Jory, Jory, Jory. What a beautiful essay on recomposing a life. I may have made that up. You have much to say and a platform of wisdom and passion from which to say it. You’re on the path, my friend. Thank you so very much for mentioning my work here. I am most grateful for your support. 😘
Yikes - I meant I may have made up the word “recomposing.” Every word matters! Anyway, wondering if you ever read Composing a Life by Mary Catherine Bateson ( Margaret Mead’s daughter)? It never ceases to amaze me how books come to us when we most need them. When I read Ms. Bateson’s book, I was a newish lawyer working in big law with two little kids and a physician husband whose work came first. I felt doomed to fail. At all of it. The book explained that we women can compose our lives, like symphonies, instead of the linear brick by brick path idealized, at the time, by the patriarchy. In short, she gave me permission to pivot when I needed to pay attention to the things that matter to me. So I started my solo practice ans became a kindergarten mom in my child’s classroom. I helped organize and performed in the school talent show, and spent lots of time with family on the east coast. Zero regrets. I was composing my life. Still am.
How is it that I -- a lit major -- never read this book? I've heard of it, though. Ordering it now. I do want to call BS on this whole notion of whose careers are "first" and "second". I struggle with this one.
Me too. I give myself compassionate grace though, because I was trained by my (homemaker) mom to be a good wife, while simultaneously being told I could “have it all.” Such a set up! I found my voice, and power, in my marriage brick by brick.
This is such a gorgeous piece. I think the end section really highlights the fact that we need to acknowledge that our home lives and work lives are inextricably intertwined; that they too are bricks in the foundation.
I agree that mental health needs to be looked at as seriously as climate change.
Jory, Jory, Jory. What a beautiful essay on recomposing a life. I may have made that up. You have much to say and a platform of wisdom and passion from which to say it. You’re on the path, my friend. Thank you so very much for mentioning my work here. I am most grateful for your support. 😘
Yikes - I meant I may have made up the word “recomposing.” Every word matters! Anyway, wondering if you ever read Composing a Life by Mary Catherine Bateson ( Margaret Mead’s daughter)? It never ceases to amaze me how books come to us when we most need them. When I read Ms. Bateson’s book, I was a newish lawyer working in big law with two little kids and a physician husband whose work came first. I felt doomed to fail. At all of it. The book explained that we women can compose our lives, like symphonies, instead of the linear brick by brick path idealized, at the time, by the patriarchy. In short, she gave me permission to pivot when I needed to pay attention to the things that matter to me. So I started my solo practice ans became a kindergarten mom in my child’s classroom. I helped organize and performed in the school talent show, and spent lots of time with family on the east coast. Zero regrets. I was composing my life. Still am.
How is it that I -- a lit major -- never read this book? I've heard of it, though. Ordering it now. I do want to call BS on this whole notion of whose careers are "first" and "second". I struggle with this one.
Me too. I give myself compassionate grace though, because I was trained by my (homemaker) mom to be a good wife, while simultaneously being told I could “have it all.” Such a set up! I found my voice, and power, in my marriage brick by brick.
This is such a gorgeous piece. I think the end section really highlights the fact that we need to acknowledge that our home lives and work lives are inextricably intertwined; that they too are bricks in the foundation.
I agree that mental health needs to be looked at as seriously as climate change.
I love this so much, Jory. Mental health is my most important brick, it occurs to me.
I'm a reiki practitioner myself and that reading sounds like something I probably need, too. :)