Thank you for your candidness and thank you for your wisdom (don't let that go to your head though, per de Montaigne)
If you don't mind my sharing some thoughts:
Some of us as children were not particularly good at being 'normal'; or perhaps were but didn't get enough positive affirmation from our families our peers. I think from these was born a desire to be extraordinary and to embrace 'weirdness' and look for 'weird' heroes.
Funny enough that you mention Burroughs. He and the crowd we associate with him because idols for me simply because... damn if a crazy wierdo like Burroughs could make it in this world, surely I could, right?
But of course, Burroughs was no one to model one's life on (I figured that out soon enough) and most likely he was tortured by demons his whole life, as are many of the weirdo idols some of us cling to.
We don't have to be popular or change the world. We don't have to impress anyone. Being 'enough' is far closer to grasp than we often realise. It can still be a challenge though to define that enough and measure ourselves against, or to avoid that need to define but still have a sense of being enough.
I totally agree Andru! Thanks for sharing this perspective. I love the idea of being a weirdo and seeking praise elsewhere. But ultimately I don't think anyone else can save us. We have to define what we mean as "enough" by ourselves, and decide for ourselves that that is who we are.
I appreciate you! And yes, if Burroughs can do it, surely we can too :)
"Beautiful things don't ask for attention" - they are - and this is what I thought as I was reading this. You just don't understand how valuable your stuff already is. You look for validation in likes and shares but you have them and they are coming to be plentiful more!
As you know Tash, I never feel enough - like EVER. and this article resonated with me MOST. But I always looked up to you, your determination to write and DO IT, you are enough and you're more than enough for me. If qualitative like makes a difference - you have a qualitative like from me, because your work is transitional for me. Thank you
Kristy!! Aww, thank you for this comment! I am so glad this piece resonated with you! It was the piece I felt was not good at all, and that I was the most critical of, lol. I almost didn't publish it. Oh, the irony!
I'm sending you love and the feelings of abundance and satisfaction with yourself. The truth is that we are all enough!! We shouldn't let anyone else tell us otherwise!! <3
This was so helpful. I struggle with self-doubt all the time. It's inspiring to see how human these feeling are, and the thoughts that have helped others go through them. I can almost feel the nostalgia from reading your essay written as a 17 yr old; these words you wrote must ring differently with the power of hindsight, their essence remains true but are insightful in a different, more powerful way.
Katherine! Thank you for commenting. I'm glad to hear I'm not alone in struggling with self doubt. Oof, and so much nostalgia in my 17-year-old self! It was a different time, before Instagram and TikTok. Sending you love!
Damn, girl, what a gift! Thank you for introducing me to this luminary — and by that I mean you in high school, obviouslyl.
While I will certainly put Montaigne on my reading list, if I had my druthers, I'd just lie back and listen to you synthesize his essays/ key points for me. Thoroughly entertaining.
Thank you for your candidness and thank you for your wisdom (don't let that go to your head though, per de Montaigne)
If you don't mind my sharing some thoughts:
Some of us as children were not particularly good at being 'normal'; or perhaps were but didn't get enough positive affirmation from our families our peers. I think from these was born a desire to be extraordinary and to embrace 'weirdness' and look for 'weird' heroes.
Funny enough that you mention Burroughs. He and the crowd we associate with him because idols for me simply because... damn if a crazy wierdo like Burroughs could make it in this world, surely I could, right?
But of course, Burroughs was no one to model one's life on (I figured that out soon enough) and most likely he was tortured by demons his whole life, as are many of the weirdo idols some of us cling to.
We don't have to be popular or change the world. We don't have to impress anyone. Being 'enough' is far closer to grasp than we often realise. It can still be a challenge though to define that enough and measure ourselves against, or to avoid that need to define but still have a sense of being enough.
Thanks for provoking some serious thought.
I totally agree Andru! Thanks for sharing this perspective. I love the idea of being a weirdo and seeking praise elsewhere. But ultimately I don't think anyone else can save us. We have to define what we mean as "enough" by ourselves, and decide for ourselves that that is who we are.
I appreciate you! And yes, if Burroughs can do it, surely we can too :)
"Beautiful things don't ask for attention" - they are - and this is what I thought as I was reading this. You just don't understand how valuable your stuff already is. You look for validation in likes and shares but you have them and they are coming to be plentiful more!
As you know Tash, I never feel enough - like EVER. and this article resonated with me MOST. But I always looked up to you, your determination to write and DO IT, you are enough and you're more than enough for me. If qualitative like makes a difference - you have a qualitative like from me, because your work is transitional for me. Thank you
Kristy!! Aww, thank you for this comment! I am so glad this piece resonated with you! It was the piece I felt was not good at all, and that I was the most critical of, lol. I almost didn't publish it. Oh, the irony!
I'm sending you love and the feelings of abundance and satisfaction with yourself. The truth is that we are all enough!! We shouldn't let anyone else tell us otherwise!! <3
This was so helpful. I struggle with self-doubt all the time. It's inspiring to see how human these feeling are, and the thoughts that have helped others go through them. I can almost feel the nostalgia from reading your essay written as a 17 yr old; these words you wrote must ring differently with the power of hindsight, their essence remains true but are insightful in a different, more powerful way.
Katherine! Thank you for commenting. I'm glad to hear I'm not alone in struggling with self doubt. Oof, and so much nostalgia in my 17-year-old self! It was a different time, before Instagram and TikTok. Sending you love!
Damn, girl, what a gift! Thank you for introducing me to this luminary — and by that I mean you in high school, obviouslyl.
While I will certainly put Montaigne on my reading list, if I had my druthers, I'd just lie back and listen to you synthesize his essays/ key points for me. Thoroughly entertaining.
Angelique! You're too kind! Thank you so much :) Maybe I can do that for you another time. Sending love!