I’m relatively new to Substack and currently receive 4 eclectic newsletters each week, each one terrific; but so far I think this newsletter may be the best. The 23 lessons read more like a treatise on living; I’m 70 and I think I’m philosophical, but each lesson you wrote, Carolyn, opened these old eyes.
The 23 lessons are all great, but these resonate the most: “Sending the belated card or text or email is better than not sending at all”; “Quitting is not shameful”; “My favorite definition of love: “two solitudes that protect, border, and greet each other”; “You can grow a lot through a daily practice. Trust that you’re growing—even though it can’t be perceived day to day, you’ll eventually see it”.
These are some of mine but I will incorporate your 23 lessons into my life as well:
1. Solitude begets reflection, even when in a crowd; it helps you hold onto your individuality.
2. Life is paradox; knowing this is paramount in order to realize there is no failure, only misplaced assumptions of what constitutes success in culture and society. For example: A broken heart from a relationship that didn’t have a happy ending---those who NEVER experience at least ONE broken heart are truly the unlucky ones. There’s the paradox.
3. It is advantageous to view life from a seat, at an obtuse angle, right off third-base; it is a view of life not many experience and the revelations are both fun and fulfilling.
4. The mind of the iconoclast processes inputs differently than the minds of the masses; this leads to the iconoclast being an outcast, but it also informs the iconoclast to make better decisions, better investigations, better critiques, be more creative and understand the folly of dogma and tradition.
5. Realize that the Universe is not only stranger than we think, it’s stranger than WE CAN think..
6. The human construct of “Time” is nonsense. You existed billions of years before you were born and you will exist for billions of years after you die (we are made of the same dust and elements from the Big Bang). The field of quantum gravity, M-theory and loop quantum gravity prove what Einstein wrote in a famous letter to a bereaved family friend: “For those of us who believe in physics, the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion". So relax when you wake at 4:00 am, worrying.
7. Remember to breath deeply and to sigh often; this will counteract the anxiety-producing effect of “digital-apnea,” the bane of our age, where we forget to breath while reading emails, texts and social media.
Happy Birthday! I love the idea of a "fakeover." I'm looking at my office in a new way now! Hmm... I also like the idea of giving myself constraints for my art. I do that with writing all the time, so why not with my drawing!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY (a day early)!!
I’m relatively new to Substack and currently receive 4 eclectic newsletters each week, each one terrific; but so far I think this newsletter may be the best. The 23 lessons read more like a treatise on living; I’m 70 and I think I’m philosophical, but each lesson you wrote, Carolyn, opened these old eyes.
The 23 lessons are all great, but these resonate the most: “Sending the belated card or text or email is better than not sending at all”; “Quitting is not shameful”; “My favorite definition of love: “two solitudes that protect, border, and greet each other”; “You can grow a lot through a daily practice. Trust that you’re growing—even though it can’t be perceived day to day, you’ll eventually see it”.
These are some of mine but I will incorporate your 23 lessons into my life as well:
1. Solitude begets reflection, even when in a crowd; it helps you hold onto your individuality.
2. Life is paradox; knowing this is paramount in order to realize there is no failure, only misplaced assumptions of what constitutes success in culture and society. For example: A broken heart from a relationship that didn’t have a happy ending---those who NEVER experience at least ONE broken heart are truly the unlucky ones. There’s the paradox.
3. It is advantageous to view life from a seat, at an obtuse angle, right off third-base; it is a view of life not many experience and the revelations are both fun and fulfilling.
4. The mind of the iconoclast processes inputs differently than the minds of the masses; this leads to the iconoclast being an outcast, but it also informs the iconoclast to make better decisions, better investigations, better critiques, be more creative and understand the folly of dogma and tradition.
5. Realize that the Universe is not only stranger than we think, it’s stranger than WE CAN think..
6. The human construct of “Time” is nonsense. You existed billions of years before you were born and you will exist for billions of years after you die (we are made of the same dust and elements from the Big Bang). The field of quantum gravity, M-theory and loop quantum gravity prove what Einstein wrote in a famous letter to a bereaved family friend: “For those of us who believe in physics, the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion". So relax when you wake at 4:00 am, worrying.
7. Remember to breath deeply and to sigh often; this will counteract the anxiety-producing effect of “digital-apnea,” the bane of our age, where we forget to breath while reading emails, texts and social media.
Thanks so much! And great lessons too—6&7 especially resonated!
Happy Birthday! I love the idea of a "fakeover." I'm looking at my office in a new way now! Hmm... I also like the idea of giving myself constraints for my art. I do that with writing all the time, so why not with my drawing!
Thanks Rebecca! Yes, constraints are totally applicable to both writing and drawing :) hope you get to refresh your office space soon!
Happy birthday for tomorrow!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 💕
Great post! And happy birthday!