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Jun 17
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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

You brought me right there Keith!!! Wild and free parrots!!! My heart soars with them. Thank you so much for reading, for commenting, and for loving this beautiful Earth.

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May 20
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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Martha, your comment made my day!!! I would love to hear more about your first word experience. And, yes are the ONLY other person I've met who shares this formative framing. Thank you also for your incredibly touching commitment about the whales. So happy to have met you here; I just subbed to your account as well. I'll look forward to future conversations! ❤

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Good Medicine's avatar

I am thinking about all you (and Annie Dillard) say, here. It occurs to me that this recollecting applies directly, in my world, working with clients who have trauma. And this has me thinking more deeply about sense memories (and, overall, implicit memory) and trauma work. Thank you, Stephanie.

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

What profound insights, thank you for sharing and for the healing work you do in this world. Your comment and readership are so meaningful, you are good medicine indeed. ❤

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Good Medicine's avatar

Thank you for these lovely kindnesses.

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I Wonder...'s avatar

I love this writing! I don't believe I could live happily without my forest walks in quiet places. Some of my forest walks still have urban noise, but even there I find peace and healing. Gardens also bring joy and peace. I believe we can find it where ever nature is and for that I am very grateful.

I am so happy that telling Whizzo I wanted to be a black horse when I grew up has lived in my memory for almost 70 years now, and that I shared the story with you on one of our wonderful forest walks. 🌲🔆🩵

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

I deeply respect how you have stayed true to your love of animals and the natural world in every regard! You DID become a black horse when you grew up. And I love you for it! ❤ ❤ ❤

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Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

We knew it as babes,

there’s order, but not “other.”

Grow into black horse!

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Paige Rideout's avatar

Thank you for bringing these concepts to life in such a healing way!

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Thank you PQP for being there from the beginning! I was sending you essays long before I ever dreamed about a blog. So grateful! ❤

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alyne16's avatar

One wonders why some reject silence. Boom boxes at the beach, wind chimes, blaring music in a yard, having the TV on 24/7. Why do some need all this audio stimulation? Is there a fear of silence?

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

It's an astute question, Alyne!!! Perhaps it's because silence forces us to come to grips with ourselves at the core. You always ask such good questions...

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Dustin Sparks's avatar

This is Beautiful.

Loved this.

Thank you for sharing.

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Means so much Dustin, thank you for reading and being here!

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Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

Senses as doorways,

hear, taste Muffin’s pure purring,

whale pod synched sweet nap.

...

We knew it as babes,

there’s order, but not “other.”

Grow into black horse.

...

Sense into sentience.

Fine tuning forks, our bodies.

Oh, the resonance!

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

You have such a beautiful way, Marisol. I hung on every word here and loved "we knew it as babes" especially. Thank you for bringing your poetry and kindness wherever you go.

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Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

Each and all we share,

what we wonder, what we learn.

Less we forget it. 😉

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Catherine's avatar

What a magical encounter with the sleeping whales 💚 & beautiful writing... So much of what we need is to reconnect to that child like wonder and awe I think...

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Yes, Catherine!! Children truly know and it is effortless for them. Thank you for commenting and loving the magical Earth as you do. I smiled at the green heart! 💚

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Christine Dietz's avatar

Beautiful! One of my favourite lines: "Invitations are everywhere, asking us to recollect (“bring back to the level of conscious awareness”) and re-engage what we were born with. And for. "💚

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Thank you Christine for being here, for being a wonder seeker, and for "following your wild" as you do. Invitations truly are everywhere and it's beautiful to find fellow seekers who are saying yes to the call! 💚

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Christine Dietz's avatar

Your reply actually really touched my heart. You made me feel seen. It means so much to me to know that I am connected with beautiful people like you, and as you say, fellow seekers. Thanks so much, Stephanie. 🩷 I can't wait to see where the path takes us and I am excited to read more of Tree Speech!

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Janaka Stagnaro's avatar

Thank you. I am fortunate to live in a place surrounded by nature. Are you in Morro Bay?

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

I'm not, but a friend was when she took that astonishing photo!!! What a magical place on the planet Morro Bay is.

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Janaka Stagnaro's avatar

The whole Central Coast of California is spectacular. I am blessed to live in the Monterey Bay Area.

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Julie C's avatar

Oh, this is so beautiful Stephanie. I love the story of Muffin sitting on your mom’s pregnant tummy, purring into you a destiny of animal advocacy.

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Thank you Auntie, what lovely wording you chose. He truly shaped who I would become. Thank you as always for reading and commenting! ❤

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WilM's avatar

Thank you so much for this glorious writing. It was a pleasure to read.

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Thank you so much, it means a lot to me. And I have now discovered your writing as well and can't wait to dive in. Your title of "the power of one person" speaks so much unto itself. Grateful to have you here!

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Eileen Weintraub's avatar

Loved seeing the young Stephanie, all gives hope for the future!

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Thank you Eileen. We would have been fast friends as children! ❤

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David Kirkby's avatar

HI Stephanie. Thankyou for that deeply interesting dive back into your childhood, and forward to key experiences. The description of the whales...... sublime.

And yes, the sounds of nature - so calming. There is nothing to beat sleeping under the stars by a mountain river......

Best Wishes - Dave :)

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Amen to the stars and a mountain river Dave! Nothing beats the sights and sounds of the natural world, which we are meant for. Thank you!

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Peg's avatar

Loved reading this, Stephanie!

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