14 Comments
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Fal's avatar

This was wonderfully written and perfectly summed up the issues I have with 'you only get one shot' culture. It's just not true. This quote sticks with me - Life is not a single fork in the road

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Treading Water's avatar

Pick a fig , mate I don’t even like figs.

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Nico Gerber's avatar

Ugh. Thank you. Great reminders that it all just keeps going. I love fellow writers with chronic illnesses who are actually empowered!! Cos that’s a fucking slog of a mission but the ones who commit to that are my fucking people x

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Joey Hespe's avatar

Oh how many times I’ve also thought “shut the fuck up” when I hear kids who’ve never read Sylvia’s work try and compare their life to the fig tree…we are all the orchard!

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Casey Daly's avatar

Today, Liz Gilbert’s Letters From Love is about reinventing oneself. I think you might enjoy it. Thank you for this lovely piece of writing. 💙

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Elektra Bishop's avatar

Mate, sorry about your dad. Thanks for sharing. I'm not on TikTok enough to have seen this pick a fig nonsense, but forwarned is forarmed and I shall stick two fingers up to anyone who tries to tell me to be one thing. Variety is the spice of life and all that. Lovely words, thanks x

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Susan Cathro's avatar

The best, most authentic thing I read today. Life is one big garden…weeds and beautiful flowers, and bugs and birds. Live it.

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Happy Nielsen's avatar

This was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read. I love figs and I think I might love you a little bit

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Heart Gone Rogue's avatar

"You don’t just get one shot. Life is not a single fork in the road, where one wrong turn condemns you forever. It is a fucking labyrinth, full of U-turns, new doors, and routes you never even saw coming." I love this ~ so much truth in your piece, Jessica!

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J Colleen Carey's avatar

I will never stop loving this. So many phrases will stick with me forever. I love great writing, and this is one example of why. And, side note, I loved the content, too.

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Eleanor Matthews's avatar

I love this. I'm beginning my second life. It's really hard. Yesterday I felt really hopeless but today feels brighter. A timely read. Thank you.

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Lynnette's avatar

Oh wowww. This is so serious, heartwarming, lighthearted all at once! It’s a great writing!!

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Abigail Kendall's avatar

Wonderfully written. If everyone is writing about the fig tree, you are composing the antithesis and doing it very well in my humble, but nonetheless present, opinion

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Caroline Beuley's avatar

I could not agree with this more!! I wrote a little about this too - we can pick as many figs as we need to find what we’re supposed to be!

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