Books/reading material, fluff and more serious thinking books alike, have saved my life more than once. It’s amazing what the brain latches onto when it’s in a desperate battle for survival against itself- it’s clique, but I’m so very glad you’re still here and very proud of you for making it through. ‘Tis no easy feat 💛 apologies if my words are not wording, no sleep and early mornings are my downfall.
We need to make a sticker with the "words not wording" - it's fabulous and should absolutely be plastered on laptops. I'm glad to still be here and I'm glad you're here too - I'm so grateful for your love and support and friendship <3
Wow! This really spoke to me. It would be so good to talk more on this. I agree that both types of books have their place. There is a time and season for them all, really. Thank you for sharing your perspective. It’s adjusted mine a wee bit and I’m glad. (Referring to the story portion.)
I'd love to chat more about the subject! One can never go wrong with books. And I agree, there is a time and season for all. I'm glad you stopped by, thanks for reading :)
I do wish our chat wouldn’t be public though…..so I guess I’ll pass as I had wanted more to chat about our childhood experiences which shaped our choices.
I think there’s a private chat? I just used it the other day and I didn’t see any record of the conversation on my feed. Or, if you are comfortable with it, I’m happy to send you my email. Or we can just skip it, no pressure either way ☺️
I completely agree that both enduring works and market-driven "fluff" have their distinct and vital roles in our lives. Enduring works challenge us, inspire deeper thought, and often leave lasting impressions, while lighter, momentary reads can provide much-needed solace and escapism during turbulent times. Your point about "fluff" being a lifeline resonates deeply as it’s more often than not that the lighter narratives help us hold it together when the weight of profound questions feels unbearable. When things get too heavy, I tend to watch cartoons from more than 50 years ago. Weird? May be but it does the job!
From a different perspective, I would add that these seemingly fleeting works are not always so temporary. They leave an emotional imprint, shaping how we process joy, love, or humor, even if subtly. In a way, both the enduring and the fleeting are part of the same spectrum of storytelling, serving us differently but equally meaningfully depending on where we are in our lives.
May I ask which cartoons you enjoy watching? I love your perspective on the lasting imprint of so-called temporary works. I hadn't considered it from that angle, but I think that you've brought a beautiful and important insight front and center. Both enduring and fleeting. Thank you for weighing in and deepening the conversation!
Thank for your comments Monique! To answer your question about cartoons, it wasn’t necessarily about specific shows, but more about revisiting moments from childhood - those silly stories and lighthearted adventures that brought smiles to our faces. For me specifically, there’s something uniquely comforting about being transported to that time, a momentary retreat into innocence and simplicity. For me, it’s not about escaping reality permanently but finding a space to breathe and regain emotional balance when life feels overwhelming.
Of course, I understand that this connection to childhood wouldn’t feel the same for everyone. If someone’s past is marked by pain or trauma, revisiting it might not provide solace. In those cases, I believe solace lies in self-held beliefs (positive beliefs that uplift rather than weigh us down) or memories that bring comfort, whether they’re rooted in faith, relationships, or personal achievements. While I’m not a psychotherapist and can’t speak with authority by any means, my limited observation and experience tells me that these temporary “escapes” can act as a bridge - not as a way to deny reality but to slowly process and accept it. Being constantly bombarded by pain, grief or any type of other pressures can weigh heavily on the human soul, and these lighthearted distractions provide a necessary pause, helping us rebuild resilience over time.
Your words remind me of a four part essay series I read late last year here on Substack. The series was a consideration of J.R.R. Tolkien's work, On Fairy Stories. In it Tolkien makes a point, among others, of affirming the value of true escapism in reading - that is, finding within stories the solace and beauty and strength that allows us to return to our everyday lives refreshed and ready to re-engage. I think you've so beautifully and so clearly communicated the gift that these escapes can bring - enriching life rather than stealing from it, fortifying the mind and the soul through these pauses.
Books/reading material, fluff and more serious thinking books alike, have saved my life more than once. It’s amazing what the brain latches onto when it’s in a desperate battle for survival against itself- it’s clique, but I’m so very glad you’re still here and very proud of you for making it through. ‘Tis no easy feat 💛 apologies if my words are not wording, no sleep and early mornings are my downfall.
