When I saw the picture of your mom for some inexplicable reason my eyes filled with tears (warm happy ones) and the thoughts popped into my brain that she must be so proud of you and adore you deeply- this lovely person that you are that connects so intently with people who have never met you but feel like you are them 💛💛💛 and I had to stop reading and run down to the comments to write this while all those thoughts were in my head. Now back to reading the rest !!!!
This was such a good "issue" of Out of the Blue! So rich and wise. What you say about being a creature is a kismet-y companion to this post (uncredited, sadly) I saw online and saved because it has really shifted my daily practices:
"Your purpose in life is not to love yourself but to love BEING yourself. If your goal is to love yourself, then your focus is directed inward, and you end up constantly watching yourself from the outside, disconnected, trying to summon the 'correct' feelings or fashion yourself into something you can approve of. If your goal is to love being yourself, then your focus is directed outward towards life, on living and making decisions based on what brings you pleasure and fulfillment.
Be the subject, not the object. It doesn't matter what you think of yourself. You are experiencing life. Life is not experiencing you."
I love love love reading your work! I learned in a new year tea ceremony to ask “what is this? JUST this?” when doing something (anything). So I was reading this thinking “I need to write this list down!” And “let me get my laptop!”… but I then changed it to “what is this? JUST this?”. I’m reading Mari’s Substack. I’m JUST reading Mari’s Substack. And lo and behold, I’m doing exactly what you’re talking about: ride that wave! 🌊🌊🌊 Keep floating and ride that wave!
Mari! Here you go again. Few people arrange words so delightfully and inspirationally. I inevitably break into a conspicuous Cheshire Cat smile when I read what you write. Your descriptions of human experiences give me life! Waddling through the world with smile lines, unusual proportions, and unsmoothed skin textures does showcase signs of our existence. You consistently prompt us (your readers) to look at situations and things in new and thoughtful ways. You are a gift.
Also, I do hope that your little, uninvited, Nothing goober never develops into a Something goober. Be well.
So already in swoon mode after reading this and then I plunge into a beautiful cocoon of a comment section!! So many wise gems in here! Is it a full moon in Cancer or what?! I dubbed 2023 my “Health and Wealth” year and relished in all the appointments. Cleaning up that body and financial mind-clutter?? 10/10!! I also hope your de-gooberization puts the temple back in tip top!
I caught a cold on Jan 1 so decided to do Dry Jan for the first time, thinking about your Lent adventure! (My bday is the 6th so it never felt like an option to quit for the month. Ugh!) After reading your defense of veganism, this clicked into place “The thing is, whenever I go against one of my values, I chip away at my self-respect.” While I can’t see myself going sober permanently, I suddenly have a whole new sobering outlook on my values surrounding alcohol (this is THE HARDEST THING if you’re in Wisconsin!!!) so thank you for that! (AND next year I’ll celebrate La Befana-style!!)
“Decency, I thought, must be an underrated virtue in a societal framework that rewards showiness and extremes.” So much YES! And I seriously want to be just a critter mensch who dabbles and surfs urges! 🐀🫏🐛
I am pretty new to Substack (gasp!) but I am here because you are one of the people I like to read. After you I decided it was worth it to have a word for a year except that I like to keep it changing and have settled on word for a week instead. Thank you.
I haven’t commented in a while but have been reading all your stories. I forgot to comment on this amazing piece last week! So many great lessons and insights, thank you for sharing 💜💜
What a lovely read, thank you for sharing your heart! My favourite are the following lines, that I'll carry with me for a long time going forward :')
'Imagine if a wrinkle could just exist as a wrinkle, every bit as inoffensive as a cat’s whisker or a senior dog’s beautiful sugar-face. What if sickness didn’t “interfere” with work, but allowed for deep physical and spiritual rest that all living things need? What if rolls of fat had no meaning attached to them other than shape, no more worrisome than the plump joyful leaves of a jade plant? Signs of existence, of being a critter, of growing on an evolving planet.'
When I saw the picture of your mom for some inexplicable reason my eyes filled with tears (warm happy ones) and the thoughts popped into my brain that she must be so proud of you and adore you deeply- this lovely person that you are that connects so intently with people who have never met you but feel like you are them 💛💛💛 and I had to stop reading and run down to the comments to write this while all those thoughts were in my head. Now back to reading the rest !!!!
