Oh Sara ..Thank you so kindly for sharing and translating this lovely poem . It rings true for me in so many ways. What a perfect way to enter into the day with your post . Cheers heather
Hi Heather, I'm a new subscriber, and I'm so happy to have found you recently. You've quickly become one of my favorites here on Substack. Like Cathy, what you wrote resonates with me, also. I'm originally from New England, and know that country wave you're talking about. People do tend to keep to themselves these days, even online. Me included, so I'm happy to know the country wave is still alive and exists up north. I like your idea of just a few words, and I need to practice that, starting now. :) Hello, it's wonderful to "meet" you here on Substack. I'd like you to know I'm enjoying your posts very much.
Hello Miz Katie and thanks so much for your lovely comments. I wonder if there are quite a few of us who miss the more satisfying interactions with other humans? I'm already sensing this is a place where we can create connections and community a little differently-this is my hope anyway :-) I'm glad you introduced yourself and look forward to your presence and participation here
I get a good sense from this site, also. I miss the old days when FB was the coolest site on the web for interacting with other artists. I never go there anymore, and have been looking for a new site to make real connections. Hopefully Substack is the spot.
I'm not sure if I'll start a blog here because I already have one on my website, but we'll see. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your art journals..from what you posted so far, we have a very similar style, and I was drawn to your work instantly when I saw it. I also like how personal your writing style is, which I don't see much online anymore, except here on Substack. I'm happy I found you. :)
I do hear you there.. I initially was quite enamoured with how Facebook offered both exposure for my art and connection with others. It became a little too big and sprawling and coupled with the way people tend to communicate online now -lost much of its glow for me. Instagram is great for short visuals yet the scrolling it encourages cannot be permitting the focus one requires as an artist. Also I believe it has a competitive ,curated feel in a time where short punchy impressions count . That said-I am still using both platforms with the intent to move away. I recall nothing matched the slow and simmering connections made through early blogging and art discussion boards where I probably formed my most endearing connections over years. This is precisely what has been the attraction for me of this forum at this time. I hope we all can maintain that personal touch! Heather
So much of this resonates with me, thank you Heather. As someone who walks in my neighbourhood, I relish each shared greeting, nod to a neighbour, a few words about the weather (English obsession). When I broke my foot last September, I could no longer go for my walks and I missed these small social interactions so much. I knew then how important they were, how the algorithms of social media are no match for more personal interactions, however fleeting.
This post is so relevant! The good thing about the internet is the connection with those far away, the bad thing is everyone seems content with hat small connection. I miss summers of my childhood when efforts were made to visit family and friends, all those long car rides! .
Hello Sarah and thanks for your response. I guess i try to be content with small connection-yet I yearn for more! There is nothing like seeing someone you care about face to face . I exhaust myself down sometimes with friends I converse with in person..Yet I am also energized by these encounters . I could never have hundreds and thousands of "friends" and am content with a handful of the best friends ..Similarly I prefer to know there is a small yet loyal group of artists and patrons online that recognise who I am and like me(and my art!) for who I am . Maybe we feel this way because we recall when things were different
Jody you make some really good points. I certainly have benefited from the connection social media offers me to friends and family worldwide and to those who have supported my art . I agree that once you start offering comments rather than ticks or hearts the conversations have the potential to begin and grow. Accepting their limitations is key isn't it?
Everything that everyone has written here resonates with me. I love 'the country wave' in my Toronto neighbourhood and in my New England cottage neighbourhood. Over the years, walking my dogs or walking errands have allowed me the opportunity for longer conversations. I share the expressed frustration of social media sites like Facebook and Instagram ...however lately I've realized that if I can accept their limitations, then I am able to enjoy the type of connection they do offer - connections with family and friends I rarely meet in real time. Recently I have started to reach out with comments when watching posted videos and I am thrilled to get responses to my comments. It feels as though the frustrating medium can allow me a somewhat satisfying connection to my people after all. :)
I love everything about your response Janice ! It makes me feel that I am not alone with missing the richness in conversation - the voice - the letter writing .. and old fashioned face to face connection
Your words reminded me of a poem by a favorite portuguese poet. I'll try to translate it:
I need others to recognize me,
to say Hello
and good morning.
