David Foster Wallace was an exceptional writer and observer of human nature. In the end, it is ourselves that we have to live with. And to find comfort with ourselves and out in the natural world.
Very true and insightful, Perry. End of the day, it’s us living with ourselves. The natural world provides a way of being to aspire to. Wallace remains one of my favorite writers, I came across his work at a pivotal time.
What an excellent, sincere and thoughtful post. With ridiculously good photos that break up and give meter to your thoughts. Thank you. And I hope 2025 moves in the right directions for you.
I love the idea of a "Goodbye/Hello" activity when moving into a new year.
Thank you for your lovely words of encouragement. Thank you for your amazing photos. Thank you for being genuinely yourself, James. I am so glad you made your way into my feed.
It is a great way to bid adieu to one year and welcome the next—reflecting on what you were happy about with the last one and what you’d like to alter about the coming one. I am glad we’ve crossed paths here on Substack, Michele, and am glad to hear the words and photos I share brighten your feed!
Really seems like 2024 was a Big Year for you in many senses. I love your personal essays. You blend in so many elements but the final result is always cohesive. Your thoughtfulness is the rug. Grateful to have met you in 2024. Cheers to a beautiful 2025!
Thank you so much! 2024 was a big one and 2025 will follow suit (maybe another year of counting birds…?). Grateful to have crossed paths here and wishing you nothing but the best in 2025.
What a beautiful essay James. Thank you. It gives me some wonderful thoughts to reflect on.
I understand that the TBI doesn’t define you, things like this enormous event crush many folks, but it hasn’t you. Much respect to you for this. It has added some new colors to your being tho, new shades, new tonality, and they are beautiful colors, to be very frank.
Self help, self improvement, self respect. (I kinda enjoy the last of those three). It takes great courage to really look and to dissolve those things we are done with.
So glad you’ve crossed my path.
PS… I saw my very first bufflehead on my little lake today!! 😳🤗 it’s so very cool !
James, I am so glad you are writing more personal essays. And I am also glad this was a good year for you. I think it was a good year for me too, though I am not sure of the whys of that yet. Thank you so much for the mention here in this essay. I hope 2025 will be the next best year for both of us, and I hope we might meet up for birding one day in 2025 at the special healing place that we both treasure.
Thank you Pamela. I’m glad this was a good year for you too even if you don’t know the whys. We should absolutely bird that special place in 2025! I wish you a great New Year and hope you are feeling better.
Thanks for sharing James and I enjoyed this essay - quite thought-provoking - especially on the ideas of things to say goodbye to from the previous year.
I really like that David Foster Wallace quote: "You'll worry less about what people think about you when you realize how seldom they do." Also a good mantra and reminder to carry each day.
A beautiful essay, the perfect reminder for me to not care what others think because they probably are not thinking about you at all. It is so easy to get lost in that trap and not be available for the present moment.
Happy New Year, and may 2025 be filled with self improvement and birds.
Thank you Scot. It is too easy to get lost in worry about what might not even be true, best to put it all out of mind. Happy New Year to you as well, and congratulations on the Bufflehead!
Thank you, Deborah. It is a tough time of year for so many, the stark contrast between outer joy and inner turmoil. I'm glad you enjoyed this piece, and I wish you a great New Year as well.
Wishing you a Happy New Year, James. This is a wonderful and insightful photo essay, a blend of birds and self-inquiry that resonates on many levels. I’m happy that we met here in 2024 and I look forward to more adventures and getting outdoors with you in 2025.
David Foster Wallace was an exceptional writer and observer of human nature. In the end, it is ourselves that we have to live with. And to find comfort with ourselves and out in the natural world.
Very true and insightful, Perry. End of the day, it’s us living with ourselves. The natural world provides a way of being to aspire to. Wallace remains one of my favorite writers, I came across his work at a pivotal time.
What an excellent, sincere and thoughtful post. With ridiculously good photos that break up and give meter to your thoughts. Thank you. And I hope 2025 moves in the right directions for you.
Thank you so much John. 2025 seems to be headed in good directions, I appreciate your kind words.
I hope you have a peaceful and enlightening 2025. I love that you read Brene Brown :)
Thank you Lisa, i wish you the same! Brown is so helpful to read
I love the idea of a "Goodbye/Hello" activity when moving into a new year.
