Extending a huge virtual hug to you, Darya. 🫂🫂🫂 Thank you for your honesty and your beautiful poem.
A question for you about the wall: where does it lie? Is it between you and a cowardly, corrupt, and complicit world? If so, then maybe that wall serves to protect you from people who are not worthy of your time. You have integrity, dignity, and compassion. These traits, I have come to believe, are inborn. You either have them or you do not. (Compassion, though, can perhaps be learned over time and through experience, but usually not through someone else’s words.) Sadly, much of the world is showing us that they prefer corruption, cowardice, and complicity to integrity, dignity, and compassion. Let them be who they are. Your gift lies in your ability to hold light for those who are on the free world’s frontlines. Your physical safety in the US creates a thread of hope for those who fight under unsafe skies and dictatorial regimes. What the western world needs more of today are examples of people who materially thrive *and* have moral compasses; people who are happy *and* treat others with dignity; people who are safe *and* extend a helping hand to those struggling to be free.
You are a bright, warm light in the world. Keep feeding that light and forget about the ones in the dark. They need to find their own way to you. You cannot pull them to you through your actions. Let them go and be the most amazing exemplification of all that is good and positive in the world. Let beauty fill your tank to the point of overflowing. As others have noted, change will come achingly slowly and then all at once. Hold fast and feed your heart for the long haul.
Dear Sky, thank you so much for your kind words! They comforted me and brought hope. It's a good question where the wall is located, and I think it is inside the people whom I try to reach in order for this world to change for the better. However, your comment made me look at it from a different perspective. Thank you for this! I'm very glad to have you among my readers!
Sending you even more ❤️❤️❤️. *You* are the change the world has been seeking. They are the old way. You are the new way, being born into a world in transition. The birthing hurts and the change seems glacially slow, but you can celebrate being a bearer of light in a growing consortium.
Hugs. It was a long time ago that my family came here, to the USA, from Belarus, Ukraine, and Lithuania for freedom. I'm glad they're not still alive to see this.
Thank you! I really hope that things won’t become as bad in the U.S. as they were in Eastern Europe when your family fled here, but it depends on all of us now.
Was thinking of you this last week. I know I've been quiet lately. But you're still in my thoughts, very often.
I'm so sorry you're going through this. You, and all those there who love freedom. This week has been horrible for you, and for us observers too.
This poem, it's probably one of your best. And it's hugely encouraging. I was completely frozen yesterday. Overwhelmed at the massive changes taking place so quickly. The repercussions are felt, even here. Well, by me. Because I care. For my friends. I feel helpless. I don't know what to do. With Ukraine, I knew. With the US, I'm adrift.
But at least, yes, we will survive this. We will endure. We will live once again. We will bloom. 🫂
Thank you, Laurel! I know that life gets very busy, but I hope to hear from you soon! Thank you for caring and for your support! We will survive, and we will bloom.
Thank you Darya, for such a moving poem and letter. We will get through this together, somehow. It seems the world Is in such a dark place now. But the wheel of fortune keeps turning; nothing stays the same. We all need to hold hope and light in our hearts now, holding the center. Love and hugs to you and your families. ❤️🩹
The pain and exhaustion you feel is something most of us cannot comprehend. We are with you. There are many, many good people who are following Ukraine’s struggle on a daily basis. We haven’t given up hope. We are optimistic. We know Ukraine will be restored to a peaceful and prosperous country. Hopefully this year the war will end. Please rest and withdraw from the loud and rude world to keep your health and sanity. The stupid, ignorant people who are still sympathetic to Russia will always be stupid and ignorant. They want to be that way. Don’t waste yourself on their blockheads. Remember us. Think about those of us who love and support Ukraine. We are with you. ❤️💙💛
There's a whole bunch of people fighting our wannabe dictator. I'm one of them. The people I'm doing it with, we all have the courage to do it in part because of the bravery of Ukrainians and Belarusians and everyone else who shook their fist in russia's face and said get lost. We had a victory in one of the battles yesterday. It's fortifying to march forward with one already under our belt.
I'm standing with you on your side of the wall, Darya. Brick by brick, stone by stone, together we will dismantle it, so one day, and it will come, there'll be light. Think Berlin Wall, and the joy witnessed the world over when it came down. And who brought it down? We, the People! Not rich men, not politicians, not tanks, not dreamers. The sheer mass of humanity, and believe me, I have no doubts that it doesn't exist now, waiting and pressing for the right time to break down all those who seek to keep us in chains.
