(Nov. 6/16) “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woodsman”

Context–Making the distinction between gullibility, gushability, and gush-ability:

In this moment, despite the knowing that–when I’m struggling, and vulnerable–I’ll be mortified that I made this public declaration…here goes….

I love that I’m brave enough to say that I admire my bravery 🙂

Can you relate?

Do  you ever feel captive-hated by your insistent–if not incessant–drive to reclaim your best self…by your need to seek genuine connection, no matter what the cost?

…All while fearing you might give up when the pain of your elaborations and (burgeoning) personal-truths makes you feel so misguided and alone?

(The Dr. Seussian version of: never knowing when you’ll open too wide; have your unflinching-unGrinching heart fall out of your mouth; and, you’ll be left to stew in hot water that ‘s flavoured with oodles of chicken clue-dles…

AKA: A free-for- all serving of chicken-noodle oops!!!, followed by a (what-was-I-thinking?!) scaredy-brain drain.)

Have you ever wished you had a denser filter…a speak-bump to pull your enthusiasm up short when you’re squaring-for-a soul-baring at a most inopportune time…

and/or place…

and, with the wrong peerson(s)–a looky-loo whose mind closes at the realization that you are an open book …and, never, never, never a back cover meant to be Simply Read? 

Have you ever been disillusioned when encountering inadvertent condescension?

(*Imagine a well-meaning triple-cluck of the tongue, a small, sad smile, and, a wag of the head as someone reminds you that, “Not everyone has the kind of heart you do”…and that “there is something about you, so right”–on at least 42 levels–but only in a world where people can consider/appreciate that there are 50 ways to leave your lover…

And this warning feels the way it sounds–like code for, “your gushability is stubborn gullibility”.*)

Me, too…

However, my contention is this…

Absent a dash of daring, misinterpretation of gush-ability (vs. gushability) is evidence of context taken out of context..

It’s like saying the sun is too sunny, or black is too dark…

These things, by their very definition, are exactly as they are meant to be….and, so too, with each of us…

We enter the world, exactly as we are…and, it is a misguided social construction/socialization that purports that we can be “too much of ourselves”–for the purposes of this post, defined as ‘saying too much from the heart’.

So, if you, too, have held on to the (once-upon-a-time) gift of wearing your (young-at-) heart on your sleeve

here’s an unending reprieve…

a return of the days when make-was-believe  🙂

Cheer(s) up, Wonderfuls!

What (merry)- goes-’round, comes  around, and everything (g)old is you again

(Solid Gold, that is 🙂 ).

And, since reclamation of our forming glory calls for an  ex-claim-ation hark, here it is…

!

(and, here…)

“No more boring conforming; for you-nique is the new Norm…

The Time has come to party Hardy, Boys and girls!

Time to don your loudest

howlin’ Hawaiian,

gnarly neon,

irrepressibly-iridescent

un-tongue-tied

why-dyed,

poly-spangled,

bo-jangled

glow in the (Medow) lark

Paisley Park

gettin’ down with your up self

old-school,

“You better work…” shirt….

As always, thank you for listening, Fantastics 🙂 I pray this post finds you with much of your own things to gush about (even if, for now, your growing elaborations are secrets you tell yourself :))

God Bless You. 🙂

P.S. Weeks ago, I came across this video on my Facebook feed, “shared” it, and gushed about how it is the very definition of gush-ability….although, I hadn’t conceived of the word yet. I shared that–not only was I moved to tears–I bawled to the point that I was reduced to intense/inaudible weeping as I was flooded–on so many levels–with the abject beauty of it all…Carol King’s response is as heart-felt as it gets…President Obama’s immediate tears say so much…and, Aretha Franklin’s offering is the most astonishing gift I have ever witnessed…gush-ability at its finest!!!

