Brad! Your post reminds me of a hot pink index card tacked to my bulletin board at work. I'm always collecting things kids leave behind on field trips that are funny or quirky or educational or charming. A little boy in 4th grade wrote a love note to another girl in class. It read, "Do you want to be my girl? [Yes box] [No box]. If you don't, that's okay, but I'm never asking another girl out ever again." I found the card on the floor of my classroom, so who knows if The Beloved got the note or not. Point is, it fell. What if the little boy never asks another girl out because the card fell out of his pocket and he didn't realize it? What if the little girl never even saw the note and now the boy is assigned a lifetime of heart break and isolation?! Those kids are in high school now, most likely, and I hope they're finding the courage to step out in love everyday!
ERIN! I love this for so many reasons. Number #1: it's you. Hello! ALSO, the image of you holding this artifacts from field trips is so wonderful. This has to be the makings of an entirely new exhibit. Could even justify it's own museum. You made my day. So good to hear from you.
AH! This means the absolute world coming from you. I adore your work so so much. Great joy and honesty and so full of wondrous life! Thanks for being here, for these words, and for being you.
Dear Brad. If your mission statement is to create from love, and with everything you ask not, "Is this perfect?" or "Will they like it?" but instead, "Did I do this with love in my heart?", you'll never go wrong. Ad astra, my friend. - Morgan Crutchfield
"It’s all a gift. I’d forgottten that. From this point on, I was no longer writing scripts. I was writing love letters." I love that. Thank you, as I start out my own newsletter. The main reason I showed up here to try this thing out was out of a genuine desire to love others with goodness. Posts like these will be essential to keep the focus. Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing, Brad. I'm so glad you turned to love and sent this instead of staying stuck. It's a delight to get your thoughts in my inbox, whatever they are!
(and a good reminder to me when I feel the same way!)
Tenley! Thank YOU so much for sharing *these* words! Encouraged by your comments. Something I was gonna reference in this post, but didn't was a short story by Carson McCullers called "A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud". In it an older man shares his learnings of how to love with a younger person. It's something I've been thinking about a whole lot lately. Maybe it'll mean something to you, too! Sharing here. Revisited it last week and was again challanged: https://homepage.ntu.edu.tw/~karchung/A_Tree.pdf
It’s so easy to operate from a scarcity mindset, isn’t it? We’ve been trained - especially by this wacky social media empire - to beg for scraps of love and we can’t ever seem to get enough to satisfy our hunger. And no wonder, because it’s not really love we’re consuming. But operating FROM love... that’s a whole other thing. We’re already satisfied when we show up! Thank you so much for your kind and honest words and the reminder that writing love letters really can change everything.
Erin, what lovely thoughts. I'm so encouraged by them and so grateful you shared. That whole thing of it not satisfying our hunger is right on. I also like how you put it as "wacky social media empire" haha. Yes. For certain. Here's to operating FROM love! A reminder I needed and hope to hang on to. Thank you!
Yes! I'm trying to make something for a newly widowed friend on this Valentine's day..... Thanks for the reminder to make it from love, not what I think will happen....spread LOVE absurdly!!! Blessings, Chris
That's exactly the spirit. I must tell you, I feel the love from you already. Just knowing you're out there helping a friend navigate this season -- well, that has lifted me. Thank you for showing up and loving right where you are. To absurd love!
I absolutely LOVE this issue of The Enthusiast! You created something with love, then it somehow traveled through the internet to my email, and totally touched my heart and brightened my day. Amazing what happens when we create with love. Thanks so much Brad! All the best- Rich Scott
RICH! You've encouraged me. I'm really glad this found you and meant something. It encourages me just to know you're out there. Can't wait to see what happens with all the love that people in your path discover. Keep going!
