Thank you for sharing that. It takes courage to go back to those past places and states and to be able to look back and speak on past trauma and hurt.
This also shows a fantastic determination and how keeping going through what you were facing led to a new acceptance of self and almost a rebirth of sorts, while still acknowledging the scars left by past episodes.
Truly beautiful, heartfelt writing, which gives a glimpse of your soul.
Thanks once more for sharing such wonderful and powerful writing.
I think one of the best things I've ever done for myself was to share these parts of me and my journey with wonderful people like yourself. Your words mean so much to me Gary, more than I can say. Thank you so much for this thoughtful recognition, for your presence that you offer genuinely with such kindness, for your support, for the way you always show up when I write something. Thank you for being here, truly. I'm very glad our paths crossed each other. Your encouragement keeps me going. I'll keep them close to my heart.
I want to go back to that Imi and give her a hug and tell her all the beautiful things she was going to create and that she will touch so many people's lives. Beautiful writing as always.
Your words filled my eyes with tears, the kind that bring warmth, the kind that remind me I am never alone. I love you, Fiona, truly and with all my heart. It is a blessing to share this journey with you. Thank you for being here, for holding my hand, and for filling my heart with love. I couldn’t be more grateful.
I’m still finding my way, my voice, the lost pieces that resonated with EVERY word you wrote here. Still blurred of vision from the tears of remembering, even though forgiveness has taken place, the inner damage of self esteem rises its lost self more than I wish. My 7th decade awaits me 13 days from now, an anniversary that began on a Friday. Thank you for opening up a bright ray of acceptance, wrapped in Grace and Love for me this day.
I hear you. And I’m really honoured my words could meet you in a place that still carries tenderness. Forgiveness does not always quiet what was wounded, and the way you named that feels deeply true. Thank you for trusting me with this reflection, especially at such a meaningful threshold in your life. I hope this next chapter meets you with softness, grace, and moments of quiet acceptance. I’m grateful you’re here, and I’m holding you in warmth today.
You’re such a sweet person and so kind! Thank you so much for being here. And @Fiona Bridges is definitely an awesome human being. Sending lots of love to you both. ♥️
Do you know what resonated the hardest with me throughout this entire piece not once did you align yourself with any sort of victimhood. You know that you survived, that you continue to survive, and it is through sharing your story that you will give others the strength encourage to survive their own traumas. thank you for holding space and reminding others that some scars go away deep and just because you can't see it on the surface anymore doesn't mean it doesn't still hurt all the time. Keep yourself grace and allow yourself to feel all the feelings you need to feel in order to heal. I'm here if you wanna talk about it or yell about it or just sit in silence and know that you're not alone.
Your words touched me so deeply that I wanted to reread my piece before replying to you. I can’t fully express how much this means to me, Hilary. To know that my words, my story, and the way they reached you gave everything I’ve been through another layer of meaning is something I will carry with me wherever I go. I can’t thank you enough for being here, for offering your presence so deeply, and for letting me know that it matters. Although words have always been my closest companions, there are moments when I feel frustrated with them, because they seem to fall short of what I’m trying to express, and this is one of those times. So please know that I feel this very deeply. I appreciate you with all my heart. Thank you so much for bringing your light into my journey and for encouraging me to keep going. I’m always here for you as well, whenever and wherever.
Comments here will show presence. But real attention in listening of thoughts. I hear you. What you share just blowing mind away. But family here can share a lot with you and take some heat away
Thank you so much for letting me feel heard. Your presence here means so much to me as well as your ongoing support. I’m really grateful for the way my work has landed. You really have become my family and that’s the greatest gift I can ask for.
I have no words right now. My gosh, this right here. Deepest admiration for your tenacity to keep going AND record it for us to read. Thank you so much for sharing this with us 🧡
Although we get to know each other and build such beautiful connections through our words, their absence at times like this can mean more than what they do when they are present. I can’t fully express how much your words mean to me either so please know that they now hold a huge place in my heart. Thank you so much for being here and for encouraging me to keep going. I appreciate you with all my heart. It is truly a blessing to know you’re here.
Will digest the sounds later, but the context of all the compression within is very relatable and felt.
In life we go through a hardship of endurance. This is yours, and there’s so much more to be had still — create room for it! You are strong 💪🏼 respect, immense piece! 🎶
Thank you so much for being here. I always appreciate you deeply and with this one especially knowing that your presence is here feeling, reading, listening with me means more than I can say. 🧡
"Nothing is fixed, nothing has to stay as it is, and because of that, everything is possible." I love this and can relate. Change can happen very rapidly sometimes (where I literally feel like I'm stepping through a portal from hell into heaven) and sometimes more gradual but it's always happening, even in those periods that seem stagnant. If I pay attention I can see it.
