Dear Em, Just reading your reply 7/6, and am smiling so big that I made you smile & lol. ps I hope today you are feeling better and also having a good rest.
In the “There are no coincidences” category, yesterday I had Shelly Tygielski’s “Sit Down to Rise Up” in my ears while purging and sorting clothes - when Your NAME and story came up! 🎇
Also NOT sure if I fully told you of our 1-degree-of-separation connection, but Shelly and Gillian (PIK) are investors in our play-in-development about Maya Angelou - and I was so tickled when I saw your name on the PIK Advisory Board!
Shelly is like a guardian angel in our lives, adding little tiny touches all the time that add love and phenomenally special gifts to our work.
I hope you and I will meet in person one day. Until then, I’m sharing what Maya’s son Mr Guy Johnson - may he rest in power - used to say when we ended our Zoom calls with him back in the late teens (our playwright Angelica Cheri still uses it in her sign offs to us)
Keep listening to yourself to pave the way for the next path you follow. It's taken you on some amazing journeys. Your inner voice is what speaks to everyone who gets to follow you physically, spiritually, and emotionally. If you're not writing, maybe dictate your musings. Sending comfort and healing vibes your way. xoxoxo
I am so sorry, Emily. Sending you oodles of good juju and plenty of extra pure god juice. And while I'd never want to discount your experience, I'm not sure I can agree with your "brain no work". Even sickie, you're fucking brilliant. Take extra good care, friend. XO
Em!! Omgosh. Take care of you. If I’ve learned anything in this season of my health it’s that listening to our bodies is more important than anything. Sending you love and light. xoxo
Emily I barely know your work but was captivated forever by your post about Bryan flooding your house a few years ago & have enviously wished for 40-hour days and enough of my brain returning (also suffer from brain fog) to read *anything* in a consistent way. The last thing I need is another Substack subscription that keeps me feeling like a perpetual failure (can’t keep up) and, financially irresponsible (long-term unemployed and correspondingly terrified (disability benefits for—yes, incredibly—TENNIS ELBOW—will soon cease so I better get PAID TO DO SOMETHING AND SOON despite the aforementioned wayward brain.
Every time I catch a little of one of your posts I try to avoid it because I know I’ll succumb again. So, in reading this one in full, I have. Thank you for your astonishing ability to find humanity and humor, and to create a sense of inclusion and community in conveying them to the rest of us who are flailing less elegantly than you are. I am deeply sorry to hear of your recent travails, and wish you the absolute best in vanquishing, or at least riding them out, possible. Thank you for allowing some of the rest of us moments of respite from our own terror & outrage. You are a treasure—said sincerely.
Rebecca. OMG. I'm printing out this comment and taping it to my forehead. Thank you so, so much for such kind and thoughtful reflections and compliments -- this means so very much to me.
Sigh…. ‘In January, Lacy asked me what I most desired for 2025 and I said, “I just want to lie down for a year.”’ Congratulations. Wish granted. Grin. Even at that point, your body was letting you know.
I do so hope that things improve. Take care my dear. All the best. (No rush to do anything from our perspective.)
Beth! Hi! Wish granted, right? I do have to laugh at that... and the body's wisdom that unless forced, I wouldn't have rested as much as I needed/wanted to. Thanks so much for your kind words always. xoxo
Emily, continuing to send thoughts of rest, ease, delight and equanimity in your direction (and all over ❤️🕊️☮️). Thank you for this update and its baker's dozen plus of insights into weathering and tending life. Seriously, when I read your words they are some of the best medicine for me to understand aspects of myself. Having your words encourages me to find my words and tend to what's coming up in life. (Not in any sort of way of like expecting something from you, more like being on my own walk in the woods and being absolutely astonished when I stumble onto a Tiger Lily. An unexpected gift! After seeing the first one, noticing others, etc.) Also, just in the last week or two the thought had crossed my mind that it had been a while since you had slipped into the ol' inbox, but the thought immediately after was that I trust you were up to whatever you needed. Grateful for how much you have shared and given to so many, and for all the seeds you have planted over the years! ❤️
This was so delightful and comforting to read -- I deeply appreciate you sharing such a kind comment. And thank you for the rest, ease, delight and equanimity! xoxoxo
I'm sorry to hear you are going through all this Emily. Sounds like you're doing exactly what your body is asking of you. Sometimes that's the only way us hard-headed, driven, stubborn workaholic people get the message. Which does suck! I am praying for your recovery and good health. The picture of you in your garden is gold. Your spirit shines through, even when reclined in zero-gravity contraptions! Be well. xo
Thanks for sharing where you are at (I listened to the new podcast too). I have been following yours and Holly's process because I am going through the same thing, and I don't know anyone in the same situation, so thank you again for making me feel like I'm not alone or totally crazy. I can relate to your fatigued long covid state...I have some autoimmune-still in shutdown combo thing. I'll just say, I am sending you much love, and you and Holly are my healing-life-heroes!
Sending light & peace and 6th draft of a little rhyme I just made up:
EBV, Please GO AWAY!
Leave Em alone, for just today!
Start today, then add Tomorrows
Repeat Ad Lib so healing follows.
Dormant virus, nothing but hella Trouble
We yearn 2b free from your stupid bubble;
Anti virals, supplements galore
EBV, shove off to distant shores
As Glinda might shout,
“Wicked virus, Begone!”
Sing Alleluia,
Out, Out & “Ding DONG!”
Tami, I have no words for how amazing this is. "A little rhyme"?!? Are you kidding me? Thank you so much for the laugh and the support. xoxo
Dear Em, Just reading your reply 7/6, and am smiling so big that I made you smile & lol. ps I hope today you are feeling better and also having a good rest.
