This is beautiful. I love it (and that classy reply by KV). Now I’m going to close this device, get off the sofa and go off and play a few tunes - hopefully reasonably well, but if not, no matter.
My goodness, Mark, I LOVED this essay! Not only was the writing beautiful, but the message you’re communicating one that I find deeply relevant and timely to my own life and creative pursuits. This summer I’m going to culinary school for 5 weeks and have felt very intimidated and nervous, as I have a lot to learn. It’s sort of frightening to consider that for 5 weeks, I’ll be immersed in a world where I am truly an amateur. But as you wrote about, “There is a kind of knowing we can only experience through our bodies.” I feel most at home and most myself creating meals in my kitchen, and I’m excited to take a break from my normal corporate creativity job to do this pursuit. I love cooking and baking, and I’m excited to invest some time and money into pursuing a nourishing craft. I am going to print this essay out and keep it near this summer! Thank you for taking the time to write and share this.
Grace! This was such a lovely note to read! Thank you so so much for your kind words. I'm so glad you found the essay encouraging. And what an exciting adventure! I'm sure it will be challeging at times, but I bet you will love the hands-on learning. Talk about a somatic experience! Just curious: which school are you going to?
I’ve really enjoyed your essays, Mark! They are well-crafted and so compelling. And I’m going to culinary school in Ireland at a place called Ballymaloe. It’s a working organic farm that sources most of the ingredients for the cookery school from the grounds and animals they raise. It should be quite the adventure!
This was great! I have read Makoto Fujimura and Dorothy Sayers, so much of your discussion of them was familiar. But I hadn't heard that story of Kurt Vonnegut before and that was really encouraging. Creative expression is a need we all have in some shape. Thank you for sharing!
This is beautiful. I love it (and that classy reply by KV). Now I’m going to close this device, get off the sofa and go off and play a few tunes - hopefully reasonably well, but if not, no matter.
Thanks, Graeme! And yes, that's the spirit!
My inner child feels very seen by this essay. So beautiful!
Thank you, Ms. Lawandalea!
My goodness, Mark, I LOVED this essay! Not only was the writing beautiful, but the message you’re communicating one that I find deeply relevant and timely to my own life and creative pursuits. This summer I’m going to culinary school for 5 weeks and have felt very intimidated and nervous, as I have a lot to learn. It’s sort of frightening to consider that for 5 weeks, I’ll be immersed in a world where I am truly an amateur. But as you wrote about, “There is a kind of knowing we can only experience through our bodies.” I feel most at home and most myself creating meals in my kitchen, and I’m excited to take a break from my normal corporate creativity job to do this pursuit. I love cooking and baking, and I’m excited to invest some time and money into pursuing a nourishing craft. I am going to print this essay out and keep it near this summer! Thank you for taking the time to write and share this.
Grace! This was such a lovely note to read! Thank you so so much for your kind words. I'm so glad you found the essay encouraging. And what an exciting adventure! I'm sure it will be challeging at times, but I bet you will love the hands-on learning. Talk about a somatic experience! Just curious: which school are you going to?
I’ve really enjoyed your essays, Mark! They are well-crafted and so compelling. And I’m going to culinary school in Ireland at a place called Ballymaloe. It’s a working organic farm that sources most of the ingredients for the cookery school from the grounds and animals they raise. It should be quite the adventure!
That’s the one I was thinking of! How exciting! Please write about your experience. I’d love to know what it’s like
I love this! Great thoughts!
Thanks, Joseph!
This was great! I have read Makoto Fujimura and Dorothy Sayers, so much of your discussion of them was familiar. But I hadn't heard that story of Kurt Vonnegut before and that was really encouraging. Creative expression is a need we all have in some shape. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Hannah! I know, the Vonnegut letter is 10/10. Glad it was encouraging!