love
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Waxing a wooden floor is a simple task
In a conversation about proposals, a character expresses disappointment over a rejection from the David Suzuki Foundation, while remaining hopeful about alternatives. They explore the complexities of advocacy, drawing parallels between life and waxing floors. Through connection and persistence, they emphasize the importance of understanding one’s path, leading to unexpected opportunities.
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Slowness
The conversation between Jorge and the narrator explores the contrasting modes of thinking: fast, automatic responses versus slower, analytical reasoning. Jorge emphasizes the importance of taking time to slow down and appreciate complexity, cautioning against the dangers of quick, superficial answers. The journey itself, rather than swift arrivals, holds true meaning and depth.
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I am traveling on a bullet train, while you are still relying on a diesel engine.
Conversations with Virgin Mary I returned from Guadalajara and went to see Jorge to wish him a Happy New Year. The contrast was brutal. Back from Mexico, where light and dust linger in the air, to snow everywhere. The sidewalks were barely walkable, the neighborhood reduced to a narrow path between piles of ice. I…
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Designing Your Own Rollercoaster
The passage reflects on the metaphor of life as a roller coaster, emphasizing the unpredictability and emotional challenges it presents. The author shares personal experiences with their mother, who recounts a difficult marriage with a mentally ill husband. Through listening deeply, the author explores themes of suffering, presence, and processing past trauma.
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Blaming the stove for your misfortune
In Guadalajara, the narrator visits their mother, whose health has improved after treatment for Parkinson’s. However, her mood fluctuates with family interactions, highlighting the emotional complexity of their relationships. A discovered folder contains letters suggesting that understanding family dynamics can lead to healing, much like learning to handle a stove safely.
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Broken Heart Syndrome isn’t poetry—it’s diagnosis.
The narrative explores themes of personal grievances and the repetitive nature of life experiences, likening them to a soap opera. Characters grapple with unresolved family issues and the impact of belief on physical and emotional health. Ultimately, it emphasizes the importance of reshaping one’s mindset to unlock new perspectives and move forward.
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Unleashed
The post reflects on the profound connections we have with our pets and children, highlighting how our treatment of them influences their behavior. Through personal anecdotes and conversations, the author explores themes of kindness, understanding, and the importance of reconciling with past relationships, particularly with family, to foster healing and trust.
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Are You Closer to Your Promised Land?
The narrative explores the speaker’s reflections on envy and self-comparison after receiving a letter from Jorge, inspired by Virgin Mary’s wisdom. Despite their initial intentions, they find themselves distracted by neighborly envy and digital comparisons, ultimately realizing that personal growth should focus on individual paths rather than others’ achievements.
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Frozen Pizza Thoughts
My mother flew back to Guadalajara yesterday with my brother (who returned to Boston after) and a nurse. She’s getting worse, and I feel that being alone now—with only paid caregivers, while her three sons live scattered across North America—will not benefit her at all. My house feels wrong without her—too quiet, too clean, too…
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This is not Housekeeping. This is Exorcism
These are further pages from Jorge’s writings, the ongoing Conversations with Virgin Mary. I have learned to approach them with less skepticism and more attention: each letter is dense, peculiar, sometimes unsettling, yet never entirely opaque. They feel like fragments of a mind speaking across time, a mixture of instruction, confession, and something I cannot…
Carlos Fentanes 