55 Comments

Kristi, you touched on something here I feel like I could write volumes about. Its not just one place to write ourselves back to, it is all of the stories that make us who we are. I just crawled out of the mountains on a big thru hike, utterly exhausted. On the drive home I listened to Brandi Carlile's song The Story- "All of these lines across my face... tell you the story of who I am." Lol, it got me all choked up! But I believe that this is the essence of what we are doing here, connecting with each other as humans through our experiences in life!

Expand full comment

I can totally relate to getting choked up over music when you're all alone "somewhere." That's happened to me more than once in my travels.

And you're right, I bet we all have a thousand places we could write outsells back to.

Expand full comment

Cowabunga, Kristi - the synapses in the little gray cells (tapping noggin') are firing on all cylinders after reading this. So many ideas of where to write myself back to, so stand by for the winner in the near future ...

Expand full comment

Ha! Looking forward to it!

Expand full comment

At the moment life has thrown me a huge curve ball so if I could I would write my way back to good health. Writing which has always been my counsellor now might need to step up and pay the mortgage, at least I can write from anywhere, teaching is not so easy.

So yes if I could write myself anywhere it would be to good health both financially and physically.

Expand full comment

Sam, I'm so sorry you're going through challenging times right now. Sending you positive thoughts! ✨️

Expand full comment

If I could write my way back to anywhere it would be freedom - freedom from the inner critic, freedom from the obsessing, ruminating mind, freedom from judgement, freedom from FEAR. I hope the words can help string together a path back to my essential nature. Great post, thank you 😊

Expand full comment

Vicki, I feel like you definitely need to write that ❤️❤️❤️

Expand full comment

Thanks for the inspiration Kristi.... I might just do that 😀

Expand full comment

What a terrific post Kristi and so timely for where I am in my life NOW, yet on a journey of living in the PAST and learning why and who I am right NOW. I refer to it as "from Whence I Came." Looking forward from NOW, I look forward to my FUTURE in words unfolding from the PAST. So much to learn about life, even NOW.

Expand full comment

Thanks Tom! And yes, you're definitely on a journey of a lifetime in all 3 realms - past, present, future 😊

Enjoy every minute of it.

Expand full comment

I used to think there is a "write back" place, but now I truly believe there is only a "write forward" place that includes all the "write back" places I would ever want to go to. The nature of being human and having a biography is by necessity--and good fortune--always additive. The "write back" place I am going to has to include the "me now" person who is writing it. I have more to give in the present than I ever did in the past. Like scientists we alter experimental results by participating in them. What do you think? Am I off base?

Expand full comment

Love the watch. I'm thinking about matching shoes that say "here."😆

Expand full comment

A great pairing 😁😁

Expand full comment

Ah Miss Kristi!

I truly enjoy your commentaries, and truly thought you would bring up my own profile, which reads...."I don't have the interest or the imagination to write fiction...."and now do you. Life is so interesting without creating anything fantastical. The potential is indeed endless and fun to share.

Right now, I would not write myself back, I am loving the forward, but soon, I will look back and consider those other moments, and remember your words.

Thank you.

Expand full comment

What I love the MOST about your response is, "I'm loving the forward." That is such a great life quote to live by. ❤️❤️

Expand full comment

YES!!

Expand full comment

The ⛱️ of course

Expand full comment

This was beautiful. I’m not sure I want to write my way back to anything. I’m working on being in the present. Enjoying every moment.

Expand full comment

A very worthy endeavor!

Expand full comment

I watched a short film about an ultra trail runner the other day and he had N:OW tattooed on his wrist, like a digital clock. That was pretty cool too.

Expand full comment

Hmmmm very interesting! I wonder if he got the idea from these watches? Thanks for sharing that, Yvonne.

Expand full comment

Wow, you've got me cogitating . . . I'd write my way back to a forest path that my childhood legs can run on, and on, and on, inhaling the scent of balsam and sun-dusted redwood bark. In that vision, the time is adamantly and always NOW. Thank you, Kristi.

Expand full comment

Ahhh what a beautiful visual, Jan! It conjures up feelings of innocence and freedom! I love that 😊😊

Expand full comment

I would write my way back to innocence. When I lived with my siblings, when my son was a toddler, when I felt like the future was sooooo expansive! This is great prompt.. I'll have to think about this one some more.. thank you!

Expand full comment

So many points in time! I'm glad it got you thinking!

Expand full comment

"everything you write about is inherently YOU…even if it’s not the same you existing in this very moment.".... THIS! this is great-especially the part that it's not the same you in this moment. So so true! Thanks for a thought provoking post Kristi!

Expand full comment

Kind of a mind-twist isn't it? When I reread that paragraph I was like, does this even make sense?

Expand full comment

It makes perfect sense, and especially coupled with your 'now' watch-as we are only who we are NOW, but are shaped by each and every moment.

Expand full comment

Ahhh nice one! I didn't even think of the watch that way! Thanks for your thoughtful insight!

Expand full comment

"...everything you write about is inherently you." The best writers are exactly like that- unique voices.

Expand full comment

@Kristi Keller Truly inspiring. Coming up on my 2nd Substack anniversary, I realize I've been writing my way back to the one place I've ever considered home even though I was already there (here). My physical structure was here but the rest of me was still out there, wandering about, reaching for a dream I had already found but didn't recognize. Being human is often a confusing swirl of here and there. Part of this is coming out tomorrow and I'll tag you. Thanks for this post.

Expand full comment

Looking forward to it Joyce!

Expand full comment