Beginning again means learning to trust new stories about yourself—and living into them until they feel true.
As one who is creating new stories & scripts of who Atieno is & what she cares about, this gives me courage to sit in how messily it shows up & still trust the process. Thank you Liz <3
It's so messy so much of the time! I'm laughing as I write this because it must sound *so obvious* from the outside that I have great people in my life--and yet, the scripts inside can still take time to unwind. Thanks for reading :)
Liz, I can so deeply relate to the teenage isolation and stories you told yourself. Mine have also followed me into adulthood, along with my introversion. I also once had a relationship where I was welcomed into a big social circle with old roots, and it was a dream come true. Parties, music—I felt so alive. In my case I lost all that when the relationship ended, and I’ve never managed to find it again. I do know I have plenty of close friends who would show up for me if I really needed them, and who did show up when I went through my divorce a decade ago. I’m still figuring out how to recreate that in the day-to-day though. Your writing beautifully expresses the loneliness and the joy of your experience. Thank you for sharing. 🙏
p.s. I wish you and I could’ve sat together in the lunch room! (I stopped eating in the lunch room and instead ate in the hallway or band room because it was so traumatic.)
This comment is so validating, thank you. I do think it’s harder to find the big group experience as we get older; people move away, atomize into relationships and more nuclear families. In my 20s, we used to travel as a giant social amoeba. In my late 30s, the music suddenly ended. I both miss it and enjoy the more intimate friendships of my 40s. This summer I’ve booked some fun concerts and events I’ve always meant to try, to bring a bit of the music back :)
Nothing scares the gremlins away like singing “Summer Lovin’” or walking in the blossoms of spring. So glad to know you in this new chapter.
Especially singing Summer Lovin' with an extremely out-of-tune duet partner :) Glad to know you too!
Beginning again means learning to trust new stories about yourself—and living into them until they feel true.
As one who is creating new stories & scripts of who Atieno is & what she cares about, this gives me courage to sit in how messily it shows up & still trust the process. Thank you Liz <3
It's so messy so much of the time! I'm laughing as I write this because it must sound *so obvious* from the outside that I have great people in my life--and yet, the scripts inside can still take time to unwind. Thanks for reading :)
Liz, I can so deeply relate to the teenage isolation and stories you told yourself. Mine have also followed me into adulthood, along with my introversion. I also once had a relationship where I was welcomed into a big social circle with old roots, and it was a dream come true. Parties, music—I felt so alive. In my case I lost all that when the relationship ended, and I’ve never managed to find it again. I do know I have plenty of close friends who would show up for me if I really needed them, and who did show up when I went through my divorce a decade ago. I’m still figuring out how to recreate that in the day-to-day though. Your writing beautifully expresses the loneliness and the joy of your experience. Thank you for sharing. 🙏
p.s. I wish you and I could’ve sat together in the lunch room! (I stopped eating in the lunch room and instead ate in the hallway or band room because it was so traumatic.)
This comment is so validating, thank you. I do think it’s harder to find the big group experience as we get older; people move away, atomize into relationships and more nuclear families. In my 20s, we used to travel as a giant social amoeba. In my late 30s, the music suddenly ended. I both miss it and enjoy the more intimate friendships of my 40s. This summer I’ve booked some fun concerts and events I’ve always meant to try, to bring a bit of the music back :)
Hooray for bringing the music back!
I am Team Liz for life!
You are a gift me, and all your friends. It was beautiful to witness all the love you receive from your peeps.
p.s. I'm always ready with a charcuterie and soul talks.
Your charcuterie was a work of art, and exactly what I needed. Thank you for feeding my body and spirit. ❤️❤️