Searingly breathtakingly beautiful ~ this piece is a gift, gives a thunderous voice to the soundless cry of any person who has been betrayed after opening themselves up, exposing every vulnerable fiber of their being in trust. It is a gift to us to realize that one’s power can be reclaimed, and the sweetness of the soul restored through sheer will and choice. And action. Thank you for this lovely meadow of your words from which we can embark on our journeys of forgiveness.
Cynitha, thank you!!! I am glowing and truly moved. I read this alone at work and I put my hand on my heart and got a little choked up and said out loud to no one, "people are so NICE." It is quite a needed thing, right now, to feel that in your bones. and the greatest gift you could have given me today. xoxo
Thank you, Bonnie! I appreciate your feedback so much- I have long thought about doing memoir but couldn't figure out a way to approach it. This has felt so fun and freeing.... I think I just needed to hold it more lightly (an ongoing theme this year). xoxo
Beautiful, as always, Kendall. This, "There can be no harmony between knowing and pretending." and this, "I lit the crushed flower in my palm on fire, and I watched the petals curl up and burn." One of the things I really can hardly stand in this life is people not telling me the truth, the burn of being not-told. I love the strength and the power and the agency your younger self gives to herself in this piece. The screaming underwater. You, the true mermaid. Love love love this. And you. xoxo
Thank you, my friend! I agree that not being told the truth is such a particular burn- it can present as this thing that is for the other person's "own good" when in reality it's mostly just cowardice cloaked in concern. Thank you for reading, I'm always so grateful that you let me know what jumps off the page for you! xoxo
Your writing is like a visceral painting. I can see and feel it all, right there with you as you tell your story. I agree, the primal scream can be incredibly healing. What an experience!
A "visceral painting"- wow. I just read that out loud to my husband! I am so delighted that you feel folded inside the story- that is truly the highest praise I could ask for! xo
Kendall, you are an exquisite writer. I hope you publish your entire memoir someday. I love this series of essays you've put out and can see it as a whole collection. I would definitely buy it.
Leave it to nature and those magnificent sea lions in assisting and helping you release that well of feelings that needed to rise to the surface. (Received notification of this post and was so delighted. I went in and must have pushed the "right buttons." Keeping all paws crossed.) I agree, the makings of your memoir is ALL here. This is such exquisite writing, Kendall. 💜
Oh Joanie, how serendipitous! I was just thinking about you and was going to send you a message to see if this had arrived in your inbox- hooray! 🥰 I appreciate the memoir feedback today as well- I've been thinking about how to put a cover on this thing! So mich love to you, my friend. ❤️
I love this! The animal kingdom ushering us into our own emotional, primal truth. Sometimes we need a nudge and that fierce sea lion, like a watery angel, gave you a such gift that day. The gift of yourself.
A watery angel! Yes! I love that so much, Kimberly. I think that is the emerging truth I am discovering in writing all of these stories down- just how often I was nudged by something primal and connected to truth and beauty. Such a gift, indeed. xoxo
Kendall, thank you for this beautiful episode and this next wonderful animal encounter.
The way you brought that sea lion’s warning into your body, the way you let yourself meet it instead of turning away—there’s something powerful in that. Not just in the anger, but in the space it made. I don’t think many people talk about that part of it—how sometimes, before anything else, there’s fire. And how that, too, is part of healing. You took me there with you. Thank you for that.
Your taste in music is impeccable and I love that you mention anger and ash in this story together. I recently learned the concept of how powerful ash is as an element- because it’s the only element that fire can no longer burn (I didn’t ask about water)
I imagine you emerging from the sea lion encounter transformed- from the thing being burned to the soul that can NO LONGER be burned… ❤️🔥
Of COURSE we love thesome of the same music, K. Of course... and I gasped when you spoke about ash, and how it cannot be burned again. THANK YOU!!!! I love every moment here with you as well. See you at Lizzy's place? xoxo
Searingly breathtakingly beautiful ~ this piece is a gift, gives a thunderous voice to the soundless cry of any person who has been betrayed after opening themselves up, exposing every vulnerable fiber of their being in trust. It is a gift to us to realize that one’s power can be reclaimed, and the sweetness of the soul restored through sheer will and choice. And action. Thank you for this lovely meadow of your words from which we can embark on our journeys of forgiveness.
