I don’t have many regrets in my life. And throwing away my first ever book is one of them. I keep telling the little girl that she does become a writer and a damn good one at that.
To have you call it a masterpiece makes me feel like I actually did achieve what I set out to do here. You taught me the value of storytelling. And I greatly appreciate your efforts to help me edit this piece.
This essay is both beautiful and essential. The story in the beginning took hold of me and was masterfully told. 👏
And this: “You are perfect, just as you are.
You don’t need to fix yourself, or change what’s wrong” could be made into a charm that we all wear around their neck to remind us we are perfect, and worthy.
this is why I was so drawn to Ryan Delaney’s work. His overall theme is about self-acceptance, not self-improvement. There’s nothing to improve, except to improve the acceptance of what is.
I love the concept of MindfulSense and finding those tiny moments of presence throughout the day. It's a beautiful reminder that we don't need to carve out large chunks of time for mindfulness; we can cultivate it in the simple acts of daily life.
In my opinion, the tiny moments of presence are the ONLY way to do mindfulness effectively and sustainably. I' tried everything else. This is what stuck.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Little 6-year-old me didn't ever ask the question "why do adults do that?" because I just figured they knew what they were doing. I thought she was the authority so she was doing what teachers are supposed to do. But none of it felt right. Most of what she did as a teacher didn't feel right to me. That was the time in my life where I really first started wondering if the world wasn't all about fun stuff and bad things did happen. In hindsight, I feel bad for her. HAving been a teacher myself, I felt bad that she didn't know how to make human connections and build rapport with her students..b.ecause that was the absolute best part of teaching.
Clearly she needed that kind of connection. She once made us all KISS her on the cheek in order to get our report cards. That's a story for another post someday. That was so weird.
EEWW that is strange! Throughout my career in teaching, I noticed a few teachers who didn’t seem to like young people at all and wondered why they chose this field.
Gosh, Teri, where to even start?! I have so much to say! Firstly, what beautiful writing. That story of you as a little girl was vivid and heartbreaking. I'm so sorry your teacher did that to you! Secondly, you could've been writing this about me. When I finally realised that HSPs existed and that I WAS one, it was like a light bulb switched on! I love your ideas for how to bring more mindfulness into our busy lives!
There are so many HSPs out there living their lives as perfectionists and right doers. We make the world a better place. We shine the light on the subtleties. Buckle your seatbelt girlfriend (and feel it click….ah….). I’ve got a lot more coming here on this publication.
I’m grateful that you are sharing this story. Cruelty such as you experienced has no place in the world. I have felt the sting of it as well.
While it is true that we are HSPs, your techniques of self honoring help so much. I most likely will still be hurt when people are cruel, but I no longer carry it in my backpack of history. 💕
The thing is, I don’t think Mrs monahan knew she was being cruel. I think I she thought she was delivering tough love. I do have to thank her on some level. All that efforting to be right and perfectionism made me become damn good at lots of things.
I just want to hug 6 year old you!!! That is so so so so sad!!! 😭 What a beautifully told story, and a beautiful lesson to embrace the messy of life with our sensitive souls! 💛💛
My inner 6-year old has been feeling you hugs and love coming through your posts since long before we actually met. You made it okay for me to be a strikethrough all caps bold non grammatically correct mess and celebrate it sometimes. Your ability to break the rules and shine is so inspiring to me. Thank you!
Honored to be the first to like this essay, Teri. I truly enjoyed reading about you. Adults can be thoughtlessly cruel, can’t they? Glad you’re still writing! 🙏💚
Mrs Monahan was cruel to other kids too. It happened daily and I felt it all as if it was direct hits on me. She was a cold prickly kind of person. It took a long time to recover from that. Years later I realized she only taught there for one year.
Thanks for reading and liking Don. I always love your support. Every time I see your name I get warm fuzzies inside.
This story was so beautiful. You don't need to ever apologize for being who you are and I'm glad that you've embraced it and transmuted those feelings of hurt into self empowerment and joy. Thank you for sharing your words with the world. Goddess knows, we need them-
This was every sensitive child's story in some form. I always wish we could go back and tell ourselves that it all works out in the end.
I don’t have many regrets in my life. And throwing away my first ever book is one of them. I keep telling the little girl that she does become a writer and a damn good one at that.
Teri, that story at the beginning is a masterpiece. Really excited for this new chapter in your newsletter's history!!
To have you call it a masterpiece makes me feel like I actually did achieve what I set out to do here. You taught me the value of storytelling. And I greatly appreciate your efforts to help me edit this piece.
This essay is both beautiful and essential. The story in the beginning took hold of me and was masterfully told. 👏
And this: “You are perfect, just as you are.
You don’t need to fix yourself, or change what’s wrong” could be made into a charm that we all wear around their neck to remind us we are perfect, and worthy.