We need to make a sticker with the "words not wording" - it's fabulous and should absolutely be plastered on laptops. I'm glad to still be here and I'm glad you're here too - I'm so grateful for your love and support and friendship <3
Wow! This really spoke to me. It would be so good to talk more on this. I agree that both types of books have their place. There is a time and season for them all, really. Thank you for sharing your perspective. It’s adjusted mine a wee bit and I’m glad. (Referring to the story portion.)
I'd love to chat more about the subject! One can never go wrong with books. And I agree, there is a time and season for all. I'm glad you stopped by, thanks for reading :)
I do wish our chat wouldn’t be public though…..so I guess I’ll pass as I had wanted more to chat about our childhood experiences which shaped our choices.
I think there’s a private chat? I just used it the other day and I didn’t see any record of the conversation on my feed. Or, if you are comfortable with it, I’m happy to send you my email. Or we can just skip it, no pressure either way ☺️
Hi Monique,
Perhaps I’ll pick this up later but for now I have to put it on the back burner. Keep writing. It’s very good.
I completely agree that both enduring works and market-driven "fluff" have their distinct and vital roles in our lives. Enduring works challenge us, inspire deeper thought, and often leave lasting impressions, while lighter, momentary reads can provide much-needed solace and escapism during turbulent times. Your point about "fluff" being a lifeline resonates deeply as it’s more often than not that the lighter narratives help us hold it together when the weight of profound questions feels unbearable. When things get too heavy, I tend to watch cartoons from more than 50 years ago. Weird? May be but it does the job!
From a different perspective, I would add that these seemingly fleeting works are not always so temporary. They leave an emotional imprint, shaping how we process joy, love, or humor, even if subtly. In a way, both the enduring and the fleeting are part of the same spectrum of storytelling, serving us differently but equally meaningfully depending on where we are in our lives.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Monique!
May I ask which cartoons you enjoy watching? I love your perspective on the lasting imprint of so-called temporary works. I hadn't considered it from that angle, but I think that you've brought a beautiful and important insight front and center. Both enduring and fleeting. Thank you for weighing in and deepening the conversation!
Thank for your comments Monique! To answer your question about cartoons, it wasn’t necessarily about specific shows, but more about revisiting moments from childhood - those silly stories and lighthearted adventures that brought smiles to our faces. For me specifically, there’s something uniquely comforting about being transported to that time, a momentary retreat into innocence and simplicity. For me, it’s not about escaping reality permanently but finding a space to breathe and regain emotional balance when life feels overwhelming.
Of course, I understand that this connection to childhood wouldn’t feel the same for everyone. If someone’s past is marked by pain or trauma, revisiting it might not provide solace. In those cases, I believe solace lies in self-held beliefs (positive beliefs that uplift rather than weigh us down) or memories that bring comfort, whether they’re rooted in faith, relationships, or personal achievements. While I’m not a psychotherapist and can’t speak with authority by any means, my limited observation and experience tells me that these temporary “escapes” can act as a bridge - not as a way to deny reality but to slowly process and accept it. Being constantly bombarded by pain, grief or any type of other pressures can weigh heavily on the human soul, and these lighthearted distractions provide a necessary pause, helping us rebuild resilience over time.
Your words remind me of a four part essay series I read late last year here on Substack. The series was a consideration of J.R.R. Tolkien's work, On Fairy Stories. In it Tolkien makes a point, among others, of affirming the value of true escapism in reading - that is, finding within stories the solace and beauty and strength that allows us to return to our everyday lives refreshed and ready to re-engage. I think you've so beautifully and so clearly communicated the gift that these escapes can bring - enriching life rather than stealing from it, fortifying the mind and the soul through these pauses.
Thanks! I had not heard of this series but just looked it up on Amazon. Thanks again and am looking forward to more of your writings 🙂
Thank you for the conversation - I enjoyed it very much! Here is a link to the first part in the series on Substack if you are interested: https://open.substack.com/pub/ericfalden/p/tolkiens-on-fairy-stories-the-art?r=n7yg4&utm_medium=ios
Looking forward to read it.. Thanks :)