there are things i want to tell you
current studio altar
I want to tell you about the sound the rain is making as it drills onto the roof today. And then it taps. And then dances. And it is insistent. And almost relentless. And it has given me a rhythm to make sense of things.
I want to tell you about how it felt to sit in a classroom last evening and listen to someone talk about my child as a student. Suddenly I saw years pass in front of me, and I thought about how important my first, second, and third grade teachers were to me, and I imagined my own daughter sitting at a desk a couple of years from now watching how her teacher moves and talks to others and wanting to be like her. And I was so struck by the beauty of it all that I could have ugly cried right there.
I want to tell you about the synergy of collaboration and how there can be an exquisite awesome found when two people just show up as themselves and share without fear and with their hearts open to all the crazy and the brilliant. (And I want to tell you that this isn't always easy to find but it is always worth nurturing if you suspect it might be there.)
I want to tell you about the dream I had about my grandparents' house last night and how I could see every detail in every room and how just at the end of the dream I realized that someone else is living there now and I saw my hand writing those people a note of gratitude for holding the love in that house for me since I won't ever be inside it again.
I want to tell you about the way my heart feels extra big today (and I kind of don't want that feeling to ever go away even though it isn't quite comfortable).
I want to tell you about how this article takes my breath away. And I mean literally. I mean I'm still crying. And you should go and read it. Or save it for when you need to be reminded that life is about being "all in" to the last minute. But whatever you do, don't just pass over it. It is a must.
I want to tell you that you are not alone in it over there.
I want to tell you how grateful I am to know you are out there.
And you? What do you need to tell someone today?
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Using the prompt "I want to tell you" is a favorite of mine. Today's post was inspired by the newsletter my friend Jenna sent out today. She has a new short writing ecourse that starts Sunday. It's all about writing into the heart of your story. And it is going to be so good. Check it out here.
liz lamoreux
Reader Comments (4)
These words.... They kept me hooked and reading to the last letter ;> <3
such a beautiful story, thanks for passing it on Liz. I'm taking Jenna's course, so I'm really looking forward to getting some stories written - I want to remind myself of the funny, good stuff to balance out the angry, embarrassing, ugly stuff that too easily comes to mind. T xx
Beautiful post - may I "steal" the idea to use the prompt in a post?? I sometimes feel so full of things I want to share and this is such a great container for doing that.
Laurie Anderson's tribute is so tender and honest and full of love. Yes. Tears.
I also clicked on the link to Lou Reed's last interview - I loved what he shared in the segment about sound (the real heart of the interview), beginning with how we all develop in our mother's wombs listening to rhythm via her heart and then he ends with what he calls "the sound of love." That made me cry too - his love for sound and music ran deep in his soul.
Mmm, yes indeed. More about witnessing your child's journey through school: sometimes you get to step in and educate the teacher. Sometimes you get to go back and discover who you really were as a kid, all those years ago. And sometimes you get to heal some wounds that you may not even realize you still have. It's a challenge and a privilege.