What a beautifully brave and powerful essay Darce. I love that it hold two things at once: that we carry our lived experiences around with us for our entire lives, *and* we can change and grow and heal even from very hard things. I also love that one person's bravery in naming their experience can set off a cascade of courage in countless others to do the same. Your writing is such a beautiful gift to the world! Please keep going! XOXO
Nikki, I can't even begin to tell you how much it means to read this. Especially because you knew that girl. Thank you for reading and for the encouragement. xoxox
Beautiful Darcey, a very powerful share and sadly one that many women can relate to. Reading your story has inspired me to reflect on all my “I could tell you”‘s and possibly sit down, finally sit down, yea, sit down, and write mine. Thank you 💜
I wrote this piece more than a year ago and realized how powerful those three words were. I often use "I could tell ..." now as a prompt in my writing classes. I'm so glad it inspired you! Thank you for reading.
Darcey, I'm so grateful that you could tell your 19yo girl that it wasn't her fault, that it had never been her fault. Reading your essay made me cry. Maybe because your self-forgiveness was so hard won, maybe because I have a young girl inside me that I need to forgive, or maybe because, collectively as women, we all have a younger version of ourselves that needs our forgiveness. Thank you for writing this, and for sharing it with me and with The World.
Darcey! This essay rocked me when you read it in class and moved me again today.I’m so glad you shared it here (and I was so sorry to have missed your public share, though I know you did brilliantly). So many feels for me here. This is another experience of yours I really connect to. As always, thank you for your big open- hearted writing and for daring to dig in to the hard stuff. We are all so inspired by you and learn so much!!
I am so grateful to have such amazing students. I can't even begin to thank you. I listen to your stories every week and it meant everything for you all to hear this one. Thank you. xoxo
WOW. Thank you for your vulnerability in sharing this and what powerful writing....Sending huge amounts of love and hugs to little 19yo Darcey, who didn't yet know how worthy and amazing she is
I'm floored by your courage. Somehow you share this truth so eloquently, it's inspiring to me. I'm grateful to Writer's Read for showing your incredible gift of vulnerbability as a true writer. Also, thank you for sharing it here so more of us can look at our own CHANGES. Thank you. Xj
Thank you! Truly. Means so much to hear, especially since you my friend, knew the anxiety I felt leading up to sharing this one. Old wounds are hard. Grateful for friends like you who were there to encourage me. xoxo
Wow, knowing the empowered woman you are now, I’d never imagine that you’d experienced this. Thank you for sharing this and reminding me how much people grow and change. Powerful essay.
Thank you Carol. This says so much ... you never know what anyone has experienced (we all have a story) but, more importantly, we can't always control what happens to us but we can control how we deal with it. I worked hard to heal.
WOW. Absolutely gorgeous writing, and thank you for sharing your experience. I used to think that because I had shared a similar experience with someone, that somehow I understood how they felt -- but I've learned years later that we all truly respond to the unthinkable in different ways. What has been most helpful is getting quiet and just serving as a loving witness to a friend who needs to feel seen and heard.
Sending you much gratitude for your offering. It's no small thing to share these pieces of you with others. 💙 🖊️ 📖 🦋
Love that Stephanie. I know exactly what you mean. In all my classes, we do readings of personal stories and people often comment, "I wouldn't have reacted that way." I've realized there is no right or wrong way. I like to think about how important it is just to listen, make a reader feel validated. Thank you so much for reading.
What a beautifully brave and powerful essay Darce. I love that it hold two things at once: that we carry our lived experiences around with us for our entire lives, *and* we can change and grow and heal even from very hard things. I also love that one person's bravery in naming their experience can set off a cascade of courage in countless others to do the same. Your writing is such a beautiful gift to the world! Please keep going! XOXO
Yes
Nikki, I can't even begin to tell you how much it means to read this. Especially because you knew that girl. Thank you for reading and for the encouragement. xoxox
Wow. Such a brave and important time to share this. Thank you.
Thank you Kerri!
Beautiful Darcey, a very powerful share and sadly one that many women can relate to. Reading your story has inspired me to reflect on all my “I could tell you”‘s and possibly sit down, finally sit down, yea, sit down, and write mine. Thank you 💜
I wrote this piece more than a year ago and realized how powerful those three words were. I often use "I could tell ..." now as a prompt in my writing classes. I'm so glad it inspired you! Thank you for reading.
this is BRILLIANT ! I will definitely use the prompt I Could Tell You in my poetry writing class.
