More reflections on loneliness, the loss of human connection due to social media, why I do not share my private life online anymore, a writing prompt and a photo prompt.
I honestly sometimes still have to wrap my head around the fact that there are people who live on the wrong side of the web. I haven’t faced a lot of rude or hateful comments, but the few not so kind interactions (mainly people who stole my artwork yet were trying to convince me that I wasn’t the artist by saying the oddest mean things) left me wondering about humanity for days and then I felt sad for how their world must be for them to act in that way. Substack truly feels like a breath of fresh air and it’s becoming my fave world to play in. Authentic connection and kindness are two magical pillars in my world and I’m so glad to read your words here as well! ✨♥️
Honestly, the internet has been such a double edged sword for artists especially. I'm so sorry that happened to you and I completely understand what you mean about authenticity here. I am loving the community of writers and readers in this place! <3
I saw you perform in London a few years ago. You were reading poems from your book about goddesses with an amazing music producer playing a blend of hip-hop and techno in the background. Still remember it so vividly and your words are inspiring. Thank you and continue sharing your gift with the world 🌍
Yes! My amazing band mate Gnarly! We have more planned for next year, a comeback of sorts! Thank you so much for reminding me of that wonderful memory! ❤️
I really love this space! I absolutely love your poetry and the way you write, which really is the way you live. I personally love social media, because I too suffer from loneliness and I met most of the writers on Facebook and I think it serves me good enough to keep it. I think most of us suffer from creating interesting and exciting life given most of us have to go to jobs we don't particularly like and same as it was with TV, now with streaming services and social media, we can have exciting "virtual reality" in our pockets. For example my life is relatively boring, I read, draw, run in local forest. That's nothing compared to what can be found in a computer game or Netflix series. We seem to have become addicted to non stop excitement and we cannot be bored for even a minute.
So I am very grateful for this place, because I think the way you are vulnerable here and trust us, your readers, allows us all to experience oneness and belonging. Which as boring as it sounds, is actually incredibly powerful feeling and I love it here. Thank you.
Love your perspective here, Peter! I do think social media has different meaning for different people (the world would be awfully dull if all 7 billion of us had the same outlooks on everything all the time!)
Thank you so much for this prompt and for baring your heart and sharing your experience. I am so so sorry you’ve had to deal with so much hate. The poem you shared has been pivotal in healing the little Preeti inside me that can’t stand to look at her own reflection in the mirror. I am so grateful for it and I keep a print out of it on my mirror. ❤️
My life has been a tapestry of juxtaposed moments of physical and sexual abuse, severe illness : both mental and physical and healing and overcoming it all. The first time I was in a relationship after being free from human trafficking, I poured my heart , my soul and my breath into my partner. I’d wake them up with love notes, cook them breakfast and make sure that every zenith of ever dawn their eyes fluttered open to, they feel loved, held and nourished. I’m afraid of sex and some aspects of physical intimacy. I have loose skin, gashes, scars and scar tissue on so many parts of the topography of my skin. I tend to hide these scars in addition to my deeply scarred emotions and insecurities. I believe in stripping down to the rawest of emotions with lovers and intimate partners. So one morning I did exactly that. I’ve been raped by over 250 men. My entire lower organ system is scarred. I gathered courage like the clouds gather stars on stormy nights. And I shared the deepest , darkest parts of my soul with them : the pain, the fears , the insecurities.. the illness. They called me “dirty” and mocked me. And just like that, they walked out. I sat there, frozen. It felt violating in so many ways.. I gathered my salty tears and continued with a very machinistic existence for a decade. Morning, night .. go to a shelter, teach myself to read.. Come back, lay my head on a pillow and wake up and do the same thing. The second time I was vulnerable was mid pandemic. To a soul that I serendipitously came across on Instagram through some of your poems :). This soul became like family , like a brother. He made space, showed my kindness and accepted me for who I am. And that has opened up the horizons of my breaths and my existence.. and I’m left with a sense of gratitude.
Vulnerability is beautiful.. My favorite moments are looking into someone’s eyes and sharing life stories.. Something surreal about diving into another soul’s essence. They say the eyes are the doors to the soul :).
