Anne Lamott was my gateway to progressive Christianity. I remember when I first read her books being absolutely (but delightedly) shocked by her language, her hatred of Bush & Cheney, and the fact that she was a Democrat and a Christian. But I fell in love with her honesty and vulnerability and the relatability of her writing and feelings. I never used to say any bad words...I was taught it was sinful and wrong and never necessary. But then I started deconstructing and shifting my faith and was so angry about so many things and I needed ALL the bad words....especially fuck and shit and asshole and flipping people off. Then I watched a documentary about how people who curse (and it matters that you use real curse words, not darn it or similar fake ones) and especially the ones who say fuck can tolerate painful moments longer. The study was holding your hand in ice cold water....and the ones who kept saying FUCK could last significantly longer. And a new study is being done to find out if this still works if you say the words in your head and not out loud.
Anyways, all that to say...I fully embrace all the curse words now and while I do censor myself around my nieces and nephews, and my mom, and at work....in my personal life and especially in my car I say them all loudly and proudly and without one single FUCK to give.
Oh my god I LOVE EVERY BIT OF THIS. Thank you so much for sharing!!! And yes, I censor myself around people out of respect. But my own books and my own social media? Y'all can look away/unfollow/not buy them if "fuck" offends you.
A virtuous southern young lady never used “bad” language. However, when I went to college, also in the south (not that that probably matters), we girls started using the word “shit” and progressed from there. Freedom like Jon Batiste sings it!
I knew we were kindred spirits, but it now extends to having written in purple pen as well. I spent decades writing only in purple pen. I too drifted from the practice around 2010 or so. My daughter actually bought me a dozen of my favourites this past Christmas in an effort to have me record my poetry in a lovely leatherbound journal embossed with my name. I, too, have found liberation in freeing the so-called cuss words considered taboo, but originally by whom? We give words undue weight and cripple ourselves by them. I applaud you for freeing fuck and lightening the load of virtuous burdens in your life. 💕🦋
Not so much how I felt about the shitty fuckery, but I’ve been having a lot of thoughts recently about how I tell my story and remain true both to myself now, and how I thought then. Do I tell how I experienced an event at the time, or how I interpret it now, or both? I’m still having think thoughts and working it out with overthinking.
Anne Lamott was my gateway to progressive Christianity. I remember when I first read her books being absolutely (but delightedly) shocked by her language, her hatred of Bush & Cheney, and the fact that she was a Democrat and a Christian. But I fell in love with her honesty and vulnerability and the relatability of her writing and feelings. I never used to say any bad words...I was taught it was sinful and wrong and never necessary. But then I started deconstructing and shifting my faith and was so angry about so many things and I needed ALL the bad words....especially fuck and shit and asshole and flipping people off. Then I watched a documentary about how people who curse (and it matters that you use real curse words, not darn it or similar fake ones) and especially the ones who say fuck can tolerate painful moments longer. The study was holding your hand in ice cold water....and the ones who kept saying FUCK could last significantly longer. And a new study is being done to find out if this still works if you say the words in your head and not out loud.
Anyways, all that to say...I fully embrace all the curse words now and while I do censor myself around my nieces and nephews, and my mom, and at work....in my personal life and especially in my car I say them all loudly and proudly and without one single FUCK to give.
Oh my god I LOVE EVERY BIT OF THIS. Thank you so much for sharing!!! And yes, I censor myself around people out of respect. But my own books and my own social media? Y'all can look away/unfollow/not buy them if "fuck" offends you.
A virtuous southern young lady never used “bad” language. However, when I went to college, also in the south (not that that probably matters), we girls started using the word “shit” and progressed from there. Freedom like Jon Batiste sings it!
I love this freedom for you, friend. 🥰 And I’ve been listening to his new album, Beethoven Blues, while I stretch in the mornings. It’s soooo good. 💙
I knew we were kindred spirits, but it now extends to having written in purple pen as well. I spent decades writing only in purple pen. I too drifted from the practice around 2010 or so. My daughter actually bought me a dozen of my favourites this past Christmas in an effort to have me record my poetry in a lovely leatherbound journal embossed with my name. I, too, have found liberation in freeing the so-called cuss words considered taboo, but originally by whom? We give words undue weight and cripple ourselves by them. I applaud you for freeing fuck and lightening the load of virtuous burdens in your life. 💕🦋
Right??? Who decided these specific words were bad???
Not so much how I felt about the shitty fuckery, but I’ve been having a lot of thoughts recently about how I tell my story and remain true both to myself now, and how I thought then. Do I tell how I experienced an event at the time, or how I interpret it now, or both? I’m still having think thoughts and working it out with overthinking.
Oh my god I’m struggling with this EXACT thing. Whew!!
Oh, I’m so glad you are… well, obviously not glad, but you get it.
I GET IT!!!