... the world is not all artificial light, tile floors, and concrete ... it's flowing water, it's drifting clouds, it's wild flowers growing no matter what -- it's dandelions on a boulevard as the world rushes past... ... it's us, and we're not alone. - jw, never far, janettewatt.substack.com ❤️🌿.

...we've left home for awhile to go exploring, to find both the familiar and some new too. All in an effort to rest, repair, restore... alot of it done through quiet, unforced connection. How do you heal? Read more here: janettewatt.substack.com/p/when-youve... #selfCARE #compassion #connection

Jack (Kerouac) wrote from the road, "...we can be born numberless times"... I know it sounds impossible, but I also know it to be true. I've lived through rebirth over and over, and I know I am again... - jw, never far ... please, come find me here: janettewatt.substack.com #hope #life #rebirth

...on a journey (literally) to restore our souls -- rest, repair, restore. Read more here: janettewatt.substack.com/p/when-youve... Photo taken by me today, as we traveled away from home, and yet it all feels like home. - jw. #reflect #repair #rest #restore #connect #writer #poet #artist #thinkers

Louise Gluck wrote, “Myths and mountains and the sea are what we are made of”... rivers, trees, and the sky too I think. When we've been in rough times, like now for most of us, we need to be able to experience them all again, anew. I wrote about that here: janettewatt.substack.com/p/when-youve...

In difficult times it's not always possible to get the rest you need. In those times look around, there are those who care, who can help. I'm speaking from experience. More here: janettewatt.substack.com I write for us. #HARDtimes #Rest #Repair #Restore #Care #Kindness #thinkers #writers #poets

My reflection this week is about taking care of ourselves -- in rough times. Find me here, with my thanks: janettewatt.substack.com This beautiful painting by Silvia Habán is titled "Beach of Peace". I found her work online at Saatchi Art #DIFFICULTtimes #repair #restore #writers #poets #artists

I had a dream. I was a boat that had been in rough waters and had run ashore. People climbed out of me but didn't leave me. They surrounded me, lifted me up and carried me to a place where I could be repaired and restored. It's what we all need sometimes. Read more/click on image - with my thanks.

TOUCH is NOT a BAD WORD but some of us have had bad experiences. That doesn’t mean we still don’t crave touch, need touch. Touch can be the deepest kind of connection and feeling - if it’s wanted and done with gentle loving intent. Read more by clicking on the image below. #caring #kindness #love

I continue to seek out those that have inspired us (e.g. #HowardZinn) and I'm also finding new voices (e.g. #ValarieKaur). I look for those who have listened, who try to understand, who maintain hope (never surrender), and who help guide us to actions with the goal of a better world for all of us.

Some people need to learn how to touch others and some of us need to learn that it's okay to talk about how we want to be touched. I wrote about that this week here: janettewatt.substack.com This TOUCHING illustration is by fumiyanagimoto. Their soulful art is found on IG. #heart #soul #touch #joy

We all need to be touched, But each according to our own conditions... This week's reflection, continued here: janettewatt.substack.com/p/you-cant-t... #thinkers #activists #protect #safety #connection #community #peacefulness #love #World #issues #culture #writers #poets #artists #activists #kind

Notice their gaze, one for the other, a reminder that there is no tenderness like this, no tender touch like this, if we can't see each other... truly see each other. I wrote about the connection between seeing each other and touch this week, here: janettewatt.substack.com #touch #caring #kindness

I know this to be true: to correct injustices you must be willing to look at and name injustices, and that takes alot of backbone. I'm working through that for my next reflection here: janettewatt.substack.com The inspiring art of Brandy Saturely is found here: brandysaturely.com #justice #action

There can be power in silent touches. Sometimes, it's a gaze. Sometimes it's from someone you know. Sometimes from a stranger. Do you let it touch you? My reflection on touch is found here: janettewatt.substack.com/p/you-cant-t... #safe #connections #THINKERS #writers #philosophers #writers #poets

How do we want to be touched? How do we allow ourselves to be touched? Read my thoughts, here: janettewatt.substack.com/.../you-cant.... #self #choice #boundaries #respect #love #kindness #intimacy #relationship #friendship #connection #wisdom #culture #issues #thinkers #writers #poets #truth

