Reading this Peter I was thinking of war. Picking your comrade up and carrying them over their shoulder wounded and battered.
That's what it can feel like at times when you're truly thrown around by life and to be picked up and carried in your most vulnerable time is something you'll remember and respect about that person for these rest of your life.
When you can finally walk with your own legs and return to either your former or readjusted self is the most beautiful thing you can do for another human being.
What a beautiful perspective Kelly and thank you so much for sharing it. 🙏
It’s funny, when I first wrote the song it was coming from a place of loving another inside whatever cage they’re stuck in, addiction, depression, fear, failure. Today it still feels like that but also about how we learn to carry ourselves gently through all of the breaking and the mending to shed away enogh of our shell to see that we’re right there underneath it. Just as we’ve always been.
Almost like a snake shedding its skin with the rawness underneath, but still the same thing. I think we've all been in some sort of cage in some points of our lives.
I'll need to dive into your archives and see what other talents you're hiding in here!
I think the cage is a prerequisite and so is the gift of being carried. At least it was for me. There’ve been at least a few times in my life where I was totally helpless, like a newborn. The universe broke me down so completely that there was no other option but to let someone else pick me up for a while. That gift of carrying me back to myself literally saved my life and it’s not something that I could ever pay back. But I’ll try.
Thanks Kelly, I really appreciate that you engage with such care and intention
This is beautiful. 🤍The idea that we slowly disappear without even noticing, and that sometimes another person can hold hope for us until we're ready to hold it ourselves, really touched me. "I'll carry you 'til you're strong enough to climb" is such a powerful image. Thank you for sharing something so gentle and deeply human.
This is beautiful Peter. On reading it, it took me back to a time in my life where I was at my lowest. Where I felt like I was in hiding and couldn't even face those closest to me. But when I started to find my strength and my purpose again, I slowly climbed out of it, and with the unwavering support of those closest to me. Thank you for this!
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment Jen and I’m so grateful that the message resonated with you….and big congratulations of the 1200+ days 😊
The work is standing in the middle with an open heart. If somebody wants to climb, give them your hand or your shoulder. If they need to fall, sit with them if they’ll let you.
This is so beautiful. It is what I have discovered, and in my own writing want to convey. How to just BE. To show up. For ourselves and for others.
We don't always have to have the right words, we dont have to fall back on the same answers. "You should rest, you should slow down".
We can all heal, it's making sure we hold space for it. Not perfection, just space.
Thanks so much Natalie 🙏 I found it counterintuitive at times to just be with the other person. My ego wanted so desperately for me to solve something. I really believe that we all have our own answers. Sometimes all we need is the safety of someone elses presence to give us a minute to hear our own intuition. I totally agree we can heal. I really appreicate your comment :)
YES!! It is human nature to want to immediately go into fixing rather than listening. Our conditioning (ego) is wired for action and survival. We feel productive and caring, whereas sitting with someone's raw emotions requires us to hold immense patience and this can feel deeply uncomfortable for most.
We can also be the ones who help guide our loved ones THROUGH our intuition.
Instead of "Did you try? Did you do? When this happened to me... When I did this.." responses: Asking 3 to 5 clarifying questions.
How did that make you feel? What was your favorite? Where do you feel you're getting stuck? This way, we are holding space AND proving some guidance.
“Be a human letting them be human” is such a simple line, but it carries the whole thing. There’s something very true about how hard it is to watch someone disappear, especially when you can still see the part of them they can’t reach yet...
also loved the idea that carrying someone can be gentle and relentless. That feels so accurate. Not to rescue or fix, just staying close enough to witness them until they remember they’re still there.
really beautiful piece, and the lyrics were really good as well <3
Thank you so much, Rose. You always seem to see right to the heart of what I'm trying to get to. Witness is a perfect word. There are some things in my life that feel like they would be impossible to repay, to the person or society as a whole. Being witnesed, carried and loved back to existence. But I get to try and what a gift that is 🙏
I tried to read while your music was playing, but the drums were so catchy that I started to nod, and there went my ability to read. 🙃
When I reached the second-to-last paragraph, I stopped because it felt familiar, then I remembered your article, “The Emotional Hostage Crisis.” It feels like a natural continuation to me.
My twisted brain immediately thought "if I ever need to distract from a lapse in logic in my writing, drop in 30 seconds of a beat" 😂
In all seriousness though, I actually had to go back to hostage crisis and look and wow, what a memory you have. With a little more digging, there's definitely a pattern in my writing of being, holding offering, lifting and carrying. I see it more clearly now that you shared that. Thank you, sincerely 🙏
Reading this Peter I was thinking of war. Picking your comrade up and carrying them over their shoulder wounded and battered.
That's what it can feel like at times when you're truly thrown around by life and to be picked up and carried in your most vulnerable time is something you'll remember and respect about that person for these rest of your life.
