Thanks for the great pictures of the sea slugs -- they're adorable, Sydney.
Also, just yesterday I experienced a similar boundary issue, and letting it go just felt like the right thing and didn't hurt my feelings. There are some people you just don't need in your life, and it can almost be pleasant to watch them drift away from your shore.
Great article, Sydney. I love how you are able to experience the nudibranchs and tide pools and then correlate this with your inner life, your family and community and with friendships. When I was in high school and college, I did a lot of marine biology and loved nudibranchs. They are beautiful resilient critters. I hope you see more of them.:)
Thanks, Heidi! They are remarkable :) My two older sons are both interested in marine biology majors, in part just because spending time along the shore draws you in to the wonders of that world. Truly phenomenal, and always more to learn :) And I am often surprised at the interesting ways that nature examples weave themselves into whatever is going on in my life at the moment!💕
I have never seen a nudibranch (or heard of one!) thank you for introducing me. Your photos are gorgeous. And good for you for standing up against bigotry and prejudice. I think it is a harder thing to do within our circles than with strangers sometimes.
I'm so glad to have introduced you to them, Laura! They are so super-cool :)
And thank you, you are absolutely right. There's more at stake, and even if it seems like it would make it easier to talk through - it's often the opposite :(
I need more nudibranchs in my life! Thanks for sharing. And yes, misery loves company... it ain't a "living in bubble" if you stop inviting people who fart in your hot tub.
I've never seen a nudibranch in real life and am quite envious of your encounters with them! I have seen many photos of various species of nudibranchs though and they are spectacular creatures.
Well done for standing up against bigotry, it's not easy to do that, particularly with people in your own circle.
Thank you so much, Juliet! They are so special - I do wonder what it in store for them as things warm. Not to jump to conclusions from a single data point, but the last time we visited on of our favorite tide pools, we didn't see a single one. :(
And thank you! I do struggle with that. I hope it will get easier for me with practice. I'd like to be able to do it really consistently, with grace and firmness, but I'll say that seems like a tall order and long way off for me sometimes!
That's sad that you didn't see any nudibranchs on your last visit, hopefully they'll be there again next time you visit. There's so much uncertainty for marine life of all kinds as things warm.
It is very difficult I agree, to always stand up against bigotry,
Oh my, I love this post SO much Sydney! First, I only learned about nudibranchs a few years ago, and have just been mesmerized by other's photos of these magical little creatures. So far, I haven't seen any myself, but I so look forward to the time that I will. Meanwhile, I'm happy to see your pics and hear your stories. Second, I love the analogy you've presented - knowing when to let go and calmly move on, and the need to know when to stay strong in one's boundaries... both things I struggle with and work on all the time. That imagery, and your description: "Calmly, patiently, comfortably adrift on a path towards a new connection, in absolute confidence that it was a gentle drift in the right direction." ... that shifted something in me, as I've been looking into a different home rental situation recently. I think that imagery of the magical little nudi floating freely will help me move forward and create change. Thank you for that.
Yay, Lindsay, I'm so glad! We often spot them sort of tucked into crevices or hidden beneath seaweed, I hope you encounter one soon!
I'm so glad this connected with you! I've been remembering and picturing my peaceful little nudibranch friend often the past few days :) I struggle with that balance, too, and often find myself second-guessing long after any time I stand up for a boundary. As I did this week 🤣 I'm finding that this image of a gentle drift in the right direction is really powerful for some of the things I'm facing or wrestling with right now - and it's so cool to think how perfectly it aligns with a potential move like you're considering! How fun! I wish you all the best in that, and enjoy thinking of a sweet little nudibranch as a nature companion floating alongside through the currents of your experience 💕
Well done. Beautiful photos, beautiful analogies. It is so hard to ruffle the waters with a friend. But our little comments, coupled with continued friendship, can slowly break down barriers. I’ve noticed that a friend is deliberately dropping these sorts of comments into conversations with me to see how I respond. Her husband teaches her certain things and she’s not sure enough to have a proper conversation about them with me. But I’ll just remind her of the things that people go through and how hard life is and she ever so slowly sorts her way through the differing opinions. It takes a lot of time but there is progress.
Hugs dear Sydney. Hoping that gentle currents take you to gentle places. 🤗🤗🌿🕊️
Thank you so much, Beth! It is very encouraging to hear about your patient progress with your friend, and a good reminder for me to take a nice, long view 💕 🤗💕
Especially, "Everyone else was a good person and I just needed to find common ground, and if there was any conflict it was always my fault." --RELATABLE MAX. I will try to be like the red-gilled nudibranch floating on its back
Thanks for the great pictures of the sea slugs -- they're adorable, Sydney.
