I hope you continue on your path to recovery with a healthy heart, Grant. We see how graciously you share your heart with us every time you write your meaningful pieces.
How serendipitous that I read this. I always find so much inspiration in your writing. The title drew me into this one and I giggled with a sense of familiarity because for the past few weeks, I’ve been mulling over writing an article about trust, and how we can’t avoid it, we have no choice in nearly every aspect of our lives, without realizing it, some much bigger than others, as you’ve pointed out in trusting medical professionals.
I think they’re saints, and I can’t imagine doing what they do, day in and day out.
Thanks so much, Joy, and I hope you write your essay on trust. It is really interesting on so many levels, and our ability or inability to trust shapes our life. Sometimes we have no choice. Sometimes who have choice. Sometimes we don't even know we're choosing.
I think medical professionals tend to be saints as well.
Talk about vulnerability and trust, to literally open your body up to strangers, and not even know all their names. The vivid detail of the gown you wore, that did it for me, seeing your chest open, imaging you on the table like that, and now here you are. I want to cover you up and place hands on your stitches and bless you and hope everything heals so that you can keep on writing and being of service to us writers for many, many years to come. Thank you for sharing this journey with us.
Thanks, Polly. I appreciate your kind words. I plan to be around for a while. Maybe the hospital gown is a good metaphor for the life of a writer. I wonder.
I so needed this reminder today. Thank you for trusting us, your Substack readers, enough to share your heart story (wishing it and you smooth rhythms going forward) and trusting your own creative process to bring it forth.
"Trust defines our relationship with ourselves." Yes. And I wonder whether when we're young, kid-young, we don't know we're vulnerable but when we get older we become so so aware of it.
Thanks! I think that's it, right? We can put words to when we're vulnerable as adults—and perhaps we're more aware/afraid of consequences, so we're more sensitive of it.
Wishing you good health and a steady heartbeat after all those Thelonius Monk solos! Thank you for inspiring me with your writing (this post about trust, which is so true) and also Nanowrimo, which opened up my heart, my writing, and my life by helping me follow my dream of climbing a baobab tree and seeing a lemur in the Tsingy. I believe Nanowrimo (one and half between 2009-2012?) helped me write my way towards connecting with others who helped me realize that life dream.
Wow, Erik, this is so amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this. I love stories like this—an experience that inspires on the page, but also beyond. NaNoWriMo inspired many people in a similar way. I hope you keep climbing baobab trees!
I hope you continue on your path to recovery with a healthy heart, Grant. We see how graciously you share your heart with us every time you write your meaningful pieces.
How serendipitous that I read this. I always find so much inspiration in your writing. The title drew me into this one and I giggled with a sense of familiarity because for the past few weeks, I’ve been mulling over writing an article about trust, and how we can’t avoid it, we have no choice in nearly every aspect of our lives, without realizing it, some much bigger than others, as you’ve pointed out in trusting medical professionals.
I think they’re saints, and I can’t imagine doing what they do, day in and day out.
Thanks so much, Joy, and I hope you write your essay on trust. It is really interesting on so many levels, and our ability or inability to trust shapes our life. Sometimes we have no choice. Sometimes who have choice. Sometimes we don't even know we're choosing.
I think medical professionals tend to be saints as well.
Talk about vulnerability and trust, to literally open your body up to strangers, and not even know all their names. The vivid detail of the gown you wore, that did it for me, seeing your chest open, imaging you on the table like that, and now here you are. I want to cover you up and place hands on your stitches and bless you and hope everything heals so that you can keep on writing and being of service to us writers for many, many years to come. Thank you for sharing this journey with us.
Thanks, Polly. I appreciate your kind words. I plan to be around for a while. Maybe the hospital gown is a good metaphor for the life of a writer. I wonder.
I think you have a point!
Loved this, as usual, and I trust that the heart edit did the job.
I so needed this reminder today. Thank you for trusting us, your Substack readers, enough to share your heart story (wishing it and you smooth rhythms going forward) and trusting your own creative process to bring it forth.
Thanks, Audrey! Going in for a check-up today. The heart holds many dramas, as I'm learning.
All best wishes for complete recovery and robust health. Thanks again for JanYourStory. Heroic on your part, and Brooke's.
Thanks for writing with us, Judy!
"Trust defines our relationship with ourselves." Yes. And I wonder whether when we're young, kid-young, we don't know we're vulnerable but when we get older we become so so aware of it.
I hope you're ok!
Thanks! I think that's it, right? We can put words to when we're vulnerable as adults—and perhaps we're more aware/afraid of consequences, so we're more sensitive of it.
I think so.
This is beautiful and such a necessary reminder. Thank you, Grant, and well wishes in your recovery.
Thanks, Mirella, I'm glad the piece resonated.
This is so, so good. Thank you for sharing your words and wisdom. I wish you a return to full health.
Refuah shlema: Complete Healing-body, soul and our world right now.
I appreciate your thoughts on trust. It is when I don’t trust myself to tell my own story that my writing goes awry.
Keep trusting your vision, Dona! And I know it will trust you.
Wishing you smooth and whole healing.
This was a lovely, powerful post. Thank you. And I'm glad they did their jobs well and with care, and that you're here to write to us.
Thanks, Marjie! I'm in awe of medical professionals. Everyone was so cheery, so caring, so heroic by how they showed up.
This is a wonderful post. Thank you!
And be well.
Thanks so much, Barbara! The ticker is ticking ...
Wishing you good health and a steady heartbeat after all those Thelonius Monk solos! Thank you for inspiring me with your writing (this post about trust, which is so true) and also Nanowrimo, which opened up my heart, my writing, and my life by helping me follow my dream of climbing a baobab tree and seeing a lemur in the Tsingy. I believe Nanowrimo (one and half between 2009-2012?) helped me write my way towards connecting with others who helped me realize that life dream.
Wow, Erik, this is so amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this. I love stories like this—an experience that inspires on the page, but also beyond. NaNoWriMo inspired many people in a similar way. I hope you keep climbing baobab trees!
Thank you so much for sharing that moving essay.
Undergoing surgery feels like the height of vulnerability. I wish you the best on your recovery.