Overstimulated senses—particularly sight, in this age of screens—are given a rest. A brain usually pulled in several directions at once is given a rest, like the dim, quiet room where we allow people with concussions to recover.
Inspiration
The Gloria Sirens — Discover
A communal blog by and for women writers, the contributors at The Gloria Sirens cover a wide range of topics, from publishing and teaching to feminism and surviving abuse.
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Anglophile For Life
I don’t think I’ve ever met a more ardent, dedicated Anglophile than Katie Riegel. She means it. I mean really, really means it. She even married an Englishman! No matter that she had to relocate to Memphis to be with her very own Prince Andrew. They recently spent a month away, mostly in England, but Scotland and France, too. One could enjoy this photo essay for the photos alone, but the commentary adds so much. (Isn’t it fitting that her last name is pronounced “Regal?”)
Katie is a poet, and her prose is poetic. She was previously married, to a wonderful man we all admire and love, and during the end of the marriage, she wrote the book, “Letters to Colin Firth.” In them, she ponders and describes her journey through the end of the marriage (one in which she is still good friends with her ex) and the beginning of her connection with Andrew, her English husband. She writes with Colin Firth in mind as her ideal reader or, perhaps, confidante. (Because don’t we tell strangers things we don’t tell to those close to us?) If you’re interested in “Letters to Colin Firth,” by all means click on this link.
In the meantime, enjoy this photo essay. It is, as Brits say, “Brilliant.”
By Katie Riegel
Yes, my friends, I went to England this summer. I went during July, when the temperatures in Memphis were sweltering in the humid 90s. I went with my husband, who is English, and we visited his fam…
Source: Anglophile For Life
Apologizing for Existing
From the raw, wise, and always wonderful Katie Riegel, another tender admission of vulnerability.
“When we feel like a burden on our loved ones, the comic recommends, we should thank them for their love and support rather than apologizing.
This recommendation is both lovely and smart. Words matter. Practicing gratitude has been linked to greater happiness and other benefits. And being acknowledged for their own wonderful selves gives our friends and loved ones more strength and energy to continue to support us. ‘Thank you’ creates a positivity loop.”
Source: Apologizing for Existing
What Do You Remember?
To remember: to be mindful about one’s past, with intensive force.
To be mindful: to go to your wild places, savor life, and write. (This definition is by Lisa Lanser Rose.)
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This month, we Gloria Sirens are devoting ourselves to some of our best-loved words. As you will see, I don’t always go with the grain, but this rant does turn to praise.
“Mindful” is one of the words that rub me the wrong way. It seems to be timid; I am not. It seems to be pale green, the color of wispy sprouts grown by a slight person in his or her perfectly-behaved organic backyard garden, each tender organism painstakingly planted and growing at a measured pace; I am not pale, I’m not green, I’m not perfectly behaved, I am probably up to my knees in chemicals, not that I’d care, and I don’t need anyone to take care of me. This word seems to be minding its own business; I’m a curious cat and a natural gossip. This word and I have nothing in common, so it’s not surprising that I don’t like it, not even as a friend.
Feature: It Is Never Too Late To Feel Beautiful, or To Be Courageous
“You are never too old to try something daring; you are never too young to be inspired to take those steps you’ve been afraid to take.”
Click on “Tracey’s personal statement” to cast a vote for her. (I don’t know Tracey, but I am inspired by her!)
It can be really hard thing to take a risk and put yourself out there. There is always possibility that the naysayers are right, or that the little voice in your head gets to say, “I told you so.” There come a point where life has had too many “I wish I hads” and you just have had enough of being afraid.
My cousin Tracey is participating in the EM Mag Spring Cover shoot on ExploreModeling.com and I want to help her get more support! Visit her profile and you can choose to like, share, and to vote for her and give the other contestants a good showing (you can vote up to twenty times every day until the end of the contest).
Be inspired!
Tracey’s personal statement: I am a 51 year old floral designer. For most of my life I’ve been someone’s daughter, wife, mother, employee. A…
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The Neighbors’ Children
This is my contribution to The Gloria Sirens’ Mother’s Day marathon. It’s short and sweet.
Writers I Want To Kiss on the Face(book)
Karissa Morton’s blog on how we should support one another hits home with me. She writes:
It doesn’t take much to open someone’s link & read a poem he or she is proud of. It takes even less to click “like” or make a congratulatory comment, to metaphorically say, “Hey, I see your achievement in this tough, competitive world!” If we’re really a community, let’s engage like one.
I just have to say... 