In the “There are no coincidences” category, yesterday I had Shelly Tygielski’s “Sit Down to Rise Up” in my ears while purging and sorting clothes - when Your NAME and story came up! 🎇
Also NOT sure if I fully told you of our 1-degree-of-separation connection, but Shelly and Gillian (PIK) are investors in our play-in-development about Maya Angelou - and I was so tickled when I saw your name on the PIK Advisory Board!
Shelly is like a guardian angel in our lives, adding little tiny touches all the time that add love and phenomenally special gifts to our work.
I hope you and I will meet in person one day. Until then, I’m sharing what Maya’s son Mr Guy Johnson - may he rest in power - used to say when we ended our Zoom calls with him back in the late teens (our playwright Angelica Cheri still uses it in her sign offs to us)
May we continue to continue -
Warmly,
Tami Dew Rich
Portsmouth NH (for now; next yr NYC)
💜🫶🏻💜
Keep listening to yourself to pave the way for the next path you follow. It's taken you on some amazing journeys. Your inner voice is what speaks to everyone who gets to follow you physically, spiritually, and emotionally. If you're not writing, maybe dictate your musings. Sending comfort and healing vibes your way. xoxoxo
Thank you Lynn -- you're the best. Sending you big love and hugs. xoxoxo
I am so sorry, Emily. Sending you oodles of good juju and plenty of extra pure god juice. And while I'd never want to discount your experience, I'm not sure I can agree with your "brain no work". Even sickie, you're fucking brilliant. Take extra good care, friend. XO
Love you, Shannon. xoxo
Em!! Omgosh. Take care of you. If I’ve learned anything in this season of my health it’s that listening to our bodies is more important than anything. Sending you love and light. xoxo
Thank you Katie! (and hear hear)
Emily I barely know your work but was captivated forever by your post about Bryan flooding your house a few years ago & have enviously wished for 40-hour days and enough of my brain returning (also suffer from brain fog) to read *anything* in a consistent way. The last thing I need is another Substack subscription that keeps me feeling like a perpetual failure (can’t keep up) and, financially irresponsible (long-term unemployed and correspondingly terrified (disability benefits for—yes, incredibly—TENNIS ELBOW—will soon cease so I better get PAID TO DO SOMETHING AND SOON despite the aforementioned wayward brain.
Every time I catch a little of one of your posts I try to avoid it because I know I’ll succumb again. So, in reading this one in full, I have. Thank you for your astonishing ability to find humanity and humor, and to create a sense of inclusion and community in conveying them to the rest of us who are flailing less elegantly than you are. I am deeply sorry to hear of your recent travails, and wish you the absolute best in vanquishing, or at least riding them out, possible. Thank you for allowing some of the rest of us moments of respite from our own terror & outrage. You are a treasure—said sincerely.
Rebecca. OMG. I'm printing out this comment and taping it to my forehead. Thank you so, so much for such kind and thoughtful reflections and compliments -- this means so very much to me.
Rooting for you and grateful to you for sharing what feels right to share.
Thank you Anne! xo
BRYAN!
BRYAN!!!!!!
I’m so sorry Emily, it sounds like a nightmare . You write beautifully even when you are down.
Thank you, Jennifer. (It only took me five hours! HA!) xoxo
Sigh…. ‘In January, Lacy asked me what I most desired for 2025 and I said, “I just want to lie down for a year.”’ Congratulations. Wish granted. Grin. Even at that point, your body was letting you know.
I do so hope that things improve. Take care my dear. All the best. (No rush to do anything from our perspective.)
Beth! Hi! Wish granted, right? I do have to laugh at that... and the body's wisdom that unless forced, I wouldn't have rested as much as I needed/wanted to. Thanks so much for your kind words always. xoxo
Emily, continuing to send thoughts of rest, ease, delight and equanimity in your direction (and all over ❤️🕊️☮️). Thank you for this update and its baker's dozen plus of insights into weathering and tending life. Seriously, when I read your words they are some of the best medicine for me to understand aspects of myself. Having your words encourages me to find my words and tend to what's coming up in life. (Not in any sort of way of like expecting something from you, more like being on my own walk in the woods and being absolutely astonished when I stumble onto a Tiger Lily. An unexpected gift! After seeing the first one, noticing others, etc.) Also, just in the last week or two the thought had crossed my mind that it had been a while since you had slipped into the ol' inbox, but the thought immediately after was that I trust you were up to whatever you needed. Grateful for how much you have shared and given to so many, and for all the seeds you have planted over the years! ❤️
This was so delightful and comforting to read -- I deeply appreciate you sharing such a kind comment. And thank you for the rest, ease, delight and equanimity! xoxoxo
"Resting, breathing, meditating...."
I'm sorry to hear you are going through all this Emily. Sounds like you're doing exactly what your body is asking of you. Sometimes that's the only way us hard-headed, driven, stubborn workaholic people get the message. Which does suck! I am praying for your recovery and good health. The picture of you in your garden is gold. Your spirit shines through, even when reclined in zero-gravity contraptions! Be well. xo
Kim! Yep... definitely getting the message over here. :) Thank you so much for your sweet words and support always. xoxo
ps you have a very nice backyard
thank you! this time of year is definitely Peak Backyard. :)
💛💛💛💛💛💛💛
Thanks for sharing where you are at (I listened to the new podcast too). I have been following yours and Holly's process because I am going through the same thing, and I don't know anyone in the same situation, so thank you again for making me feel like I'm not alone or totally crazy. I can relate to your fatigued long covid state...I have some autoimmune-still in shutdown combo thing. I'll just say, I am sending you much love, and you and Holly are my healing-life-heroes!