36 Comments
Oct 13, 2023Liked by Brooke McAlary

Beautifully put, Brooke.

Gretchen Rubin included the following quote from writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin in her newsletter today.

It’s bringing me comfort.

“The sea rises, the light fails, lovers cling to each other, and children cling to us. The moment we cease to hold each other, the moment we break faith with one another, the sea engulfs us and the light goes out.” —James Baldwin, Nothing Personal

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I love this so much Wendy - thank you for sharing it with us. 💚

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Thank you for sharing this quote, Wendy. It's beautiful 🙏

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Oct 13, 2023Liked by Brooke McAlary

Gorgeous poem- thank you for sharing with us! applicable to the US too. I love how you captured the dissonance and pain in witnessing celebrations for “our” country when her history is not in our (my) bones.

Led a yoga class today and felt I had nothing to offer during this difficult time. But then was reminded that i can keep showing up for my students, and holding space for us to experience all the different things we are feeling. Letting the sorrow, fear, anger, delight, love, hope, exist without solving anything or trying to move on.

I didn’t know I was waiting for help sorting this in my head and heart until I read your words today and I feel lighter now. Thanks again ~

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Thanks Marlee - I'm so glad to have you here and so grateful for this corner of the internet. Just to know so many of us are in it alongside each other matters 💚

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Oct 12, 2023Liked by Brooke McAlary

A beautiful poem, Brooke. I’m joining you in voting ‘yes’, for sure. ❤️💛🖤

I love this term’s theme of “letting go”. It seems like a great thing to focus on as we approach the end of the calendar year.

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💚💚 thank you lovely Melinda! I hope you're doing alright today. x

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Oct 13, 2023Liked by Brooke McAlary

Great post and poem Brooke. I will be voting YES also, because if we don't have hope for change, we're nowhere and have learnt nothing from the past.

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Thanks Nicola. Such a tough weekend in the end, but I will never regret voting for hope and change. The next stage will be how do we turn our intentions into actions. 💚

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Oct 12, 2023Liked by Brooke McAlary

Oh my goodness Brooke - I am sobbing out here. Thanks for all of your thoughts... so beautifully written and so perfect for me today. That poem is a cracker. I too have hope. That's all we've got hey...

Sending you all the love and to all the readers here too.

Love Cherie

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Dearest Cherie! Hope and action is all we've got. Such a tough weekend hey. I hope you're doing okay? 💚

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Yeah going OK here Brooke - such a great opportunity for change seeing as The Voice was a bit of a flop.

Loving your musings... you are really hitting your writing straps!

Love Cherie

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Oct 14, 2023Liked by Brooke McAlary

Once again you have spoken my thoughts in such a beautiful and eloquent way. My heart is also heavy, very heavy. Our world does appear so broken and I too have to try repeatedly and consistently to let go of all that I can't control. I listened to a podcast yesterday which described the overflow of terrible news into our hearts and minds as 'storm watching'. The sad fact is that we will likely live our lives in a storm, there will always be something awful happening. We need to find a way to live with balance, peace and purpose within that storm. Your actions to draw in your focus is what I try to do (often unsuccessfully) every day. Otherwise I would be overwhelmed. But you have reminded me that focusing on the 'little' things still matters and still makes a difference - thank you 🙏

I LOVE your poem. I too voted yes but the whole campaign has also left me heavy hearted. I, perhaps naively, had hoped that it would bring everyone together and be a done deal 😢

"Plant a garden. Meet your neighbours. Practice generosity. Learn new skills. Control what you can and leave the rest." Chris Martenson

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Thanks Carolyn - I think I was similarly naive in thinking that our innate goodness would carry the yes vote through. But it was such an ugly, messy campaign. I'm feeling really down hearted today, which is okay, but soon will be looking ahead at the things we can do. As you say, "control what you can and leave the rest." 💚💚

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Brooke I love seeing your eloquent words in my inbox.

I would love to share your beautiful poem on my IG.

And yes, yes is what I'll be voting tomorrow.

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Thank you Bea 💚 And thank you for sharing the poem too. x

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Oct 13, 2023Liked by Brooke McAlary

So well said. All of it, and esp on voting Yes. 🫶

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💚💚 Hope will prevail. It might not look like we thought it would, but hope will prevail xx

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Oct 13, 2023Liked by Brooke McAlary

Amazing poem Brooke, the tears rolled down my cheeks.

You make a difference with ducklings and your words!

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Agree

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Oh thank you Juanita 💚 It doesn't always feel that way, but I know the small things really do matter. So glad to have you here.

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Oct 14, 2023Liked by Brooke McAlary

Brooke most grateful for your words this morning, even more so as I sit with my heartache following the referendum result, they so beautifully express the words my heartminded self has not been able to articulate this past week. May I embrace “ letting go” as curious about how this supports moving forward.

Acknowledge with a gracious heart your vulnerable self Brooke

Take care all

Kindest 💞

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Thanks so much for being here Johanna. And heart ache is right. I feel so sad. It's okay to feel however we feel, and soon the conversation will shift to what can we do. That's what we can control. But for now, we can let ourselves feel however we feel. Sending you lots of love 💚💚

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Oct 14, 2023Liked by Brooke McAlary

Wonderful poem, Brooke. Thank you for sharing. And as another reader mentioned, I feel it in the US too.

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Thanks so much Julianna. I think that sense of wanting to bridge the gap is relevant to so many of us isn't it? 💚

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Powerful,

Caring only as much as it is needed.

All is well ❤️

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💚💚 it's definitely a skill worth practicing isn't it?? x

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Brooke. Thank you so much for this. I listened to this post in the car this morning on my way to work, and it gave me the idea for a whole new book. I have never written a book before, but it’s been a dream of mine for a long time (since I was a young teenager, to be specific).

I have had some vague ideas over the years, but not like this. I’m really inspired and have already started writing down a rough outline and themes I would like to include, and obviously I will have to learn how I go about and get a book deal or self publish or whatever 🤣 But I really just wanted to say thank you!

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Small acts are what make the whole and each one we make creates the ripple of energy that we wish to see in the world. We are always creating ripples and when we take focused action we are the ones creating the future. What a beautiful thing! 💫🙏

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Thank you Brooke. It has been such a heart heavy weekend 💔💛🖤

I am planning on buying multiple novels by indigenous authors in a small act of defiance and support and to hear their voice for myself.

Also regarding the duckling, did you see this gorgeous story a few weeks ago. It makes me smile 😊

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/fear-and-tears-as-group-escorts-lucky-ducks-on-perilous-3km-waddle-across-city-via-kfc-20230911-p5e3rq.html

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