Partake of more wisdom today from this bountiful table of Substack writers, my daughters and friends as we grapple with the question: What about being human continues to surprise you?
Hi Amy, so happy for your new adventure, your own Renaissance! I’m ultimately surprised and thrilled that , at 71, I am as excited about life as ever. I feel like an 8 year old waking up on a summer morning. What will I do with this day? (Well, I do still work, too.) Awakening to the miracles of natural world has taken hold of me recently. Starting a new life in Italy, being called somehow to bear witness to suffering without carrying what isn’t mine to carry, communication with a higher self and world, the evolution of the analysis I’ve done for almost 5 years. The list is long and yet makes me poignantly aware that this has an expiration date. Life is precious .
Awww this cracked me open in all the best ways. So deep, so powerful, such truth spoken here. At this moment, this struck me the most: "Life feels premeditated and spontaneous at the same time."
I so appreciate being included in your explorations here. You are a blessing Amy! Thank you for sharing your gifts and sisterhood here on Substack!
Deb, thank you for being part of the sisterhood, so glad it cracked you open in the best ways. And yes, that observation from my daughter Marielle was definitely insightful and wise.
Amy, as I sit with these words, deeply moved by their contagious and collective strength, I am further reminded of the gift of sisterhood. The power and beauty of women supporting other women is yet another facet of being human that continues to surprise me in the best possible way. Thank you for including me in this soul-stirring compilation and introducing me to such lovely souls. Amy, the way you show up in this life makes a true difference in mine. Thank you, my friend. xo.
Thank you Jennifer for these kind words, for being part of my sisterhood and among the lovely souls I've had the pleasure to come to know these past two years of self-exploration, sharing our writing and insights online. We've come a long way since meeting in The Bigger Yes course. I'd say we both have been saying a resounding YES to living our lives differently.
It is such an honor to be included here- at your table “breaking bread” with so many other full hearted compassionate humans. 🙏🏼
I remain thankful and grateful for you, Amy. Your words, your big heart and the creative surge that seems to always be channeling when I orbit with you. Happy Thanksgiving my friend! 💕
What surprises me the most about being human is that despite knowing (due to experience) that I am capable of surviving awful events in my life, I currently feel extremely vulnerable, child-like, and I am finding it difficult to see myself thriving once again. It's as if in my own humanness I have to feel very deep emotions and allow them to physically run their course through my body until there's no more that I can take. I thought I had reached rock bottom, however every day I wake up and realise there is still a bit further down I must fall. My frustration and impatience with myself and the length of time it is taking my heart to heal only serves to prolong the sorrow. And yet as I am writing this words on an intellectual level fully understanding what I am experiencing, in a visceral depth I am nowhere near to a place where I feel emotionally safe and whole. This is most puzzling and surprising at the same time.
This is the ache of being human, isn't it? That it can take so long to heal, even as we make ourselves vulnerable to the pain and the hurt and let ourselves feel it all. It is a surprise how much we need to seem to suffer before we can find some level of serenity. My heart sees yours and I wish you a reprieve from having to continue to fall and instead find that wholeness you seek.
What surprises me most about being human is our capacity to hold contradictions within ourselves—how we can ache and heal simultaneously, grieve deeply yet still find joy in a fleeting moment. It astonishes me how we are endlessly shaped by our pasts while daring to imagine futures we cannot yet see. Our resilience, even when we feel utterly broken, reminds me that being human is a dance between fragility and strength. And it is always surprising how, in our shared imperfections, we somehow find connection, compassion, and the courage to keep trying.
Thank you for this second part of your wonderful holiday gathering with so many delicious dishes of honest wisdom and sincere sharing! I'm honored to be invited to take part in this.
This is so beautiful. Thank you for including me, AND for introducing me to other writers I was unaware of until now. Happy Gratitude Day, Amy. Sending love and hugs. xoxo
Thank you Rosemary and yes, there is plenty of sustenance here, so do come back and savor it all. Thank you for being part of our gathering. Wishing you a relaxing day of pure comfort and delight in the surprise and gratitude of being human.
Happy Thanksgiving, Amy! Thank you to everyone who contributed to this thought-provoking essay. Our shared humanity is a vital community connector. Thank you for bringing our thoughts together with such life-affirming hope.
