What I Learned From..
Where sharp thoughts and messy learning collide. For the intellectually restless, the margin-scribblers, the readers and writers who refuse to think in a straight line.
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What I Learned From Rhinestones About Writerly Sparkle
Welcome to What I Learned From…If someone forwarded this because they think you're one of us, they’re probably right. You can subscribe here. “It’s hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world.” — Dolly Parton Photo Credit: Atlantic Ambience What I Learned From … The world got a little less sparkly this week. Dolly Parton died on Tuesday, August 25th, and while there are a myriad of accomplishments and loving generosity to celebrate from her time here with us, it feels impossible to talk about...
READ POSTWhat I Learned From A Lost Day About Continuity
Your birthday might be a historical fiction. Find out about the days deleted from the calendar, and the creative power of succeeding your own story. Welcome to What I Learned From…If someone forwarded this to you, it's because they think you're one of us. You can subscribe here. "Each day has a color, a smell." ― Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, The Mistress of Spices Photo by Towfiqu Barbhuiya What I Learned From … When I started researching this week's essay, I had bad news for my 74-year-old...
READ POSTWhat I Learned From Old Resolutions About Why Ours Are Slippery
Old resolutions weren’t about becoming someone new. They were about working through what already was. That difference matters. Welcome to What I Learned From…If someone forwarded this to you, it's because they think you're one of us. You can subscribe here. “Among Violet's many useful skills was a vast knowledge of different types of knots. The particular knot she was using was called the Devil's Tongue. A group of female Finnish pirates invented it back in the fifteenth century, and named it...
READ POSTWhat I Learned From This Strange Week About What Comes Next
A short pause between holidays and New Year, gathering the threads of December’s essays before the calendar flips and momentum returns. Welcome to What I Learned From…If someone forwarded this to you, it's because they think you're one of us. You can subscribe here. "What if I told you none of it was accidental? ... I laid the groundwork, and then, just like clockwork, the dominoes cascaded in a line. What if I told you I'm a mastermind?" — Taylor Swift, Mastermind Photo by Tima...
READ POSTWhat I Learned From Yule Logs About Making It Last
The Yule log was never just a cute tradition. It was a practical, vital fire that stretched through the long dark. How do we keep the echo burning? Welcome to What I Learned From…If someone forwarded this to you, it's because they think you're one of us. You can subscribe here. “And of course there is the chocolate- the Yule log cooling in the kitchen; the nougatines, the celestines, the chocolate truffles piled onto the counter in a fragrant scatter of cocoa dust.” — Joanne Harris, The Girl...
READ POSTWhat I Learned From the Antikythera Mechanism About Finding Your Place
An ancient machine shows how we tracked time and the sky long before modern science. It teaches us that orientation, not explanation, is what we seek. Welcome to What I Learned From…If someone forwarded this to you, it's because they think you're one of us. You can subscribe here. “It was the pure Language of the World. It required no explanation, just as the universe needs none as it travels through endless time.” — Paulo Coehlo, The Alchemist Image Credit: National Archaeological Museum,...
READ POSTWhat I Learned From Flickering Candles About Synchronicity
Flickering candle flames sync up in winter. This strange winter physics reveals how to find a steady, more sustainable creativity that still burns. Welcome to What I Learned From…If someone forwarded this to you, it's because they think you're one of us. You can subscribe here. “Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” ― Anne Frank Photo Credit: Irina Anastasiu What I Learned From … It’s the time of year when the glowing flickering candles are everywhere. On our...
READ POSTWhat I Learned From The Fate of Ophelia About Hidden Languages
Writers hide secrets everywhere: Shakespeare in bouquets, Swift in Easter eggs. Ophelia’s flowers teach us the craft of smuggling meaning into stories Welcome to What I Learned From…If someone forwarded this to you, it's because they think you're one of us. You can subscribe here. “There with fantastic garlands did she come of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples…Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay to muddy death.” — William...
READ POSTWhat I Learned From Marginalized Snails About Mutiny
Marginalia isn’t mess—it’s meaning. From medieval monks to modern margins, here’s why annotating your books might make you a better writer. Welcome to What I Learned From…If someone forwarded this to you, it's because they think you're one of us. You can subscribe here. “When your heart speaks, take good notes.” — Judith Campbell What I Learned From … Margins are made for mutiny. If a book doesn’t have dog ears, highlights, and the occasional “WTF” scrawled in the corner, did you even read...
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