Thank you for your words, your heart, your truth, your anger. All of it. All of it is welcome. All of it belongs. You belong so sweetly and deeply in the hearts of all the people who love you. Even when the minds of the ignorant try to box you.
I read it twice and I relate to this in a very deep way. The anger, the sadness, the confusion, the frustration. Again, love reading your words, thank you for sharing this.
How painful the process of becoming. I relate to this so deeply, this alienation of being unique, untethered to a specific people or place, left stranded and shipwrecked by colonialism, empire, migration. My hope is that one day we will create our place if we never find one existing. Putting these words together is part of the process to it. Thank you for your efforts and I hope you find peace and healing through works like this. Cheers.
Thank you for such a warm considered comment Anderson. ♥︎ I generally tend to find peace in the acceptance that I will never fully belong anywhere and that third culture kids are bridges between cultures instead and there is beauty in that, even when it stings sometimes.
On a personal note, this resonates in part because of my multi-ethnic background (White, Black and Panamanian). Growing up a curly haired, lighter skinned kid in a city where White and Black were the only distinctions was challenging. I didn't "fit" into either box so I found myself navigating the gray to the best of my ability. Over time I've come to emphatically embrace my Blackness and the spectrum that it is. I haven't reflected on that in while but this took me back 🖤
Thank you so much for the love and for sharing a piece of your personal story here Jamal! I honour that! Navigating the gray can be so frustrating right? The neat boxes are so much easier. But you will be a richer, fuller human because of the tension you live in, between multiple worlds. Sending love.
What a world it would be if only more people asked about hobbies and passions when first meeting strangers, instead of identity. More doing, less being. Moving forward.
Agree :) I do not mind this question in the right context. If you;re meeting new friends, in a space where you know you are going to spend some time having a conversation - but a 30 second transaction with someone you are never going to see again...why? It's so misplaced. don't cause me grief just to satisfy your curiosity 😄
Thank you for your searing honesty of such common and painful every day interactions so many of us experience. It’s exhausting. We belong anywhere. Much love
My word!! " The woman doesn’t know that she just scratched a scar that is always trying to heal....I just wanted to pay for a small bottle of serum without being reminded that I don’t belong."
I felt this. Being othered is a feeling I know all too well. I hope you know you belong to yourself first and foremost and I hope you find love and strength there. 💛
Thank you for seeing me!
Thank you for your words, your heart, your truth, your anger. All of it. All of it is welcome. All of it belongs. You belong so sweetly and deeply in the hearts of all the people who love you. Even when the minds of the ignorant try to box you.
Thank you for loving me and giving my heart a home.
totally relate. ’I DON’T KNOW WHERE I ORIGINATE FROM AND I DON’T KNOW WHERE I BELONG" I love your writing
thank you for being here Emily!
I read it twice and I relate to this in a very deep way. The anger, the sadness, the confusion, the frustration. Again, love reading your words, thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for reading and being here, it means a lot!
How painful the process of becoming. I relate to this so deeply, this alienation of being unique, untethered to a specific people or place, left stranded and shipwrecked by colonialism, empire, migration. My hope is that one day we will create our place if we never find one existing. Putting these words together is part of the process to it. Thank you for your efforts and I hope you find peace and healing through works like this. Cheers.
Thank you for such a warm considered comment Anderson. ♥︎ I generally tend to find peace in the acceptance that I will never fully belong anywhere and that third culture kids are bridges between cultures instead and there is beauty in that, even when it stings sometimes.
Nadia, this was an absolutely gorgeous piece 😭
Hearing you read it was a gift as well.
Thank you for gracing us with your vulnerability.
____________
On a personal note, this resonates in part because of my multi-ethnic background (White, Black and Panamanian). Growing up a curly haired, lighter skinned kid in a city where White and Black were the only distinctions was challenging. I didn't "fit" into either box so I found myself navigating the gray to the best of my ability. Over time I've come to emphatically embrace my Blackness and the spectrum that it is. I haven't reflected on that in while but this took me back 🖤
Thank you so much for the love and for sharing a piece of your personal story here Jamal! I honour that! Navigating the gray can be so frustrating right? The neat boxes are so much easier. But you will be a richer, fuller human because of the tension you live in, between multiple worlds. Sending love.
🙏🏽
It was hard for a while but now I love operating in the in-between because of the life changing tension and eventual freedom it provides.
FELT. deeply. Thank you.
I am so glad it found you today.
Thank you for your vulnerable and emotional words. Reading this has made me feel less alone in this world. Sending you love and hugs 💚
knowing that it made you feel less alone in this world is exactly the reason why I write! Thank you for sharing your feeling with me! ❤️
This was exquisite.
Thank you so much for being here Rachel!
What a world it would be if only more people asked about hobbies and passions when first meeting strangers, instead of identity. More doing, less being. Moving forward.
Agree :) I do not mind this question in the right context. If you;re meeting new friends, in a space where you know you are going to spend some time having a conversation - but a 30 second transaction with someone you are never going to see again...why? It's so misplaced. don't cause me grief just to satisfy your curiosity 😄
Thank you very much for your words. It is glorious . Your writing is clicking with my life and story…. I love your work❤️ thanks!!!
It makes me happy to know that ❤️
If you don’t know him already, I suspect you’d love the work of André Aciman — particularly False Papers.
Never heard of him! Thank you for the recommendation!!!
Thank you for your searing honesty of such common and painful every day interactions so many of us experience. It’s exhausting. We belong anywhere. Much love
My word!! " The woman doesn’t know that she just scratched a scar that is always trying to heal....I just wanted to pay for a small bottle of serum without being reminded that I don’t belong."
POWERFUL 🖤
Thank you so much for this.
I felt this. Being othered is a feeling I know all too well. I hope you know you belong to yourself first and foremost and I hope you find love and strength there. 💛