I adore this Mari, thank you for sharing, as always. This is exactly what I want to do with my writing at the moment, to make the monsters real. For it to be unflinching, scary, raw, and brought into the light, to be seen, and heard. I’m working on it, and it’s my dream for it to be out in the world one day ❤️🔥
Your comment about the boy at the museum was eerily similar to a moment I had at a play last night. We were at an incredible adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in the front row, close enough to touch the actors. Throughout the entire first half the woman sitting next to me and her friend chatted away about inane topics that had nothing to do with the play. When I asked them to please be quiet they both scowled at me, but acquiesced.
In the intermission, the friend approached me to "apologise" and said "she can't help it; she has ADHD. It would be compassionate of you as a fellow theatre-goer if you accommodated that".
I can’t even count the number of times when I’m writing that I shout at myself (lovingly but still loudly) “just say what you’re trying to say” Monsters indeed. I love the way your mind works. Thanks for letting us in.
Love the idea about making the monsters real! This is what James Baldwin said about the responsibility of the poet or artist: to express how and why they suffer so that they can lessen both their own suffering and anyone who may resonate with their work. I'm currently writing something on this, exploring one of my favourite albums by Earl Sweatshirt, who was a very close friend of Mac Miller's believe it or not. Big fan of 2009 as well (yeah, that Tiny Desk is insane!). Thank you for writing this :)
Oh I’m far too curious about your animal book now. Wishing you so much good Jupiter-Taurean fortune in this next leg of your journey! And health wise too. Medium Covid is no joke! Take it slow. Naps are crucial. No, make that naps with Monsters... definitely life changing!
Thank you dear Mari for this. I am wondering what being present in my world while honouring my monsters would look like. As I am delving further and further into sobriety and recovery, I thought I had to be very "good" to make up for what I thought were years of fucking up and laziness and other things. I am also walking around with what seems like my insides all out for everyone to see. I wish you well <3
Love this! I actually had a breakthrough therapy session several years ago where my therapist asked me to describe the "monster" that is my inner critic while I'm writing. I envisioned it as a big dark scribbly blob. Then she asked me what the blob was saying and what it was afraid of. It ended with me comforting the blob because it was scared that I'd write something bad and just wanted to protect me. I was able to write a lot more freely after that and finished a bunch of songs for the album I was working on.
My little monster friend has been rattling the bars on it’s cage for the last few days. It’s looking to be heard. You just gave me my new way of having a chat. I’d been dragging my feet because I was nervous about letting it drag me behind its big fuzzy arms toward victimhood and all those disempowering thoughts I worked so hard to shake loose.
What a lovely piece! Thank you! I always think of my “monsters” as fear, pain, despair... and if, instead of pushing them away or denying their existence, I acknowledge them and show them a bit of love and a lot of grace; for they are but a lost soul seeking refuge. Those “monsters” cannot spend the night with me or take up my life but I can be kind, loving and graceful when they come to visit. Your piece really spoke to me.
May your book be published, may you feel well and heal, and may you continue to be able to look over your shields to find your true north!
This helped get the creative juices flowing about how to begin writing and framing a terrible experience i endured. I have been struggling with how to tell the story, what perspective, even what lessons i learned and want to highlight. reading this helped me realize that just working through the EMDR therapy will naturally help things unfold a bit more clearly. I see now that I should not put pressure on myself to produce the art too soon. It will come with time and effort placed on healing and dealing with the monsters. thank you.
Mari - thank you for your words of encouragement, curiosity and delight as always. I hope you kick Covid for good very soon!
You gave me some kind words about hospitals and NICUs before my baby was born.
We’re in the midst of the NICU experience and I’m trying to find the joy! Time stops here, too, but I am glad to come back into the writing world for a minute to read your words!
dearest mari, I am sorry to hear that you were not feeling well, and I am hoping that each day brings a little healing and improvement! This week I received your beautiful, handwritten note and it touched me so. I have long admired your writing and illustrations. I have taken your classes on Skillshare, enjoyed (immensely your studio visit with suleika ), when i was working as a bookseller at Books & Books in miami, I let everyone know about your work, and encouraged them to buy your books and your meditation cards, (which I have gifted to many). i think you are amazing, talented, creative and adorable.
what would be the best way to reach out to you directly, i would like to connect with you if possible--and have an invitation i would like to share. meantime, here’s hoping you have a beautiful friday --- mazel tov on landing a publisher for your next book, and i hope you take care of that monster ... i too saw judy blume’s movie last week with my 33 yo daughter. i thought the movie was outstanding, and I’ve had the great pleasure of meeting Judy Blume, and having dinner with her actually and she is just the loveliest of human beings. sending blessings ❌⭕️kimberly
I adore this Mari, thank you for sharing, as always. This is exactly what I want to do with my writing at the moment, to make the monsters real. For it to be unflinching, scary, raw, and brought into the light, to be seen, and heard. I’m working on it, and it’s my dream for it to be out in the world one day ❤️🔥
Your comment about the boy at the museum was eerily similar to a moment I had at a play last night. We were at an incredible adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in the front row, close enough to touch the actors. Throughout the entire first half the woman sitting next to me and her friend chatted away about inane topics that had nothing to do with the play. When I asked them to please be quiet they both scowled at me, but acquiesced.
