Chris, I'm sorry you had a very unpleasant experience at the dentist. I've been avoiding medical offices for a while, as they are a major trigger for my OCD, and also, not safe spaces anymore.
That said, your post has gotten me to think about harnessing the moments of joy and using them as a means for coping with my mental health dilemmas.
Thanks for this uplifting message to get the week going!
Chris your reference to the healed femur reminded me of the time me and my kids visited Atapuerca, the site of some of the oldest archaic human remains in the world. One exhibit was the bones of a 7 year old child with a developmental disorder and deformed jaw. Although the child wouldn’t have been able to chew, he was well nourished enough to live 7 years. Someone in the community had chewed food for him and fed it to him. As the parent of a disabled child I was moved by the caring and compassion that has been a part of humanity for so long.
Thank you for featuring my note! Re: the dentist - that's a relationship that requires a lot of trust (with the drills and all), so I applaud you going with your gut.
I have the best dentist, but she's in Portland, Oregon...here's hoping you'll find a great one soon! I LOVE this idea of not always being happy but knowing real joy. I didn't know this book but I'm about to find it! And while I can't give away the title yet because it's still in its tiny embryo stage, my book is going to have BOTH a question mark and an exclamation mark :-)
'...you can always find something to look forward to.'
In that moment, it can be really difficult to think of such things...I guess we have to relax and put aside our stress or negative emotions to think more clearly.
Chris.... I like the rhythm and tone of this article. There's always something to look forward to. Yes! I insist on joy. Happiness is a slippery idea but finding awe each day is what keeps everything connected and energized. As for the dentist, I did that last week. You have to be your best advocate for health--which you did. I had a "let's get clear" chat as everyone walked into the room thinking I would be quiet and open my mouth. I did not like their answers and when I finally got to some better information and more concrete assurances, I let them start the procedure, knowing much better what was going on and who would answer their personal cell phone number (provided to me) at 3 a.m. and come provide immediate resolve, should anything not go like I need to experience it.
I thoroughly enjoyed Martyr. And actually got it signed during Kaveh Akbar's book launch at the Brooklyn Heights public library -- in January.
I just looked up when that was and wow, that was the start of my new life focusing on my creative pursuits! I should look back at the notes I took from that. I know my initial Substack publication - Poetry AA - was inspired by that night. But, wow, how things have developed since then, not in the way I foresaw or even necessarily hoped, but still in interesting and exciting ways (the home purchase for instance, thanks for sharing mine!). It feels nice to look back to then...
Also if you haven't, read Kaveh's poetry too. It's outstanding!
Being a gardener offers me hundreds, maybe even thousands, of moments of joy. The absolute wonder of growing is always fascinating to me. Observing plant and animal life in the garden lets me focus on the non-human part of the world giving me a sense of comfort that things are going the way they're meant to.
Chris, I'm sorry you had a very unpleasant experience at the dentist. I've been avoiding medical offices for a while, as they are a major trigger for my OCD, and also, not safe spaces anymore.
That said, your post has gotten me to think about harnessing the moments of joy and using them as a means for coping with my mental health dilemmas.
Thanks for this uplifting message to get the week going!
Chris your reference to the healed femur reminded me of the time me and my kids visited Atapuerca, the site of some of the oldest archaic human remains in the world. One exhibit was the bones of a 7 year old child with a developmental disorder and deformed jaw. Although the child wouldn’t have been able to chew, he was well nourished enough to live 7 years. Someone in the community had chewed food for him and fed it to him. As the parent of a disabled child I was moved by the caring and compassion that has been a part of humanity for so long.
Thank you for featuring my note! Re: the dentist - that's a relationship that requires a lot of trust (with the drills and all), so I applaud you going with your gut.
I have the best dentist, but she's in Portland, Oregon...here's hoping you'll find a great one soon! I LOVE this idea of not always being happy but knowing real joy. I didn't know this book but I'm about to find it! And while I can't give away the title yet because it's still in its tiny embryo stage, my book is going to have BOTH a question mark and an exclamation mark :-)
Your post has prompted me to consider using moments of joy as a way to manage my mental health challenges.
Thanks for sharing
As a therapist to young adults, I challenge them to find "glimmers"- the small of moments of joy that we sometimes miss.
A smile, a blossoming bush, the smell of popcorn popping-
My grandmother would say, Don't forget to smell the roses.
'...you can always find something to look forward to.'
In that moment, it can be really difficult to think of such things...I guess we have to relax and put aside our stress or negative emotions to think more clearly.
Chris.... I like the rhythm and tone of this article. There's always something to look forward to. Yes! I insist on joy. Happiness is a slippery idea but finding awe each day is what keeps everything connected and energized. As for the dentist, I did that last week. You have to be your best advocate for health--which you did. I had a "let's get clear" chat as everyone walked into the room thinking I would be quiet and open my mouth. I did not like their answers and when I finally got to some better information and more concrete assurances, I let them start the procedure, knowing much better what was going on and who would answer their personal cell phone number (provided to me) at 3 a.m. and come provide immediate resolve, should anything not go like I need to experience it.
I thoroughly enjoyed Martyr. And actually got it signed during Kaveh Akbar's book launch at the Brooklyn Heights public library -- in January.
I just looked up when that was and wow, that was the start of my new life focusing on my creative pursuits! I should look back at the notes I took from that. I know my initial Substack publication - Poetry AA - was inspired by that night. But, wow, how things have developed since then, not in the way I foresaw or even necessarily hoped, but still in interesting and exciting ways (the home purchase for instance, thanks for sharing mine!). It feels nice to look back to then...
Also if you haven't, read Kaveh's poetry too. It's outstanding!
Your words have really helped me today- THANK YOU!!
Being a gardener offers me hundreds, maybe even thousands, of moments of joy. The absolute wonder of growing is always fascinating to me. Observing plant and animal life in the garden lets me focus on the non-human part of the world giving me a sense of comfort that things are going the way they're meant to.