Comments for Single Writers

Comment on Just tap me on the shoulder by norma

norma — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:07:03 +0000

It’s too perfect therefore it doesn’t exist

Comment on About by estar

estar — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:01:42 +0000

Stumbled upon this site as I was feeling as if I was looking in all the wrong places trying to find someone with similar interests in writing. Hoping I might have discovered a place where there are people with whom I can relate.

Comment on Just tap me on the shoulder by Julie

Julie — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 06:54:48 +0000

Effortless kindness… Such an intriguing post & yet no comments ~
What happened to this site? Has it been abandoned?

Mores the pity…

Comment on Reality Checks Accepted Here by Tirika

Tirika — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:02:35 +0000

I would say, head north? Climate Change: The Fight for Survival as the World Overheats

Comment on Reality Checks Accepted Here by ByLine

ByLine — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:47:51 +0000

Nicely put! I’ve almost got my “wagon” ready. All I need to know is where to go, and how to get there. Could use some direction(s). Any suggestions? ;-)

Comment on Community Creatures by Hans

Hans — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:55:45 +0000

“The biggest challenge will be how to get there peacefully, with a shared objective.”

I was reading in Emerson’s essay, “Self-Reliance”, today. Based on the premise that all of our outer reality begins as an innermost reality, Emerson’s advice is basically that of Polonius to his son Laertes in Hamlet: “This above all: to thine own self be true…” Only by heeding your own inner truth, only by taking care of yourself, can you hope to be of any use to anyone else.

So as you’ve pointed out, ByLine, how do we traverse the distance between individual experience and global community? How do we do this peaceably?

Emerson gives us a clue: he points out that an infant and and a teenage boy have something in common. Neither rationalize their perceptions, they simple express them. Mental nudity.

The infant’s mind is untouched by judgments and calculations. The infant simply expresses who he is, and in doing so, conforms the adults around him to his image, as they speak baby-talk and nonsense back to it, make silly expressions, etc.

Of the teenage boy: “How is a boy the master of society; independent, irresponsible, looking out from his corner on such people and facts as pass by, he tries and sentences them on their merits, in the swift, summary way of boys, as good, bad, interesting, silly, eloquent, troublesome. He cumbers himself never about consequences, about interests; he gives an independent, genuine verdict. You must court him; he does not court you.”

We must speak our truths, and vow to harm no other. Yes, holding on yet letting go. Each of us finding our individual essence, unconcerned with what books, traditions, and other men have spoken. We can learn from the willow.

The willow grows rapidly and is known for its strength, flexibility, and the will to survive. Saw a willow off at the trunk and new shoots appear from the roots.

Metaphors perhaps for how we must be?

Comment on Community Creatures by ByLine

ByLine — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 03:53:27 +0000

Yes! Imagine what an extraordinary experience--and challenge--that will be, to couple essentially "root-level" self-reliance with 'planet-scale' sharing of ideas and information. Imagine how quickly all will benefit from the mistakes, as well as the accomplishments of others. And how incredible it will be to mate self-reliance (the ultimate individual experience) with a global sense of connectivity. The biggest challenge will be how to get there peacefully, with a shared objective. Doing that will require a degree of letting go on the one hand, while holding on with the other, in a way that's never been done before. Defining, then coordinating that dynamic will be perhaps the greatest 'first test' of the internet's capacity to reach beyond local or national religion and/or politics to define and then motivate that level of dramatic, yet (hopefully) anticipatory change.

Comment on Children Learning Maturity by saltmarsh

saltmarsh — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:55:41 +0000

I agree, Hans. Whatever our age, how do we each rewrite our story? Where do we start?

Comment on Children Learning Maturity by Hans

Hans — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:37:01 +0000

I think perhaps, Tirika and Saltwater, where this discussion is leading us towards is the realization that knowledge without intention leading to action will get us nowhere. And it’s time to stop waiting for the Second Coming, the savior has already arrived. We are the saviors. No?

Comment on A New Definition of Maturity by Tirika

Tirika — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:46 +0000

Not sure what happened to the comment I just posted, maybe I needed to be logged in. At any rate, well done, Hans! I’ll try to keep the momentum up and even raise the bar a notch maybe.