I nurture my body on a regular basis with chocolate Schocolade bars chocolate K chocolate cookies chocolate free pays from McDonald's chocolate ice cream like such are
I love that Regina Spektor line, Meghan. Our bodies are so fascinating and intricate, perfect in their own way and working a million miles a minute to keep us alive, but it is so easy to forget and take them for granted. I really liked the New Yorker piece you posted here as well. I read both of Rooney's books and also found the protagonists' self awareness was framed in a really self deprecating manner. But I guess as a counter, is it the job of an author to create a novel that motivates society to take action after they've become self aware? Or is it possible in this day and age for an author to write a novel about a character(s) struggle with self awareness and society can take it or leave it as they wish?
You pose a good question — on one hand, I don't think it's up to an author to write any specific sort of character but the one they create, and it certainly isn't up to fictional characters to act as a motivator for the general public (God help us if we ever get that point!). On the other, I do think the self-deprecating, glamourously disheveled protagonists' conjured in particular novels that cater towards a particular audience (of Millenial women, mostly) is worth examining with a closer lens.
I'd never been able to put into words what drew me into Rooney's characters so quickly, and also what frustrated me so much about them, but the criticism puts it so eloquently. I suppose reflection for reflection's sake isn't inherently damaging, but these characters serve as a cautionary tale for reflection being the end all be all.
I loved the bit about forgetting you had a body - sometimes I definitely just function without taking care of my physical form and only focus on my mental state. Sometimes I read “I Sing the Body Electric” by Walt Whitman to bring me back to my body, I recommend checking it out!
Also, I appreciate the advice for helping a friend. I have been trying to become a more active listener instead of speaking whenever there is a lull in the conversation. Selfishly, I feel like it helps people to feel comfortable around me which is always my goal!
Thank you so much for reccomending that poem, how wonderfully beautiful! My favorite line:
"To be surrounded by beautiful, curious, breathing, laughing flesh is enough,
To pass among them or touch any one, or rest my arm ever so lightly round his or her neck for a moment, what is this then?
I do not ask any more delight, I swim in it as in a sea. "
And agreed on the listening front. I read somewhere recently that we would be better off if we got comfortable with the long pause. I think the article suggested 5 full seconds before speaking. I try to do this now, when it feels approaite, and it's wild to see how much more spills out of the person you're talking too if you let the pause linger for a few seconds.
The best way I know how to comfort someone is by talking to them. Talk about anything and everything and always be available if they need you rate writing you're the best love you
"the 60 minute investment doesn’t feel like a viable return on calories burned" - this is me. I also struggle with the 'think about nothing' aspect of yoga because I find I always do the opposite.
Same! But I was especially amazed this week because even though I was distracted half the time and not pouring out sweat, my body felt SO FREAKING GOOD afterward... about fifty times better than it does on the back end of a run or HIIT workout.
I nurture my body on a regular basis with chocolate Schocolade bars chocolate K chocolate cookies chocolate free pays from McDonald's chocolate ice cream like such are
I love that Regina Spektor line, Meghan. Our bodies are so fascinating and intricate, perfect in their own way and working a million miles a minute to keep us alive, but it is so easy to forget and take them for granted. I really liked the New Yorker piece you posted here as well. I read both of Rooney's books and also found the protagonists' self awareness was framed in a really self deprecating manner. But I guess as a counter, is it the job of an author to create a novel that motivates society to take action after they've become self aware? Or is it possible in this day and age for an author to write a novel about a character(s) struggle with self awareness and society can take it or leave it as they wish?
You pose a good question — on one hand, I don't think it's up to an author to write any specific sort of character but the one they create, and it certainly isn't up to fictional characters to act as a motivator for the general public (God help us if we ever get that point!). On the other, I do think the self-deprecating, glamourously disheveled protagonists' conjured in particular novels that cater towards a particular audience (of Millenial women, mostly) is worth examining with a closer lens.
I'd never been able to put into words what drew me into Rooney's characters so quickly, and also what frustrated me so much about them, but the criticism puts it so eloquently. I suppose reflection for reflection's sake isn't inherently damaging, but these characters serve as a cautionary tale for reflection being the end all be all.
I finally found this newsletter and it was great again I enjoy your writing so much you rock
I loved the bit about forgetting you had a body - sometimes I definitely just function without taking care of my physical form and only focus on my mental state. Sometimes I read “I Sing the Body Electric” by Walt Whitman to bring me back to my body, I recommend checking it out!
Also, I appreciate the advice for helping a friend. I have been trying to become a more active listener instead of speaking whenever there is a lull in the conversation. Selfishly, I feel like it helps people to feel comfortable around me which is always my goal!
Thank you so much for reccomending that poem, how wonderfully beautiful! My favorite line:
"To be surrounded by beautiful, curious, breathing, laughing flesh is enough,
To pass among them or touch any one, or rest my arm ever so lightly round his or her neck for a moment, what is this then?
I do not ask any more delight, I swim in it as in a sea. "
And agreed on the listening front. I read somewhere recently that we would be better off if we got comfortable with the long pause. I think the article suggested 5 full seconds before speaking. I try to do this now, when it feels approaite, and it's wild to see how much more spills out of the person you're talking too if you let the pause linger for a few seconds.
The best way I know how to comfort someone is by talking to them. Talk about anything and everything and always be available if they need you rate writing you're the best love you
"the 60 minute investment doesn’t feel like a viable return on calories burned" - this is me. I also struggle with the 'think about nothing' aspect of yoga because I find I always do the opposite.
Same! But I was especially amazed this week because even though I was distracted half the time and not pouring out sweat, my body felt SO FREAKING GOOD afterward... about fifty times better than it does on the back end of a run or HIIT workout.