Thank you for sharing The Plastic Bag ... it truly resonated with me. I was struck by how the story mirrors the subtle ways our minds cope with overwhelming emotions: the woman’s attention shifting to the drifting bag grounded her, while the bag itself acted as a symbol of her inner state ... fragile, tossed, yet graceful. Following it, she entered a flow of presence, slowing her racing thoughts, and by the time it soared, her grief and chaos were quietly reframed into beauty and possibility. Her final choice to walk away from the man felt like reclaiming agency and emotional autonomy, a reminder of how we can regain control over our inner world even amidst turmoil. For me, this piece captured the small, almost absurd moments in life that unexpectedly bring clarity, presence, and healing, showing how even simple experiences can transform perspective and restore a sense of freedom.
Thank you! 🙏 I really appreciate how you read into it. I think you’re right - the bag became both a grounding detail and a mirror, a way for her to step outside the spiral for just long enough to choose differently. I actually didn’t fully realize I was writing about presence and healing until I saw it through your lens.
The scientist in me tends to overthink, but sometimes writers capture something so beautifully that it sparks feelings and opens up new directions for people everywhere. I saw that in a Substack post today, and it feels like it applies perfectly here.
I know you don’t want to hear that the first thing I thought of was that scene from American Beauty. But that went away and I felt pulled directly and completely into what is probably the most private of worlds—reflection, regret, and triumph. Great work.
Haha, I’ll take the American Beauty association - it’s hard to escape that one when a bag is involved. I’m glad it shifted for you, though, that’s exactly where I hoped the piece would land: in that strange space between memory, loss, and a quiet kind of victory. Appreciate you reading it with that level of attention 🙏🏻
A feeling of awe. It was…It was a rollercoaster of emotions. First I was with the girl, then I felt like I was standing with her. I felt like I was her. And then I was a reader again.
Thank you for sharing The Plastic Bag ... it truly resonated with me. I was struck by how the story mirrors the subtle ways our minds cope with overwhelming emotions: the woman’s attention shifting to the drifting bag grounded her, while the bag itself acted as a symbol of her inner state ... fragile, tossed, yet graceful. Following it, she entered a flow of presence, slowing her racing thoughts, and by the time it soared, her grief and chaos were quietly reframed into beauty and possibility. Her final choice to walk away from the man felt like reclaiming agency and emotional autonomy, a reminder of how we can regain control over our inner world even amidst turmoil. For me, this piece captured the small, almost absurd moments in life that unexpectedly bring clarity, presence, and healing, showing how even simple experiences can transform perspective and restore a sense of freedom.
Thank you! 🙏 I really appreciate how you read into it. I think you’re right - the bag became both a grounding detail and a mirror, a way for her to step outside the spiral for just long enough to choose differently. I actually didn’t fully realize I was writing about presence and healing until I saw it through your lens.
The scientist in me tends to overthink, but sometimes writers capture something so beautifully that it sparks feelings and opens up new directions for people everywhere. I saw that in a Substack post today, and it feels like it applies perfectly here.
I really love how you put that - the idea that writing can spark new directions even beyond the writer. That means a lot 🙏🏻
Im glad that she chose herself in the end.
Me too! Thanks for connecting 🙏
I know you don’t want to hear that the first thing I thought of was that scene from American Beauty. But that went away and I felt pulled directly and completely into what is probably the most private of worlds—reflection, regret, and triumph. Great work.
Haha, I’ll take the American Beauty association - it’s hard to escape that one when a bag is involved. I’m glad it shifted for you, though, that’s exactly where I hoped the piece would land: in that strange space between memory, loss, and a quiet kind of victory. Appreciate you reading it with that level of attention 🙏🏻
A feeling of awe. It was…It was a rollercoaster of emotions. First I was with the girl, then I felt like I was standing with her. I felt like I was her. And then I was a reader again.
Ah, I love that. The fact that you slipped into her like that - even for a moment - that’s kind of everything I hope for when I write.
Means a lot 🙏🏻