Imi, knowing what you’ve shared earlier about your health and what it has asked of you makes the steadiness of this piece feel especially earned.
I was deeply moved by the moment where “nothing” becomes a place of acceptance, the void. In truth, I don’t experience what remains there as emptiness, but as light essence itself. I loved sitting in the tension between those truths with you. The resilience and grace you show here make that insight unmistakable.
I’m really sorry for replying so late, but please know that your words and the way you reflected my work meant far more to me than I can easily put into language. The care, insight, and attentiveness you brought to your reading made me feel deeply seen.
I’m especially grateful that my experience, my journey, and my writing could meet you in that space of tension and acceptance you so beautifully described. Sitting with those truths together felt meaningful, and knowing the impact it had on you stays with me.
Thank you for reading with such presence and generosity, and for sharing your perception so thoughtfully. I’m truly grateful. 💚
You show your strength in a body without armor, a heart uncovered. I see myself in your words and swing between wanting to hug your younger self and wanting to stand strong, holding your hand, and walking beside you. Two beings who continue to thrive after darkness.
What a journey. I love how you chronicle every up and down, the minutiae of emotions, the role of others in validating (been there), and the gradual emergence of a stronger inner core.
I’m so sorry for replying this late but please know that every word you’ve written here is very dear to me. I’m very grateful that it landed. Thank you for being here🤍
You’ve been through so much, and the way you’ve turned all that pain into insight and self-understanding is honestly remarkable. Thank you for sharing this
You’ve been through so much, and the way you’ve turned all that pain into insight and self-understanding is honestly remarkable. Thank you for sharing this
Yours is a deeply moving story of self transformation. I hope you don’t mind that I’ve broken your work down, distilled it, so to speak. This is so I can more easily show you what I believe to be the heart of your message.
On a quest for validation, I remained reliant on other people’s judgement to attribute meaning to my existence.
An essence forged in avoidance. Suffocating in silence.
And I remained unaware of how much of myself I had to sacrifice.
Inviting tenderness that made me dangerously vulnerable to the possibility that hope itself was false to begin with.
Life didn’t make sense knowing that my memory was forsaken in a self that had long drifted away.
And so I stayed, awake, raw, unprotected.
[While you presented your published paper at a psychology conference in Brighton, you felt only sorrow. You needed the support of your mother. Then, you received your devastating medical prognosis. Your mother could no longer reassure you. You lost hope.]
All that remained was to carve meaning from the rubble, to make a life from whatever pieces I still had.
I felt abandoned when all of my certainties and beliefs collapsed.
Milan Kundera would call this an existential shock, revealing the fragility of meaning and exposing the unsettling possibility that life may not carry inherent weight of necessity.
Nothing is fixed, nothing has to stay as it is, and because of that, everything is possible.
I had nothing but to accept my essence as it is.
Transformation began not following my recovery, but while I thought healing wasn’t a possibility.
In truth, I healed even from the places I did not know where bleeding.
I went to hell and back, and when it lifted, I was unified with myself.
You journeyed from mental and physical illness to the place you find yourself now, unified and whole. This is more than simply inspirational. It is motivational for anyone struggling, for anyone searching for their purpose, for their reason to meet their challenges with courage and fortitude. You’ve done a beautiful job on a fantastic work of musical, literature and art.
Kelly, I don’t have words big enough for how deeply this moved me. The care, the time, the attention you gave to my work feels like such a gift. You didn’t just read it, you truly listened to it, and seeing my own journey reflected back with this much clarity and respect helped me understand it in a new way. Thank you for holding my words so thoughtfully and for meeting this piece with such generosity. I’m truly grateful.
Hello imi, I am truly glad I was able to help you so significantly with my comment. It is actually a very pleasant surprise. I did put care into it but I didn’t know it could be so helpful in this way. I hope that with time, and with your outstanding work on Substack, you continue to thrive , flourish and grow. It is a pleasure for all of us to watch this transformation as it unfolds.
Thank you for sharing that. It takes courage to go back to those past places and states and to be able to look back and speak on past trauma and hurt.
This also shows a fantastic determination and how keeping going through what you were facing led to a new acceptance of self and almost a rebirth of sorts, while still acknowledging the scars left by past episodes.
Truly beautiful, heartfelt writing, which gives a glimpse of your soul.
Thanks once more for sharing such wonderful and powerful writing.
I think one of the best things I've ever done for myself was to share these parts of me and my journey with wonderful people like yourself. Your words mean so much to me Gary, more than I can say. Thank you so much for this thoughtful recognition, for your presence that you offer genuinely with such kindness, for your support, for the way you always show up when I write something. Thank you for being here, truly. I'm very glad our paths crossed each other. Your encouragement keeps me going. I'll keep them close to my heart.
