Thank you for sharing. What a beautiful gesture to your younger self.
After reading your words, brother Jerome Ellis came to heart and mind. If you're not familiar, here is a powerful recording from this American Life, that I believe you would deeply appreciate:
"I soon started hearing facial expressions. Furrowed brows were lips that mouthed silent words of confusion, frustration, pity (not the good kind either), condescension, anxiety, confusion, and frustration (I know I already used those last adjectives. My repetition wasn’t a typo; it was just a bit of an example. If reading them in print twice is frustrating, imagine how exhausting it is to read them on every brow aimed in your direction)."
This passage sticks out to me. First off, that first line is a bar. Maybe because I've been told that I communicate more with my whole face than my words.
It's also sobering to be invited into the personal challenges of another. I can't imagine the weight of your speech mis-matching from your thoughts while trying to communicate. Esp for a child.
I can relate on the flip side to having my THOUGHTS be the ones that stutter, and swirl, and tide so violently that words simply don't leave my lips. Thank for your re-sharing this.
And so it does. Because you have to be brave enough to tell it and courageous enough to speak it with others throwing their opinionated darts at you while they pick apart your heart. Sometimes it doesn't come out how it was so intricately rehearsed. But truth, even while stuttering holds its own; therefore, it must be heard in the midst of the pain from outside and inside voices.
This entire section was a stand out. The story telling. The call backs. This is some BEAUTIFUL WRITING. Im so glad I'm here.
When someone dies, there are SO many things that change about your life. It goes beyond memories which can keep living through you. Some things, like the only ears that gave you grace and love and peace will never hear you speak again. And the brow that holds it's post in curiosity is frozen, never to break free into a grin over an inside joke.
Bro you haven’t been in my feed in so long. It’s good to sit with your words again
My man! Thanks so much. It's been a while, but I'm getting my rhythm back. you'll be seeing a lot more of me
Thank you for sharing this. My heart ACHES for the little boy in those old photos.
Thanks fam! I wish he could've gotten these words back then.
Thank you for sharing. What a beautiful gesture to your younger self.
After reading your words, brother Jerome Ellis came to heart and mind. If you're not familiar, here is a powerful recording from this American Life, that I believe you would deeply appreciate:
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/713/made-to-be-broken/act-one-11
and this podcast episode from Black Enso: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jjjjjerome-ellis/id1528246464?i=1000491146063
♡
Never heard of him. I'll check it out!
"I soon started hearing facial expressions. Furrowed brows were lips that mouthed silent words of confusion, frustration, pity (not the good kind either), condescension, anxiety, confusion, and frustration (I know I already used those last adjectives. My repetition wasn’t a typo; it was just a bit of an example. If reading them in print twice is frustrating, imagine how exhausting it is to read them on every brow aimed in your direction)."
This passage sticks out to me. First off, that first line is a bar. Maybe because I've been told that I communicate more with my whole face than my words.
It's also sobering to be invited into the personal challenges of another. I can't imagine the weight of your speech mis-matching from your thoughts while trying to communicate. Esp for a child.
I can relate on the flip side to having my THOUGHTS be the ones that stutter, and swirl, and tide so violently that words simply don't leave my lips. Thank for your re-sharing this.
"Maybe truth stutters a bit..."
And so it does. Because you have to be brave enough to tell it and courageous enough to speak it with others throwing their opinionated darts at you while they pick apart your heart. Sometimes it doesn't come out how it was so intricately rehearsed. But truth, even while stuttering holds its own; therefore, it must be heard in the midst of the pain from outside and inside voices.
Thank you for this reminder, John.
One of these days, you're going to use these incredible comments and start a substack of your own. Thank you so much for your thoughtful words
"Move On" Section
This entire section was a stand out. The story telling. The call backs. This is some BEAUTIFUL WRITING. Im so glad I'm here.
When someone dies, there are SO many things that change about your life. It goes beyond memories which can keep living through you. Some things, like the only ears that gave you grace and love and peace will never hear you speak again. And the brow that holds it's post in curiosity is frozen, never to break free into a grin over an inside joke.
Grief is so shape-shifty.