I am not quite sure why but reading your poen reminded me of one of the most inspiring quotes I have ever read. It is in the book The Last Wilderness by Neil Ansell. He was facing up to the possibility he would no longer be free to walk and camp in wild places to enjoy nature as he had enjoyed all his life due to heart health issues. He wrote:
"If I could no longer climb a mountain, then I would climb a hill. And if the only thing that was still a walk in the park was an actual walk in the park, then I would find a park. And when the time came that I could do nothing more than look out of a window, then I hope I would have chosen for myself a room with a view worth watching."
I read it when I was facing some changes forced on me by a major operation. Though this is very different to your situation I think those words show a strength of spirit and a resilience which allows one to endure and find peace and happiness in a horrible situation not of your own making. It helped me I hope it helps you.
Thank you so much for sharing, Brian! The quote is very inspiring and full of wisdom, and it applies to every difficult situation we can’t control. I’ll save it to reread during low moments.
Thank you, Darya, for sharing your honest words and your poem with us. Also really sorry for the loss of Maria Zaitzeva. She was a real warrior and a true hero. May she rest in peace.
Even from far away, here in Australia, I think about the brave people of Ukraine and Belarus frequently - you who have fought for so long and deserve peaceful, safe lives in free democracies. My husband’s paternal grandfather was a Ukrainian survivor of a Nazi prisoner of war camp, and came to Australia after the war - as did many Ukrainians. I hope one day we can visit a free and peaceful Ukraine, to finally see my husband’s ancestral village with our own eyes. 🙏🏻 I will continue to listen to your peoples’ stories and experiences.
Extending a huge virtual hug to you, Darya. 🫂🫂🫂 Thank you for your honesty and your beautiful poem.
A question for you about the wall: where does it lie? Is it between you and a cowardly, corrupt, and complicit world? If so, then maybe that wall serves to protect you from people who are not worthy of your time. You have integrity, dignity, and compassion. These traits, I have come to believe, are inborn. You either have them or you do not. (Compassion, though, can perhaps be learned over time and through experience, but usually not through someone else’s words.) Sadly, much of the world is showing us that they prefer corruption, cowardice, and complicity to integrity, dignity, and compassion. Let them be who they are. Your gift lies in your ability to hold light for those who are on the free world’s frontlines. Your physical safety in the US creates a thread of hope for those who fight under unsafe skies and dictatorial regimes. What the western world needs more of today are examples of people who materially thrive *and* have moral compasses; people who are happy *and* treat others with dignity; people who are safe *and* extend a helping hand to those struggling to be free.
You are a bright, warm light in the world. Keep feeding that light and forget about the ones in the dark. They need to find their own way to you. You cannot pull them to you through your actions. Let them go and be the most amazing exemplification of all that is good and positive in the world. Let beauty fill your tank to the point of overflowing. As others have noted, change will come achingly slowly and then all at once. Hold fast and feed your heart for the long haul.
Dear Sky, thank you so much for your kind words! They comforted me and brought hope. It's a good question where the wall is located, and I think it is inside the people whom I try to reach in order for this world to change for the better. However, your comment made me look at it from a different perspective. Thank you for this! I'm very glad to have you among my readers!
Sending you even more ❤️❤️❤️. *You* are the change the world has been seeking. They are the old way. You are the new way, being born into a world in transition. The birthing hurts and the change seems glacially slow, but you can celebrate being a bearer of light in a growing consortium.
Thank you ❤️
Hugs. It was a long time ago that my family came here, to the USA, from Belarus, Ukraine, and Lithuania for freedom. I'm glad they're not still alive to see this.
Thank you! I really hope that things won’t become as bad in the U.S. as they were in Eastern Europe when your family fled here, but it depends on all of us now.
Thanks. They didn't have a great life here either.
https://drucomics.substack.com/p/bad-things-happen-you-can-still-live
Thank you for sharing their story!
🤞
🫂
Was thinking of you this last week. I know I've been quiet lately. But you're still in my thoughts, very often.
I'm so sorry you're going through this. You, and all those there who love freedom. This week has been horrible for you, and for us observers too.
