This spoke to my Baby Boomer heart. It is loud, clear, ringing across generations and continents. (I live Downunder).
For some reason, I see my grandmother, and her cry of loneliness, as I sit alone in a single treed paddock/field. A lonely yearning for her homeland, (England) so very different to her pioneering parents' land.
I know loneliness is part of the human condition and the journey we are on is about connecting, connection, however we go about that.
This intergenerational ghost tells me it is in our DNA.
I'm rambling, in the woods, of appeasement. Longing, looking, touching, tasting, smelling the fresh crisp eucalypts dripping with connection to the all that is, that energy within. I am no longer alone, lonely. I am at one with what is.
Hello, Eileen from Downunder. Thanks for being here, and for such a thoughtful comment. There is so much in here about the loneliness of our later years, the loneliness of living far from the place we consider home, and also that underlying pull to connect, which is - like loneliness - part of being human. Thanks for sharing.
I love that you've used the verb "tug" here, Heather. That's giving me a very physical sense of the feeling. I also love that you said "brat pack," because that speaks to my Gen X heart. ;)
Beautifully written! I once wrote a post on solitude, and I see too how we human are in nature lonely. Only we can be with ourselves truly, the rest we can try connect and communicate and hope to be seen and understood.
I like how you describe art as an attempt to communicate, that rings true to me. I do hope my creations will connect with others like the fireflies even long after I am gone.
Hello, Rachel. Thanks for being here, and taking the time to comment. I love the thoughts you’ve highlighted - how only we can be with ourselves truly, and art being an attempt to connect and communicate. Those are both ideas that I am sure will inspire future posts for me. And I’m delighted if this piece inspired you to dust off your own words on the topic of solitude. I look forward to reading that!
So beautiful: Every creative endeavor — book, film, painting, song — is as much a bid for connection as it is an exercise in self expression. What is self expression, after all, if not an attempt to say something to whoever will listen, and to hopefully see the light of recognition in their eyes? Art is not meant to exist in a void. It’s a message in a bottle, waiting to be found.”
I already knew we had danced around the fire together in another life, now I know we are truly kindred spirits. I needed to read this today after a challenging social dynamic I was part of a few nights ago. Thanks for seeing me and making me feel less lonely.
“A deep longing tinged with grief that I cannot explain”, I can totally relate to this feeling that is so hard to describe and put into words. I have memories of those feelings too, at times it feels like loneliness wrapped in homesickness for a home and people I haven’t found yet. Really beautiful. 🩷
Thank you so much, Sarah. It's such a strange feeling, isn't it? A bit surreal. I've sometimes heard it referred to as "hiraeth" - a longing for a time, place, or person that feels like home, but no longer exist or maybe never existed at all. "Fernweh" is another word that seems related. I find comfort in knowing there are real words to describe the feeling because that means other people have experienced it over the centuries ... it's not just me. ;)
Many times, lately, I have been homesick for the kind of connection with family and friends prior to Covid.
Also, I tend to go inward and seek grounding in my daily walks in the woods or on the beach. And, then, there are those rides to Pavillion at some unknown hour seeking the peace and quiet for solace and answers.
I find, my most creative writing time has been during these moments of seeking truth and moving into my next adventure in life.
I am finding it so interesting (and heartening, actually) that several people have mentioned finding comfort in solitude. That is definitely the flip side of the lonely coin, isn't it? It's a topic I will be writing on in the near future, because I believe that going inward is such an important practice. Thanks for taking the time to read & comment. I appreciate you showing up. :)
“You know — the kind television writers invent to make the rest of us feel inadequate.”
I could think of so many shows that do this!
Loneliness and wanting to connect - one of the many reasons I’m on Substack. Reading other people’s written words I find is a much healthier medium than other social media. Glad to have found your writing!
And I echo you about the desire to connect being one of the main reasons I'm here on Substack. It's SUCH a different experience, and one I'm really enjoying.
Very glad to have met you here. Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment and share. Made my day.
This was such a beautiful read! Thankyou so much and I am once again glad to be here connected with you and to have shared in the firefly moment, very special.
Hello, Renz! Thank you so much for taking the time to read, and to leave an encouraging comment. I'll be honest - this one was a little scary to share. I'm so glad it resonated with you. And I agree - that firefly moment was very special. I suppose that's why it sticks in my mind the way it does. Strange how some moments just stay with us.
This spoke to my Baby Boomer heart. It is loud, clear, ringing across generations and continents. (I live Downunder).
For some reason, I see my grandmother, and her cry of loneliness, as I sit alone in a single treed paddock/field. A lonely yearning for her homeland, (England) so very different to her pioneering parents' land.
I know loneliness is part of the human condition and the journey we are on is about connecting, connection, however we go about that.
