[2021-06-01] 300th post
Today, I publish my 300th Jenesis post. I've written and published a post every day—weekdays, weekends, holidays—since August 6, 2020. I'm proud to have reached this milestone, but I'm also looking forward to post #365. I've always loved the idea of doing something for an entire year, inspired by works such as Cyndie Spiegel's A Year of Positive Thinking, May Sarton's Journal of a Solitude and Henry David Thoreau's Walden.
Looking back at quotes I transcribed from Journal of a Solitude, I found this passage that seems relevant to today:
My own belief is that one regards oneself, if one is a serious writer, as an instrument for experiencing. Life—all of it—flows through this instrument and is distilled through it into works of art. How one lives as a private person is intimately bound into the work. And at some point I believe one has to stop holding back for fear of alienating some imaginary reader or relative or friend, and come out with personal truth. If we are to understand the human condition, and if we are to accept ourselves in all the complexity, self-doubt, extravagance of feeling, guilt, joy, the slow freeing of the self to its full capacity for action and creation, both as human being and as artist, we have to know all we can about each other, and we have to be willing to go naked.
To me, Jenesis is a work of art as well as a gift of love. It is a reflection on my past, a distillation of my current reality, and a peek into my hopes for the future. It is my personal truth, and a glimpse at my nakedness. I believe that, in contemplating my condition, I am helping others to consider their own lives.
I receive about a dozen comments every day, many along similar themes: this is just what I needed to hear today; this post really resonated with me, your writing inspires me. This feedback has sustained me through the past 300 days.
One person wrote to me this morning and said: "Your strength and resilience are inspiring and motivating for the thousands of people facing a cancer diagnosis in our community." That is so amazing.
Another person—a friend going through a difficult time—wrote this afternoon in response to last night's post, "reading that maybe, just maybe, 'the best days lie ahead' was music to my ears!"
A third person emailed this afternoon, saying: "I wanted to write to you to thank you for sharing your experiences and insights, first as a federal government senior leader and more recently with your journey with ovarian cancer." She noted that I had been a guest speaker at a training session she had attended a few years ago, and that she still remembered vividly what I had said. Having recently come across Jenesis, she stated: "I find this so inspiring to be open and honest about what you are dealing with," adding that "it opens the door to others who may be struggling with physical or mental health challenges and to know that they are not alone."
This is perhaps the greatest value to both me and readers of Jenesis: the knowledge that we are not alone. My stories console others, and their feedback consoles me. I receive so many thank-yous for sharing my story through this blog, but you must know that I am equally thankful to all of you. Your appreciation and encouragement are uplifting.
Henry David Thoreau actually spent two years, two months and two days in the cabin he built near Walden Pond. Perhaps once I reach post #365, I'll just keep going.