This was such a good "issue" of Out of the Blue! So rich and wise. What you say about being a creature is a kismet-y companion to this post (uncredited, sadly) I saw online and saved because it has really shifted my daily practices:
"Your purpose in life is not to love yourself but to love BEING yourself. If your goal is to love yourself, then your focus is directed inward, and you end up constantly watching yourself from the outside, disconnected, trying to summon the 'correct' feelings or fashion yourself into something you can approve of. If your goal is to love being yourself, then your focus is directed outward towards life, on living and making decisions based on what brings you pleasure and fulfillment.
Be the subject, not the object. It doesn't matter what you think of yourself. You are experiencing life. Life is not experiencing you."
I love love love reading your work! I learned in a new year tea ceremony to ask “what is this? JUST this?” when doing something (anything). So I was reading this thinking “I need to write this list down!” And “let me get my laptop!”… but I then changed it to “what is this? JUST this?”. I’m reading Mari’s Substack. I’m JUST reading Mari’s Substack. And lo and behold, I’m doing exactly what you’re talking about: ride that wave! 🌊🌊🌊 Keep floating and ride that wave!
This!!! I am in love with this wisdom! 🌊
Mari! Here you go again. Few people arrange words so delightfully and inspirationally. I inevitably break into a conspicuous Cheshire Cat smile when I read what you write. Your descriptions of human experiences give me life! Waddling through the world with smile lines, unusual proportions, and unsmoothed skin textures does showcase signs of our existence. You consistently prompt us (your readers) to look at situations and things in new and thoughtful ways. You are a gift.
Also, I do hope that your little, uninvited, Nothing goober never develops into a Something goober. Be well.
Ugh I always love your words. Sinking deep into humanness.
Now I want to know how you got your wrist to stop hurting in yoga! Haha!
So already in swoon mode after reading this and then I plunge into a beautiful cocoon of a comment section!! So many wise gems in here! Is it a full moon in Cancer or what?! I dubbed 2023 my “Health and Wealth” year and relished in all the appointments. Cleaning up that body and financial mind-clutter?? 10/10!! I also hope your de-gooberization puts the temple back in tip top!
I caught a cold on Jan 1 so decided to do Dry Jan for the first time, thinking about your Lent adventure! (My bday is the 6th so it never felt like an option to quit for the month. Ugh!) After reading your defense of veganism, this clicked into place “The thing is, whenever I go against one of my values, I chip away at my self-respect.” While I can’t see myself going sober permanently, I suddenly have a whole new sobering outlook on my values surrounding alcohol (this is THE HARDEST THING if you’re in Wisconsin!!!) so thank you for that! (AND next year I’ll celebrate La Befana-style!!)
“Decency, I thought, must be an underrated virtue in a societal framework that rewards showiness and extremes.” So much YES! And I seriously want to be just a critter mensch who dabbles and surfs urges! 🐀🫏🐛
I am pretty new to Substack (gasp!) but I am here because you are one of the people I like to read. After you I decided it was worth it to have a word for a year except that I like to keep it changing and have settled on word for a week instead. Thank you.
I haven’t commented in a while but have been reading all your stories. I forgot to comment on this amazing piece last week! So many great lessons and insights, thank you for sharing 💜💜
What a lovely read, thank you for sharing your heart! My favourite are the following lines, that I'll carry with me for a long time going forward :')
'Imagine if a wrinkle could just exist as a wrinkle, every bit as inoffensive as a cat’s whisker or a senior dog’s beautiful sugar-face. What if sickness didn’t “interfere” with work, but allowed for deep physical and spiritual rest that all living things need? What if rolls of fat had no meaning attached to them other than shape, no more worrisome than the plump joyful leaves of a jade plant? Signs of existence, of being a critter, of growing on an evolving planet.'
Excellent. I would like to follow this. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
I love the stillness and pause your words bring to me ♥️
These are lovely words!!
Thanks Mari 💕 I needed this more than anything. Happy new year 🥹
Hey Mari, I’ve sent you a DM with a great proposal for your newsletter. Would love for you to take a look when you get a chance!
So grateful for you, Mari!!! Thank you for sharing your spirit with us!!!! 💫💫💫
I always look forward to reading your posts - they are just perfectly life-affirming to me. Thank you ☺️