51 Comments
User's avatar
Samu's avatar

This hits a place I know too well not the numbness, but the shrinking.

How a self can fade into translucence until even memory feels refracted.

Your imagery is razor-soft, and the shift to antifragile grounds the entire piece.

Beautiful work. Thank you for writing from the place where light returns with edges. 🤍

wildflower's avatar

Thank you for reading and feeling it, Samu!! 🤍

Since last year I only knew shrinking „outside“, hiding who I am for others.

But this time the shrinking was „inside“, I lost myself completely (and absolutely didn’t like who I’ve become).

I believe in rough situations letting you grow, making you stronger. But for the first time I realized that some situations can be too much to take, you can’t make any effort of them for yourself.

Samu's avatar
Dec 7Edited

I hear the difference you describe shrinking “outside” and shrinking “inside.”

That inner collapse you mention… it takes courage to name it without turning it into a performance of strength.

And yes, some situations don’t make us stronger; they simply exceed our capacity.

I’m glad you found language for it that alone is already a form of returning to yourself.

And just to say it more simply: I’m here.

Your honesty means a lot. 🤍

wildflower's avatar

That was the hardest part for me, accepting the collapse without being able to change anything. It truly was a lesson about that you sometimes have to take more than you are able to, but don’t break anyway.

You totally hit the point, this really exceeded my capacity.

Thank you so much for being here, Samu!! 🤍

Samu's avatar

Not breaking isn’t always strength it’s often just surviving. I’m really moved you shared this. Thank you for staying in that conversation with me. 🤍 It means more than words can carry.

wildflower's avatar

Thank you for your beautiful words and for being there!! 🤍

Mondayswife's avatar

Omg!!!!! I cant believe you mentioned me!!!! Honoured! Beautiful poem as always! And magnificent images! Good luck for your new antifragile method of getting back to ur self!!!

wildflower's avatar

I told you, Snookie!! ❤️

Thank you so much for being here!!

Mondayswife's avatar

I thank God you exist!!

wildflower's avatar

Love you, Snookie!! ❤️😘🫶🏻

Mondayswife's avatar

I love you!!!! Thank you!!

Jo-Ann Petrarca's avatar

Wildflower, I don’t know what to say. You’re beautiful and sensitive soul, welcome back! ✨

wildflower's avatar

Thank you so much for being here, Jo-Ann!! I appreciate you!

Stephanie M. Vargo's avatar

Incredible photos and poem. I can relate to disappearing. Written in a ghostly style. Love it.

wildflower's avatar

Thank you so much, Stephanie!! I really appreciate you!

Jane Deegan's avatar

I feel so much of this, especially the last two years of my life

wildflower's avatar

I‘m so glad that you can relate to this, Jane. Thank you so much for reading. 🤍

Cynthia's avatar

Utterly sacred, beautiful Wildflower—this moved through me viscerally. I see your humanness, your courage, your becoming. I feel our shared existence here too. What a precious and rare thing it is to witness something so alive and true.

wildflower's avatar

Thank you so much, my dearest friend. ❤️ This is one of the most heartfelt und beautiful comments I ever received. Thank you so much for feeling this so deeply, for seeing (me). Love you!! ❤️

Monoreena A Majumdar(Mocra)'s avatar

I came back after long and your photos and words were a good way to start Wildflower!

wildflower's avatar

Thank you so much, Mocra!! 🤍 Welcome back, I missed you!

Laura Register's avatar

You are an amazing poet and photographer. I am glad you are here. Much love!

wildflower's avatar

Thank you so much, Laura!! 🤍 This really means a lot.

nadia g's avatar

It’s amazing that you’re finding your way back! Keep going 🫶

wildflower's avatar

Will do!! Thank you so much, nadia! ❤️❤️❤️

Rea de Miranda's avatar

I understand what you mean, Wildflower. Protecting oneself against love. I'm happy you are here. 🤍

wildflower's avatar

Thank you so much for your kindness, Rea!!

Manuela Thames's avatar

Beautiful! Love how it is all laid our with the images and how the images are part of the poem.

wildflower's avatar

Thank you so much, Manuela!! 🤍 This means a lot.

Lyns McCracken's avatar

This is so hauntingly beautiful and so perfectly raw and vulnerable 🩶

wildflower's avatar

Thank you so much, Lyns!! 🤍 I really appreciate you!

Kathleen Hobbs's avatar

All of this was so very moving. But I could definitely identify with this,

"There were so many times in my life when I felt nothing, because feeling anything would have been too hard to take."

wildflower's avatar

Thank you so much for reading und commenting so kindly, Kathleen!!

Kathleen Hobbs's avatar

You're welcome

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Oh this was stunning.

wildflower's avatar

Thank you so much for your kindness, Stephanie!!

Yulia Bogdanova's avatar

it felt like i was there, in the experience, changing shape. was visceral

wildflower's avatar

Thank you so much, Yulia!! Your words really mean a lot to me.

Yulia Bogdanova's avatar

welcome back 🌹

Shital Morjaria (she/her)'s avatar

Wow photos and words that have so much emotion and feeling.

wildflower's avatar

Thank you so much, Shital!! This really means a lot to me.