Also, just yesterday I experienced a similar boundary issue, and letting it go just felt like the right thing and didn't hurt my feelings. There are some people you just don't need in your life, and it can almost be pleasant to watch them drift away from your shore.
Casual racism never works for me either.
Thank you so much, Diana! And so true. Sad, but true, and better to know than not :)
Great article, Sydney. I love how you are able to experience the nudibranchs and tide pools and then correlate this with your inner life, your family and community and with friendships. When I was in high school and college, I did a lot of marine biology and loved nudibranchs. They are beautiful resilient critters. I hope you see more of them.:)
Thanks, Heidi! They are remarkable :) My two older sons are both interested in marine biology majors, in part just because spending time along the shore draws you in to the wonders of that world. Truly phenomenal, and always more to learn :) And I am often surprised at the interesting ways that nature examples weave themselves into whatever is going on in my life at the moment!💕
I have never seen a nudibranch (or heard of one!) thank you for introducing me. Your photos are gorgeous. And good for you for standing up against bigotry and prejudice. I think it is a harder thing to do within our circles than with strangers sometimes.
I'm so glad to have introduced you to them, Laura! They are so super-cool :)
And thank you, you are absolutely right. There's more at stake, and even if it seems like it would make it easier to talk through - it's often the opposite :(
I need more nudibranchs in my life! Thanks for sharing. And yes, misery loves company... it ain't a "living in bubble" if you stop inviting people who fart in your hot tub.
🤣There have been far too many hot-tub-farters in my life 🤣
I've never seen a nudibranch in real life and am quite envious of your encounters with them! I have seen many photos of various species of nudibranchs though and they are spectacular creatures.
Well done for standing up against bigotry, it's not easy to do that, particularly with people in your own circle.
Thank you so much, Juliet! They are so special - I do wonder what it in store for them as things warm. Not to jump to conclusions from a single data point, but the last time we visited on of our favorite tide pools, we didn't see a single one. :(
And thank you! I do struggle with that. I hope it will get easier for me with practice. I'd like to be able to do it really consistently, with grace and firmness, but I'll say that seems like a tall order and long way off for me sometimes!
That's sad that you didn't see any nudibranchs on your last visit, hopefully they'll be there again next time you visit. There's so much uncertainty for marine life of all kinds as things warm.
It is very difficult I agree, to always stand up against bigotry,
Oh my, I love this post SO much Sydney! First, I only learned about nudibranchs a few years ago, and have just been mesmerized by other's photos of these magical little creatures. So far, I haven't seen any myself, but I so look forward to the time that I will. Meanwhile, I'm happy to see your pics and hear your stories. Second, I love the analogy you've presented - knowing when to let go and calmly move on, and the need to know when to stay strong in one's boundaries... both things I struggle with and work on all the time. That imagery, and your description: "Calmly, patiently, comfortably adrift on a path towards a new connection, in absolute confidence that it was a gentle drift in the right direction." ... that shifted something in me, as I've been looking into a different home rental situation recently. I think that imagery of the magical little nudi floating freely will help me move forward and create change. Thank you for that.
Yay, Lindsay, I'm so glad! We often spot them sort of tucked into crevices or hidden beneath seaweed, I hope you encounter one soon!
I'm so glad this connected with you! I've been remembering and picturing my peaceful little nudibranch friend often the past few days :) I struggle with that balance, too, and often find myself second-guessing long after any time I stand up for a boundary. As I did this week 🤣 I'm finding that this image of a gentle drift in the right direction is really powerful for some of the things I'm facing or wrestling with right now - and it's so cool to think how perfectly it aligns with a potential move like you're considering! How fun! I wish you all the best in that, and enjoy thinking of a sweet little nudibranch as a nature companion floating alongside through the currents of your experience 💕
Well done. Beautiful photos, beautiful analogies. It is so hard to ruffle the waters with a friend. But our little comments, coupled with continued friendship, can slowly break down barriers. I’ve noticed that a friend is deliberately dropping these sorts of comments into conversations with me to see how I respond. Her husband teaches her certain things and she’s not sure enough to have a proper conversation about them with me. But I’ll just remind her of the things that people go through and how hard life is and she ever so slowly sorts her way through the differing opinions. It takes a lot of time but there is progress.
Hugs dear Sydney. Hoping that gentle currents take you to gentle places. 🤗🤗🌿🕊️
Thank you so much, Beth! It is very encouraging to hear about your patient progress with your friend, and a good reminder for me to take a nice, long view 💕 🤗💕
Thanks, Mohika! It’s nice to not be the only one 🤣 I seriously keep returning to this image this week, just back-stoking my way to letting go…
Love the curves this newsletter took!
Especially, "Everyone else was a good person and I just needed to find common ground, and if there was any conflict it was always my fault." --RELATABLE MAX. I will try to be like the red-gilled nudibranch floating on its back