This poem, it's probably one of your best. And it's hugely encouraging. I was completely frozen yesterday. Overwhelmed at the massive changes taking place so quickly. The repercussions are felt, even here. Well, by me. Because I care. For my friends. I feel helpless. I don't know what to do. With Ukraine, I knew. With the US, I'm adrift.
But at least, yes, we will survive this. We will endure. We will live once again. We will bloom. 🫂
Thank you, Laurel! I know that life gets very busy, but I hope to hear from you soon! Thank you for caring and for your support! We will survive, and we will bloom.
Thank you Darya, for such a moving poem and letter. We will get through this together, somehow. It seems the world Is in such a dark place now. But the wheel of fortune keeps turning; nothing stays the same. We all need to hold hope and light in our hearts now, holding the center. Love and hugs to you and your families. ❤️🩹
Thank you so much for your words of support!
Take heart. There are enough of us who believe in justice to make a difference! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
The pain and exhaustion you feel is something most of us cannot comprehend. We are with you. There are many, many good people who are following Ukraine’s struggle on a daily basis. We haven’t given up hope. We are optimistic. We know Ukraine will be restored to a peaceful and prosperous country. Hopefully this year the war will end. Please rest and withdraw from the loud and rude world to keep your health and sanity. The stupid, ignorant people who are still sympathetic to Russia will always be stupid and ignorant. They want to be that way. Don’t waste yourself on their blockheads. Remember us. Think about those of us who love and support Ukraine. We are with you. ❤️💙💛
Dear Denise, thank you so much for your support and kind words! It means a lot!
You aren’t alone. ❤️💙💛
There's a whole bunch of people fighting our wannabe dictator. I'm one of them. The people I'm doing it with, we all have the courage to do it in part because of the bravery of Ukrainians and Belarusians and everyone else who shook their fist in russia's face and said get lost. We had a victory in one of the battles yesterday. It's fortifying to march forward with one already under our belt.
It’s amazing, Rachel! Thank you for all you do!
I'm standing with you on your side of the wall, Darya. Brick by brick, stone by stone, together we will dismantle it, so one day, and it will come, there'll be light. Think Berlin Wall, and the joy witnessed the world over when it came down. And who brought it down? We, the People! Not rich men, not politicians, not tanks, not dreamers. The sheer mass of humanity, and believe me, I have no doubts that it doesn't exist now, waiting and pressing for the right time to break down all those who seek to keep us in chains.
Thank you for your supportive words and allyship, Chris!
You WILL bloom in spring.
Thank you!
I am not quite sure why but reading your poen reminded me of one of the most inspiring quotes I have ever read. It is in the book The Last Wilderness by Neil Ansell. He was facing up to the possibility he would no longer be free to walk and camp in wild places to enjoy nature as he had enjoyed all his life due to heart health issues. He wrote:
"If I could no longer climb a mountain, then I would climb a hill. And if the only thing that was still a walk in the park was an actual walk in the park, then I would find a park. And when the time came that I could do nothing more than look out of a window, then I hope I would have chosen for myself a room with a view worth watching."
I read it when I was facing some changes forced on me by a major operation. Though this is very different to your situation I think those words show a strength of spirit and a resilience which allows one to endure and find peace and happiness in a horrible situation not of your own making. It helped me I hope it helps you.
Thank you so much for sharing, Brian! The quote is very inspiring and full of wisdom, and it applies to every difficult situation we can’t control. I’ll save it to reread during low moments.
Thank you, Darya, for sharing your honest words and your poem with us. Also really sorry for the loss of Maria Zaitzeva. She was a real warrior and a true hero. May she rest in peace.
Thank you, Paul!
Even from far away, here in Australia, I think about the brave people of Ukraine and Belarus frequently - you who have fought for so long and deserve peaceful, safe lives in free democracies. My husband’s paternal grandfather was a Ukrainian survivor of a Nazi prisoner of war camp, and came to Australia after the war - as did many Ukrainians. I hope one day we can visit a free and peaceful Ukraine, to finally see my husband’s ancestral village with our own eyes. 🙏🏻 I will continue to listen to your peoples’ stories and experiences.
Thank you for your support, Fiona!
Extending hugs to you too Darya. Walls collapse for all sorts of reasons and we can all do our bit to wear away its foundations 🫂
Thank you, Tanya!
I’m really sorry to hear about Maria. Thank you for the poem.
Thank you
14 years ago, together again..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_5i_vF7DRA0