This is an intense and extremely interesting thought experiment Michelle. This reminds me of the NHK Japan documentary where someone tried to pitch an idea of AI making art in more manufactured manner to the studio ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki. He was appalled at the idea because of the same grind culture that the western world had with conveyor lines completely ignores the fact that there are too many nuances in the human body and mind that simply reductionist ideas of being a meat suit or chemical soup can’t contain. We are neurological constellations waiting to discover that we have been the universe all along. ✨
“We are neurological constellations waiting to discover that we have been the universe all along.” Oh yes! Isn’t it amazing how offen truth sounds like poetry? Well, it does when you write it.
I love your metaphors! Interesting post, and thanks for recording audio! I have definitely lived life as a machine before, and have a tendency to believe I can do well there, but my meat suit and chemistry have told me otherwise a number of times.
These days I feel more like a sponge that cycles between two phases - Absorb phase, and Scrub phase, quite frequently. Absorbing being learning, Scrubbing being the application. Although the active scrubbing is generally moving more and more to resting and recharging so the contraption of me is able to carry on with future absorbency....This is what happens when you get me on metaphor train! haha.
Thank you for getting on the metaphor train with me, Michael. I love what you did there. Armchair Rebellion is for everyone, not just those of us forced into it. Rest is the revolution... and maybe connection is too, which epitomises you and your work 💚
Previously I only saw my body as something to hate, detest, loathe. I treat it like it didn’t matter, like I didn’t matter. That was, until one day I woke up. Simultaneously, disabled by illness.
On Monday, I experienced a shamanic healing treatment and at the beginning I connected with us being “earthly spirits”. Something I’m trying on for size that I might even prefer to seeing myself as a human being, living a human experience (pain, suffering and all range of emotions and feelings, falls, breaks and injuries galore) . It feels lighter, brighter, more freeing🧚🏼♀️
Wow Amber, “earthly spirit” sounds just what a a human being is, whether or not you believe in an afterlife. And it can be hard to joyously celebrate that in the midst of the more painful aspects of human bodies. We’d all like Scotty to beam us up, sometimes. I’m glad you’re here, and always willing to share from your experience.
True dat! It has definitely taken me a long time to joyously celebrate, one hell of a practice to add to the many😅 I don’t know why I haven’t seen any of your posts recently, this is the first one I’ve seen in a long while even though I’ve been subscribed for ages.
I have been having an outbreak of life and it has been a while since my last post, so I don’t think you’ve missed anything Amber. Amid the grim I will have a short story published in an international anthology. The process of editing and proofing that has taken any remaining spoons. Its an unpalatable truth that keeping ourselves alive sometimes takes all our available energy. It means a lot that you noticed and missed me here 💖
The story is wildly exciting. The book will be available as a paperback and an ebook. Publication date is scheduled for early Sept. i will be making a proper announcement once I have a date and a link. About “unpalatable truth” I didn’t make it up, I’ve read it somewhere. It might have been a more common saying in the past. It really rolls off the tongue when you say it, too. I love the mouth feel of some words.
I never knew why the metaphor "unplug" didn't sit well with me until you shed light on it, Michelle! It implies we're an appliance in a state of dis-function when we rest.
These days, I think of my body as a manifestation and creator of my lived experience. I'll be noodling on a good metaphor for that!
Such a great read Michelle. I always learn something new and come away with other perspectives when I read your essays. You slayed the metaphors in this one though. 👌🏻🤩🙌
Have you thought of trying to publish beyond Substack? I can imagine a paper like the Guardian would be interested. You’ve done a stellar job, well done x
Not so far, I’m inteigued you think other outlets would be interested. Too often I find mainstream media just isn’t interested in any degree of disability awareness or advocacy unless its inspiration porn or perfect victim disableism (oops my cynicism is showing). Thanks foe the vote of confidence 💖
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by what they’ve been publishing in this space recently. I think folks would really resonate and relate to the metaphors etc and their shortfalls x
This is an intense and extremely interesting thought experiment Michelle. This reminds me of the NHK Japan documentary where someone tried to pitch an idea of AI making art in more manufactured manner to the studio ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki. He was appalled at the idea because of the same grind culture that the western world had with conveyor lines completely ignores the fact that there are too many nuances in the human body and mind that simply reductionist ideas of being a meat suit or chemical soup can’t contain. We are neurological constellations waiting to discover that we have been the universe all along. ✨
“We are neurological constellations waiting to discover that we have been the universe all along.” Oh yes! Isn’t it amazing how offen truth sounds like poetry? Well, it does when you write it.
