Here's my phrase (sentence) that has helped me to connect more deeply with someone I love...myself!
Born in Nashville, retired from the University System of Georgia in Atlanta, and never having lived on the coast, I moved to Beaufort, SC with my husband George in 2012. I joined the Hunting Island Sea Turtle Conservation Project and became deeply involved in sea turtle nest protection and citizen science. For six years I led turtle teams at dawn every Monday morning from May through October, and along the way I became the volunteer coordinator for the program of some 130 volunteers. I realized then that it wasn't the turtles that attracted me to the work, it was the people. I love working with people in teams. Along came Hurricane Matthew in 2016, destroying the marina where we lived. My husband, an avid sailor, suggested that we move to Charleston. I agreed, half-heartedly, and in 2018, I said my good-byes to Hunting Island. Before we left, the permit holder for the sea turtle program took me aside. A rough-hewn, barefooted native of the sea islands, and many years my junior, this man has dedicated his life to sea turtles, and despite his lack of extensive education, he is well-read and brilliant, and I admire him more than any college professor I have ever known. In expressing how much I would be missed, he said to me, "You are an integral part of this program. Every single volunteer believes that you care about them. You are a true leader." Even though I am still involved in sea turtle conservation, now on Kiawah Island, and also as a conservation volunteer with the South Carolina Aquarium, I will never forget that compliment, possibly the best I have ever received, if I live to be 100. And it did help me to connect with myself on a new level.
I woke up way too early this morning, thinking about what I'm afraid of. I got up and wrote about it for a couple hours and then was too awake to go back to sleep and too tired to do anything productive. So I watched this podcast all the way through (and now I've subscribed to Kelly's podcast too). Rainn, you invited your listeners to share in these comments what we're afraid of. And I'm feeling particularly brave at the moment, perhaps because I'm sleep-deprived, but here goes. I'm writing a memoir about healing spiritually and emotionally from over 50 years of shame around having an abortion when I was young. I've been working on this book for three years and am close to being finished, and I'm beginning to imagine what could happen when my story is released into the world. I think I can cope with angry strangers calling me names, but what if people I respect in my religious community turn against me? This fear is not big enough to stop me from having the book published. It does rob me of sleep though.
And Kelly, if you're reading this, I found your podcast episode with April Lawson, which was so helpful. Thank you for having the guts to do that.
Here's my phrase (sentence) that has helped me to connect more deeply with someone I love...myself!
Born in Nashville, retired from the University System of Georgia in Atlanta, and never having lived on the coast, I moved to Beaufort, SC with my husband George in 2012. I joined the Hunting Island Sea Turtle Conservation Project and became deeply involved in sea turtle nest protection and citizen science. For six years I led turtle teams at dawn every Monday morning from May through October, and along the way I became the volunteer coordinator for the program of some 130 volunteers. I realized then that it wasn't the turtles that attracted me to the work, it was the people. I love working with people in teams. Along came Hurricane Matthew in 2016, destroying the marina where we lived. My husband, an avid sailor, suggested that we move to Charleston. I agreed, half-heartedly, and in 2018, I said my good-byes to Hunting Island. Before we left, the permit holder for the sea turtle program took me aside. A rough-hewn, barefooted native of the sea islands, and many years my junior, this man has dedicated his life to sea turtles, and despite his lack of extensive education, he is well-read and brilliant, and I admire him more than any college professor I have ever known. In expressing how much I would be missed, he said to me, "You are an integral part of this program. Every single volunteer believes that you care about them. You are a true leader." Even though I am still involved in sea turtle conservation, now on Kiawah Island, and also as a conservation volunteer with the South Carolina Aquarium, I will never forget that compliment, possibly the best I have ever received, if I live to be 100. And it did help me to connect with myself on a new level.
♥️ 🐢 Beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
The phrase that I have a hard time sharing with loved ones (many of whom have spoken to me in harmful, mean, condescending ways) is:
“It’s hurtful to me when you speak to me that way.”
I woke up way too early this morning, thinking about what I'm afraid of. I got up and wrote about it for a couple hours and then was too awake to go back to sleep and too tired to do anything productive. So I watched this podcast all the way through (and now I've subscribed to Kelly's podcast too). Rainn, you invited your listeners to share in these comments what we're afraid of. And I'm feeling particularly brave at the moment, perhaps because I'm sleep-deprived, but here goes. I'm writing a memoir about healing spiritually and emotionally from over 50 years of shame around having an abortion when I was young. I've been working on this book for three years and am close to being finished, and I'm beginning to imagine what could happen when my story is released into the world. I think I can cope with angry strangers calling me names, but what if people I respect in my religious community turn against me? This fear is not big enough to stop me from having the book published. It does rob me of sleep though.
And Kelly, if you're reading this, I found your podcast episode with April Lawson, which was so helpful. Thank you for having the guts to do that.