I love how you connected the practice of "naming" in our everyday lives to "naming" in our writing practice. I had a poetry professor tell me to create imagery with as many specific details as possible, and I've resonated with that ever since!
This was wonderful Jillian. This: ‘Naming something changes the way I see it.’ Yes, that feels absolutely right. I loved how you wove it from Marigold to your naming of weeds to the own life experiences you had been reluctant to name. The prompts are so rich. I am going to think about them & see what emerges. Certainly there are pieces of writing I have started but can’t move forward with, eluding me now, so what is it I am not naming? Hmmm….
Jillian, reading this felt like returning to a language my body already speaks.
In my fifth year of Vipassana practice and after many hours in systemic self-coaching, I keep returning to the power of naming. Speaking things clearly—beliefs, roles, obligations, cultural codes, buried rules—opened a map that had long been folded in my chest. Each word offered a thread. Each thread, a connection. And slowly, the weight I had carried began to show its shape.
Your reflection on the plants—how their full names reveal relationship, context, danger or nourishment—spoke directly to how I experience this work. Exactness brings safety. And clarity makes care possible. That moment you describe—“But it’s Marigold!”—felt like a bell ringing. I know that kind of knowing. Once something is named, it enters a field of recognition.
Much of my healing began by saying things out loud that had never been welcomed into language before. Violations of dignity. Losses taken as normal. Roles accepted in silence. Through naming, those experiences became visible. And once visible, they began to change.
Thank you for making space for that process in your writing. For showing how naming can invite relationship. And how attention, when guided by care, can grow roots.
“Much of my healing began by saying things out loud that had never been welcomed into language before. Violations of dignity. Losses taken as normal. Roles accepted in silence. Through naming, those experiences became visible. And once visible, they began to change.” So POWERFUL! Thank you for deepening my work with your words. ❤️
Jillian, it is kind of the cycle of life. That is how evolution happened and you make it possible too. By being aware. Being curious. By investigating. Glad my words found resonance in you and I'd be grateful if you find them of benefit.
Such important writing. I feel a little more courage reading this. As an adoptee, silence and a certain flavour of hiding has been my MO. The older I get the less this fits. (And yes, I can relate to the many names!)
Hi Gaye. Thanks for reading. Always good to hear from another adoptee. Perhaps the secrets and silence I, too, lived with play into my difficuly with naming things. You’ve given me good food for thought.
Thanks for reading. Did it take you a while to realize the behavior tou saw was “abuse,” or were you able to call it that right away? So often, I’ve suffered from delayed recognition.
I think I’m very sensitive to abuse in any way, shape or form as I have a medical background and worked in a huge public hospital for many years.
I have also experienced abuse of a physical and emotional and disrespectful nature.
So, I ask questions.
So many of my postgraduate students, and my mates, and colleagues, said I was a good sounding board.
That was quite the nicest compliment that anyone has ever paid to me.
My mates always said, too, you can invite Carol with anyone and everyone. She gets on with everyone and she always helps with setting up and she always brings a dish.
No goody two shoes here btw. Still making mistakes every day of my life.
I love how you connected the practice of "naming" in our everyday lives to "naming" in our writing practice. I had a poetry professor tell me to create imagery with as many specific details as possible, and I've resonated with that ever since!
Thanks for reading! We miss you and hope you’re doing well❤️
I miss you too!! 🦆
This was wonderful Jillian. This: ‘Naming something changes the way I see it.’ Yes, that feels absolutely right. I loved how you wove it from Marigold to your naming of weeds to the own life experiences you had been reluctant to name. The prompts are so rich. I am going to think about them & see what emerges. Certainly there are pieces of writing I have started but can’t move forward with, eluding me now, so what is it I am not naming? Hmmm….
Thank you so much for reading. I hope the prompts are fruitful for you.❤️
Jillian, reading this felt like returning to a language my body already speaks.
In my fifth year of Vipassana practice and after many hours in systemic self-coaching, I keep returning to the power of naming. Speaking things clearly—beliefs, roles, obligations, cultural codes, buried rules—opened a map that had long been folded in my chest. Each word offered a thread. Each thread, a connection. And slowly, the weight I had carried began to show its shape.
Your reflection on the plants—how their full names reveal relationship, context, danger or nourishment—spoke directly to how I experience this work. Exactness brings safety. And clarity makes care possible. That moment you describe—“But it’s Marigold!”—felt like a bell ringing. I know that kind of knowing. Once something is named, it enters a field of recognition.
Much of my healing began by saying things out loud that had never been welcomed into language before. Violations of dignity. Losses taken as normal. Roles accepted in silence. Through naming, those experiences became visible. And once visible, they began to change.
Thank you for making space for that process in your writing. For showing how naming can invite relationship. And how attention, when guided by care, can grow roots.
“Much of my healing began by saying things out loud that had never been welcomed into language before. Violations of dignity. Losses taken as normal. Roles accepted in silence. Through naming, those experiences became visible. And once visible, they began to change.” So POWERFUL! Thank you for deepening my work with your words. ❤️
Jillian, it is kind of the cycle of life. That is how evolution happened and you make it possible too. By being aware. Being curious. By investigating. Glad my words found resonance in you and I'd be grateful if you find them of benefit.
Such important writing. I feel a little more courage reading this. As an adoptee, silence and a certain flavour of hiding has been my MO. The older I get the less this fits. (And yes, I can relate to the many names!)
Hi Gaye. Thanks for reading. Always good to hear from another adoptee. Perhaps the secrets and silence I, too, lived with play into my difficuly with naming things. You’ve given me good food for thought.
I love your writing.
I’m 63, and I believe in calling out ugly and unkind and unhelpful behaviour.
Abuse is abuse. Coercive control is a real thing.
Violence against women especially in the home and workplace exists.
Thanks for reading. Did it take you a while to realize the behavior tou saw was “abuse,” or were you able to call it that right away? So often, I’ve suffered from delayed recognition.
I think I’m very sensitive to abuse in any way, shape or form as I have a medical background and worked in a huge public hospital for many years.
I have also experienced abuse of a physical and emotional and disrespectful nature.
So, I ask questions.
So many of my postgraduate students, and my mates, and colleagues, said I was a good sounding board.
That was quite the nicest compliment that anyone has ever paid to me.
My mates always said, too, you can invite Carol with anyone and everyone. She gets on with everyone and she always helps with setting up and she always brings a dish.
No goody two shoes here btw. Still making mistakes every day of my life.
At 63, yes, definitely room for improvement. Lol
Good for you— keep calling it like you see it!❤️