Thank you so much for linking Haili Blassingame's essay. I agree with her (and you) and am of the firm belief that if something I create makes just one person's day better, I *have* changed the world. I think demanding to see enormous and immediate effect from one's effort is rooted in capitalism (and maybe a bit of arrogance and privilege).
Down with the idea that art must be ~good, famous, or have monetary value to matter. Here's to embracing our cringe, flying our freak flags, and spreading joy in whatever ways we can.
HELL YEA LYDIA LET THAT FREAK FLAG FLYYYY! totally agree that capitalism/privilege/ego warps our sense of realistic impacts. letting this idea fuel my creations today!! i don’t need to change the world, i just want to make someone smile & feel good! thank you for this! xx
Oh my goodness, I loved all of this. To paraphrase a book on how to read poetry, writing is like putting a message in a bottle and tossing it out to sea, hoping someone finds and appreciates it. I also wish that there was a deeper and wider social discourse about how the idea of reading to "do" something, to be productive, is so firmly rooted in the hardcore protestant origins of the US. The idea of personal reading as religious study to the detriment of laughing at ourselves and finding joy or anything else between the pages.
thank you for this lovely response! and for the metaphor of the message in a bottle. my cancer venus loves is 🌊🖤 it’s an interesting thought about reading as a productive activity! while it can be, some of my favorites days have been “wasted” reading a book in full. would love to muse on the religious influence more as well!
Bee!! I’ve been doing EMDR for 3 years and I’ve never heard it described so eloquently. Anyway, here if you ever need support on your journey. It can definitely be a rough and lonely one at times.
thank you, my friend! i so appreciate this offer, and i'm here for you as well! so far, my experience has been overwhelmingly positive, even if it is raw and painful at times. xx
I have been saving this to read since it was posted and it was very much what I needed to read tonight. <33
i smiled so big when i read this! thank you thank you & i’m so glad it hit in right timing 🖤
Thank you so much for linking Haili Blassingame's essay. I agree with her (and you) and am of the firm belief that if something I create makes just one person's day better, I *have* changed the world. I think demanding to see enormous and immediate effect from one's effort is rooted in capitalism (and maybe a bit of arrogance and privilege).
Down with the idea that art must be ~good, famous, or have monetary value to matter. Here's to embracing our cringe, flying our freak flags, and spreading joy in whatever ways we can.
HELL YEA LYDIA LET THAT FREAK FLAG FLYYYY! totally agree that capitalism/privilege/ego warps our sense of realistic impacts. letting this idea fuel my creations today!! i don’t need to change the world, i just want to make someone smile & feel good! thank you for this! xx
Thank you for mentioning my essay!!! What a pleasant surprise in my inbox :) Also this was a great piece!
thank you for yours! loving your substack!
Oh my goodness, I loved all of this. To paraphrase a book on how to read poetry, writing is like putting a message in a bottle and tossing it out to sea, hoping someone finds and appreciates it. I also wish that there was a deeper and wider social discourse about how the idea of reading to "do" something, to be productive, is so firmly rooted in the hardcore protestant origins of the US. The idea of personal reading as religious study to the detriment of laughing at ourselves and finding joy or anything else between the pages.
thank you for this lovely response! and for the metaphor of the message in a bottle. my cancer venus loves is 🌊🖤 it’s an interesting thought about reading as a productive activity! while it can be, some of my favorites days have been “wasted” reading a book in full. would love to muse on the religious influence more as well!
Bee!! I’ve been doing EMDR for 3 years and I’ve never heard it described so eloquently. Anyway, here if you ever need support on your journey. It can definitely be a rough and lonely one at times.
thank you, my friend! i so appreciate this offer, and i'm here for you as well! so far, my experience has been overwhelmingly positive, even if it is raw and painful at times. xx