We can be touched in so many ways. Read more this week here janettewatt.substack.com (find Flavia Cuddemi's incredible soul-stirring art here: instagram.com/flaviacuddemi) #touch #knowME #seeME #respect #kindness #connection #writers #poets #THINKERS #wisdom #peacefulness #love #culture #issues

I PUBLISHED my #reflection EARLY today. ...remember when as children we'd say "You can't touch me!" What does that mean to you now? I wrote about the connection between touching AND seeing. Click on image below. -jw, never far ❤️. #connection #trust #friendship #kindness #wisdom #community #love

Who a person is is defined by what they've allowed their heart to become... - jw, ❤️. Read more here: janettewatt.substack.com/p/not-all-he... #community #caring #generosity #support #joy #grief #healing #safe #equal #just #freedom #fair #writers #poets #artists #thinkers #kindness #heart #ONElove

I was reflecting on touch for the past few days. This afternoon I'm helped along by the art of Flavia Cuddemi who captures beautifully what I'm trying to express through words. Touch that's quiet, intimate, safe. This piece is titled HUG and you can find Flavia here: www.instagram.com/flaviacuddemi/

You asked for the reason why I sometimes put words on a page the way I do ... It's simple -- I want to spend more time with you. jw, never far and always here - janettewatt.substack.com (the photo/the book open on my lap -- is "DYLAN THOMAS, THE POEMS" edited by Daniel Jones) #readers #writers

WE ALL HAVE A HEART... don't we? Excerpt: "there are those that have a heart — a type of heart that we can bare our heart to, those that allow us to pour out our heart, those that we can safely express ourselves to from the depths of our heart, from the very bottom of our heart ..." #love #grief

... how many times has your heart been broken? maybe, it's how you're feeling right now... who can help us mend? ...what do they know to do for us? ...how do they know? - jw, never far ❤️. janettewatt.substack.com #hearts #helpingONEanother #united #wisdom #thinkers #ONElove

Excerpt: ...Yours is a unique heart Mine too distinct but enough alike that we can know each other’s heart and can help each other’s heart I recognize your beating heart even though mine is a little different ... [complete version when you click below] #moreALIKEthanWEknow #EYESwideOPEN #kindness

❤️... what I write is here: janettewatt.substack.com -jw, never far ❤️.

... Below are the words of Ged (Sparrowhawk) in "The Farthest Shore". Ursula had the most amazing way of bringing us the truths we need to hear and embrace! - jw, trying - here where I sit and walk, and also here: janettewatt.substack.com ❤️. I write for you. I really do.

Today's words of wisdom: DON'T LISTEN to those with STONE HEARTS. More about hearts here: janettewatt.substack.com/p/not-all-he... #courage #love #FULLlife #hope #kindness #caring #culture #worldISSUES #truth #writers #poets #artists #THINKERS #wisdom #generosity #strength #together #HAVEaHEART

Thank you! At an event last night I said "If the word hope doesn't work for you try, 'Never fucking surrender.'" The word hope seems too sunny to a lot of people, but the heart of it as I'm interested in it is: we make the future in the present, if we show up, and that never surrender part.

💛 ... Read more about our unique and not so unique hearts here: janettewatt.substack.com - jw, never far ❤️. #Different #Same #Culture #Hearts #generosity #HOPE #writers #poets #artists #creatives #thinkers #wisdom #kindness #caring #survival #holdON #NOTalone #community #support #HelpingONEanother

Our hearts are all so different - the way we love, the way we fear, the way we grieve, the way we hope - the way we live our lives and what we make important ... So how can we be with each other? What can we do? READ MORE HERE: janettewatt.substack.com/.../not-all-.... #LOVE #NOTalone #Hearts

I reflected on and wrote about what we know and recognize about our own and each other's hearts (even though each of our hearts, our experiences and feelings are unique to us). Come and visit me here (please bring your heart) janettewatt.substack.com/p/not-all-he... #LIFE #BeingHUMAN #connection

All I want to do is find ways to encourage us to help each other. /jw. #ONEworld #writers #poets #THINKERS #creatives #activists #ordinarypeople #kindness #fairness #safety #NOhunger #justice #equality #freedom #joy #caring #survival #resilience #LIFTINGeachotherUP Read More/click on image below

I have so many questions - and I'm determined to change some of the answers. (e-collage by me /jw) The painting I laid my words upon is by Zao Wou-ki -- with a few brushstrokes he captured the colours of the souls of everything that surrounds us -- all that we are. (Find here: zaowouki.org)

my wish is That some parts of me are worthy of you and that they make your life even a little better, a little softer, that a piece of me helps you carry on, maybe helps you stand up, rise up! now and in your future… Please come find me and read more here: janettewatt.substack.com/.../if-you-t....

