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LorrieDawn's avatar

We are here! Reading! Listening! I have Wordpress but go several months without posting. I am living with Chronic Fatigue after Cancer Journey. I am still here with my little Rat Terrier Ruger! And with Half and Half! Thank goodness for you! I know you know! Much love from Oregon, Lorrie

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Donna Gold's avatar

Oat milk works well and there are some brands that froth nicely. It’s a good alternative. As for the rest of what you’re going through, I’m of no help but carrying you in my thoughts.

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Holly Whitaker's avatar

Look: Almond milk IS bullshit. Love you. Imagining the creamiest coffee journey for you in the near future.

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Abby Alten Schwartz's avatar

I love this community. Most of the comments are recommendations for better non-dairy substitutes than almond milk (which is vile in coffee, I agree). All of the comments are loaded with love which is both stated and written between the lines. You are on my mind every day, Suleika. Obviously I can only speak for myself, but I think one of the reasons your current situation has touched so many so deeply, aside from the fact that we LOVE YOU so much, is because we read your book only in the last year, so your vivid descriptions of the hell you went through at 22 feel so recent. We care about you so knowing you are going through another BMT and all of the accompanying procedures, feels like a cruel twist. Like so many, I am holding the space for your full recovery and am grateful you trust us to share updates with us and stay in touch. Proud of you for knocking those PFTs out of the park. I know those well, as you can imagine, and have my own collection of "best of" printouts from Sammie. xox

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Suleika Jaouad's avatar

So grateful to know you and have you as part of this beloved community, Abby ❤️

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Tanya Floyd's avatar

I love the concept of writing to exorcize the demons that haunt the memories in our mind! Thank you, Suleika for sharing your personal perspective and introducing us to interesting brilliant people. Speaking of brilliant, I am currently reading your Between Two Kingdoms! It is brilliantly written and a journey that I can understand from a personal perspective. I was diagnosed with AML January 2021. I am currently in remission and I hope that does not change but, following your current journey with the disease gives me the courage to face my future with hope and strength. Thank you for putting words to my feeling about AML. I share your TED talk on social media platforms for other leukemia patients to watch. Sending you lots of healing light and love.

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Eleanor Johnstone's avatar

This is a great prompt, thank you Puloma and Suleika. Writing was first and foremost a solution my parents offered me when I began having insomnia at a young age. And when I really can't turn off a thought I turn to my journal. For this one, I wrote about the feelings of dread I have for my birthday this year for reasons I had hoped I had overcome. After venting, I found that listing out what I know and what I am doing was helpful (hooray for lists, in moderation!) I think I will use the prompt the next time that I get in an obsessive loop about shopping for and cooking with specific ingredients at the Asian markets around LA - a favorite hobby which can get out of hand sometimes. I like the idea of channeling my appetites into words :)

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Suleika Jaouad's avatar

Love love love a list! ❤️

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Tara Murphy's avatar

Almond milk is bullshit!! Dairy is a no no for me to but some things I just won’t sacrifice no matter what lol ;)

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Alice Josephs's avatar

This prompt resonates with me. I have been writing to exorcise shame and guilt around choices I made in raising my son when living in cult some 40 years ago. The subject keeps choosing me over and over. As much as I would like to turn away from it, I am more intensely drawn to it. And, about almond milk: I am a coffee devotee and the best I’ve found for making a latte is New Barn organic unsweetened. Yes, it’s still almond milk. No argument there.

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Suleika Jaouad's avatar

Thinking of you and your son, sending love ❤️

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Ruth's avatar

This prompt resonates and perhaps I will finally begin to make journaling a part of my regular routine again. Doing it in that time between first and second sleeps makes perfect sense rather than just laying awake in bed.

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A. James's avatar

Obsess less is my affirmation. The dead can’t speak, the self-centered won’t reflect, and I am left with the emotional baggage. No more, obsess-less I tell myself

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Beth Benjamin's avatar

much love, and courage for the time ahead, Suleika.

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Jane koerbel's avatar

Holding your words. Sending healing healing thoughts and wishing you peace.

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Jazmin Mooney's avatar

Suleika, thank you for continuing to share your journey. Reading your latest entry reminds me that I must be sensitive to the challenges facing others, that might result in behavior I interpret as "intense," or "nasty," because I have not been generous with my compassion and understanding. Puloma's prompt is challenging; to go to that dark place where fears I impulsively want to turn away from lurk. That place where I must face a fractured relationship, a rejection that is so painful I consciously occupy my mind with other thoughts to avoid the pain. I avoid writing about these feelings in my journal because I am so wounded but when I have dedicated/disciplined myself in the past to "exorcising" what haunts me, I am freed. This is my challenge today....

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Suleika Jaouad's avatar

I’ve found it’s important to invoke grave and gentleness in moments like these. Elizabeth Gilbert uses a shorthand: soft rooms. Sending you love ❤️

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Cassandra Whetstone's avatar

Almond milk is not 50/50, but cashew or oat will get you closer. How I love the idea of writing to exorcize your haunts. I do this with long emails that I delete but going try taking it next level.

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Eleanor Johnstone's avatar

I love the practice of writing out the email that just needs to come out of me - and then walking away, and then starting a newer, shorter, either kinder or more outwardly-focused one :)

Also loving the responses to almond milk here. I'm not a coffee drinker anymore but the few times, years ago, when I tried it with almond milk I was decidedly not pleased!

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Diane Hendrix's avatar

Suleika, you have no idea what a gift this posting is, probably. Your heart is huge and vulnerable, thus contagious. Deep bow to you for these words, thoughts and your pain. May your wings lift and comfort you. What a masterful painting.

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Gina Gläser's avatar

Straight Almond milk is BS, and it's now part of our climate problem (!!). Trader Joe's Macadamia/Cashew/Almond blend works great and doesn't interfere with taste. Milkadamia (macadamia milk) works great too, and this week I discovered Califa's toasted coconut and almond blend. (Their barista blend--meh.) I usually stay away from straight coconut milk (doesn't always work taste wise), but this was great! Oh and Pacific Chocolate-Hazelnut milk with coffee = Nutella coffee!!!🙏🏼🤍

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