Happy Sunday!
I wrote once of how much I detest the sort of writing that announces that I am about to be inspired. Fuck that. Put up those little signposts of inspiration, and I get all contrary and pissed off.
Not only will I not be all inspired to go out and lose weight . . . I will instead eat a fucking PopTart as I lounge on the couch in my bathrobe.
So there.
I am way mature.
In that same post, however, I wrote of how I was not averse to responding emotionally to someone’s words . . .
But if inspiration is to happen? I want it to happen organically, because of something I bring to the experience as a reader. I want to be unexpectedly and terrifyingly swept away by the force of my connection with your words.
And so today?
Maybe you will find something magical in these posts and maybe you will not.
But I?
I was swept away.
Issa from Issa’s Crazy World
Issa linked a post she wrote last year on December 30th . . . the day after her husband announced that he was moving out and not coming back.
Read that post, people. Because as much pain as Issa was experiencing, that post is filled with hope and love.
The post I am featuring is the post she wrote just a few days ago, a year later. A post of strength and survival and wisdom.
Here’s my comment on that post . . .
I wish I had known you a year ago.
I am so glad that you linked that (earlier) post here for me to read. Because I know you now . . . and I know you as strong and triumphant and accomplished. With issues. Everyone has issues.
I know I do.
But I have been so impressed with you.
And now to read that post from a year ago? To see how far you have come? How much you have braved?
That’s just magical.
To read one post after the other . . . it’s just magic.
So yes.
Take 2011.
You deserve this year.
Take it.
C. Mom from C. Mom A Day in the Life
First?
Read this post from C. Mom. . . about a moment of quiet solitary reflection on the moment in which she became a mother.
And then read the post I am featuring, in which C. Mom writes of her battle with cancer from her father’s perspective.
It’s just awesome.
Here’s my comment on that post . . .
Hey, you?
It is one thing to see in your profile that you are a cancer survivor. I see that. I know that about you … but it seems so far from the woman I have come to know here in your writing. Yes, a part of you. But not a part that I consider when I read your words here most days.
You are a wife and a mother and a woman and a writer. And fabulous at all of those things. I forget the cancer.
I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing.
But this post? This post reminds me that you are so much more.
A daughter.
A fighter.
A survivor.
A comforter.
A writer.
Yes … that last one still.
And always.
Thank you for posting this today.
Much love.
Nicole from By Word of Mouth
OK, I have to direct you to Nicole’s About Page. It’s a fabulous page, and her family is gorgeous. Plus also? Her wedding hair makes me giggle.
Nicole is going to kick my ass, but that’s the truth. Hee hee!
In the post I am featuring, Nicole wrote of reaching deeper in the coming year, of owning her happiness while paying respect to the sadnesses and struggles that have come before.
Here’s my comment on her post . . .
Hey, lovely you!
There is a place for happy. Happy is fabulous. You deserve to be happy and appreciative and delighted with the life you have.
For me?
Those other stories?
Those deeper stories about moments that were not as happy? Those let me in as a reader and as a friend . . . they connect me to you. I want you to be happy more than anything, but I also know that no one gets through this life without some depth.
And depth is harder to share.
But for me?
The happier is bigger and more joyful when held up against the struggles of one’s past. The ability to capture and appreciate a moment of joy is more poignant if that ability lies in a person who also knows what it is to feel despair.
The more I know about you?
The more I am able to appreciate the joy you have found.
Really.
Share those stories.
Risk.
You do no insult to your current joy by acknowledging past pain.
Really.
Happy New Year, brave you.
So this week?
You don’t have to be inspired. Lie on the couch in your bathrobe and eat a PopTart. Don’t even care.
It is enough that these writers inspired me.
Rare and lovely magic.
Happy sighs.
Kris
yay! great blogs to read today! :)
Yay!
They really are awesome.
And you? Why are you not sending me links to your Exploded Moments blog?
Hmmmmm?
Awesome – thanks for giving us some new blogs to check out, and for being a good blog pimp!
SD
I am happy to be a pimp as long as I get to do it my way.
My way works for me.
And you?
Following you on Twitter now . . . stopped by your blog and you were all threatening with the chili dogs.
I am all shivery with fear.
Snort!
I agree, you are a great blog pimp!
OK, I will need a big hat with a feather.
And a long velvet coat.
Yay for pimping!
what?
holy cow batman!!! Thank you so much Kris! xoxoxo….
You are more than welcome.
That was a lovely heartfelt post.
Happy sighs.
Thanks for sharing these bloggers with us. I already know Nicole…but not the others.
Yay for new connections!
They are awesome.
I love your featured bloggers everytime! Nicole’s post on blogher was a really good one too. I cried.
Happy New Year, by the way!
I know!
I saw Nicole at BlogHer at the same time Nichole’s post went up.
A lovely lovely post.
Nicole needs to shout her own awesomeness more.
Pretty sure.
I enjoy the perspective that these women bring to my life.
I’m with you…they quietly inspire me, and that is enough.
Happy New Year, Wonderful Kris!
You inspire and push me, more than I would have been able to guess.
Thank you, so much.
Yes.
Quiet inspiration.
Exactly.
Happy New Year, wonderful Alexandra!
You have brought so much joy to my life.
Thank you so very much.
I read these pieces (with provisions) but was yet unprepared for the windtunnel I was entering. Totally blew me away. Comments too.
I so admire pennerly people. Pennerly?
Enjoying finally entering the blogoshpere. Thanks for sharing the Goodies; yours and others’. So much!!!!
Thank you for introducing me to some great bloggers/fantastic women.
Happy New Year to all of you!
You’re welcome!
Happy New Year to you as well!
Thanks for sharing some great blogs!!!
May 2011 be an amazing year for you and your family.
Thank you, Jill!
I have several more of your posts to visit.
Haven’t forgotten, lovely you.
Wishing you the best in 2011 as well!
Pearls of wisdom in buckets of awesome. I’ll be reading for quite a while.. and savoring every moment!
Pearls of wisdom in buckets of awesome?
Yay!
That’s lovely.
This is so awesome because I LOVE poptarts!!
They are way yummy!
Fuck inspiration.
I waited on this one. It was like a gift that I wanted to cherish. To hold onto for awhile, before I opened it.
Thank you friend. I often feel like I’m just writing for myself. It’s nice when someone else takes a liking to something.
I still can’t respond to your comment in that post. Because it keeps making me cry. I adore you and your amazing words.
Issa -
You are very welcome.
You may be writing for yourself, but you deserve a larger audience.
You so do.
You are an amazingly talented writer.
You so are.
Kris
Best compliment I’ve gotten in a very long time. Thank you friend.
Happy sighs.
Thank you as well.