I once read a novel called A Gentleman in Moscow and I made a note of these lines. The writer is referring about the main character who has lost a loved one.
“[the character in the book] can never again walk Neskey Street without feeling an unbearable sense of loss. And that is how it should be. That sense of loss is exactly what we must anticipate, prepare for, and cherish to the last of our days; for it is only our heartbreak that finally refutes all that is ephemeral in love.”
Thank you for reading and for sharing this Flora. That quote is absolutely beautiful. “It is only our heartbreak that finally refutes all that is ephemeral in love” what a line. It captures exactly the thing I’ve been circling around but couldn’t quite name. That our grief proves the love was real, lasting, meaningful.
I haven’t read A Gentleman in Moscow but I think I need to now.
I'm not sure we're meant to undo the contradictions. I lost my mum when I was a child, and I've lived a long time in death's strange shadow. Yet life continues to be good in so many remarkable ways.
I love this insight from Francis Weller's The Wild Edge of Sorrow: "The work of the mature person is to carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and to be stretched large by them. How much sorrow can I hold? That’s how much gratitude I can give."
Thank you Dru and I’m so sorry you lost your mum when you were young. That must have been tough. “Death’s strange shadow” is such a haunting phrase that captures that quiet, lifelong presence of a grief that can shape us.
And I absolutely love that quote from Francis Weller. “To carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and be stretched large by them.” It feels like the truest kind of work not to resolve the contradictions, but to be grown by them. 💚
Thank you Simone. It’s a hard line to live by, isn’t it? Letting joy in, knowing it never comes without a shadow. I’m learning, slowly, that both can sit side by side and that maybe they have to.
Gorgeous, acutely expressive and poignant piece. So sorry for your loss. You wrote beautifully about it. And about all the contradictions of being a celebrant of human living yet caring too about the Earth.
Thank you so much for these incredibly kind words and for your understanding of that tension between loving this world and mourning what we’re doing to it. 💚
Thank you so much, that’s such a generous thing to say. I’m really touched it landed with you. It means a lot that you took the time to read and let me know. 💚
Thank you for writing this.
I once read a novel called A Gentleman in Moscow and I made a note of these lines. The writer is referring about the main character who has lost a loved one.
“[the character in the book] can never again walk Neskey Street without feeling an unbearable sense of loss. And that is how it should be. That sense of loss is exactly what we must anticipate, prepare for, and cherish to the last of our days; for it is only our heartbreak that finally refutes all that is ephemeral in love.”
Thank you for reading and for sharing this Flora. That quote is absolutely beautiful. “It is only our heartbreak that finally refutes all that is ephemeral in love” what a line. It captures exactly the thing I’ve been circling around but couldn’t quite name. That our grief proves the love was real, lasting, meaningful.
I haven’t read A Gentleman in Moscow but I think I need to now.
I'm not sure we're meant to undo the contradictions. I lost my mum when I was a child, and I've lived a long time in death's strange shadow. Yet life continues to be good in so many remarkable ways.
I love this insight from Francis Weller's The Wild Edge of Sorrow: "The work of the mature person is to carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and to be stretched large by them. How much sorrow can I hold? That’s how much gratitude I can give."
Thank you Dru and I’m so sorry you lost your mum when you were young. That must have been tough. “Death’s strange shadow” is such a haunting phrase that captures that quiet, lifelong presence of a grief that can shape us.
And I absolutely love that quote from Francis Weller. “To carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and be stretched large by them.” It feels like the truest kind of work not to resolve the contradictions, but to be grown by them. 💚
"To let myself feel joy, even as I reckon with its cost." Oof. That right there.
❤️
Thank you Simone. It’s a hard line to live by, isn’t it? Letting joy in, knowing it never comes without a shadow. I’m learning, slowly, that both can sit side by side and that maybe they have to.
Gorgeous, acutely expressive and poignant piece. So sorry for your loss. You wrote beautifully about it. And about all the contradictions of being a celebrant of human living yet caring too about the Earth.
Thank you so much for these incredibly kind words and for your understanding of that tension between loving this world and mourning what we’re doing to it. 💚
Just a perfect piece of writing, You said it all. Beautifully.
Thank you so much, that’s such a generous thing to say. I’m really touched it landed with you. It means a lot that you took the time to read and let me know. 💚
Such beautiful writing. All the irreconcilable contradictions in these days of living. Thank you Carrie, and sending love x
Thank you so much Ruth, that really means a lot. It feels like we’re all carrying so many contradictions right now x
Such an exquisite evocation of all your love, for your Dad, for the planet and the high wire we walk between all that we know and feel 💜