I love this so much: “There’s a reason I prefer the word despair to depression. Depression implies some kind of downward pressure. But I do not feel heavy. I feel hollow. To despair, on the other hand, is to be without hope. To hope is to wish. That’s what a dandelion is, is it not? A granter of wishes?” 🤍
Bella, I'm so glad that part resonated with you. I'm a big believer that the language/lexicon we use is so important, (especially around topics like this) and often falls short to capture the true nuance of things. we don't have to use the standard descriptors, we can choose our own! Or just make up your own words, as I have been known to do! At some stage i think i'll write a longer post on this, but thanks so much for your message x
This is so important. I talk often with my teenage (and very likely autistic) daughter and she often talks of poor mental health and depression and also of the culture of using those words in her peer group. She understands this labeling max get them into a kind of fixed trouble unable to leave or find resilience and movement in their emotional landscape. (I actually have one of those dandelion paperweights….!!! And I LoVE it!!)
Thanks for sharing Susannah. I'm not surprised the younger generation are so attuned to this, I hope your daughter is able to find her own language in time too x
What a delicate, gorgeous piece of writing. I didn't know the word cypselae. It is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this piece, I'm looking forward to reading more.
so wonderful to have you here. "delicate" is such a beautiful way to describe someone's words, especially a piece as vulnerable as this, so thank you xxx
Beautiful and heartfelt, and I resonate ☺️ it's a lovely new word for me, but the story is familiar because it reminds me of my own. Glad to have found you x
Morgan, thank you for offering us such beautiful language for the hollowing experience of despair. I love the word Cypselae. Walks are a form of medicine for me too. Here's to standing in the wind, watching the seeds of our being take flight again 💛
I always loved dandelions as a child - in their bright yellow form and the mature seed heads. I also love your choice to speak of despair vs depression. I feel that distinction with you for sure. Really appreciate your showing up on this platform and giving of yourself. 💛 You have a lovely way with words.
Hi Wendy, so glad the distinction resonated with you. Showing up on this platform is made all the easier with beautiful readers like you, so thank you. So glad you're here x
Alright alright, fine, take it! Take my money! Okay, wait, no, don't, I actually meant that as a figure of speech. Can, can I have my wallet back now, please?
Well sheesh, for all that despair you can seriously write. You've got yourself a new reader. And maybe a tiny gust of wind, if readers are the wind that whisk away your idea seeds to new fields, their fields, others' fields.
I don't know what word to offer for the first 100 followers poem prompt though.
readers are absolutely blessings of wind that whisk away our idea seeds!!! like little zephyrs we might say. thank you for such kind words Walyullah, it's a joy to have you here. i just saw your prompt yesterday - stunning. i too am a lover of driftwood & bones. my mum is coming to visit from australia later this year and one thing she's bringing in her suitcase for me is a wombat skull! i'm slowly slowly getting my way through the poems i'll send your yours as soon it's done x
Loved your essay. And if I am among your first 100 subscribers, please don't feel obliged to write me a poem (unless one happens to float past on the breeze like a cypsela...) 🍃
oh that's very sweet of you Caroline! I do have my work cut out for me... haha but i love it honestly. So if you change your mind, it's yours. Either way, it's a blessing to have you here thank you for reading x
oh my god this is beautiful. and helpful. it made me think of the seamus heaney quote 'hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for'. the key is the 'working for' bit i think. if myself or anyone i love ever needs medication i will try to remember to use the word medicine with all that implies. thank you morgan
"And how does one summon wind when you can barely even catch your own breath?" When this happens to me I let the wind breathe for me. I stand beneath the sky and let the wind breathe for me.
"There will come a time, I know, when despair finds me again." When I was young, I visualised despair as a tall otherworldly man in a black cloak. I still do. Years and moons later. Sometimes we still meet and I talk to him.