I want to go back to that Imi and give her a hug and tell her all the beautiful things she was going to create and that she will touch so many people's lives. Beautiful writing as always.
Your words filled my eyes with tears, the kind that bring warmth, the kind that remind me I am never alone. I love you, Fiona, truly and with all my heart. It is a blessing to share this journey with you. Thank you for being here, for holding my hand, and for filling my heart with love. I couldn’t be more grateful.
I’m still finding my way, my voice, the lost pieces that resonated with EVERY word you wrote here. Still blurred of vision from the tears of remembering, even though forgiveness has taken place, the inner damage of self esteem rises its lost self more than I wish. My 7th decade awaits me 13 days from now, an anniversary that began on a Friday. Thank you for opening up a bright ray of acceptance, wrapped in Grace and Love for me this day.
I hear you. And I’m really honoured my words could meet you in a place that still carries tenderness. Forgiveness does not always quiet what was wounded, and the way you named that feels deeply true. Thank you for trusting me with this reflection, especially at such a meaningful threshold in your life. I hope this next chapter meets you with softness, grace, and moments of quiet acceptance. I’m grateful you’re here, and I’m holding you in warmth today.
Imi is so amazing, learning about so many incredible people here … you also, huuuuman Fiona!!!
You’re such a sweet person and so kind! Thank you so much for being here. And @Fiona Bridges is definitely an awesome human being. Sending lots of love to you both. ♥️
Do you know what resonated the hardest with me throughout this entire piece not once did you align yourself with any sort of victimhood. You know that you survived, that you continue to survive, and it is through sharing your story that you will give others the strength encourage to survive their own traumas. thank you for holding space and reminding others that some scars go away deep and just because you can't see it on the surface anymore doesn't mean it doesn't still hurt all the time. Keep yourself grace and allow yourself to feel all the feelings you need to feel in order to heal. I'm here if you wanna talk about it or yell about it or just sit in silence and know that you're not alone.
Your words touched me so deeply that I wanted to reread my piece before replying to you. I can’t fully express how much this means to me, Hilary. To know that my words, my story, and the way they reached you gave everything I’ve been through another layer of meaning is something I will carry with me wherever I go. I can’t thank you enough for being here, for offering your presence so deeply, and for letting me know that it matters. Although words have always been my closest companions, there are moments when I feel frustrated with them, because they seem to fall short of what I’m trying to express, and this is one of those times. So please know that I feel this very deeply. I appreciate you with all my heart. Thank you so much for bringing your light into my journey and for encouraging me to keep going. I’m always here for you as well, whenever and wherever.
I have to say, I find myself rereading this comment at different times so I wanted to thank you again for gifting your presence so thoughtfully.
Deep admiration, imi... I know the you from then would be so proud of the you you have become today... sending you hugs 🖤🫂✨
I got the chills in the very best way as I read this. Thank you so much Laura, truly. You are such a thoughtful person. Thank you for being here 🖤
Girl, I'm so grateful to know you here 🥹🫶🏽🖤🫂
I feel the exact same ♥️
Comments here will show presence. But real attention in listening of thoughts. I hear you. What you share just blowing mind away. But family here can share a lot with you and take some heat away
Thank you so much for letting me feel heard. Your presence here means so much to me as well as your ongoing support. I’m really grateful for the way my work has landed. You really have become my family and that’s the greatest gift I can ask for.
Welcome Imi, we are all here as you saw
I have no words right now. My gosh, this right here. Deepest admiration for your tenacity to keep going AND record it for us to read. Thank you so much for sharing this with us 🧡
Although we get to know each other and build such beautiful connections through our words, their absence at times like this can mean more than what they do when they are present. I can’t fully express how much your words mean to me either so please know that they now hold a huge place in my heart. Thank you so much for being here and for encouraging me to keep going. I appreciate you with all my heart. It is truly a blessing to know you’re here.
You are now firmly in the category of a ‘beautiful writer’ which is something I yearn to be one day.
Will digest the sounds later, but the context of all the compression within is very relatable and felt.
In life we go through a hardship of endurance. This is yours, and there’s so much more to be had still — create room for it! You are strong 💪🏼 respect, immense piece! 🎶
Thank you so much for being here. I always appreciate you deeply and with this one especially knowing that your presence is here feeling, reading, listening with me means more than I can say. 🧡
The best honesty ever received here, thank you Imi! Shine bright!
You’re one of the most authentic people I met here and I’d feel incongruent if I didn’t meet that with honesty 🤍
"Nothing is fixed, nothing has to stay as it is, and because of that, everything is possible." I love this and can relate. Change can happen very rapidly sometimes (where I literally feel like I'm stepping through a portal from hell into heaven) and sometimes more gradual but it's always happening, even in those periods that seem stagnant. If I pay attention I can see it.