I’m sending you all my love and gratitude Nikita! Thank you for this beautiful space and for these lovely prompts that take me to places I need to go to. Have a beautiful day and week ! ❤️❤️❤️
All my love to you Preeti. In the conversations we had at Arvon, especially our one to one, you have shown yourself to be one of the most powerful, generous spirits in this world. Thank you for always being so open and kind to others and for sharing your story. ❤️
Once again related to what you wrote and have lived this poem
I have had threatening responses & DMs especially at the height of the pandemic
And as the world faces many more issues we see the hate & anger continue
And like many it left me wondering what was happening to humanity how far have we drifted to this disconnected place
Social media for all its positive has also let people misinterpret free speech to become “ I can say what I like with very little consequence”
I think for all the supposed interactions social media has created it too often can amplify loneliness a disconnection where we are left yearning for deeper more meaningful connections
Thank you as always for your truly beautiful honesty it’s so needed so appreciated ❤️
I honestly sometimes still have to wrap my head around the fact that there are people who live on the wrong side of the web. I haven’t faced a lot of rude or hateful comments, but the few not so kind interactions (mainly people who stole my artwork yet were trying to convince me that I wasn’t the artist by saying the oddest mean things) left me wondering about humanity for days and then I felt sad for how their world must be for them to act in that way. Substack truly feels like a breath of fresh air and it’s becoming my fave world to play in. Authentic connection and kindness are two magical pillars in my world and I’m so glad to read your words here as well! ✨♥️
Honestly, the internet has been such a double edged sword for artists especially. I'm so sorry that happened to you and I completely understand what you mean about authenticity here. I am loving the community of writers and readers in this place! <3
I love your poem about daughters. I need to give it to my 10-year old daughter. ❤️
Thank you so much, Jessica! ❤️
I saw you perform in London a few years ago. You were reading poems from your book about goddesses with an amazing music producer playing a blend of hip-hop and techno in the background. Still remember it so vividly and your words are inspiring. Thank you and continue sharing your gift with the world 🌍
Yes! My amazing band mate Gnarly! We have more planned for next year, a comeback of sorts! Thank you so much for reminding me of that wonderful memory! ❤️
I really love this space! I absolutely love your poetry and the way you write, which really is the way you live. I personally love social media, because I too suffer from loneliness and I met most of the writers on Facebook and I think it serves me good enough to keep it. I think most of us suffer from creating interesting and exciting life given most of us have to go to jobs we don't particularly like and same as it was with TV, now with streaming services and social media, we can have exciting "virtual reality" in our pockets. For example my life is relatively boring, I read, draw, run in local forest. That's nothing compared to what can be found in a computer game or Netflix series. We seem to have become addicted to non stop excitement and we cannot be bored for even a minute.
So I am very grateful for this place, because I think the way you are vulnerable here and trust us, your readers, allows us all to experience oneness and belonging. Which as boring as it sounds, is actually incredibly powerful feeling and I love it here. Thank you.
Love your perspective here, Peter! I do think social media has different meaning for different people (the world would be awfully dull if all 7 billion of us had the same outlooks on everything all the time!)
Thank you so much for this prompt and for baring your heart and sharing your experience. I am so so sorry you’ve had to deal with so much hate. The poem you shared has been pivotal in healing the little Preeti inside me that can’t stand to look at her own reflection in the mirror. I am so grateful for it and I keep a print out of it on my mirror. ❤️
My life has been a tapestry of juxtaposed moments of physical and sexual abuse, severe illness : both mental and physical and healing and overcoming it all. The first time I was in a relationship after being free from human trafficking, I poured my heart , my soul and my breath into my partner. I’d wake them up with love notes, cook them breakfast and make sure that every zenith of ever dawn their eyes fluttered open to, they feel loved, held and nourished. I’m afraid of sex and some aspects of physical intimacy. I have loose skin, gashes, scars and scar tissue on so many parts of the topography of my skin. I tend to hide these scars in addition to my deeply scarred emotions and insecurities. I believe in stripping down to the rawest of emotions with lovers and intimate partners. So one morning I did exactly that. I’ve been raped by over 250 men. My entire lower organ system is scarred. I gathered courage like the clouds gather stars on stormy nights. And I shared the deepest , darkest parts of my soul with them : the pain, the fears , the insecurities.. the illness. They called me “dirty” and mocked me. And just like that, they walked out. I sat there, frozen. It felt violating in so many ways.. I gathered my salty tears and continued with a very machinistic existence for a decade. Morning, night .. go to a shelter, teach myself to read.. Come back, lay my head on a pillow and wake up and do the same thing. The second time I was vulnerable was mid pandemic. To a soul that I serendipitously came across on Instagram through some of your poems :). This soul became like family , like a brother. He made space, showed my kindness and accepted me for who I am. And that has opened up the horizons of my breaths and my existence.. and I’m left with a sense of gratitude.
Vulnerability is beautiful.. My favorite moments are looking into someone’s eyes and sharing life stories.. Something surreal about diving into another soul’s essence. They say the eyes are the doors to the soul :).
I’m sending you all my love and gratitude Nikita! Thank you for this beautiful space and for these lovely prompts that take me to places I need to go to. Have a beautiful day and week ! ❤️❤️❤️
All my love to you Preeti. In the conversations we had at Arvon, especially our one to one, you have shown yourself to be one of the most powerful, generous spirits in this world. Thank you for always being so open and kind to others and for sharing your story. ❤️
Once again related to what you wrote and have lived this poem
I have had threatening responses & DMs especially at the height of the pandemic
And as the world faces many more issues we see the hate & anger continue
And like many it left me wondering what was happening to humanity how far have we drifted to this disconnected place
Social media for all its positive has also let people misinterpret free speech to become “ I can say what I like with very little consequence”
I think for all the supposed interactions social media has created it too often can amplify loneliness a disconnection where we are left yearning for deeper more meaningful connections
Thank you as always for your truly beautiful honesty it’s so needed so appreciated ❤️