18 Comments
User's avatar
Jan M. Flynn's avatar

Wise and fortifying words, Julia. At the risk of sounding woo-woo, I regard every life crisis as a spiritual one and an invitation to further evolve. Much as I loves me my comfort zone, I know that growth happens at the tender, painful edges — and only because it has to. As you say, that's life.

Expand full comment
Claudia Brose's avatar

A loooot of good reminders and nudges in your piece. Thank you!!!

Expand full comment
JULIA HUBBEL's avatar

Thanks Claudia

Expand full comment
Francesca Bossert's avatar

Brilliant, Julia. If everything always came up trumps we’d be rolling in boring clover (sorry, could not resist this terrible mixed up bad joke)! But you are right, it’s good to look at it this way. Thank you for a great essay… again.

Expand full comment
JULIA HUBBEL's avatar

Thanks Francesca! Working on gratitude and focusing on those things I can indeed affect.

Expand full comment
Martha Redsecker's avatar

Nailed it!

Expand full comment
JULIA HUBBEL's avatar

Thank you Martha.

Expand full comment
Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

So much here that it's a little like looking in a mirror. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and your goodwill.

Expand full comment
JULIA HUBBEL's avatar

Thank you back, Stephanie. I am working hard on finding a way forward.

Expand full comment
Sheila's avatar

Here here! 👏🏼 I think in a world where we can so easily numb out, be that on drugs or alcohol or quite simply take away food or screens… We’ve forgotten we need to feel. I’d not considered that feeling is a form of resilience, if I’ve read you right. I’ll be pondering that one! I’m a deeply feeling person and want to be more resilient, but perhaps by feeling I am building my resilience…

Expand full comment
JULIA HUBBEL's avatar

Sheila, honestly, the more I dig deeply into this and read writings of those wiser than I am, the more convinced I am that our truth strength lies in our emotions, our ability to ride them rather than to hide them (Okay, there’s a title) and to use them to build our great strength as humans. I’m exploring an angle here and will come back to it. You did indeed read me correctly.

Expand full comment
Sheila's avatar

I look forward to more on riding rather than hiding them emotions, it’s a great title and a great topic!

I feel like there’s been an app update and the hide and extend option isn’t working well for me… So not sure if it’s that, but I was left hanging after ‘I’m exploring an angle here and will’

I’m here for it and enjoying it!

Expand full comment
Sheila's avatar

Okay I did an update on the app and now I see post will. Oh I’m pleased I read you right, it’s been really eye opening and got my cogs going.

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Rees's avatar

Thank you for this wonderful piece. I felt like I was reading the

inside of my own heart/mind/soul. It is reassuring to know others

are out there making John Lewis trouble, too. We must continue to

resist with living lives of connection and joy, within communities of

safe harbor. We must protect those who are in danger or will be soon --

they, too, are our sisters and brothers, whatever their race, religion,

gender, sexual orientation. We are all in this together, for better or

worse. Thank you, Julia, for writing as you do and for sharing your heart

and very smart mind with all of us.

Expand full comment
JULIA HUBBEL's avatar

So kind of you Elizabeth. So many of us have targets on our backs, and those we care about do, too. Cross fingers for us all.

Expand full comment
Diane’s Blue Forum 👩‍💻's avatar

Brilliant approach. I’m so tired of reading whining comments instead of action plans. It’s almost like Trumpy-whining has spread to Democrats.

Expand full comment
JULIA HUBBEL's avatar

Thanks. I have been up since 1 am, and this morning out of great love and respect for my friend I am postponing our daily discussion because I am so aware of my state of mind. What a journey we’re on.

Expand full comment
Diane’s Blue Forum 👩‍💻's avatar

Get some rest! TLC today💕

Expand full comment