Brad! Your post reminds me of a hot pink index card tacked to my bulletin board at work. I'm always collecting things kids leave behind on field trips that are funny or quirky or educational or charming. A little boy in 4th grade wrote a love note to another girl in class. It read, "Do you want to be my girl? [Yes box] [No box]. If you don't, that's okay, but I'm never asking another girl out ever again." I found the card on the floor of my classroom, so who knows if The Beloved got the note or not. Point is, it fell. What if the little boy never asks another girl out because the card fell out of his pocket and he didn't realize it? What if the little girl never even saw the note and now the boy is assigned a lifetime of heart break and isolation?! Those kids are in high school now, most likely, and I hope they're finding the courage to step out in love everyday!
ERIN! I love this for so many reasons. Number #1: it's you. Hello! ALSO, the image of you holding this artifacts from field trips is so wonderful. This has to be the makings of an entirely new exhibit. Could even justify it's own museum. You made my day. So good to hear from you.
Every time you post or publish something, it's oozes love. They're good for my soul. And thank you for the reminder <3
AH! This means the absolute world coming from you. I adore your work so so much. Great joy and honesty and so full of wondrous life! Thanks for being here, for these words, and for being you.
Don't make me cry now, Brad :D
Dear Brad. If your mission statement is to create from love, and with everything you ask not, "Is this perfect?" or "Will they like it?" but instead, "Did I do this with love in my heart?", you'll never go wrong. Ad astra, my friend. - Morgan Crutchfield
Oh thank you so much for these reminders. Yes! Some things I've been working to hold on to. Grateful for you and so glad you're you, Morgan!
"It’s all a gift. I’d forgottten that. From this point on, I was no longer writing scripts. I was writing love letters." I love that. Thank you, as I start out my own newsletter. The main reason I showed up here to try this thing out was out of a genuine desire to love others with goodness. Posts like these will be essential to keep the focus. Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing, Brad. I'm so glad you turned to love and sent this instead of staying stuck. It's a delight to get your thoughts in my inbox, whatever they are!
(and a good reminder to me when I feel the same way!)
Tenley! Thank YOU so much for sharing *these* words! Encouraged by your comments. Something I was gonna reference in this post, but didn't was a short story by Carson McCullers called "A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud". In it an older man shares his learnings of how to love with a younger person. It's something I've been thinking about a whole lot lately. Maybe it'll mean something to you, too! Sharing here. Revisited it last week and was again challanged: https://homepage.ntu.edu.tw/~karchung/A_Tree.pdf
So beautiful! Thank you!
It’s so easy to operate from a scarcity mindset, isn’t it? We’ve been trained - especially by this wacky social media empire - to beg for scraps of love and we can’t ever seem to get enough to satisfy our hunger. And no wonder, because it’s not really love we’re consuming. But operating FROM love... that’s a whole other thing. We’re already satisfied when we show up! Thank you so much for your kind and honest words and the reminder that writing love letters really can change everything.
Erin, what lovely thoughts. I'm so encouraged by them and so grateful you shared. That whole thing of it not satisfying our hunger is right on. I also like how you put it as "wacky social media empire" haha. Yes. For certain. Here's to operating FROM love! A reminder I needed and hope to hang on to. Thank you!
Yes! I'm trying to make something for a newly widowed friend on this Valentine's day..... Thanks for the reminder to make it from love, not what I think will happen....spread LOVE absurdly!!! Blessings, Chris
That's exactly the spirit. I must tell you, I feel the love from you already. Just knowing you're out there helping a friend navigate this season -- well, that has lifted me. Thank you for showing up and loving right where you are. To absurd love!
Thank you for this thoughtful post - I needed to hear this today! ❤️
Oh Claire. It means so much to know it found you. Thank you for letting me know. Truly.
Brad,
I absolutely LOVE this issue of The Enthusiast! You created something with love, then it somehow traveled through the internet to my email, and totally touched my heart and brightened my day. Amazing what happens when we create with love. Thanks so much Brad! All the best- Rich Scott
RICH! You've encouraged me. I'm really glad this found you and meant something. It encourages me just to know you're out there. Can't wait to see what happens with all the love that people in your path discover. Keep going!