More than mirrors,
I need other people
so I can know
that I am me.
(Adília Lopes)
Oh Sara ..Thank you so kindly for sharing and translating this lovely poem . It rings true for me in so many ways. What a perfect way to enter into the day with your post . Cheers heather
Hi Heather, I'm a new subscriber, and I'm so happy to have found you recently. You've quickly become one of my favorites here on Substack. Like Cathy, what you wrote resonates with me, also. I'm originally from New England, and know that country wave you're talking about. People do tend to keep to themselves these days, even online. Me included, so I'm happy to know the country wave is still alive and exists up north. I like your idea of just a few words, and I need to practice that, starting now. :) Hello, it's wonderful to "meet" you here on Substack. I'd like you to know I'm enjoying your posts very much.
Hello Miz Katie and thanks so much for your lovely comments. I wonder if there are quite a few of us who miss the more satisfying interactions with other humans? I'm already sensing this is a place where we can create connections and community a little differently-this is my hope anyway :-) I'm glad you introduced yourself and look forward to your presence and participation here
Cheers Heather
I get a good sense from this site, also. I miss the old days when FB was the coolest site on the web for interacting with other artists. I never go there anymore, and have been looking for a new site to make real connections. Hopefully Substack is the spot.
I'm not sure if I'll start a blog here because I already have one on my website, but we'll see. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your art journals..from what you posted so far, we have a very similar style, and I was drawn to your work instantly when I saw it. I also like how personal your writing style is, which I don't see much online anymore, except here on Substack. I'm happy I found you. :)
I do hear you there.. I initially was quite enamoured with how Facebook offered both exposure for my art and connection with others. It became a little too big and sprawling and coupled with the way people tend to communicate online now -lost much of its glow for me. Instagram is great for short visuals yet the scrolling it encourages cannot be permitting the focus one requires as an artist. Also I believe it has a competitive ,curated feel in a time where short punchy impressions count . That said-I am still using both platforms with the intent to move away. I recall nothing matched the slow and simmering connections made through early blogging and art discussion boards where I probably formed my most endearing connections over years. This is precisely what has been the attraction for me of this forum at this time. I hope we all can maintain that personal touch! Heather
So much of this resonates with me, thank you Heather. As someone who walks in my neighbourhood, I relish each shared greeting, nod to a neighbour, a few words about the weather (English obsession). When I broke my foot last September, I could no longer go for my walks and I missed these small social interactions so much. I knew then how important they were, how the algorithms of social media are no match for more personal interactions, however fleeting.
This post is so relevant! The good thing about the internet is the connection with those far away, the bad thing is everyone seems content with hat small connection. I miss summers of my childhood when efforts were made to visit family and friends, all those long car rides! .
Hello Sarah and thanks for your response. I guess i try to be content with small connection-yet I yearn for more! There is nothing like seeing someone you care about face to face . I exhaust myself down sometimes with friends I converse with in person..Yet I am also energized by these encounters . I could never have hundreds and thousands of "friends" and am content with a handful of the best friends ..Similarly I prefer to know there is a small yet loyal group of artists and patrons online that recognise who I am and like me(and my art!) for who I am . Maybe we feel this way because we recall when things were different
Very true!
Jody you make some really good points. I certainly have benefited from the connection social media offers me to friends and family worldwide and to those who have supported my art . I agree that once you start offering comments rather than ticks or hearts the conversations have the potential to begin and grow. Accepting their limitations is key isn't it?
Everything that everyone has written here resonates with me. I love 'the country wave' in my Toronto neighbourhood and in my New England cottage neighbourhood. Over the years, walking my dogs or walking errands have allowed me the opportunity for longer conversations. I share the expressed frustration of social media sites like Facebook and Instagram ...however lately I've realized that if I can accept their limitations, then I am able to enjoy the type of connection they do offer - connections with family and friends I rarely meet in real time. Recently I have started to reach out with comments when watching posted videos and I am thrilled to get responses to my comments. It feels as though the frustrating medium can allow me a somewhat satisfying connection to my people after all. :)
I love everything about your response Janice ! It makes me feel that I am not alone with missing the richness in conversation - the voice - the letter writing .. and old fashioned face to face connection