Thank you for your lovely words of encouragement. Thank you for your amazing photos. Thank you for being genuinely yourself, James. I am so glad you made your way into my feed.
It is a great way to bid adieu to one year and welcome the next—reflecting on what you were happy about with the last one and what you’d like to alter about the coming one. I am glad we’ve crossed paths here on Substack, Michele, and am glad to hear the words and photos I share brighten your feed!
A wonderful collection of wisdom. I wish I knew all of this when I was 30.
Thank you Amanda. I am glad to have learned this at 31—and there is always more to learn, I’ll keep growing in my 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s.
I believe you will.
Wonderful essay James and thank you for the link!
Really seems like 2024 was a Big Year for you in many senses. I love your personal essays. You blend in so many elements but the final result is always cohesive. Your thoughtfulness is the rug. Grateful to have met you in 2024. Cheers to a beautiful 2025!
Thank you so much! 2024 was a big one and 2025 will follow suit (maybe another year of counting birds…?). Grateful to have crossed paths here and wishing you nothing but the best in 2025.
What a beautiful essay James. Thank you. It gives me some wonderful thoughts to reflect on.
I understand that the TBI doesn’t define you, things like this enormous event crush many folks, but it hasn’t you. Much respect to you for this. It has added some new colors to your being tho, new shades, new tonality, and they are beautiful colors, to be very frank.
Self help, self improvement, self respect. (I kinda enjoy the last of those three). It takes great courage to really look and to dissolve those things we are done with.
So glad you’ve crossed my path.
PS… I saw my very first bufflehead on my little lake today!! 😳🤗 it’s so very cool !
Thank you so much Teyani. I agree that while I’m obviously not happy to have a tbi it has made me move through the world in a new way.
Self respect is a requirement for the other two, self help and self improvement.
I’m glad you saw a Bufflehead! So cool indeed.
James, I am so glad you are writing more personal essays. And I am also glad this was a good year for you. I think it was a good year for me too, though I am not sure of the whys of that yet. Thank you so much for the mention here in this essay. I hope 2025 will be the next best year for both of us, and I hope we might meet up for birding one day in 2025 at the special healing place that we both treasure.
Thank you Pamela. I’m glad this was a good year for you too even if you don’t know the whys. We should absolutely bird that special place in 2025! I wish you a great New Year and hope you are feeling better.
I’m so pleased to have stumbled upon you. Your photos are stunning, thank you so much for sharing your talents in writing and photography.
Thank you so much, I am glad you appreciate my writing and photography
Growth is good 🤍
It absolutely is if we’re prepared to eat some humble pie along the way. Thank you, Victoria.
Beautiful photos! Thanks for posting, and sharing some wise thoughts.
(and I miss our dog too)
Thank you so much!
Thanks for sharing James and I enjoyed this essay - quite thought-provoking - especially on the ideas of things to say goodbye to from the previous year.
I really like that David Foster Wallace quote: "You'll worry less about what people think about you when you realize how seldom they do." Also a good mantra and reminder to carry each day.
Thank you Neil. That DFW quote runs through my mind each day. Very important to remember and live by.
A beautiful essay, the perfect reminder for me to not care what others think because they probably are not thinking about you at all. It is so easy to get lost in that trap and not be available for the present moment.
Happy New Year, and may 2025 be filled with self improvement and birds.
PS I just saw my first Bufflehead last week!
Thank you Scot. It is too easy to get lost in worry about what might not even be true, best to put it all out of mind. Happy New Year to you as well, and congratulations on the Bufflehead!
So much of this piece spoke to me. I find this time of year very difficult and I am so glad to have read this, thank you. Wishing you the best 2025.
Thank you, Deborah. It is a tough time of year for so many, the stark contrast between outer joy and inner turmoil. I'm glad you enjoyed this piece, and I wish you a great New Year as well.
Wishing you a Happy New Year, James. This is a wonderful and insightful photo essay, a blend of birds and self-inquiry that resonates on many levels. I’m happy that we met here in 2024 and I look forward to more adventures and getting outdoors with you in 2025.
Wishing you a happy new year of peace and joy, Heidi. Glad to have met you here as well, and I look forward to reading more of your work in 2025.