flâneur

Why It's the Hardest to Show Up For the People You Love the Most

ask-polly.com · 1,360 words · saved by 1 readers

Differences feel like insults. Mundane moments feel heavy. Forgive yourself and show up anyway.

Among the Planets (1961) by Helen Lundeberg Last night my mother and my two aunts came over for dinner. We’ve spent the past week at the beach together and my aunts are leaving town this morning, so I made pineapple margaritas and ordered pulled pork barbecue. As we ate, it became clear that everyone was tired from a whole week of socializing in close quarters. All three sisters arrived at the beach fully committed to doing their best, by remaining upbeat and cheerful (aunt #1) or open and honest (aunt #2) or helpful and self-sacrificing (my mother). They each had different strategies for…

related reading