This intergenerational ghost tells me it is in our DNA.
I'm rambling, in the woods, of appeasement. Longing, looking, touching, tasting, smelling the fresh crisp eucalypts dripping with connection to the all that is, that energy within. I am no longer alone, lonely. I am at one with what is.
Hello, Eileen from Downunder. Thanks for being here, and for such a thoughtful comment. There is so much in here about the loneliness of our later years, the loneliness of living far from the place we consider home, and also that underlying pull to connect, which is - like loneliness - part of being human. Thanks for sharing.
This is beautifully written. I really enjoyed it and it really resonated with me. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Mike. Each time someone says they "get it," we all feel a little less lonely.
Thanks Jamie, I feel the tug of loneliness a lot & am a fellow 'outsider' without my own brat pack.
I love that you've used the verb "tug" here, Heather. That's giving me a very physical sense of the feeling. I also love that you said "brat pack," because that speaks to my Gen X heart. ;)
We're fellow kindred Gen X'ers! 🥰
Beautifully written! I once wrote a post on solitude, and I see too how we human are in nature lonely. Only we can be with ourselves truly, the rest we can try connect and communicate and hope to be seen and understood.
I like how you describe art as an attempt to communicate, that rings true to me. I do hope my creations will connect with others like the fireflies even long after I am gone.
Hello, Rachel. Thanks for being here, and taking the time to comment. I love the thoughts you’ve highlighted - how only we can be with ourselves truly, and art being an attempt to connect and communicate. Those are both ideas that I am sure will inspire future posts for me. And I’m delighted if this piece inspired you to dust off your own words on the topic of solitude. I look forward to reading that!
The post was in my old blog gathering dust; I might give it some dusting and revival and repost here, thanks for the inspiration :)
So beautiful: Every creative endeavor — book, film, painting, song — is as much a bid for connection as it is an exercise in self expression. What is self expression, after all, if not an attempt to say something to whoever will listen, and to hopefully see the light of recognition in their eyes? Art is not meant to exist in a void. It’s a message in a bottle, waiting to be found.”
❤️🙏
A very belated thank you for sharing this, James.
I already knew we had danced around the fire together in another life, now I know we are truly kindred spirits. I needed to read this today after a challenging social dynamic I was part of a few nights ago. Thanks for seeing me and making me feel less lonely.
Oh, Susi. So sorry for whatever you had to go through. I'm very glad if anything I said here helped. I'm honored to be one of your kindred. xo
“A deep longing tinged with grief that I cannot explain”, I can totally relate to this feeling that is so hard to describe and put into words. I have memories of those feelings too, at times it feels like loneliness wrapped in homesickness for a home and people I haven’t found yet. Really beautiful. 🩷
Thank you so much, Sarah. It's such a strange feeling, isn't it? A bit surreal. I've sometimes heard it referred to as "hiraeth" - a longing for a time, place, or person that feels like home, but no longer exist or maybe never existed at all. "Fernweh" is another word that seems related. I find comfort in knowing there are real words to describe the feeling because that means other people have experienced it over the centuries ... it's not just me. ;)
Thank you for sharing. Yes makes me not feel so alone, I’ll have to look more into those words.
So much truth in what you describe.
Many times, lately, I have been homesick for the kind of connection with family and friends prior to Covid.
Also, I tend to go inward and seek grounding in my daily walks in the woods or on the beach. And, then, there are those rides to Pavillion at some unknown hour seeking the peace and quiet for solace and answers.
I find, my most creative writing time has been during these moments of seeking truth and moving into my next adventure in life.
I’m glad to see this inspires you too.
I am finding it so interesting (and heartening, actually) that several people have mentioned finding comfort in solitude. That is definitely the flip side of the lonely coin, isn't it? It's a topic I will be writing on in the near future, because I believe that going inward is such an important practice. Thanks for taking the time to read & comment. I appreciate you showing up. :)
“You know — the kind television writers invent to make the rest of us feel inadequate.”
I could think of so many shows that do this!
Loneliness and wanting to connect - one of the many reasons I’m on Substack. Reading other people’s written words I find is a much healthier medium than other social media. Glad to have found your writing!
Oh! I'm so glad it's not just me!
And I echo you about the desire to connect being one of the main reasons I'm here on Substack. It's SUCH a different experience, and one I'm really enjoying.
Very glad to have met you here. Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment and share. Made my day.
This was such a beautiful read! Thankyou so much and I am once again glad to be here connected with you and to have shared in the firefly moment, very special.
Hello, Renz! Thank you so much for taking the time to read, and to leave an encouraging comment. I'll be honest - this one was a little scary to share. I'm so glad it resonated with you. And I agree - that firefly moment was very special. I suppose that's why it sticks in my mind the way it does. Strange how some moments just stay with us.