Hi friend! Before we get into this weeks newsletter, a few updates. (1) I’ve updated the About page and added a little mission listicle about how recovery is The Answer; (2) starting this week, the essay portion of the newsletter will be free, the link section (“Ten Things Right Now”) will be for paid subscribers only. If you love this newsletter, get something out of it, read it weekly, and have the means,
Wow! I had to jump away from the newsletter just to comment on what you wrote about the worst horse etc before I go back to the "Ten Things" section.
That really hit me hard! I am definitely saving this and re-reading it. Thank you, Holly. Your writing, your thinking, your honesty----YOU are such a gift and I am so grateful to you for all that you do.
Another worst horse here. I was lucky enough to proofread and copy edit transcripts of a 40+ hour conversation between the Dalai Lama and Paul Ekman, for whom I worked at the time. At one point, when discussing the opportunities of beginner's mind and enlightenment, the Dalai Lama said something about enlightenment getting harder the farther one travels toward it. Then he started giggling and said, "For me, nearly impossible!" His joy reassures me.
One way to support Indigenous people being given protected resources and priority access is to support the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative (https://www.ipci.life/).
Was it Emotional Awareness? That is an absolutely singular thing, what a privilege. And I have experienced that the more I know the less I do so it also resonates (and I love it when these guys are all like who cares about enlightenment.) Thanks for the resource, really great to know of and donted. xx
Loved this week's newsletter, thank you, and alllll the links/recs!! Recovery is really the Answer, indeed!! Really great reinforcement for this path, and the universality of its need, not just for "worst horses." <3
I ordered Figlia. Me trying zero-proof beverages is like me reading recovery memoirs, I’ll never be done.
All of this Horse business is new to me. Thank you for sharing. It’s so interesting and helpful to me. I’ll be reading more of this.
Aw and poor Anne Heche, just a bad horse, just like so many of us. It could have been me in another time. I feel sad over her story and everyone involved. My heart breaks for her, her family, the woman whose house burned down and her dogs. All of it.
I re read this again this morning - It is interesting how us Bad Horses - look at others - the good horses and think we can just be like them and do what they do. Or we assume we are the only bad horse and everyone else are good horses and we should strive to be a good horse vs understanding and accepting our bad horse status.
Is it possible for a bad horse to learn to be a good horse?
Another meditation resource... if you want a guided meditation that inspires magic and creativity, I highly recommend Jessica Snow's meditations (her back catalog requires subscription but every month she offers at least one free meditation from her library): youaremagicla.com
Also YES to worst horses and YES to that amb episode of On Being (I want it tattooed on my brain)!
I am definitely a worst horse. This is the first time I've really heard of this concept, but I talk so often how I inherently pick the most difficult damn path. Fellow worst horses unite.
As an equine facilitated learning instructor, I help people learn to integrate mind, body and emotions by working with horses, who do so effortlessly. My mentor, author Linda Kohanov, says your body is the horse that your mind rides around on. Metaphors aside, there are no bad horses, only mistreated ones, and even the most mistreated horse is astonishingly willing to trust again. In every way, the analogy is apt. Thanks for your thoughts Holly.
To me, this is the best thing you have ever written. Brandi Carlile recently explained the impetus behind her song 'Broken Horses', and it's exactly this. When the universe gives you the same lesson in multiple settings, you gotta listen. Grateful.
Am on this bad horse path for years just never knew to give it a title. Holly's writing gives me a push, thanks for this. I'm saddle sore...
The bad horse path! ♥️
I am a bad horse.
"What I think makes life difficult for us worst horses is the idea that we’re not supposed to be worst horses in the first place." - This ...
Each time I get closer to "success" whatever that means... I remember I am a bad horse and I fuck it all up.
proud to be in your club.
You are the best worst horse. You helped get me on the road to recovery. I will never forget that
<3
💜 just the vitamins I needed today - thank you Holly 💜
<3 Tricia
Curious what the "just published today" part is. When I tried to click through it said the page was "private".
