Thanks for taking the time to write this post and for sharing.
1) Being transformed by beauty and delighting in beautiful things will ignite the artist in me. To see the works of others not merely as books or minds as collections of thought but more as human galaxies to explore. I try to view my mind as a literal universe - twirling with planets of ideas waiting to be discovered and read with all its uniqueness. Even if no one reads my writing, I can still delight in my own work - simply being. For there are many galaxies that human eyes will never see but are nevertheless majestic and full of glory. I may not be as famous as Rowling or as skilled as Stephen King, but I’m still beautifully and wonderfully made like a galaxy.
2) Ivan Illich and LM Sacasas inspire me. I try to memorize and reflect upon their works. I put them in my mind like one puts stars in the sky, not just to consume and be filled with information but to lie down, to look up and adore them like the vision of a starry sky.
3) I want to move people to see with a different set of eyes. I want them to see knowledge as living as trees. I want them to see Books with a capital B sing like birds, articles that gush like fountains, and words that glow like fireflies. When we embody reality - it is diverse and unified as the world we inhabit. Knowledge is not cold and abstract - it should be stored in our mind as treasure and not merely info.
Thank you for reading and sharing your responses to my reflection prompts, Ronald. I appreciate you igniting the conversation!
A few things that jump out at me:
- I love the imagery of a galaxy and your favourite writers as stars in the sky you can lie down and look up at
- "Even if no one reads my writing, I can still delight in my own work" — This is a great point. I say this having written this newsletter for over a year (most of which time barely anyone other than a few wonderful writer friends were reading). Had I not found delight in writing for the sake of writing, I would have given up by now. But I can't because I love it and the cool thing is my writing has improved a lot and more people are starting to enjoy it. So hang in there until that happens for you. Because it will!
- Your writing is beautiful. Plenty of imagery and very poetic. Your readership will grow over time! You might want to think about how to drive traffic from social media channels. For instance, I'm trying to get more active on Twitter to promote my newsletter and attract people interested in subscribing.
Hey Alexandra! Fairly new subscriber here, but love the energy of this article, and thanks for being the glue that connects us to other students! Definitely going to think on your 3 questions - They'll be a great journal prompt for this morning. :)
Thank you, Karena! Same here. I'm so glad we all spent my last session together. It meant a lot to me and I am SO inspired to see everyone continue growing.
Thank you for being such a wise presence for us to get advice and encouragement from every step of the way. :)
Thanks, Ishan! You've been a standout student throughout the cohort and I think I speak for everyone when I say the fact that you're still in college blows my mind.
You've got a HUGELY bright career ahead of you my friend! Look forward to following your journey through your art of writing. :)
Wow excellent job featuring students :D
Thanks, Christin! Their work is too good not to share. :D
Thanks for taking the time to write this post and for sharing.
1) Being transformed by beauty and delighting in beautiful things will ignite the artist in me. To see the works of others not merely as books or minds as collections of thought but more as human galaxies to explore. I try to view my mind as a literal universe - twirling with planets of ideas waiting to be discovered and read with all its uniqueness. Even if no one reads my writing, I can still delight in my own work - simply being. For there are many galaxies that human eyes will never see but are nevertheless majestic and full of glory. I may not be as famous as Rowling or as skilled as Stephen King, but I’m still beautifully and wonderfully made like a galaxy.
2) Ivan Illich and LM Sacasas inspire me. I try to memorize and reflect upon their works. I put them in my mind like one puts stars in the sky, not just to consume and be filled with information but to lie down, to look up and adore them like the vision of a starry sky.
3) I want to move people to see with a different set of eyes. I want them to see knowledge as living as trees. I want them to see Books with a capital B sing like birds, articles that gush like fountains, and words that glow like fireflies. When we embody reality - it is diverse and unified as the world we inhabit. Knowledge is not cold and abstract - it should be stored in our mind as treasure and not merely info.
Thank you for reading and sharing your responses to my reflection prompts, Ronald. I appreciate you igniting the conversation!
A few things that jump out at me:
- I love the imagery of a galaxy and your favourite writers as stars in the sky you can lie down and look up at
- "Even if no one reads my writing, I can still delight in my own work" — This is a great point. I say this having written this newsletter for over a year (most of which time barely anyone other than a few wonderful writer friends were reading). Had I not found delight in writing for the sake of writing, I would have given up by now. But I can't because I love it and the cool thing is my writing has improved a lot and more people are starting to enjoy it. So hang in there until that happens for you. Because it will!
- Your writing is beautiful. Plenty of imagery and very poetic. Your readership will grow over time! You might want to think about how to drive traffic from social media channels. For instance, I'm trying to get more active on Twitter to promote my newsletter and attract people interested in subscribing.
Hey Alexandra! Fairly new subscriber here, but love the energy of this article, and thanks for being the glue that connects us to other students! Definitely going to think on your 3 questions - They'll be a great journal prompt for this morning. :)
Thanks, Leslie! Glad the questions are great journal prompts. Grateful to have you as a new subscriber as well! 😄
Four of my favourite people - Leo, Ishan, Michelle and Yehudis. If this is what our future can look like, we are in great hands.
And another wonderful essay, Alexandra.
Thank you, Karena! Same here. I'm so glad we all spent my last session together. It meant a lot to me and I am SO inspired to see everyone continue growing.
Thank you for being such a wise presence for us to get advice and encouragement from every step of the way. :)
Loved this one. Both flattered and inspired! Looks like "writing well" is your default setting :)
Thanks, Ishan! You've been a standout student throughout the cohort and I think I speak for everyone when I say the fact that you're still in college blows my mind.
You've got a HUGELY bright career ahead of you my friend! Look forward to following your journey through your art of writing. :)
Ditto what Alexandra says!! (You know that, because you are also getting a mention in my newsletter this week!)
Wow! Blushing so hard!
I know you can't see me right now, but believe me, I'm RED in the face! Thanks so much yaar :)
Thanks, Dan! It's a question their writing evoked in me. Likewise, I need to pause more and be more intentional.
Look forward to hearing what you come up with!