After Our Wonderful retreat in Bear Mtn., I took a class in Martha's Vineyard with Nancy Aronie,
who was a guest on your Monday Zoom. This is what I wrote in her workshop:
Joseph Campbell:
We must get rid of the life we planned
to make room for the life that is waiting for us.
To my Discarded Husband
I want to say to you,
I was like all the young girls
of the ‘40’s and ‘50’s
who married the men who chose us.
I was like a Prize you won on the board walk
After a few games of chance.
A Virgin prize, you took home under your arm,
Like you owned me.
I want to say to you, discarded husband,
How relieved I am. How unburdened, I am
How free I am without you.
As I make room for the life
That is waiting for me.
And I want to say to you, my warrior women
Put down the weight of your aloneness.
Come to our house
Where the kettle is singing
Where you are not alone.
Where we are waiting for you.
Luisa Matarazzo
September 18, 2024
It was a pleasure to meet you, Darcey/ A Brave and Warrior Woman
Beautiful! I love your poetry! Your book now has a home on my coffee table.
Darcey: just wow. A remarkable story beautifully written.
Thank you Julie. Means so much to hear.
So glad you have the love you have now
me too xoxo
Darcey, I'm so grateful that you could tell your 19yo girl that it wasn't her fault, that it had never been her fault. Reading your essay made me cry. Maybe because your self-forgiveness was so hard won, maybe because I have a young girl inside me that I need to forgive, or maybe because, collectively as women, we all have a younger version of ourselves that needs our forgiveness. Thank you for writing this, and for sharing it with me and with The World.
Thank you Diana. Too often we are so rough on ourselves in the present. Sometimes, it is healing to look back. xoxo
Darcey! This essay rocked me when you read it in class and moved me again today.I’m so glad you shared it here (and I was so sorry to have missed your public share, though I know you did brilliantly). So many feels for me here. This is another experience of yours I really connect to. As always, thank you for your big open- hearted writing and for daring to dig in to the hard stuff. We are all so inspired by you and learn so much!!
I am so grateful to have such amazing students. I can't even begin to thank you. I listen to your stories every week and it meant everything for you all to hear this one. Thank you. xoxo
WOW. Thank you for your vulnerability in sharing this and what powerful writing....Sending huge amounts of love and hugs to little 19yo Darcey, who didn't yet know how worthy and amazing she is
Thank you so much Sarah! We are so hard on ourselves. Sometimes when we look back, we treat that younger self with more grace. oxoxo
I'm floored by your courage. Somehow you share this truth so eloquently, it's inspiring to me. I'm grateful to Writer's Read for showing your incredible gift of vulnerbability as a true writer. Also, thank you for sharing it here so more of us can look at our own CHANGES. Thank you. Xj
Thank you! Truly. Means so much to hear, especially since you my friend, knew the anxiety I felt leading up to sharing this one. Old wounds are hard. Grateful for friends like you who were there to encourage me. xoxo
Wow, knowing the empowered woman you are now, I’d never imagine that you’d experienced this. Thank you for sharing this and reminding me how much people grow and change. Powerful essay.
Thank you Carol. This says so much ... you never know what anyone has experienced (we all have a story) but, more importantly, we can't always control what happens to us but we can control how we deal with it. I worked hard to heal.
Thank you for sharing this important story, Darcey. Beautiful writing as always! 💜
Thanks so much Karri!
WOW. Absolutely gorgeous writing, and thank you for sharing your experience. I used to think that because I had shared a similar experience with someone, that somehow I understood how they felt -- but I've learned years later that we all truly respond to the unthinkable in different ways. What has been most helpful is getting quiet and just serving as a loving witness to a friend who needs to feel seen and heard.
Sending you much gratitude for your offering. It's no small thing to share these pieces of you with others. 💙 🖊️ 📖 🦋
Love that Stephanie. I know exactly what you mean. In all my classes, we do readings of personal stories and people often comment, "I wouldn't have reacted that way." I've realized there is no right or wrong way. I like to think about how important it is just to listen, make a reader feel validated. Thank you so much for reading.