Bids for connection have been crucial to my understanding and practice since I first heard of them some years ago. I love hearing how you took imnediate hold of a new understanding then and also later when Sadia spoke about all the room on the mountaintop. I love how sometimes we hear things and can receive them as medicine. Thank you for offering this powerful dose of your words in that way. 🌼
Hi Pallas!! Thank you so much for this thoughtful comment. I love that bids of connection resonated with you, and it makes my heart happy that they have been an integrated part of your life. Your message brought a big smile to my face, thank you for taking the time to write such a kind a thoughtful note. I hope you and your loved ones are having a great December so far, and sending good vibes & big gratitude your way. <3
The fact that I opened this to listen casually with a smoothie in hand is ridiculous as I am now crying tears of profoundness. Wow. That was stunning you painted this story so beautifully ❤️
This whole post felt like medicine - from the beautiful “bids of connection” share, down to the wisdom on getting where we’re meant to be in our own time. Heart opening medicine. Thank you 🙏🏾💫
I really loved reading this 🥹 The process of writing and trying to get published can be such a lonely one, especially if we focus on all the people who are getting published. Such a helpful reminder to be persistent & to enjoy the actual process of the hike...And I love the idea that at the top of the mountain, there’s room for all of us & all our stories 💛✨
I love reading this piece of writing. Apart from being beautifully written, It is full of everything I strive to be and keep close to my heart. Namely, the power of persistance and embracing the journey rather than the destination. Thank you for so graciously and vulnerably extending your bid for connection. I am a new subscriber but I hope to hear more about your story.
I love this post! I particularly love the phrase 'bids of connection'. I know I will be listening more closely to what people say, and the way I respond.
I enjoyed this piece so deeply. I needed it, too. Being a newer writer here on substack I, too, have noticed the talk of numbers and analytics get louder recently. It’s crept into my psyche a few times, “Am I good enough?” I keep pushing that thought aside because my intention coming onto substack was to focus on my own work, and just trust it to build itself however it is meant to.
Thank you for this reminder.
One of my favorite parts of being alive is getting to witness other creators make their art and climb their mountains, and I’m so excited to celebrate your work as you grow, Alex.
So much in this to thank you for. But I'll start by concurring that the metaphorical mountaintop, with it's vistas, really are only accessible not just with persistence, but with patience and a loving flexibility, which is probably best maintained in some form of companionship as you've described. But there's another force too, motion. People often talk about the ' just do it' or the ' just keep going ', but I have found this advice to.be more junior than the wisdom of a nimble goat- legged elder. Take the naps, enjoy the gardening, but stay with your own inner rhythm, and keep moving, however slowly, with it's enthusiasm. I've wondered if this perception that I have of growth is rooted in a primarily female embodiment of intelligence and of the cyclical outputting and retreating that is so familiar to me in this body. Perhaps similarly your dear friend's wisdom, expanding the concept of the top -the paragon, the elite, the ascended masters - to something more nurturing of the many than the few....the generosity of that concept is akin to provision of life rather than the reductive reasoning of ' only one winner '. Her legacy seems to have influenced yours. And isn't that what all artists are doing WITH their audiences, in their bids for connection , regenerating legacies of curiosity and passion?
Wow! I'm impressed! I'll start off by saying I love your poetic imagery and how you take time for it–it's almost like you write like someone far older. Also, just so it's said, people in the communities with the longest living members very often tend gardens, like Cynthia.
Most importantly, I started reading this because of the title and was not disappointed. I've worked on a Non-Fiction book for 3 years now, and have since begun a fictionalized version of it. Both discuss the origins of Western Civilization and its effects on us, ALL of which started on one, very special, rebellious mountaintop. The woe and misery the event–Event Zero–caused is counterbalanced, in my mind, by the lifestyles of those who chose not to follow the dastardly effects of this Event–they showed, in every way, shape, and form, that there IS room at the mountaintop for everyone.
Alex, thanks for subscribing to my weekly letter. I agree with Justine below. You write beautifully. Enjoying the journey is a lesson which we all need to learn.
