Page Turner's Blog, page 60

Some of Us Struggle Like Birds

A few weeks ago, someone I love very much passed away. I’m noticing that I get less sick every time I type that. Or every time I speak it aloud.

On one hand, this upsets me. Because as frightening as the pain of the early days was, this new shift troubles me. Because I don’t want to forget him.  » Read more

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You Are the First Person I’ve Felt Truly Safe with Since I Was a Very Little Girl

When I was a very little girl, very little, before I went into kindergarten, I would sometimes fall asleep downstairs on the couch.

And instead of waking me up and telling me to go up to my own bed, when I was this little, my father would instead pick me up and carry me.  » Read more

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Emotionally Reactive People Don’t Make Much Sense to Proactive People

I’m flustered again, mystified by the inexplicably bad behavior of someone else.

It’s not just disappointing behavior, mind you; it verges on the absurd.

I share this with a friend of mine. He thinks for a moment, before saying, “What you have to remember, Page, is that most people have the emotional regulation of a flea.”  » Read more

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You’re Gone. Everything Has Changed. But Nothing Has.

You’re gone. And everything has changed.

But nothing has.

Lots of folks still say and do disappointing things. There are very few people like you in the world. People who do a lot but don’t do it for the glory. People who are too busy doing things to notice if anyone else notices them.  » Read more

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My Mean Streak Is Apparently Well Trained

I’m not saying I don’t have a mean streak.

I do.

I’m absolutely capable of saying unkind things. Being insulting, cruel.

And when that mean streak is activated, I’ve been known to wound with words. The same mental systems that write love poetry or give grand compliments can easily be turned into a kind of war machinery.  » Read more

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Dear Readers, This Is How It’s Going & What’s Up

Dear Readers,

I have been publishing daily articles on this blog since September 1, 2016. This site existed for several years before then, but it was called something different and functioned more like a regular journal than a themed website.

I’ve managed during these past 3.5 years to be rather consistent and put out content regardless of whatever chaos was ensuing in my personal life.  » Read more

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I’ve Never Quite Known What to Do With Birthday Cards

I’ve never quite known what to do with birthday cards. Especially ones plastered with flowers. Or Bible verses.

Clearly intended for another recipient. One who has done a little better living up to what other people expected of her.

Not for me. Not for the little girl whose hair never behaves.  » Read more

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When Someone Dies, Just Say “I’m Sorry For Your Loss.” Let the Grieving Person Know You Care But Don’t Risk Saying Anything Dumb.

I learned a long time ago that when you want to express your condolences to someone who is grieving a death, simple is best. Especially if you don’t know them all that well. Or you aren’t familiar with the situation.

Keep it simple. “I’m sorry for your loss” is fine.

Now,  » Read more

The post When Someone Dies, Just Say “I’m Sorry For Your Loss.” Let the Grieving Person Know You Care But Don’t Risk Saying Anything Dumb. appeared first on Poly.Land.

If You Don’t Want to Write Back to a Stranger, You Probably Shouldn’t

I have been getting random Internet messages from people I don’t know for a very long time. Certainly these days — but well before. Back before I wrote daily in public or managed a large social media page, I still got a steady stream of outreaches from strangers.

I’ve never quite reasoned why.  » Read more

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Why I Write So Much & Why I Don’t Show Anyone Most of What I Write

“I just realized why an artist creates something they never show anybody else,” he says.

“Why’s that?” I ask.

“It’s about loving yourself. Because you create it for yourself,” he says.

I don’t know quite how to explain it to him. How that explanation really makes no sense to me,  » Read more

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