Thanks Paul, for writing that makes me cry and laugh and think and know good people still exist. Really glad to be here with you. Everyone should be reading your work 🤍
“The older I get, the more I want to surround myself with empathetic people. Kind people, people who care, because these people have always, always, been through the ringer already. They have walked through the fire. They have experienced trauma and tragedy and have learned how to handle it, by which I mean they have learned how to keep it from killing them, or turning them into something hateful.”
You’ve pretty much summed it up right there, Paul. Empathy is everything, and those of us who’ve been through the wringer, as you say, either have none at all or, like me, an overdose. It’s not hard to tell who’s who. Thank you for being one of us. This, for me, is what Substack is for, helping us to know each other better.
I agree with Kate, everyone should be reading your work! I am so glad I just recently found it. I am going to recommend it to my child. They will be coming for Christmas so will get them to show me how to join Substack as the dinosaur Mother.
Oy, when I read “J is transitioning” I immediately thought your friend was dying. That kind of transitioning. I’m relieved that’s not the case. I guess I’m still under a cloud of too much dying and illness around me. Mazel Tov to J on new beginnings. 💕
Once in a long while, I read someone’s work and connect on such a deep level, it’s like meeting an old friend I haven’t seen in far too long. It feels like opening a gift I didn’t expect to get. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read something you’ve written and found myself nodding or crying or laughing out loud in my den, or in my car sitting in my driveway, or in a hotel room, like I am now. It’s such a phenomenal experience when that happens, and I’m incredibly grateful, Paul. Reading your writing here is one of the best things that’s happened this year, and this is a year when we could all use a few great and unexpected joys. And to think of you listening to the podcast and finding it comforting is pretty much better than all the pie in the world. And I’m sorry to bring up pie because I know you aren’t eating sugar. But anyway, thank you for that and for being here. You’re a treasure. Love to you and Jenn and your whole family, and Happy Thanksgiving 🍁❤️
I am happy to report this one made me smile, not cry. But I laughed so hard I cried about the emergency poop one. Reminded me of one on Samantha Irby’s stories about having to poop at the side of the road. I once described my writing as shit. Shit that needed to be left alone until I could turn it into compost.
That’s a very good point about transition. I also have a friend who is transitioning and it’s important to remember that this doesn’t suddenly become the only thing that we know about them, or even the most important. If, as in my/my friend’s case, we’re both writers, that’s still a big point of connection. And maybe that’s what they want to talk about, not hormones or surgery or going out in a dress for the first time.
Thanks Paul, for writing that makes me cry and laugh and think and know good people still exist. Really glad to be here with you. Everyone should be reading your work 🤍
💙💙💙
“The older I get, the more I want to surround myself with empathetic people. Kind people, people who care, because these people have always, always, been through the ringer already. They have walked through the fire. They have experienced trauma and tragedy and have learned how to handle it, by which I mean they have learned how to keep it from killing them, or turning them into something hateful.”
You’ve pretty much summed it up right there, Paul. Empathy is everything, and those of us who’ve been through the wringer, as you say, either have none at all or, like me, an overdose. It’s not hard to tell who’s who. Thank you for being one of us. This, for me, is what Substack is for, helping us to know each other better.
Thanks so much, once again, Paul. I want this on a t-shirt: “If you can’t love other people at least leave them the fuck alone.”
This is not a bad idea. I should expand to merchandise
😉
I agree with Kate, everyone should be reading your work! I am so glad I just recently found it. I am going to recommend it to my child. They will be coming for Christmas so will get them to show me how to join Substack as the dinosaur Mother.
Appreciate it (and Kate is awesome!)
Oy, when I read “J is transitioning” I immediately thought your friend was dying. That kind of transitioning. I’m relieved that’s not the case. I guess I’m still under a cloud of too much dying and illness around me. Mazel Tov to J on new beginnings. 💕
Once in a long while, I read someone’s work and connect on such a deep level, it’s like meeting an old friend I haven’t seen in far too long. It feels like opening a gift I didn’t expect to get. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read something you’ve written and found myself nodding or crying or laughing out loud in my den, or in my car sitting in my driveway, or in a hotel room, like I am now. It’s such a phenomenal experience when that happens, and I’m incredibly grateful, Paul. Reading your writing here is one of the best things that’s happened this year, and this is a year when we could all use a few great and unexpected joys. And to think of you listening to the podcast and finding it comforting is pretty much better than all the pie in the world. And I’m sorry to bring up pie because I know you aren’t eating sugar. But anyway, thank you for that and for being here. You’re a treasure. Love to you and Jenn and your whole family, and Happy Thanksgiving 🍁❤️
The feeling is so mutual 💙
I am happy to report this one made me smile, not cry. But I laughed so hard I cried about the emergency poop one. Reminded me of one on Samantha Irby’s stories about having to poop at the side of the road. I once described my writing as shit. Shit that needed to be left alone until I could turn it into compost.
Paul, I’m glad you’re here, too.
That’s a very good point about transition. I also have a friend who is transitioning and it’s important to remember that this doesn’t suddenly become the only thing that we know about them, or even the most important. If, as in my/my friend’s case, we’re both writers, that’s still a big point of connection. And maybe that’s what they want to talk about, not hormones or surgery or going out in a dress for the first time.
Glad you're here, Paul. Glad I found you, here
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Love is always the answer.
Me too. I’m glad you’re here writing to us in the dark.