However, I only used a fraction of the words to explain how much I saw and felt in terms of the depth of genuine connection,  personal and professional triumphs (as relates to all three individuals), as well as triumph tied to social-justice-gains…

And, I thought of the title for this post weeks before I saw the video…and, it took weeks more before the beginnings of this post began to take shape….I needed the time to work through/sort out my thoughts/fears about “letting it all hang out” (a process that is ongoing)…

However, I immediately knew that I would use the title in writing about personal authenticity and authentic interpersonal connections….and, I loved the imagining that sprung to mind…

Big, burly Paul Bunion–eyes squeezed tightly shut, trying to prevent the joy and gratitude from leaking out…(un)prise-winning arms wrapped around Babe’s massive neck–as he thanks his bovine besty for loving him just as he is.

http://www.upworthy.com/carole-king-and-president-obama-couldnt-even-handle-this-aretha-franklin-performance?g=2

P.P.S. Context for (depending on your age, memory, tastes, etc.) the trickier wordplay/puns:  Aretha Franklin recorded perennial hit, “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman” in 1967; speak-bump is my speed-bump pun; squaring means to prepare (as in “squaring for a fight”); peerson is my play on “too look”–and friend, classmate, work-mate etc;  a “looky-loo” is an unhelpful, curious onlooker (eg. drawn to the scene of a train wreck);  British band, Simply Red had a 1989 cover hit with the 1972 hit, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now (you will never, never, never know me)“; British band, Level 42, had a mid-80’s hit, “(There is) Something About You (Baby, So Right)”; Paul Simon had a 1975 hit, “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover“; a reprieve is a temporary halt to, for example, a severe punishment such as a death sentence…ours is an unending reprieve; when-make-was-believe refers to “Once upon a time”/fairy-tale foundation/first life-lessons we were taught in the interest of playing on/encouraging/celebrating our gush-ability (and, gullibility! 🙂 ); Cheers is a sitcom (1982-1983); everything (g)old is you again is my play on the expression, “everything old is new again; (Solid Gold, that is) is a reference to 1980-1988 dance show, “Solid Gold” (hosted by singer, Dionne Warwick…Whitney Houston’s cousin); Norm is a Cheers character–and expression meaning, “the norm/normal/expected/acceptable; “(Morris Day and) The Time” had hits in the 80’s, and Day was Prince’s rival in 1981 movie, “Purple Rain”; “party hearty” is an expression, and Hardy Boys is a late-1920’s/30’series of children’s mystery books (Nancy Drew’s male counterparts)–and a 1977-1979 TV series (actor, Shawn Cassidy was my first “star” crush…big time!); gnarly  is 1980’s Valley Girl speak, and neon clothing was very popular in the 80’s; Medow Lark Lemon was a member of the Harlem Globe Trotters (a comedic, exhibition basketball troupe)–and, in the 80’s, I loved glow-in-the-dark tee-shirts (and the ones that changed (tie-dyed) colours in the sun);  originally, “Mr. Bojangles” was a country hit, but I was thinking of Sammy Davis Jr.’s (1970’s) version–and his ties to Vegas…all glitter and unabashedness; paisley is a type of fabric pattern, and Paisley Park is Prince’s record label; “get down with your bad self” is a 1970’s expression (bad meaning “cool”), and, “You Better Work” is a dance hit by Ru Paul—and, you can’t get any more out-there/apologetically you than (among a host of other talents) this model/drag queen, host and author.

29 thoughts on “(Nov. 6/16) “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woodsman””

  1. Again, I was just thinking of you and up pops your very cool post! I am often told that not everyone has a kind and forgiving heart like mine, that I must hide this part of myself as I make my way in the world – in reading these words I’ve just written, they sure do read like a fairy-tale and guess what, I’m going to continue having this affliction, it sure beats the alternative!

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    1. Thank you for commenting…Soooooo fantastic…proof we have we have a connection….I’m gratified and humbled to know that my words were relate-able…I’m on my over to your blog to see what you’ve written 🙂

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  3. Finally… another post… was stating to go through withdrawals…. and this was definitely a great fun read (I will admit that I read it twice… kind of a game… like to see how many puns I get before reading your last paragraph).

    At work I am always teased about not having a “filter” and now I cannot help but smile when I read about your “speak bump”… Your writing is as clever as ever. Made my early morning much brighter…

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    1. I love this feedback so much….it makes me feel like 5 million dollars….it is thrilling and humbling to think of you wringing every ounce of entertainment out this post…the thought of you reading twice before “checking the answers” is such an honour, for I know how inquisitive your mind is….to think that my writing warrants that amount of time and effort is an awesome feeling….a blessing, as are you. I am so grateful for our connection. Thank you for your generous and kind acknowledgement.

