sleep in the morning and unlike me to 'blueface' first thing!) but I teared up as I was reading it. What a delight to start my day a little weepy, and what a joy this has been to reveal these tiny sketchbook truths to one another!
Margaux! So much gratitude for letting me into this little world, which continues to claw at me in all of the right ways. So excited to write more to you this year. <3
I don’t have a lot of time to read newsletters lately but I saw the subject line of yours (and I’m not just saying this because I’m commenting to you, but I prefer yours to so many that I subscribe to - is it ok to unsubscribe...I need less clutter in the new year)...I saw the subject of yours and my heart flipped. I soaked every word in. Thank you, Meera. I know you don’t know me, and many of your readers, but I’m so grateful for your sharing! I want to do this. I would LOVE to find someone’s door inviting me to do this with and invite me in - and say yes.
I have struggled since moving to NC to “find my people” despite many efforts to make new creative friends. I have struggled to find my voice in writing. I have struggled to find my place in my art. But I have eyes that see beauty and words that I don’t put on paper. I don’t think my poetry is great. It’s not bad. It just is. Like you said. I love that you said that. Anyway, if you decide to open up opportunities for your readers to participate in something like this, please include me. I would LOVE this so much and know it would be extremely life-giving. ❤️ Thank you for putting yourself out there. I’m grateful for you and your words and heart.
Kelly, thanks so much for reading and for the kind words. It really means so much to know that you choose to subscribe and read my newsletter -- inbox clutter is real. I relate to a lot of what you're currently going through -- I, too, am new in my city and struggling to build a community. I know it takes time and effort, and I'm planning on investing more of myself into this venture this year.
I'll definitely keep this idea in mine -- a community where we can share more of our writing and art together. I don't have the bandwidth to support it right now, but it is definitely a goal of mine for the future. I'd love to build a little creative community together--it's one of the biggest reasons I continue to write. <3
What a joy to to read of the daily poem writing; you are a poet, Meera, it is tangible in your art , your thoughts and your writing, I'm so glad you are embracing the open door.
Mya, thanks so much for your kind message and for reading. The daily poem practice has opened up quite a few doors, and I'm excited to see where it will lead. Happy new year and many open doors to you.
What helps me most is believing you need both to live fully: the good and bad, the joy and disappointment. Thanks so much for continuing to read. I hope you continue to make your art.