i am enough from amy turn sharp
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 12:00AM 
We have found this other place.
We have carved out rooms of our own here.
We are like tiny explorers of an expedition that is laying much of the groundwork for those who are coming next.
We are here now and this brave new world has saved me.
I have dipped myself in this river of expression and technology and I have found my place.
I am able to type these words across white space…
It's not even freaky or scary anymore how Virginia Woolf has visited me three times this year. In the deep of the night. She's rough and not at all chummy. She stands at my bed, at the foot of my bed, and screams in languages that sound like bubbles-but all at once I wake up and know that she has really sang to me sweetly.
A song that women have heard all through time-
A song that is not much different than a war cry:
Go write it down.
I am able to write these and thousands of other words down each day and week and month and year and you all will read them and filter them through your own life and for the most part you won’t judge me.
You will lift me up and spin me round and tell me you understand.
You will reach through the screen of my computer and comfort me.
High five me.
Laugh your ass off with me.
Kiss me gently across my forehead.
You are these women in my life that I probably wouldn’t have known had I not been brave.
Had I not left my career and became the artist that I knew I was destined to be.
Had I not learned in a startling catechism with myself that I was worthy of living the life I wanted.
And just like real life in black yoga pants there are people mixed in around us who can’t see the light. There are people who may try and dim us or deflect and make it all wonky and tarnished.
That’s why it is our duty to keep brightly being ourselves and reminding all of the women here that they matter and that their stories have to be told.
We have to raise our voices and remind women:
that their rooms are important and true
that we cannot be afraid of each other
that we need to be sisters
that we are more than enough
that we can learn so much from each other
that we are here for a reason
That we must go write it down.
...........
About Amy Turn Sharp
Amy Turn Sharp is the wood queen of Little Alouette in Columbus, Ohio. She tracks her life on doobleh-vay blog and all times has at least 7 projects brewing. She is writing her first novel and learning how to bake in 2010. Amy is practicing positive thinking and hoping to have an essay on NPR someday. Amy LOVES the connections online and helping other women find their rooms of their own. She really likes radishes, spoonerisms, and chicken korma.
Artwork featured above was designed by the talented Adrienne Adair for the Mom 2.0 Exhibit.
**Edited to add:
Amy, Adrienne, and I are delighted that the lovely ladies at BlogHer asked to syndicate this post over at BlogHer.com. What an honor!
art, guest, i am enough, stories
Reader Comments (43)
wow. i'm speechless....truly amazing post, and rings so true to me!
Amy, you shine!!!
Oh Amy, that was lovely and so very true. xo
Arise & twirl, girlieQ. I..."get"...you :).
J'adore your poet-warrior capture of words...and I'm so thankful you're in my sphere to lift & encourage ME!
xo
Beautiful!!! Amy TS, you are the best!
And PS-- I totally bid on that gorgeous poster at the Mom 2.0 art auction. I gasped when I saw it. Gorgeous, gorgeous! And Adrienne Adair, who designed it, just designed my new website. Goodness everywhere!
Wow. Just. Wow.
I could try to find something poignant to say, to try to find the words to thank you for that resounding post, but I don't want to mar it with anything not totally raw and real. All I can say is YES! This is real talk. Now I really want to meet up and get to know the strong woman behind those words, the one who lost fear and jumped in feet first and be her friend.
love you, Amy. and your words. and those delicious little boys that you nurture. baking in 2010? Does that mean you and I get to have an apple pie bake-off in the fall? ;-)
Absolutely beautiful, Amy. As are you. xoxo
Amy, it is my honor to call you my friend. I'm so glad you are in my place. It's pure love.
This is our piece.
This is our peace.
Thank you.
Holy wow. Thank you. *high five*
Love this.
Oh my... love. Very much. Good for you, lady!!
Fan-freakin-tastic! Monster hugs and lovin' for this!
Standing and clapping, blowing you kisses. Love, love, love this piece.
Wow...that was absolutely LOVELY, powerful, AMAZING!!!
I pick the best friends.
That was just beautiful. Thank you.
Love. Love. Love. Love.
Beautiful, powerful wonderful words from an amazing woman.
Thank you for sharing.
This is why. When they ask...and they do... THIS is why.
Utterly beautiful. What a gift, Amy.
This was absolutely beautiful!
Goosebumps.
And even more special because I know you and I know how true these words are.
oh, so lovely.
Beautiful. Really beautiful!