Dialogues from our readers
It is always energizing to hear from our readers when a post really resonates with them or even better when it helps them address something they are already facing. Last week we got, not just a response in the form of likes and comments to our last post on Fighting the December Drearies, but one of our loyal readers (and a previous guest writer) sent us a poem that just felt profound. We know many of our readers have older kids that have left home or are about to leave next year and so we thought this would resonate with a lot of you.
Margi shares her response to her first child leaving home for college. She wrote a post about expressing love for her family back in Feb 2022. Her response below starts with a line from Kinnari’s last post. After being away in India and leaving her husband to solo parent for twelve days, Kinnari had asked her husband how he did it. Margi starts her beautiful poem with his response below.
Margi’s Dialogue
"One day at a time."
I teared up and laughed at the same time reading Mus's answer to "How did you do this for twelve days?"
One day at a time.
For twelve days.
For eighteen years.
And then, one day, they don't need you to do any of it anymore.
It is devastating.
Can you believe that?
I would not have believed that when Evelyn was one. Or even when she was 17. But here we are.
It's a long slow process of loving and grieving. It is beautiful and brutal.
Becoming Evelyn's mother changed me completely. Taught me to just settle in.
Be here.
One day at a time.Thank you for this one, Kin and Mitali.
Another friend expressed his experience with the words below when we asked him to elaborate on his email to us saying “I loved this installment.”
Michael’s Dialogue
Hi Kinnari/Mitali, your most recent post resonated with me in a number of ways. I was immediately reminded how my recent re-reading of Eckhart Tolle's 'Power of Now' has helped me stay present and further realized that, in Mitali's words, "I am no longer the person I was in 2022 or 2023. I have new habits and consistent routines that keep me in the present." When I begin to fret about the future (how can you not, given recent world events), I have found this technique super useful. I really loved Mitali's list of ways to stay grounded.
Turning to Kinnari's post, I have been personally migrating towards the philosophy of JOMO > FOMO for the past several years. The person I was last decade was so heavily driven by FOMO. Change is a powerful force for all of us, and as long as we can ground ourselves in the present moment, we can avoid a lot of the unnecessary suffering inherent in much of our thinking. Thanks for shining a light on so many of the situations I'm finding myself in at this precise moment in time. Happy Holidays!
(*JOMO - joy of missing out, FOMO - fear of missing out)
We put out our words hoping that they help someone out there feel less alone because we are all on similar journeys through life. Getting a first comment from a subscriber who has been reading our posts for over a year made us feel like our words really matter. We are moved by Layla’s reflection below.
Layla’s comment
Guys! I needed this one! I’m realizing in reflection I have terrible SAD and have to really strive to work through it. Your tips and tricks have helped me heaps and I’m thankful for how well timed this is for me!!! Thank you! Happy happy.
(*SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder)
We always enjoy hearing from our readers - you could be featured in one of our future posts! Do share any of your tips for battling the winter blues.