Bids for connection have been crucial to my understanding and practice since I first heard of them some years ago. I love hearing how you took imnediate hold of a new understanding then and also later when Sadia spoke about all the room on the mountaintop. I love how sometimes we hear things and can receive them as medicine. Thank you for offering this powerful dose of your words in that way. 🌼
Hi Pallas!! Thank you so much for this thoughtful comment. I love that bids of connection resonated with you, and it makes my heart happy that they have been an integrated part of your life. Your message brought a big smile to my face, thank you for taking the time to write such a kind a thoughtful note. I hope you and your loved ones are having a great December so far, and sending good vibes & big gratitude your way. <3
The fact that I opened this to listen casually with a smoothie in hand is ridiculous as I am now crying tears of profoundness. Wow. That was stunning you painted this story so beautifully ❤️
This whole post felt like medicine - from the beautiful “bids of connection” share, down to the wisdom on getting where we’re meant to be in our own time. Heart opening medicine. Thank you 🙏🏾💫
I really loved reading this 🥹 The process of writing and trying to get published can be such a lonely one, especially if we focus on all the people who are getting published. Such a helpful reminder to be persistent & to enjoy the actual process of the hike...And I love the idea that at the top of the mountain, there’s room for all of us & all our stories 💛✨
Thank you so much, Kelsey!! I love this thoughtful message. Grateful for you!! <3
A lovely, thoughtful piece! Thanks for reminding me to enjoy the climb :)
Thank you so much, Mia! Grateful for you & this thoughtful message! :)
I love reading this piece of writing. Apart from being beautifully written, It is full of everything I strive to be and keep close to my heart. Namely, the power of persistance and embracing the journey rather than the destination. Thank you for so graciously and vulnerably extending your bid for connection. I am a new subscriber but I hope to hear more about your story.
Thank you so much, Justine!! This made my day. I am so happy you are here & so thankful for this thoughtful & loving message 🥰
Thank you also for asking about the story. You can read it here: https://alexlopezwrites.substack.com/p/42-paradise-underground-short-fiction
It was originally published in 2021 by Passengers Journal here: https://www.passengersjournal.com/volume-2-issue-2-prose
Here is a link to the print anthology, where the story was republished the following year: https://bookshop.org/p/books/passengers-journal-anthology-the-first-words-2020-2021-passengers-press/18270635
And here is the audiobook version of the anthology, which is available for free on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4PKx3Okux3npnZjAWg4Y2O?si=uyiInpJ8R3-fP197e18Dag
Thank you again for your thoughtful message, so happy to welcome you to the love & liberation community 🤗
I love this post! I particularly love the phrase 'bids of connection'. I know I will be listening more closely to what people say, and the way I respond.
Bids of Connection, someone's next poem?
I enjoyed this piece so deeply. I needed it, too. Being a newer writer here on substack I, too, have noticed the talk of numbers and analytics get louder recently. It’s crept into my psyche a few times, “Am I good enough?” I keep pushing that thought aside because my intention coming onto substack was to focus on my own work, and just trust it to build itself however it is meant to.
Thank you for this reminder.
One of my favorite parts of being alive is getting to witness other creators make their art and climb their mountains, and I’m so excited to celebrate your work as you grow, Alex.
P.s. glad to be a new subscriber to your stack journey.
So much in this to thank you for. But I'll start by concurring that the metaphorical mountaintop, with it's vistas, really are only accessible not just with persistence, but with patience and a loving flexibility, which is probably best maintained in some form of companionship as you've described. But there's another force too, motion. People often talk about the ' just do it' or the ' just keep going ', but I have found this advice to.be more junior than the wisdom of a nimble goat- legged elder. Take the naps, enjoy the gardening, but stay with your own inner rhythm, and keep moving, however slowly, with it's enthusiasm. I've wondered if this perception that I have of growth is rooted in a primarily female embodiment of intelligence and of the cyclical outputting and retreating that is so familiar to me in this body. Perhaps similarly your dear friend's wisdom, expanding the concept of the top -the paragon, the elite, the ascended masters - to something more nurturing of the many than the few....the generosity of that concept is akin to provision of life rather than the reductive reasoning of ' only one winner '. Her legacy seems to have influenced yours. And isn't that what all artists are doing WITH their audiences, in their bids for connection , regenerating legacies of curiosity and passion?
What wisdom, encouragement and generosity of spirit in this piece. In a beautifully written example of a 'giving' bid for connection.
Wow! I'm impressed! I'll start off by saying I love your poetic imagery and how you take time for it–it's almost like you write like someone far older. Also, just so it's said, people in the communities with the longest living members very often tend gardens, like Cynthia.
Most importantly, I started reading this because of the title and was not disappointed. I've worked on a Non-Fiction book for 3 years now, and have since begun a fictionalized version of it. Both discuss the origins of Western Civilization and its effects on us, ALL of which started on one, very special, rebellious mountaintop. The woe and misery the event–Event Zero–caused is counterbalanced, in my mind, by the lifestyles of those who chose not to follow the dastardly effects of this Event–they showed, in every way, shape, and form, that there IS room at the mountaintop for everyone.
Thank you for keeping us centred on what truly matters ❤️🙏🏻 I have started my writer’s day by reading your piece and it has set me up beautifully.
Thank you for this beautiful piece as someone who’s learning to enjoy my own pace. We all need a friend like Sadia✨
needed this reminder today! love you
Thank you so much, Mal! I love you <3
Alex, thanks for subscribing to my weekly letter. I agree with Justine below. You write beautifully. Enjoying the journey is a lesson which we all need to learn.
Thank you so much, Andrew! I am so excited to be a subscriber of your awesome work. Thank you for this kind & thoughtful message. Grateful for you! :)