Margo, I believe what does add up is your pen is mightier, and yours and others' art will reinvent and emerge from chaos, and words like yours inspire so keep it up, for yourself, and everyone else.
I'm so happy you're back, Margo. The same old abuse of power, by your father then and by those scumbags now, but you're not powerless, you've got words too.
Your words are like a sword of truth in these troubled times. Thank you for saying what I am unable to say in words. May the force be with us and the truth be upon us.
Funny that you would say that, Margo: I’ve found myself commenting on a lot of things lately, and noticed that my comments were longer than average, haha…
and the thought crossed my mind right then, too.
It‘s just that my garden to-do list is going around the block right now, so it may have to wait a bit -
The two equations - what you were told, and what happened - are haunting, there's a whole universe in that gap. Thank you for your bravery in opening this space for us
"..250 years of not good enough to the worst it could be..":
I thought we were already there when George Bush jr. was President -
I honestly thought it couldn't get any worse. I didn't file for citizenship then because I felt ashamed by association. But I was naive back then: it can always get worse, whether we want to acknowledge it or not, and history has proved that already.
It has to be the pits to grow up with this scenario in your own family! - I didn't have a picture-book childhood, but it was idyllic compared to yours.
The thing is, though, that as children, we cannot see these things objectively, I know realize: I just read, 5 minutes ago, that three teenagers were trying to kill their mother because she turned off WIFI internet on them. That shows you that these little monsters considered that an extreme threat to their wellbeing. Other kids get abused in the worst way, but for some reason don't try to kill their parents.
It's because suffering is a somewhat subjective thing, meaning the amount of suffering we go through is not necessarily in direct proportion to the abuse we experience.
Eckhardt Tolle (and many other says that our suffering results not always and not exclusively from what's going on, but more from what we tell ourselves about what's going on. This is a hopeful, positive thing for me, because it means that the story I tell myself about my life largely determines how happy I am with it. So why not highlight the things I love about it - which there are plenty and tell myself a story of beauty, love, perseverance and the incredible little everyday "miracles" I have experienced?!
That doesn't mean I have my head in the sand about current politics or national and international affairs. It's just that I refuse to let them define the quality of my existence.
And, we do have a voice to speak our truth, still, something which you've obviously practiced most of your life. It encourages other people to speak their truth, which is a beautiful thing.
I am learning to do that in a way that doesn't make people who don't agree with me "bad".
Marshall Rosenberg's book "Speak Peace in a World of Conflict", which I'm re-reading after 15 years is my current reference for that. It's hard to put into practice sometimes, because we are creatures of habit. I guess that's why I put it aside after reading it all those years ago and kind of forgot about it. Well, I'm at a point now where I believe that someday my life may depend on mastering these principles, but, almost more importantly, the survival of the species could be at stake, if a significant number of people don't learn how to get along with people who don't share all their values.
One thing I have learned in the last 20 years: it's always safe to talk about gardening, when you think you have nothing in common with somebody!
If you don't know anything about gardening, cooking is another such safe and endless topic -
Margo, I believe what does add up is your pen is mightier, and yours and others' art will reinvent and emerge from chaos, and words like yours inspire so keep it up, for yourself, and everyone else.
This is such a lovely response, thank you so much!
You express so well our pain and frustration at this horrible time. Thank you.
Thank you! You and your music do so much to uplift our spirits.
I'm so happy you're back, Margo. The same old abuse of power, by your father then and by those scumbags now, but you're not powerless, you've got words too.
Thank you so much, Portia. Backatcha!
Your words are like a sword of truth in these troubled times. Thank you for saying what I am unable to say in words. May the force be with us and the truth be upon us.
Thank you, what a beautiful response!
Funny that you would say that, Margo: I’ve found myself commenting on a lot of things lately, and noticed that my comments were longer than average, haha…
and the thought crossed my mind right then, too.
It‘s just that my garden to-do list is going around the block right now, so it may have to wait a bit -
The two equations - what you were told, and what happened - are haunting, there's a whole universe in that gap. Thank you for your bravery in opening this space for us
Thank you, Kristin, and for your always beautiful and enlightening substack!
"..250 years of not good enough to the worst it could be..":
I thought we were already there when George Bush jr. was President -
I honestly thought it couldn't get any worse. I didn't file for citizenship then because I felt ashamed by association. But I was naive back then: it can always get worse, whether we want to acknowledge it or not, and history has proved that already.
It has to be the pits to grow up with this scenario in your own family! - I didn't have a picture-book childhood, but it was idyllic compared to yours.
The thing is, though, that as children, we cannot see these things objectively, I know realize: I just read, 5 minutes ago, that three teenagers were trying to kill their mother because she turned off WIFI internet on them. That shows you that these little monsters considered that an extreme threat to their wellbeing. Other kids get abused in the worst way, but for some reason don't try to kill their parents.
It's because suffering is a somewhat subjective thing, meaning the amount of suffering we go through is not necessarily in direct proportion to the abuse we experience.
Eckhardt Tolle (and many other says that our suffering results not always and not exclusively from what's going on, but more from what we tell ourselves about what's going on. This is a hopeful, positive thing for me, because it means that the story I tell myself about my life largely determines how happy I am with it. So why not highlight the things I love about it - which there are plenty and tell myself a story of beauty, love, perseverance and the incredible little everyday "miracles" I have experienced?!
That doesn't mean I have my head in the sand about current politics or national and international affairs. It's just that I refuse to let them define the quality of my existence.
And, we do have a voice to speak our truth, still, something which you've obviously practiced most of your life. It encourages other people to speak their truth, which is a beautiful thing.
I am learning to do that in a way that doesn't make people who don't agree with me "bad".
Marshall Rosenberg's book "Speak Peace in a World of Conflict", which I'm re-reading after 15 years is my current reference for that. It's hard to put into practice sometimes, because we are creatures of habit. I guess that's why I put it aside after reading it all those years ago and kind of forgot about it. Well, I'm at a point now where I believe that someday my life may depend on mastering these principles, but, almost more importantly, the survival of the species could be at stake, if a significant number of people don't learn how to get along with people who don't share all their values.
One thing I have learned in the last 20 years: it's always safe to talk about gardening, when you think you have nothing in common with somebody!
If you don't know anything about gardening, cooking is another such safe and endless topic -
You should start a substack, Gabriele!
Margo,
What power your words have!
I’m struck. And thank you.
💜
Thank you! ❤️
…250 years of not enough to the worst it could be… well said my friend
Worser and worser 😭
Amen!
Signed,
Smart-A Lady Doc living by the Word.
Thanks for the delightful sign-off!
This is really deep, Margo. Such terrible times we are living in. Brilliantly expressed.
Thank you so much!