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Carrie's avatar

I can't express how much this resonated with me. As someone who has also recently lost her grandma and, for all intents and purposes, lost her dad, and someone who has been feeling very creatively lost lately–thank you for your words. They came exactly when I needed to read them.

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courtney summers's avatar

It means a lot that you took the time to read it and that it gave something back to you, especially at a time as complex and difficult as the one you're going through. I am so terribly sorry for your losses and keeping you in my thoughts. I hope 2025 is creatively fruitful for you, Carrie! Just being able to understand the language of our own creativity is a process that gets us closer to the act, and every step contributes to getting there. Be kind to yourself.

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Nicole Brinkley's avatar

The thing about eras is, as much as we love them and are fascinated by them, is that they are largely a marketing concept. It's fun to have them from a branding perspective, but if you are sitting in truth and discomfort, it's impossible—life feeds ever forward.

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courtney summers's avatar

Nicole! You are ever wonderful & "Life feeds ever forward." What a beautiful sentiment to take into the day, tomorrow, the year. Thank you for sharing it here so much.

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Kristine Campbell's avatar

"The lesson here, so many times learned: to stop resisting discomfort, stop giving in to the urge to seek out and eliminate its source, but to search, instead, for the language it needs to express itself." Like this line, which shows how your lived experience beautifully translates into lyricism, "in weather that felt like a handshake between two seasons." Thank you for the challenge to seek, embody, and speak the truth on the page.

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courtney summers's avatar

Kristine, thank you for joining me in that challenge, that seeking, that speaking and thank you for sharing your presence and your voice with me here. I have appreciated it more than I can say.

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Susan S.'s avatar

You show such amazing positive growth and should feel very proud of where it has led you both personally and professionally. I do💖

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courtney summers's avatar

I had a good role model :) <3

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Emily Slaney's avatar

I think knowledge and understanding in terms of mental health and also issues with writing is the best thing. It helps so much as a coping mechanism (at least in my experience). You sound peaceful and I am glad for that. Grief is hard. Very very hard. You have spent your year creating and understanding and overcoming and allowing yourself what you need. That sound pretty fantastic to me. You've learned so much. Good job you 💖

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courtney summers's avatar

I feel like I have also benefited deeply from this place of being understood and being surrounded by people who have great lines to their head and their hearts--thank you for being one of those people, Emily, and sharing both with me here :)

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