When you can finally walk with your own legs and return to either your former or readjusted self is the most beautiful thing you can do for another human being.
Love this ❤️
What a beautiful perspective Kelly and thank you so much for sharing it. 🙏
It’s funny, when I first wrote the song it was coming from a place of loving another inside whatever cage they’re stuck in, addiction, depression, fear, failure. Today it still feels like that but also about how we learn to carry ourselves gently through all of the breaking and the mending to shed away enogh of our shell to see that we’re right there underneath it. Just as we’ve always been.
Almost like a snake shedding its skin with the rawness underneath, but still the same thing. I think we've all been in some sort of cage in some points of our lives.
I'll need to dive into your archives and see what other talents you're hiding in here!
Thanks Peter!
I think the cage is a prerequisite and so is the gift of being carried. At least it was for me. There’ve been at least a few times in my life where I was totally helpless, like a newborn. The universe broke me down so completely that there was no other option but to let someone else pick me up for a while. That gift of carrying me back to myself literally saved my life and it’s not something that I could ever pay back. But I’ll try.
Thanks Kelly, I really appreciate that you engage with such care and intention
This is beautiful. 🤍The idea that we slowly disappear without even noticing, and that sometimes another person can hold hope for us until we're ready to hold it ourselves, really touched me. "I'll carry you 'til you're strong enough to climb" is such a powerful image. Thank you for sharing something so gentle and deeply human.
I'm so grateful that this resonated Teresa.
Thank you reading with such care and for your thoughtful comment 🙏🙂
Yes, it was very deep and will stay with me. This community is so great and it’s so great to sustain others!
This is beautiful Peter. On reading it, it took me back to a time in my life where I was at my lowest. Where I felt like I was in hiding and couldn't even face those closest to me. But when I started to find my strength and my purpose again, I slowly climbed out of it, and with the unwavering support of those closest to me. Thank you for this!
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment Jen and I’m so grateful that the message resonated with you….and big congratulations of the 1200+ days 😊
It’s no problem at all, happy to read and connect! And thank you - that is much appreciated1
The work is standing in the middle with an open heart. If somebody wants to climb, give them your hand or your shoulder. If they need to fall, sit with them if they’ll let you.
This is so beautiful. It is what I have discovered, and in my own writing want to convey. How to just BE. To show up. For ourselves and for others.
We don't always have to have the right words, we dont have to fall back on the same answers. "You should rest, you should slow down".
We can all heal, it's making sure we hold space for it. Not perfection, just space.
Thanks so much Natalie 🙏 I found it counterintuitive at times to just be with the other person. My ego wanted so desperately for me to solve something. I really believe that we all have our own answers. Sometimes all we need is the safety of someone elses presence to give us a minute to hear our own intuition. I totally agree we can heal. I really appreicate your comment :)
YES!! It is human nature to want to immediately go into fixing rather than listening. Our conditioning (ego) is wired for action and survival. We feel productive and caring, whereas sitting with someone's raw emotions requires us to hold immense patience and this can feel deeply uncomfortable for most.
We can also be the ones who help guide our loved ones THROUGH our intuition.
Instead of "Did you try? Did you do? When this happened to me... When I did this.." responses: Asking 3 to 5 clarifying questions.
How did that make you feel? What was your favorite? Where do you feel you're getting stuck? This way, we are holding space AND proving some guidance.
this really stayed with us, Peter.
“Be a human letting them be human” is such a simple line, but it carries the whole thing. There’s something very true about how hard it is to watch someone disappear, especially when you can still see the part of them they can’t reach yet...
also loved the idea that carrying someone can be gentle and relentless. That feels so accurate. Not to rescue or fix, just staying close enough to witness them until they remember they’re still there.
really beautiful piece, and the lyrics were really good as well <3
Thank you so much, Rose. You always seem to see right to the heart of what I'm trying to get to. Witness is a perfect word. There are some things in my life that feel like they would be impossible to repay, to the person or society as a whole. Being witnesed, carried and loved back to existence. But I get to try and what a gift that is 🙏
Peter, this piece is achingly beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you Jae L. for reading and for sharing too. I really appreciate the support 🙏
I tried to read while your music was playing, but the drums were so catchy that I started to nod, and there went my ability to read. 🙃
When I reached the second-to-last paragraph, I stopped because it felt familiar, then I remembered your article, “The Emotional Hostage Crisis.” It feels like a natural continuation to me.
My twisted brain immediately thought "if I ever need to distract from a lapse in logic in my writing, drop in 30 seconds of a beat" 😂
In all seriousness though, I actually had to go back to hostage crisis and look and wow, what a memory you have. With a little more digging, there's definitely a pattern in my writing of being, holding offering, lifting and carrying. I see it more clearly now that you shared that. Thank you, sincerely 🙏
My pleasure, but please let my wife know as well, that sometimes I do remember things 😅
I’ve got your back 😄