🙏🙏
this is why I was so drawn to Ryan Delaney’s work. His overall theme is about self-acceptance, not self-improvement. There’s nothing to improve, except to improve the acceptance of what is.
Love all your creativity and color, even in your heartbreaking story. I want to give you a hug!
virtual hug received! thank you for that.
Teri, I am with you and the way your brain works, the way you seek answers, the way you seek meaning in everything… quirky things about me:
- songs make me cry often
- trees fill me with awe
- every day I wonder why I am here
- I feel like I am only just now learning to love ( like, maybe) myself and I just turned 60!
- I feel lonely even though I’m surrounded by friends-
- I have my Masters degree but still can’t use our remote control
- I could go on and on…
I’m subscribing to you right now:)
Thank you!
Wow. Gayle. I’m honored. Thank you for taking the time to comment so deeply and share yourself here with this ever-growing community.
I love the concept of MindfulSense and finding those tiny moments of presence throughout the day. It's a beautiful reminder that we don't need to carve out large chunks of time for mindfulness; we can cultivate it in the simple acts of daily life.
In my opinion, the tiny moments of presence are the ONLY way to do mindfulness effectively and sustainably. I' tried everything else. This is what stuck.
🍎I wrote a story not too long ago about a really great teacher in case that interests you:
https://shellnorman.substack.com/p/the-best-kind-of-teacher?r=44j6y7
I always love a GOOD teacher story. thanks for sharing.
My question, like yours, is why did she do that? As if you spelled your own name wrong? What?
Great story--readers can feel it all with you.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Little 6-year-old me didn't ever ask the question "why do adults do that?" because I just figured they knew what they were doing. I thought she was the authority so she was doing what teachers are supposed to do. But none of it felt right. Most of what she did as a teacher didn't feel right to me. That was the time in my life where I really first started wondering if the world wasn't all about fun stuff and bad things did happen. In hindsight, I feel bad for her. HAving been a teacher myself, I felt bad that she didn't know how to make human connections and build rapport with her students..b.ecause that was the absolute best part of teaching.
Clearly she needed that kind of connection. She once made us all KISS her on the cheek in order to get our report cards. That's a story for another post someday. That was so weird.
EEWW that is strange! Throughout my career in teaching, I noticed a few teachers who didn’t seem to like young people at all and wondered why they chose this field.
This turned out amazing. I adore MindfulSense and related so much to the intro story.
Gosh, Teri, where to even start?! I have so much to say! Firstly, what beautiful writing. That story of you as a little girl was vivid and heartbreaking. I'm so sorry your teacher did that to you! Secondly, you could've been writing this about me. When I finally realised that HSPs existed and that I WAS one, it was like a light bulb switched on! I love your ideas for how to bring more mindfulness into our busy lives!
There are so many HSPs out there living their lives as perfectionists and right doers. We make the world a better place. We shine the light on the subtleties. Buckle your seatbelt girlfriend (and feel it click….ah….). I’ve got a lot more coming here on this publication.
I’m grateful that you are sharing this story. Cruelty such as you experienced has no place in the world. I have felt the sting of it as well.
While it is true that we are HSPs, your techniques of self honoring help so much. I most likely will still be hurt when people are cruel, but I no longer carry it in my backpack of history. 💕
The thing is, I don’t think Mrs monahan knew she was being cruel. I think I she thought she was delivering tough love. I do have to thank her on some level. All that efforting to be right and perfectionism made me become damn good at lots of things.
I just want to hug 6 year old you!!! That is so so so so sad!!! 😭 What a beautifully told story, and a beautiful lesson to embrace the messy of life with our sensitive souls! 💛💛
My inner 6-year old has been feeling you hugs and love coming through your posts since long before we actually met. You made it okay for me to be a strikethrough all caps bold non grammatically correct mess and celebrate it sometimes. Your ability to break the rules and shine is so inspiring to me. Thank you!
🥹🥹🥹 Oh my goodness, this is so beautiful! 💜 So honored to be able play a lil role in this for you! 🥰
Felt this in my bones!
I know you do. And I love you. If you and I had been in the same first grade class, we would’ve been good friends.
Honored to be the first to like this essay, Teri. I truly enjoyed reading about you. Adults can be thoughtlessly cruel, can’t they? Glad you’re still writing! 🙏💚
Mrs Monahan was cruel to other kids too. It happened daily and I felt it all as if it was direct hits on me. She was a cold prickly kind of person. It took a long time to recover from that. Years later I realized she only taught there for one year.
Thanks for reading and liking Don. I always love your support. Every time I see your name I get warm fuzzies inside.
This story was so beautiful. You don't need to ever apologize for being who you are and I'm glad that you've embraced it and transmuted those feelings of hurt into self empowerment and joy. Thank you for sharing your words with the world. Goddess knows, we need them-
aww. I get this so much. Love you and your beautiful book that you will continue to write as you unfold.