I love this so much: “There’s a reason I prefer the word despair to depression. Depression implies some kind of downward pressure. But I do not feel heavy. I feel hollow. To despair, on the other hand, is to be without hope. To hope is to wish. That’s what a dandelion is, is it not? A granter of wishes?” 🤍
Bella, I'm so glad that part resonated with you. I'm a big believer that the language/lexicon we use is so important, (especially around topics like this) and often falls short to capture the true nuance of things. we don't have to use the standard descriptors, we can choose our own! Or just make up your own words, as I have been known to do! At some stage i think i'll write a longer post on this, but thanks so much for your message x
This is so important. I talk often with my teenage (and very likely autistic) daughter and she often talks of poor mental health and depression and also of the culture of using those words in her peer group. She understands this labeling max get them into a kind of fixed trouble unable to leave or find resilience and movement in their emotional landscape. (I actually have one of those dandelion paperweights….!!! And I LoVE it!!)
Thanks for sharing Susannah. I'm not surprised the younger generation are so attuned to this, I hope your daughter is able to find her own language in time too x
What a delicate, gorgeous piece of writing. I didn't know the word cypselae. It is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this piece, I'm looking forward to reading more.
so wonderful to have you here. "delicate" is such a beautiful way to describe someone's words, especially a piece as vulnerable as this, so thank you xxx
This is so tender and I felt it so deeply Morgan. You put words to things I too have experienced in such a gentle and beautiful way. Thank you x
this means so much, thank you. i'm so glad it found you. x
Beautiful and heartfelt, and I resonate ☺️ it's a lovely new word for me, but the story is familiar because it reminds me of my own. Glad to have found you x
I only discovered the word when doing research for the piece and instantly fell in love. So glad you found me too Jo x
Morgan, thank you for offering us such beautiful language for the hollowing experience of despair. I love the word Cypselae. Walks are a form of medicine for me too. Here's to standing in the wind, watching the seeds of our being take flight again 💛
Thank you so much, Ash. Honestly, comments like these are medicine, too. x
Your words! I was/am right there with you. Your beautiful story and new words to me are heart opening. Thank you!
i'm so honoured to nudge your heart with my words. may it never stop opening x
I always loved dandelions as a child - in their bright yellow form and the mature seed heads. I also love your choice to speak of despair vs depression. I feel that distinction with you for sure. Really appreciate your showing up on this platform and giving of yourself. 💛 You have a lovely way with words.
Hi Wendy, so glad the distinction resonated with you. Showing up on this platform is made all the easier with beautiful readers like you, so thank you. So glad you're here x
Alright alright, fine, take it! Take my money! Okay, wait, no, don't, I actually meant that as a figure of speech. Can, can I have my wallet back now, please?
Well sheesh, for all that despair you can seriously write. You've got yourself a new reader. And maybe a tiny gust of wind, if readers are the wind that whisk away your idea seeds to new fields, their fields, others' fields.
I don't know what word to offer for the first 100 followers poem prompt though.
readers are absolutely blessings of wind that whisk away our idea seeds!!! like little zephyrs we might say. thank you for such kind words Walyullah, it's a joy to have you here. i just saw your prompt yesterday - stunning. i too am a lover of driftwood & bones. my mum is coming to visit from australia later this year and one thing she's bringing in her suitcase for me is a wombat skull! i'm slowly slowly getting my way through the poems i'll send your yours as soon it's done x
Whaaat a wombat skullll, luckky
Loved your essay. And if I am among your first 100 subscribers, please don't feel obliged to write me a poem (unless one happens to float past on the breeze like a cypsela...) 🍃
oh that's very sweet of you Caroline! I do have my work cut out for me... haha but i love it honestly. So if you change your mind, it's yours. Either way, it's a blessing to have you here thank you for reading x
🩶🩶🩶
thanks Kerri, your support means the world xxx
oh my god this is beautiful. and helpful. it made me think of the seamus heaney quote 'hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for'. the key is the 'working for' bit i think. if myself or anyone i love ever needs medication i will try to remember to use the word medicine with all that implies. thank you morgan
"And how does one summon wind when you can barely even catch your own breath?" When this happens to me I let the wind breathe for me. I stand beneath the sky and let the wind breathe for me.
"There will come a time, I know, when despair finds me again." When I was young, I visualised despair as a tall otherworldly man in a black cloak. I still do. Years and moons later. Sometimes we still meet and I talk to him.
Another beautiful spell, Morgan. Thank you.
"I let the wind breathe for me." I love this so much. I should like to meet your version of despair too x