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Megan A Arnold's avatar

Thank you for sharing. "And what can I do to help it, besides the one thing I cannot and will not do?" really hit me (having been the one to end a long-term relationship). Also I think you're onto something with the Theory! "Theory: the written journal over-reports angst, and the photographic record underreports it." And "How appalling it feels, to say your wants out loud." Yes, indeed.

Best wishes for 2024. May it bring much grace and ease.

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Andrew Dryden's avatar

The insight I ‘loved’ (ie. that resonated) was the rebuild timeframe… congrats on the discipline reqd for your summer of worky shorts!! I heard an aspirational insight, that discipline gives freedom, because the list is ticked off. You’ll love that staircase for the knowledge of its workings.

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Katherine Sharpe's avatar

Thank you for normalizing my intense devotion to my to-do list, Drus. ;-)

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Bill Gibso's avatar

All the very best for 2024!

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Katherine Sharpe's avatar

Thanks!

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Claudia Valentino's avatar

Wow. You make the perfect case for not forgetting the hard stuff, for remembering and detailing it, because it is all just so rich and important to understand. Such a beautiful piece, Katherine!

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Katherine Sharpe's avatar

Thank you, Claudia! It's so good to hear from you. <3

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Andrew Dryden's avatar

If you had time, Subscribers might love to hear a playlist of the phase1 songs? Thanks for writing this — relatable to anyone going thru a growth spurt. As a foreigner, where are the best accents from? Would it be Georgia?

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Katherine Sharpe's avatar

I've been thinking about the playlist idea, and I'm going to make it happen.

I don't have a state-by-state appreciation of southern accents, but in general, the southern drawl can be soothing (it's slow, maybe a little bit musical). I am sometimes partial to a Brooklyn accent or a deep New England accent as well. Oh, and wherever Dolly Parton is from (Tennessee?) Her speaking voice is like aerosolized Xanax.

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