Yes! Truth does sound like poetry. 💜
This is gorgeous Swarnali 🩷
Thank you Amanda!
I love your metaphors! Interesting post, and thanks for recording audio! I have definitely lived life as a machine before, and have a tendency to believe I can do well there, but my meat suit and chemistry have told me otherwise a number of times.
These days I feel more like a sponge that cycles between two phases - Absorb phase, and Scrub phase, quite frequently. Absorbing being learning, Scrubbing being the application. Although the active scrubbing is generally moving more and more to resting and recharging so the contraption of me is able to carry on with future absorbency....This is what happens when you get me on metaphor train! haha.
Thanks for the thoughts today!
Thank you for getting on the metaphor train with me, Michael. I love what you did there. Armchair Rebellion is for everyone, not just those of us forced into it. Rest is the revolution... and maybe connection is too, which epitomises you and your work 💚
I always up for combining revolutions! 🙌🏻🙌🏻.
Previously I only saw my body as something to hate, detest, loathe. I treat it like it didn’t matter, like I didn’t matter. That was, until one day I woke up. Simultaneously, disabled by illness.
On Monday, I experienced a shamanic healing treatment and at the beginning I connected with us being “earthly spirits”. Something I’m trying on for size that I might even prefer to seeing myself as a human being, living a human experience (pain, suffering and all range of emotions and feelings, falls, breaks and injuries galore) . It feels lighter, brighter, more freeing🧚🏼♀️
Wow Amber, “earthly spirit” sounds just what a a human being is, whether or not you believe in an afterlife. And it can be hard to joyously celebrate that in the midst of the more painful aspects of human bodies. We’d all like Scotty to beam us up, sometimes. I’m glad you’re here, and always willing to share from your experience.
True dat! It has definitely taken me a long time to joyously celebrate, one hell of a practice to add to the many😅 I don’t know why I haven’t seen any of your posts recently, this is the first one I’ve seen in a long while even though I’ve been subscribed for ages.
I have been having an outbreak of life and it has been a while since my last post, so I don’t think you’ve missed anything Amber. Amid the grim I will have a short story published in an international anthology. The process of editing and proofing that has taken any remaining spoons. Its an unpalatable truth that keeping ourselves alive sometimes takes all our available energy. It means a lot that you noticed and missed me here 💖
☺️Def missed you on here! “An unpalatable truth” - you have such a way with words. Though sorry to hear it’s been that way for you.
The short story sounds exciting, what is it about? Will it be available in book format?
The story is wildly exciting. The book will be available as a paperback and an ebook. Publication date is scheduled for early Sept. i will be making a proper announcement once I have a date and a link. About “unpalatable truth” I didn’t make it up, I’ve read it somewhere. It might have been a more common saying in the past. It really rolls off the tongue when you say it, too. I love the mouth feel of some words.
Can’t wait to hear more about it!🤩
I never knew why the metaphor "unplug" didn't sit well with me until you shed light on it, Michelle! It implies we're an appliance in a state of dis-function when we rest.
These days, I think of my body as a manifestation and creator of my lived experience. I'll be noodling on a good metaphor for that!
I’m here for any (limited) good metaphors you might come up with @Rumi Tsuchihashi. Or anything you write, generally.
Such a great read Michelle. I always learn something new and come away with other perspectives when I read your essays. You slayed the metaphors in this one though. 👌🏻🤩🙌
Thank you Amanda, this one has been percolating for the last couple of months.
Have you thought of trying to publish beyond Substack? I can imagine a paper like the Guardian would be interested. You’ve done a stellar job, well done x
Not so far, I’m inteigued you think other outlets would be interested. Too often I find mainstream media just isn’t interested in any degree of disability awareness or advocacy unless its inspiration porn or perfect victim disableism (oops my cynicism is showing). Thanks foe the vote of confidence 💖
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by what they’ve been publishing in this space recently. I think folks would really resonate and relate to the metaphors etc and their shortfalls x
Wow Michelle, what a piece of writing! Found this really thought-provoking, thank you x
Thank you, Lucy. Please do pop back and share your reflections, we’re all here to untangle our dodgy cultural inheritances.