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  5. Can I relate to admiring my bravery? My gush-ability for such a declaration has a block in the U-bend marked publish-ability. The answer there lies not at all. Elsewhere seems fine, just matters of the me where it is more un-gushable…savvy?

    Of course you do. Pirates of the minds seas of confidence, writers bane, where “yes it’s good” finds the lighthouse off and crashes upon the shoreline. However, your title has synergy with the hunters driving force within Archibald Cleethorpes, proprietor of a bookstore enriched by rare books from around the globe. Yes indeed, there is gush-ability for my NaNoWriMo project which, at this very moment, I am procrastinating with on stormy seas. Skull and crossbone flag appearing o’er horizons edge…alternatively I am replying to your post. Which, now I’ve arrived at the connection to said post, needs accolades and appreciation for the smiles it draws once again.

    Pleasure to read Truly….well crated and in the words of Pooh Bear and Piglet.

    When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”

    “What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”

    “I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.

    Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.

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    1. I know how incredibly busy you are…so, I’m especially thrilled that you use precious time and words to connect with me 🙂 Thank you so much…I always treasure your feedback, my friend….and, oh, how I love that Pooh quote! 🙂

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      1. Busy is an illusion to disguise the procrastinating 😱

        I’m always looking out for your posts though. Especially as email notification don’t seem to be incoming anymore apart from replies to comments. Good job you on on my blogging friends list in the reader !!

        Pooh bear is full of really useful sayings too. Going back over it is quite revealing 😊

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  6. You write so creatively and expressively and blend meekness with bravery so well. It is always a time consuming JOY meandering through the words and meaning of your treasured writings. It would take me weeks to write creative posts with a quarter of the skill you display. Glad to see the laptop is open, working and producing masterpieces!

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    1. I’m not sure that you can know how much your gloriously-generous approval means to me…I have no words…well, I do…but, in the interest of being succinct, suffice it to say–you are on a short list of people who I credit with making me feel as though I’m one of the lucky ones who’ve won the talent lottery. 🙂 Thank you!!!

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  7. See this is exactly why I feel that writing is not my calling as this is exactly what I aspire to. You had me at – “I love that I’m brave enough to say that I admire my bravery.” This one is a keeper, especially because of the many puns that you elucidated so kindly – I come from a different part of the world (India) and much of it would have been Greek, Latin, English and Bengali! 😀 Though in my defense, I instantly latched on to the Hardy boys 😉

    Happy to have found this blog – will be here to read, digest and (hopefully) absorb at least in bits and pieces.

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    1. Oh, my gosh, thank you for taking the time to read my post and comment….how very generous. As for your sense that writing is not your calling, you write so very, very well!!!! And, those who regularly read my posts tell me that, while they really enjoy them, they have to re-read each post in order to wrap their heads around them. I am so impressed that you were able to get any of it 🙂 And, I love that you love the bravery reference….that is the main focus of my post, and it makes me happy to know that you could connect to it–despite our pop culture differences. Lastly, I have yet to find that anyone gets all of the puns without reading the final paragraph where I outline the puns. I look forward to continue connection with you…I am following you as well. P.S. I live in Canada…and, my name is Truly….so lovely to meet you 🙂

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      1. Hi! I am Dahlia from India. Truly a pleasure to meet you and glad to connect – your sense of humor, warmth, kindness and generous spirit is very much appreciated. I love writing but it’s rather simplistic (over!) and wish I could zing it up like you 😀 Canada has been on my bucket list for long now – a little bit nearer now 🙂 Look forward to interacting!

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    1. I read your post featuring the fall/winter looks…I tried to click “like” and comment, but it’s asking for my email info. I provided it, but have to access my email account and confirm that the link was made. However, I can’t access my hotmail account from work (work day just ended), so I will “like” and comment later. Thank you soooo much for reading/”liking” so many of my posts…you are always so supportive, encouraging, and appreciated 🙂

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  9. Once again I enjoyed your post. I am amazed at how your words seem to effortlessly flow together with the ability to capture your audience with very relatable stories. I’m looking forward to your next post. Wow! Age 74 and still lighting up a room with her music!. Incredible!

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