Also having this issue even though I am a paid subscriber! May not have been made available to subscribers yet.
I am having same issue as a paid subscriber
Janet, updated and here you go.
https://hollywhitaker.substack.com/p/22a-memento-mori
Danielle it's updated and it's also here:
https://hollywhitaker.substack.com/p/22a-memento-mori
Faith, sorry about that I linked the wrong thing. It's updated, and it's also here: https://hollywhitaker.substack.com/p/22a-memento-mori
Wow! I had to jump away from the newsletter just to comment on what you wrote about the worst horse etc before I go back to the "Ten Things" section.
That really hit me hard! I am definitely saving this and re-reading it. Thank you, Holly. Your writing, your thinking, your honesty----YOU are such a gift and I am so grateful to you for all that you do.
Awww thanks Kelly! I pretty much hated this piece of writing so this is a joy to read! xx
Another worst horse here. I was lucky enough to proofread and copy edit transcripts of a 40+ hour conversation between the Dalai Lama and Paul Ekman, for whom I worked at the time. At one point, when discussing the opportunities of beginner's mind and enlightenment, the Dalai Lama said something about enlightenment getting harder the farther one travels toward it. Then he started giggling and said, "For me, nearly impossible!" His joy reassures me.
One way to support Indigenous people being given protected resources and priority access is to support the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative (https://www.ipci.life/).
Was it Emotional Awareness? That is an absolutely singular thing, what a privilege. And I have experienced that the more I know the less I do so it also resonates (and I love it when these guys are all like who cares about enlightenment.) Thanks for the resource, really great to know of and donted. xx
At the time I was transcribing it, I think the title had Happiness in it. It was a long time ago and before I got clean & sober!
Loved this week's newsletter, thank you, and alllll the links/recs!! Recovery is really the Answer, indeed!! Really great reinforcement for this path, and the universality of its need, not just for "worst horses." <3
All the horses!!!! xx
I ordered Figlia. Me trying zero-proof beverages is like me reading recovery memoirs, I’ll never be done.
All of this Horse business is new to me. Thank you for sharing. It’s so interesting and helpful to me. I’ll be reading more of this.
Aw and poor Anne Heche, just a bad horse, just like so many of us. It could have been me in another time. I feel sad over her story and everyone involved. My heart breaks for her, her family, the woman whose house burned down and her dogs. All of it.
It's really, very good.
I feel the same about Anne Heche. It's so incredibly tragic.
I re read this again this morning - It is interesting how us Bad Horses - look at others - the good horses and think we can just be like them and do what they do. Or we assume we are the only bad horse and everyone else are good horses and we should strive to be a good horse vs understanding and accepting our bad horse status.
Is it possible for a bad horse to learn to be a good horse?
I don't know Terry <3
Another meditation resource... if you want a guided meditation that inspires magic and creativity, I highly recommend Jessica Snow's meditations (her back catalog requires subscription but every month she offers at least one free meditation from her library): youaremagicla.com
Also YES to worst horses and YES to that amb episode of On Being (I want it tattooed on my brain)!
YES! Thank you for this so much Alex.
I am definitely a worst horse. This is the first time I've really heard of this concept, but I talk so often how I inherently pick the most difficult damn path. Fellow worst horses unite.
"inherently pick the most difficult damn path." Hard same.
I just subscribed a couple of months back and love the content and how you express yourself Holly. Always something for me!!
Sylvia ♥️
As an equine facilitated learning instructor, I help people learn to integrate mind, body and emotions by working with horses, who do so effortlessly. My mentor, author Linda Kohanov, says your body is the horse that your mind rides around on. Metaphors aside, there are no bad horses, only mistreated ones, and even the most mistreated horse is astonishingly willing to trust again. In every way, the analogy is apt. Thanks for your thoughts Holly.
I love this so very much.
To me, this is the best thing you have ever written. Brandi Carlile recently explained the impetus behind her song 'Broken Horses', and it's exactly this. When the universe gives you the same lesson in multiple settings, you gotta listen. Grateful.