33/2021
We are assigned lanes. It feels terrible to have to say, “I don’t want to be in that lane all the time even though I know I make sense to everyone there — I need to make sense in other lanes too, if only for myself.” But maybe that’s why we have other outlets. Maybe it’s true that the smartest among us know how to rise to the top of the given lane and see it for what it is. We don’t have to pour 100% of ourselves into what we do because the truth is, most times what we “do” can’t hold all that we are.
I was texting with a friend. A dear one. And one who is a fellow writer. That was part of what I told her. I thought I was talking/writing to her, and I was. But shoot, did I ever need to hear/see what I said with my own ears/eyes. Do you ever feel restricted by your category? The one in which you don’t necessarily belong?
I then thought, “Wow — I’m so glad we have Bob Dylan to show us these things about ourselves.” Then I listened to “I Contain Multitudes.” I laughed. Then I cried. Then I laughed some more, and I kept on laughing until I got the courage to face Monday. Then I sent some of that courage to my friend through the atmosphere.
I paint abstracts… I paint nudes…
My friend is figuring out her next book. I’m trying to figure out how to write a novel I’ve had in my head for nearly ten years.
I fuss with my hair… and I fight blood feuds...
I contain multitudes.
So do you.
Sending love everywhere,
AM
I read your words slowly and take my time knowing that I will want more before I get them. You are engaging in your choice of words, revealing in your stories, and you make me feel like I’ve known you well for years. Thank you.
Instead of "get off my lawn", it's now: "get outta my lane!" I had a cousin, who had deleted me as a "friend" on FB during the last election reach out to me recently to ask if I was willing to re-friend as she was frustrated about living in a silo. Cracked me up but also impressed me that she was recognizing the limitations of her information source and also had the courage to contact me. We'll see how long we can disagree. :-) Thanks for this insightful post.