Imi, knowing what you’ve shared earlier about your health and what it has asked of you makes the steadiness of this piece feel especially earned.
I was deeply moved by the moment where “nothing” becomes a place of acceptance, the void. In truth, I don’t experience what remains there as emptiness, but as light essence itself. I loved sitting in the tension between those truths with you. The resilience and grace you show here make that insight unmistakable.
Thank you for sharing your truth with us. 💚
I’m really sorry for replying so late, but please know that your words and the way you reflected my work meant far more to me than I can easily put into language. The care, insight, and attentiveness you brought to your reading made me feel deeply seen.
I’m especially grateful that my experience, my journey, and my writing could meet you in that space of tension and acceptance you so beautifully described. Sitting with those truths together felt meaningful, and knowing the impact it had on you stays with me.
Thank you for reading with such presence and generosity, and for sharing your perception so thoughtfully. I’m truly grateful. 💚
It’s a pleasure to read your work. I’m really glad we could meet in this space, and I hope we can continue to deepen our connection here 💚
This truly is a life-changing experience! You're a genuine survivor and an inspiring individual! Thank you so much for sharing this heartfelt piece!
Your words filled my heart with so much love. I cannot say how much this means to me. Thank you for being here. Felling with me. 🩵
I understand how loss can shattered our world. Hugs 🫶
It means a lot to me. Thank you so much for being here, feeling with me🫶🏻
You show your strength in a body without armor, a heart uncovered. I see myself in your words and swing between wanting to hug your younger self and wanting to stand strong, holding your hand, and walking beside you. Two beings who continue to thrive after darkness.
What a journey. I love how you chronicle every up and down, the minutiae of emotions, the role of others in validating (been there), and the gradual emergence of a stronger inner core.
I’m so sorry for replying this late but please know that every word you’ve written here is very dear to me. I’m very grateful that it landed. Thank you for being here🤍
You’ve been through so much, and the way you’ve turned all that pain into insight and self-understanding is honestly remarkable. Thank you for sharing this
Thank you so much for being here and recognising my journey so thoughtfully. It means a lot to me 🤍
You’ve been through so much, and the way you’ve turned all that pain into insight and self-understanding is honestly remarkable. Thank you for sharing this
I am speechless 🙏🏼♥️
It means a lot to me. Thank you so much for being here🫶🏻
Imi,
Yours is a deeply moving story of self transformation. I hope you don’t mind that I’ve broken your work down, distilled it, so to speak. This is so I can more easily show you what I believe to be the heart of your message.
On a quest for validation, I remained reliant on other people’s judgement to attribute meaning to my existence.
An essence forged in avoidance. Suffocating in silence.
And I remained unaware of how much of myself I had to sacrifice.
Inviting tenderness that made me dangerously vulnerable to the possibility that hope itself was false to begin with.
Life didn’t make sense knowing that my memory was forsaken in a self that had long drifted away.
And so I stayed, awake, raw, unprotected.
[While you presented your published paper at a psychology conference in Brighton, you felt only sorrow. You needed the support of your mother. Then, you received your devastating medical prognosis. Your mother could no longer reassure you. You lost hope.]
All that remained was to carve meaning from the rubble, to make a life from whatever pieces I still had.
I felt abandoned when all of my certainties and beliefs collapsed.
Milan Kundera would call this an existential shock, revealing the fragility of meaning and exposing the unsettling possibility that life may not carry inherent weight of necessity.
Nothing is fixed, nothing has to stay as it is, and because of that, everything is possible.
I had nothing but to accept my essence as it is.
Transformation began not following my recovery, but while I thought healing wasn’t a possibility.
In truth, I healed even from the places I did not know where bleeding.
I went to hell and back, and when it lifted, I was unified with myself.
You journeyed from mental and physical illness to the place you find yourself now, unified and whole. This is more than simply inspirational. It is motivational for anyone struggling, for anyone searching for their purpose, for their reason to meet their challenges with courage and fortitude. You’ve done a beautiful job on a fantastic work of musical, literature and art.
Kelly, I don’t have words big enough for how deeply this moved me. The care, the time, the attention you gave to my work feels like such a gift. You didn’t just read it, you truly listened to it, and seeing my own journey reflected back with this much clarity and respect helped me understand it in a new way. Thank you for holding my words so thoughtfully and for meeting this piece with such generosity. I’m truly grateful.
Hello imi, I am truly glad I was able to help you so significantly with my comment. It is actually a very pleasant surprise. I did put care into it but I didn’t know it could be so helpful in this way. I hope that with time, and with your outstanding work on Substack, you continue to thrive , flourish and grow. It is a pleasure for all of us to watch this transformation as it unfolds.