Cynitha, thank you!!! I am glowing and truly moved. I read this alone at work and I put my hand on my heart and got a little choked up and said out loud to no one, "people are so NICE." It is quite a needed thing, right now, to feel that in your bones. and the greatest gift you could have given me today. xoxo
Yesssssss Kendall. My heart felt all the things as I read this. And I just lice this way of approaching a memoir. So unique and true to you. ❤️
Thank you, Bonnie! I appreciate your feedback so much- I have long thought about doing memoir but couldn't figure out a way to approach it. This has felt so fun and freeing.... I think I just needed to hold it more lightly (an ongoing theme this year). xoxo
Yes! Also I assume you figured out that I meant "love" not "lice" (was typing on my phone).
I am very good at interpreting autocorrect mistakes and fitting leftovers into the perfect sized Tupperware. These are my superpowers. 😆
Beautiful, as always, Kendall. This, "There can be no harmony between knowing and pretending." and this, "I lit the crushed flower in my palm on fire, and I watched the petals curl up and burn." One of the things I really can hardly stand in this life is people not telling me the truth, the burn of being not-told. I love the strength and the power and the agency your younger self gives to herself in this piece. The screaming underwater. You, the true mermaid. Love love love this. And you. xoxo
Thank you, my friend! I agree that not being told the truth is such a particular burn- it can present as this thing that is for the other person's "own good" when in reality it's mostly just cowardice cloaked in concern. Thank you for reading, I'm always so grateful that you let me know what jumps off the page for you! xoxo
Your writing is like a visceral painting. I can see and feel it all, right there with you as you tell your story. I agree, the primal scream can be incredibly healing. What an experience!
A "visceral painting"- wow. I just read that out loud to my husband! I am so delighted that you feel folded inside the story- that is truly the highest praise I could ask for! xo
Kendall, you are an exquisite writer. I hope you publish your entire memoir someday. I love this series of essays you've put out and can see it as a whole collection. I would definitely buy it.
Well, that settles it. I'm going to do it! Thank you. 😭
Yay!!
Kendall, each of these chapters is as good as the last, which is seeing a lot. Those underwater screams— damn if they don’t resonate.
You’ve got some serious storytelling prowess, my friend.
That is saying something, because I keep publishing with blurry, crossed eyes hoping they'll stand on thier own. THANK YOU. 🙏
Leave it to nature and those magnificent sea lions in assisting and helping you release that well of feelings that needed to rise to the surface. (Received notification of this post and was so delighted. I went in and must have pushed the "right buttons." Keeping all paws crossed.) I agree, the makings of your memoir is ALL here. This is such exquisite writing, Kendall. 💜
Oh Joanie, how serendipitous! I was just thinking about you and was going to send you a message to see if this had arrived in your inbox- hooray! 🥰 I appreciate the memoir feedback today as well- I've been thinking about how to put a cover on this thing! So mich love to you, my friend. ❤️
Just…wow! I hope you make this a book!!
I love this! The animal kingdom ushering us into our own emotional, primal truth. Sometimes we need a nudge and that fierce sea lion, like a watery angel, gave you a such gift that day. The gift of yourself.
A watery angel! Yes! I love that so much, Kimberly. I think that is the emerging truth I am discovering in writing all of these stories down- just how often I was nudged by something primal and connected to truth and beauty. Such a gift, indeed. xoxo
We are all one!
Kendall, thank you for this beautiful episode and this next wonderful animal encounter.
The way you brought that sea lion’s warning into your body, the way you let yourself meet it instead of turning away—there’s something powerful in that. Not just in the anger, but in the space it made. I don’t think many people talk about that part of it—how sometimes, before anything else, there’s fire. And how that, too, is part of healing. You took me there with you. Thank you for that.
Your taste in music is impeccable and I love that you mention anger and ash in this story together. I recently learned the concept of how powerful ash is as an element- because it’s the only element that fire can no longer burn (I didn’t ask about water)
I imagine you emerging from the sea lion encounter transformed- from the thing being burned to the soul that can NO LONGER be burned… ❤️🔥
Stunning chapter.
Loved every moment with you here.
Of COURSE we love thesome of the same music, K. Of course... and I gasped when you spoke about ash, and how it cannot be burned again. THANK YOU!!!! I love every moment here with you as well. See you at Lizzy's place? xoxo
I missed you all this morning! Heading over to see if I can find you in the sea of SOULs ❤️