January 5, 2022
Shedding Stories
“Historically, you’d be more likely to find me evangelizing about the power of story, but these days, something else is happening. I’m shedding stories. I think people all over the country are. We’re turning away from trite, flat stories of the past (so much pain was redacted). We’re turning away from triumphant, entitled stories of the future (it requires so much denial). We’re admitting we are not authors in control, but unwitting characters, trying to ride waves of unknown narrative.
We’re settling into the small, fragile present. Into basic observation: this is my body, breathing in and out; this is my child, turning poker chips into macaroons; this is the feeling of my favorite sweatshirt and a 400-year-old tree and the light that emanates from a candle in a paper bag. This is my grief right beside my joy, my rage right beside my gratitude.”
—Courtney Martin, “Do not hope; instead observe.”
Wow, thanks for this. I read the whole piece. It’s just so beautiful and wise and true.
Isn’t it so good? I’ve been feeling A LOT lately, but I think everyone else is feeling it too, because I everything I read these days is speaking right to me.
Oh I’m so glad you gave us this link to read. It’s so heartening and comforting to read how others are processing all of this. Thanks Kerry.