Hi Amy, so happy for your new adventure, your own Renaissance! I’m ultimately surprised and thrilled that , at 71, I am as excited about life as ever. I feel like an 8 year old waking up on a summer morning. What will I do with this day? (Well, I do still work, too.) Awakening to the miracles of natural world has taken hold of me recently. Starting a new life in Italy, being called somehow to bear witness to suffering without carrying what isn’t mine to carry, communication with a higher self and world, the evolution of the analysis I’ve done for almost 5 years. The list is long and yet makes me poignantly aware that this has an expiration date. Life is precious .
Awww this cracked me open in all the best ways. So deep, so powerful, such truth spoken here. At this moment, this struck me the most: "Life feels premeditated and spontaneous at the same time."
I so appreciate being included in your explorations here. You are a blessing Amy! Thank you for sharing your gifts and sisterhood here on Substack!
Deb, thank you for being part of the sisterhood, so glad it cracked you open in the best ways. And yes, that observation from my daughter Marielle was definitely insightful and wise.
Amy, as I sit with these words, deeply moved by their contagious and collective strength, I am further reminded of the gift of sisterhood. The power and beauty of women supporting other women is yet another facet of being human that continues to surprise me in the best possible way. Thank you for including me in this soul-stirring compilation and introducing me to such lovely souls. Amy, the way you show up in this life makes a true difference in mine. Thank you, my friend. xo.
Thank you Jennifer for these kind words, for being part of my sisterhood and among the lovely souls I've had the pleasure to come to know these past two years of self-exploration, sharing our writing and insights online. We've come a long way since meeting in The Bigger Yes course. I'd say we both have been saying a resounding YES to living our lives differently.
It is such an honor to be included here- at your table “breaking bread” with so many other full hearted compassionate humans. 🙏🏼
I remain thankful and grateful for you, Amy. Your words, your big heart and the creative surge that seems to always be channeling when I orbit with you. Happy Thanksgiving my friend! 💕
Thank you Allison for joining us. I am so grateful to be in your orbit, too!
What surprises me the most about being human is that despite knowing (due to experience) that I am capable of surviving awful events in my life, I currently feel extremely vulnerable, child-like, and I am finding it difficult to see myself thriving once again. It's as if in my own humanness I have to feel very deep emotions and allow them to physically run their course through my body until there's no more that I can take. I thought I had reached rock bottom, however every day I wake up and realise there is still a bit further down I must fall. My frustration and impatience with myself and the length of time it is taking my heart to heal only serves to prolong the sorrow. And yet as I am writing this words on an intellectual level fully understanding what I am experiencing, in a visceral depth I am nowhere near to a place where I feel emotionally safe and whole. This is most puzzling and surprising at the same time.
This is the ache of being human, isn't it? That it can take so long to heal, even as we make ourselves vulnerable to the pain and the hurt and let ourselves feel it all. It is a surprise how much we need to seem to suffer before we can find some level of serenity. My heart sees yours and I wish you a reprieve from having to continue to fall and instead find that wholeness you seek.
Thank you so much Amy for holding space and inviting us to share our thoughts and experiences on what makes us human
What surprises me most about being human is our capacity to hold contradictions within ourselves—how we can ache and heal simultaneously, grieve deeply yet still find joy in a fleeting moment. It astonishes me how we are endlessly shaped by our pasts while daring to imagine futures we cannot yet see. Our resilience, even when we feel utterly broken, reminds me that being human is a dance between fragility and strength. And it is always surprising how, in our shared imperfections, we somehow find connection, compassion, and the courage to keep trying.
This is so beautifully expressed, Jay. Thank you!
Thanks Amy
Thank you for this second part of your wonderful holiday gathering with so many delicious dishes of honest wisdom and sincere sharing! I'm honored to be invited to take part in this.
This is so beautiful. Thank you for including me, AND for introducing me to other writers I was unaware of until now. Happy Gratitude Day, Amy. Sending love and hugs. xoxo
Happy Gratitude Day to you, Nan. May it be bountiful in all the ways that you wish.
Definitely another post chock full of wise and honest reflections from women I respect and admire.
I’ve got to come back & reread so I can truly absorb more of this!
Thank you again, Amy, for this treasure of a piece and for including me among your tribe. I’m so honored.
Thank you Rosemary and yes, there is plenty of sustenance here, so do come back and savor it all. Thank you for being part of our gathering. Wishing you a relaxing day of pure comfort and delight in the surprise and gratitude of being human.
Happy Thanksgiving, Amy! Thank you to everyone who contributed to this thought-provoking essay. Our shared humanity is a vital community connector. Thank you for bringing our thoughts together with such life-affirming hope.
Thank you Victoria and thank you for bringing your beautiful light to this collective life-affirming gathering.