Done right, taking a piece of each other is a wonderful thing. Necessary, I'd say. But it must be done right with permission, respect, kindness, caring - all these things exchanged by the giver and the taker. Please read more here: janettewatt.substack.com/.../if-you-t.... #surviving #coping #care

I've been reflecting on our hearts and what it means to have one. As I write I'm often helped along by artists. The painting I laid my words upon is by Edvard Munch simply titled "The Heart" (Hjertet). Find it here: nga.gov And me and my writing? Here: janettewatt.substack.com #heart #hope #THINKERS

The beautiful painting I laid my words upon is by Daniel Loveday and is titled: "In Pieces - Butterfly Effect" Find it here danielloveday.co.uk The Butterfly Effect theory suggests that tiny, initial differences in a complex system can trigger massive, unpredictable, and vastly different outcomes.

Loving my new diet! -jw, ❤️. (more of much the same here: janettewatt.substack.com)

Do you want a piece of me? AND, if you do and you take a piece of me - what will you take? ...more in my reflection this week, here: janettewatt.substack.com #kindness #reciprocity #support #caring #whoarewetoeachother #peace #community #coping #wisdom #writers #thinkers #poets #artists #love

... walk like poets do. -jw, ❤️🌿. #hope #joy #SpringDOESthat #nature #kindness #poets #writers #THINKERS #love #calm #peace #wisdom #culture #connecting #community #NEVERalone #walking #lookingwithyourheart #ONEworld More: janettewatt.substack.com Photo by me in the pretty city that I call home.

This week's reflection: Do you want a piece of me? You can take it freely I never know just what to give So, go ahead and choose. Please. (Continued... Click on image) #LIFEinpieces #wisdom #culture #community #sharing #creating #giving #reciprocity #writers #poets #artists #struggle #survival

...there is hope, and it exists with us. Find me here: janettewatt.substack.com The art I laid my words upon is by the artist Iveta Ṣ̌midt and is titled "Wake Up! look around" ivetasmidt.com #HOPE #STANDup #culture #issues #activist #poets #writers #artists #THINKER #survival #climate #JUSTICE #joy

I KNOW we all have power - and I know enough of us are good people ready to stand up for what is right and fair! I know this, but some days I need reminding. Audre Lorde reminds me. When you read me here -- janettewatt.substack.com there's a very good chance I'm reading Audre. #StandingTOGETHER

First, we notice. Then we offer help -- listening for what's really needed. -jw ❤️. janettewatt.substack.com I've laid my words upon the inspiring, heart-filled story-telling art of Tony de Freitas titled HELPING HAND found here: robertsonartgallery.co.za #trust #courage #bravery #caring #truth

What I write is always a work in progress as I do my best to continue to challenge what I think I know. Please come visit and let me know what you think I may have got right and what you think I need to understand differently --janettewatt.substack.com #CHALLENGINGwhatWEthinkWEknow #HOPE #THINKERS

Original human rights documents were NOT that. They didn't apply universally. The 1789 French declaration is an example: it protected mainly male property owners and did not protect women, children, the colonized,... NOT enough has changed! It doesn't have to be that way - janettewatt.substack.com

We have so much more to do, for me and you! I wrote about that (again) this week here: janettewatt.substack.com/p/a-wake-up-... The poster I laid my words upon is from 1989 commemorating a human rights declaration from 1789! See reply comment. We've been at this a long time AND CAN'T EVER GIVE UP!

I wrote another call to action this week here: janettewatt.substack.com ...to inspire us to act together. IN TURN, I find inspiration from people like Olivia Onuk. Her art here IS titled "Our oneness will sustain us." Art by others too who care can be found here: davidsuzuki.org/.../olivia-o...

In LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER - Maya Angelou wrote: "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them." I know this to be true. The painting that I have laid my words upon is titled "Rising" and is by John Monteleone www.saatchiart.com #strength #hope

I've written a call to action that is a wake up call... meant to encourage even more of us (ordinary people) to help change our world into something better for all of us. Our survival depends on it! Read more by clicking on the image below. #PEOPLEpower #BETTERworld #freedom #safety #justice #PEACE