In the intermission, the friend approached me to "apologise" and said "she can't help it; she has ADHD. It would be compassionate of you as a fellow theatre-goer if you accommodated that".
I can’t even count the number of times when I’m writing that I shout at myself (lovingly but still loudly) “just say what you’re trying to say” Monsters indeed. I love the way your mind works. Thanks for letting us in.
Love the idea about making the monsters real! This is what James Baldwin said about the responsibility of the poet or artist: to express how and why they suffer so that they can lessen both their own suffering and anyone who may resonate with their work. I'm currently writing something on this, exploring one of my favourite albums by Earl Sweatshirt, who was a very close friend of Mac Miller's believe it or not. Big fan of 2009 as well (yeah, that Tiny Desk is insane!). Thank you for writing this :)
Oh I’m far too curious about your animal book now. Wishing you so much good Jupiter-Taurean fortune in this next leg of your journey! And health wise too. Medium Covid is no joke! Take it slow. Naps are crucial. No, make that naps with Monsters... definitely life changing!
Thank you dear Mari for this. I am wondering what being present in my world while honouring my monsters would look like. As I am delving further and further into sobriety and recovery, I thought I had to be very "good" to make up for what I thought were years of fucking up and laziness and other things. I am also walking around with what seems like my insides all out for everyone to see. I wish you well <3
Love this! I actually had a breakthrough therapy session several years ago where my therapist asked me to describe the "monster" that is my inner critic while I'm writing. I envisioned it as a big dark scribbly blob. Then she asked me what the blob was saying and what it was afraid of. It ended with me comforting the blob because it was scared that I'd write something bad and just wanted to protect me. I was able to write a lot more freely after that and finished a bunch of songs for the album I was working on.
My little monster friend has been rattling the bars on it’s cage for the last few days. It’s looking to be heard. You just gave me my new way of having a chat. I’d been dragging my feet because I was nervous about letting it drag me behind its big fuzzy arms toward victimhood and all those disempowering thoughts I worked so hard to shake loose.
What a lovely piece! Thank you! I always think of my “monsters” as fear, pain, despair... and if, instead of pushing them away or denying their existence, I acknowledge them and show them a bit of love and a lot of grace; for they are but a lost soul seeking refuge. Those “monsters” cannot spend the night with me or take up my life but I can be kind, loving and graceful when they come to visit. Your piece really spoke to me.
May your book be published, may you feel well and heal, and may you continue to be able to look over your shields to find your true north!
Rebecca
This helped get the creative juices flowing about how to begin writing and framing a terrible experience i endured. I have been struggling with how to tell the story, what perspective, even what lessons i learned and want to highlight. reading this helped me realize that just working through the EMDR therapy will naturally help things unfold a bit more clearly. I see now that I should not put pressure on myself to produce the art too soon. It will come with time and effort placed on healing and dealing with the monsters. thank you.
Mari - thank you for your words of encouragement, curiosity and delight as always. I hope you kick Covid for good very soon!
You gave me some kind words about hospitals and NICUs before my baby was born.
We’re in the midst of the NICU experience and I’m trying to find the joy! Time stops here, too, but I am glad to come back into the writing world for a minute to read your words!
love this sentiment!! ♥️
dearest mari, I am sorry to hear that you were not feeling well, and I am hoping that each day brings a little healing and improvement! This week I received your beautiful, handwritten note and it touched me so. I have long admired your writing and illustrations. I have taken your classes on Skillshare, enjoyed (immensely your studio visit with suleika ), when i was working as a bookseller at Books & Books in miami, I let everyone know about your work, and encouraged them to buy your books and your meditation cards, (which I have gifted to many). i think you are amazing, talented, creative and adorable.
what would be the best way to reach out to you directly, i would like to connect with you if possible--and have an invitation i would like to share. meantime, here’s hoping you have a beautiful friday --- mazel tov on landing a publisher for your next book, and i hope you take care of that monster ... i too saw judy blume’s movie last week with my 33 yo daughter. i thought the movie was outstanding, and I’ve had the great pleasure of meeting Judy Blume, and having dinner with her actually and she is just the loveliest of human beings. sending blessings ❌⭕️kimberly
This is lovely, Mari. I'll use "Do you have a monster who is asking to be known?" as my journaling prompt today.