It's Your Story To Tell - A Little Light No. 3
In the last few weeks, I've started an obsession with personal essays. Unfortunately, these past few days have been filled with devastating news. As I read stories and watch videos, I think about those who are committed to elevating their experience and other's experiences authentically.
Here are a few things I've read and listened to over the past two weeks.
Intimations - Zadie Smith
I began reading Zadie Smith's small book of essays documenting her experience and self-realizations of quarantine through May. I was fascinated by how beautifully she was able to articulate her thoughts, questions, and feelings within the words on a page. I, myself, aspire to formulate my own thoughts in such an illustrative way. Honestly, this newsletter is my way of trying. In the introduction, she talks about reading Marcus Aurelius's book Meditations as a way to help her cope with the crisis. Here's what google says about Marcus Aurelius and stoicism.
“ According to its teachings, as social beings, the path to eudaimonia (happiness, or blessedness) is found in accepting the moment as it presents itself, by not allowing oneself to be controlled by the desire for pleasure or fear of pain, by using one’s mind to understand the world and to do one’s part in nature’s plan, and by working together and treating others fairly and justly.”
Just from that short paragraph, I realized why she would use his teachings to guide her through quarantine. Though it's a hard truth, we can't go back and change what has happened. What we can do is acknowledge and learn from the loneliness, the pain, the frustration, any of the emotions that we are feeling, and work towards the future. There's a value in reflection and acknowledging the emotions, but it could be dangerous to be fully controlled by them.
“What Fullness Is” - Roxane Gay
In Roxane Gay's article, "What Fullness Is", she describes her struggle with obesity and with making a decision to get weight loss surgery. Her doctor suggested the weight loss surgery, or the bariatric procedure, as something that would save her life and her only real option of losing weight. She thought getting weight loss surgery was the easy way out, but she discovered through the process, it wasn’t easy at all. The procedure left her with a smaller stomach and a new relationship with food. Eating became physically painful, with only a few bites and she was full. She writes, “I’m rarely hungry, but I am ravenous.” Food was her comfort like it is for so many of us. She characterizes it as, “The best friend I never had the courage to acknowledge, but who was my constant loyal companion.” Her familiar comfort vanished, taking her happiness with it.
When I read through the comments under her post, many people expressed immense gratitude for her words articulating the emotions they were struggling with. Through her article, they felt understood. I’m also grateful because I learned about an experience that I’ve overlooked and have previously judged. I admire the courage it took to write sincerely about a personal topic.
Honorable Mention:
#Bookshook by Hello Sunshine (Reese Witherspoon’s Bookclub)
Jameelah Jamil on Hunger by Roxanne Gay
Yara Shahidi on Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Girl Trek: Black History Bootcamp (A few episodes I listened to this week)
All of the authors and people mentioned felt a desperate need to tell their story whether its Fannie Lou Hamer at the DNC telling her story of registering to vote as a black woman, Zadie Smith expressing her innermost thoughts, Roxane Gay vocalizing her struggle with obesity and weight loss, or the women at Girl Trek recording daily calls to elevate stories of Black History. All stories have resonated with me in some way and have encouraged me to document my own.
Here's what I've done: I've re-downloaded Evernote, reorganized my old notes, and created new folders for budding thoughts. I've started different lists for personal essay topics, ideas/events, Ted Talks, and even a note to jot down what I'm feeling at that moment. Like keeping a journal, this is a way of checking in with myself.
Take this with you
We are not all creative writers, journalists, photographers, or artists, but we all have stories to tell. We experience things every day and have complex emotions and reactions that should not be overlooked. Take time to check in with yourself, document your thoughts (in any way you feel comfortable doing). Listen to other's stories. Maybe, it's as simple as listening to someone talk about their day. Check out any one of the links listed above for stories to broaden your perspective.
Please leave a comment below this if you have any answers to any of the questions asked! If this was interesting to you, share it with a friend, and keep the conversation going.