A good thread.

And yet you still wrote the perfect Alt text :) May tomorrow be a better more eel-ful day.

Thank-you. This was lovely and so relatable. And so very happy for you going forward. :)

Wonderfully funny but also so relatable.

Thank-you for putting this all so gently into words.

So inspirational!

It’s a bit niche but I also love anything by Greg Walker - Writing Under Tyranny - explores how writing was shaped under the constant shifting of the early Tudor period. It’s a cross between literary criticism and history, very detailed, thought provoking yet accessible. Seems a timely topic too.

I like Julian Barnes’ nonfiction, especially his earlier writing like Nothing to Be Frightened Of.

Ann Wroe is also wonderful - I’ve read most of her work as she was originally an historian. Last year it was Pontius Pilate which brought me to reread Master and Margarita; great fun.

Rovelli’s writing is excellent, I’ve read most of his books.

I needed to read this. Thank-you.

Resistance takes many forms. We do what we can, when and where we can.

“We are not meant to be able to handle this level of constant stress..”

“Do not let the world turn you brittle and mean. Your kindness is not weak. Your softness is not quiet.”

Thank-you.

Thank-you for another lovely thoughtful piece. I appreciate how well you point out the deliberate failures of the system. It’s just one more way that we are isolated from each other and our compassion for each other and ourselves is eroded.

Wishing you easier days.

Spot on.

“Ableism isn’t just cruelty or ignorance. It’s the enforcement arm of meritocracy, which exists to protect the hyper-capitalist belief that ‘more’ always pays off. The existence of chronically ill and disabled people challenges this simply by the fact that they continue to be ill.”

Love the expression ‘as a way in’ that really wraps it up neatly. It’s something the mind is seeking, just show me a door and I’m good.

I’ve always been fascinated by the difference in how people perceive/experience the world. It’s hard to imagine a different experience of it though. This is just one good example. Not better. Just very different.

You’re probably right. I’ve especially tried to convey this feeling to other pianists because the I thought the complexity of Bach or Prokofiev (and the fingering!) might excite the same feeling but I’ve only had that mutual understanding with another ND friend. Any subject can do it for me though.

This! It’s so hard to explain but I finally realized I was autistic after years of trying to explain to others what excites me about various topics. The complexity, depth, technique, the sensation of every neuron lighting up at once when I engage with it. No one gets it.

A lovely story.

I love this one. I see the tree gripping some sort of cosmic whale creature with its branches flowing back as they go for a ride.

Oh my yes! Still working on not doing that but it happens automatically for me alas.

But what I’m thinking after that experiment, and realizing I’m neuro diverse (I’m late to this knowledge) is that perhaps I am who I am and I can be more compassionate about that. I’m thinking of my brain more as a lovable but sometimes exasperating pet/companion. It’s calmer as a result.

I’m not sure. I’m more aware of being optimistic in the last 10-20 years or so. Part of that was a habit of practicing gratitude for some years and I like to spot little hearts everywhere (even in toast crumbs and oils stains!). Silly yes. But we find what we practice seeing.

A while ago I experimented with some supplements for brain fog, they all modified neurotransmitters in one way or another. All of them made me sad or incredibly irritable. It was eye opening for me to realize how much of who I am is just chemistry. I now feel more compassionate for my quirky brain.

I’m neuro diverse and I think I’ve always been pretty content, say quietly optimistic, although I can tip easily into being sad or overwhelmed. [1/2]

As always now I read your alt text and it never disappoints :)

Ooh! Please share more once you’ve had some time with it.

This was a great article - I’ve often thought about how the word processor has shaped how I write and think.

A lovely essay reflecting on difficult questions about the world we live in and our ability to love and contribute.

“we keep trying because trying itself is a form of faith, a muscular type of prayer.”

A fascinating read.

Love this!

I can only imagine reading Machiavelli’s letters to his friends if he were alive today!