“I could feel a tug between the feeling that “I’m not doing enough,” and “I’m not doing things right.”” - this sums up perfectly how I feel EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
Loved the topic this week and the new name is killer.
Love your experiences shared here, especially related to Anhingas! I recently spent a few months in Florida living in a 55+ community on a golf course and lots of these beautiful Anhingas who sat by the edges of the ponds to dry their wings all day long in the sun. Such a peaceful sight while I was working from home. I used to watch and think ‘it must be nice to have time just to sit there and prepare for your next flight.’ Thanks for helping me see a new perspective in our encounters with nature.
I’ll be sticking around for more castles in the sky!
Grateful to have been included in your reader response list, thanks Charlie 😁
And with this piece, you found a way to hit each of my abc’s:
* Affect. I had to sit with how much humanity can be found in “One candle loses nothing by lighting another candle”.
* Behaviour. I’m feeling very motivated to play with my own glossary of sticky ideas. So fun!
* Cognition. Anhinga and the imagery of vulnerability in the face of danger really has me questioning if I’ve been courageous enough in my life lately.
“But the bird didn’t have a choice: without standing there and presenting itself to the Sun, it wouldn’t be able to fly” what a metaphor! Need to channel my inner Anhinga in those moments where I want to fly but am too afraid to be vulnerable. Great essay Charlie!
“I could feel a tug between the feeling that “I’m not doing enough,” and “I’m not doing things right.”” - this sums up perfectly how I feel EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
Loved the topic this week and the new name is killer.
Love your experiences shared here, especially related to Anhingas! I recently spent a few months in Florida living in a 55+ community on a golf course and lots of these beautiful Anhingas who sat by the edges of the ponds to dry their wings all day long in the sun. Such a peaceful sight while I was working from home. I used to watch and think ‘it must be nice to have time just to sit there and prepare for your next flight.’ Thanks for helping me see a new perspective in our encounters with nature.
I’ll be sticking around for more castles in the sky!
Grateful to have been included in your reader response list, thanks Charlie 😁
And with this piece, you found a way to hit each of my abc’s:
* Affect. I had to sit with how much humanity can be found in “One candle loses nothing by lighting another candle”.
* Behaviour. I’m feeling very motivated to play with my own glossary of sticky ideas. So fun!
* Cognition. Anhinga and the imagery of vulnerability in the face of danger really has me questioning if I’ve been courageous enough in my life lately.
I love a piece that gets me introspecting!
“But the bird didn’t have a choice: without standing there and presenting itself to the Sun, it wouldn’t be able to fly” what a metaphor! Need to channel my inner Anhinga in those moments where I want to fly but am too afraid to be vulnerable. Great essay Charlie!
Love the name change, feels like a natural evolution that matches your writing.
Also this hook is great:
"A few weeks ago, I was planning a work trip to Tallahassee, Florida and thinking about death."
I imagine the banana arcing back to look up at the castle in the sky and feeling that’s it’s lit a candle.
Blown away by your friend's email. May we all live to light another's candle. I will remember him forever.
And Castles in the Sky, beautifully expansive.
Love the name change!
I gather you've read 4000 Weeks... :)