31 Comments
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Jay Sparrowhawk Ray's avatar

Brilliant. We have to keep reminding ourselves, and each other, that WE are True North, our feelings the stars that point the way, our instincts the latitude and longitude of us. And that WE is made up of unique, individual, cooperating "I's". Bless.

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Gabriel  Owen's avatar

“So much nonsense is said in serious voices”

Thank you for that line

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JLM Morton's avatar

Thank you for this you utter goddess ❤️

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Sue Reed's avatar

Wonderful writing, thanks Jeanette - I went to sleep with the film, Rewilding in my head having watched it in our village hall with a wonderful group of like-minded friends and have woken up to read this glorious essay on being bold and speaking our truth, and now sail forth into the week with passion and positivity. Thank you.

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Cherry's avatar

Empowering reminder … thank you 😘

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Jenny Dixon's avatar

Really appreciate this Jeanette - so glad you write to us on Substack 🪷

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Jan Sutherland's avatar

How can we be anything to each other when we can't even agree on what is "real". How can the young even see "reality"? When it is so distorted and abused? I know what I think because I had a rootedness in an agreed upon "reality". We all agreed that a punch to the face hurt. And that the pain from such violence was no less painful for those I might punch in the face. Not so, now. How can we move anywhere in a world of complete relativity? I surely don't know.

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Erin Geesaman Rabke's avatar

Essential words of wisdom for exactly this moment. Thank you. So much.

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chantal's avatar

"True North". Thank you. Stellar notion to carry in one's current "survival kit".

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Ninja Notion 🇨🇦's avatar

This time in history will test each and every one of us.

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Lisa McLean's avatar

I coveted those magnet shoes too Jeanette, the closest I came was trying them on in a shoe shop, but mum didn’t choose them. Very disappointing, everything could have been so different I’ve I’d had an inbuilt compass.

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Just Simon's avatar

So good and so true, Jeanette. And I did have a pair of those shoes - you didn’t miss much, they were fiendishly heavy…..

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Andrew's avatar

Didn’t the shoes also have animal track prints on the sole? I never got them either.

Nice piece, by the way. Sent it on to my daughter. Thank you, A

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Alex Overton Overdone's avatar

There are so many varieties of bullshit now all over the political spectrum, as a centrist there is no political party in the UK, USA, or Canada,or Australia or New Zealand that I can support. All sides have signed on to some from of mad-hattery! Orwell would be appalled at the state of the so called Free world.

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Jan Sutherland's avatar

Well, being a " centrist" is a total buy in to the "reality" sold by the very parties you say you can't support.... interesting...

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Carole Shadbolt's avatar

True North ..wonderful thanks..you only have to say it to feel it dont you…and hang on to it.

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Clare Ní Bhaoilligh's avatar

I argued vehemently for a pair of those shose - Clarks' 'Wayfinders', I think? So vehemently that mum bought them for me despite them being 'boys shoes'. They were, as Simon, below, says "fiendishly heavy". I must have looked ridiculouswith my skinny legs and pairing them with my beloved pretty dresses. They were noisy too. Clump-clump-clump. But the compass - and the prints of fox and badger tracks - I was in heaven! The best protection I was ever given was my father teaching me to never fail to question and scrutinise authority and consider the source of any information. It's stood me and ensuing generations in good stead.

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