More Than One Thing Can Be True

When we write or speak about why we are grateful, we aren’t claiming other things aren’t also true.⁣
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When we write or speak about why we are lamenting, we aren’t claiming other things aren’t also true.⁣
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It’s all about the “both and.” We can be grateful for things worthy of gratitude. We can lament things worthy of lament.⁣
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And we can honor those who are led to express one but not the other at this particular time or another particular time. We can honor those who can’t express anything right now. We can honor those who just need humor and distraction. ⁣
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Of course, there are holidays and liturgical seasons and other emotional and spiritual prompts that help us navigate our hearts and minds and souls. But our current personal experiences and circumstances may not line up with all of that. And that’s okay!

Holidays and liturgical seasons can encourage us toward certain truths that don’t feel natural or easy to believe in that moment. That can be a good thing!

But no one is making you focus on gratitude or the coming birth of Jesus when you NEED lament and the Resurrection ASAP.
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Really. It’s all okay. (I mean. Within reason.) Jesus came to free us from so many things. He frees us from cultural and religious and societal holiday expectations that we really don’t have to give in to. Be free. Lament, grieve, be thankful, be joyful, wait, don’t wait.
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It’s impossible to write or speak or explore the whole story every minute of every day. But we can write, speak, and explore pieces of it. We can uncover some of what’s hidden, we can explore some of what’s been revealed. ⁣
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That’s why we keep writing, speaking, and exploring.
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So, let’s be free with our stories. And let’s honor others and their stories.
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Okay. Carry on with figuring out how to prepare your Thanksgiving turkey which will most likely be dry and bland anyway. (Did I just say that?)

*Image and words originally posted by Charlotte Donlon on Instagram.

Why We Create

“Take your broken heart and turn it into art.” I love this quote by Carrie Fisher. This is why we create, right? ⁣
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This is one reason I wrote The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. My heart has been broken by loneliness many times throughout my life. And my heart has been healed through exploring ways I belong to myself, others, and God. Writing this book has helped me be curious about loneliness and see it in a new light. ⁣
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I heard the quote above on Brené Brown’s podcast episode with the authors of the book Burnout. ⁣They were talking about how creating is one way we can complete the stress cycle. If we don’t complete the cycle, we get stuck and bad things can happen. (Please listen to this episode and read this book!)⁣
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I know we don’t all have the time, resources, and energy to create in ways we prefer. And this can be affected by our season of life, our emotional capacity, and other circumstances we don’t necessarily have any control over. ⁣
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But there are easy and simple ways we can create. Write one sentence. Write one line of a poem. Draw a cloud. Take a photo. Make a loaf of sourdough. (I know all y’all are already doing this.)⁣
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And using our imagination in new ways works too. Listen to the episode for more details on that.⁣
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And listen to the episode (and read the book) to know why I’m officially giving my husband and kids very long hugs every day.⁣
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I’m working on Book #2 now. I’m writing about a few things that can cause heartbreak in our lives. And I’m writing about things that help us heal, that help us know we aren’t alone.

Our stories are full of heartbreak and healing, suffering and joy. ⁣
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May we give our attention to our stories and respond to our stories with care and creativity.⁣
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Cheers to turning our broken hearts into art.⁣
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*Image and words originally posted by Charlotte Donlon on Instagram.

When Food Helps Us Belong

This rosemary, white bean and chicken soup makes an appearance in the “Belonging to Ourselves” section of The Great Belonging. It’s in a chapter about recovering from a bipolar manic episode and reconnecting to a healthier version of myself.⁣
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Also. This book isn’t about mental illness but I write about my experiences with mental illness. Here’s what ⁣Sarah Sanderson said in her review at Mockingbird:
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“Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about this book is Donlon’s willingness to welcome us into the far reaches of her own mind. Donlon has bipolar disorder; she has experienced addling manias and debilitating depressions. In The Great Belonging, Donlon relays these vacillations without hyperbole and without shame. What struck me most about these particular chapters is that, while they are vital to the book, The Great Belonging does not become, by their inclusion, a book about mental illness... It is a book about loneliness whose author happens to be quite open about her own mental illness. In treating her condition this way, Donlon gives us all a great gift: a vision of a world in which mental illnesses can be openly discussed, but do not have to totally define the people who live with them.”⁣
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My friend Michael Dechane asked for the recipe after he read The Great Belonging. You can get the recipe from this Substack post.
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If you’re curious about various angles of loneliness and ways we belong to ourselves, others, and God, you might like my first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. You can buy it wherever you buy books or order here.

*Image and words originally posted by Charlotte Donlon on Instagram.