28 Comments
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Jennifer Campo's avatar

Wow, thank you! Just catching up…I’ve been busy parenting but LOVE “ritual fire starter”

Danusia Malina-Derben's avatar

I so understand that “just catching up”feeling Jennifer! You are an amazing ritual fire starter, and more 💖

Violet Carol's avatar

Biased but I’m of the opinion that you should win any award that ever comes your way! One day we will have tea together. You’re amazing ❤️

Danusia Malina-Derben's avatar

You gorgeous human — thank you. Tea is happening, and it won’t be civilised. Snorts.

Violet Carol's avatar

Tea on the floor, tea EVERYWHERE 🩷

Amy McKeown's avatar

Thank you for the nomination, you have got me thinking now - response incoming.

I can imagine us together in a Parisian boudoir writing and plotting as dawn breaks and the crows start. An evocative scene of being too much and not giving a damn. Owning it

Danusia Malina-Derben's avatar

Amy, that’s it exactly — women who stay up too late and give the dawn something to gossip about. Here’s to plotting without permission! ❤️‍🔥

Daniel Puzzo's avatar

Such lovely, unique answers, enjoyed this ☺️

Danusia Malina-Derben's avatar

Appreciate it, Daniel — I aim for lovely, but it’s the aftertaste that matters.

Megan Lee's avatar

Danusia, your words never cease to invigorate my mind and fertilize my own thoughts. I adore how you attack the answers with precise articulation and vivid conviction. Thank you for always inspiring me with your bold, ‘I won’t ever conform for the sake of comfort’ ways, and, thank you for nominating me. ♥️♥️♥️

Danusia Malina-Derben's avatar

Megan! You know how to make a woman blush and smirk at the same time. Thank you and I’m counting on your answers to be as gloriously unruly as your compliments.

Megan Lee's avatar

😁😁😁 You’re very welcome, and long live the unruly women!!!

Hazel Maclaurin's avatar

Danusia, I loved this post. The diamond-clarity-sharpness of your words. What you've so generously shared with us:

'I’d like to learn how to truly rest without making it a project.' - Oh, this resonated so much! I think you're right.

And it is gorgeous to find another person in this world who collects sentences compulsively - my phone photos are half sentence screenshots, half family life.

Thank you so much for the nomination - I am so looking forward to writing my response. Your nomination means SO much to me, I don't think I can adequately find the words! And I have been mentally trying on the term 'Cultural Blacksmith' ever since I read it... I love it! That piece of myth making is a generous gift, gratefully received. Thank you again.

Danusia Malina-Derben's avatar

Hazel, your message glows, thank you. I love that the line on rest resonated, and I’m smiling at the thought of your phone full of sentences and family alike. Cultural Blacksmith was yours the moment I thought it. I can’t wait to see what you forge next!

Hazel Maclaurin's avatar

Thank you! The next forging will be answers to your questions… and maybe some more LinkedIn dissection 😉

Olivia Lara Owen's avatar

Oh Danusia. You have such a unique blueprint in the way you speak and write. You remind me of a someone who's been living for generations, picking up millions of pieces along the way and allowing them to flow through you in such a generous way. I love reading your publication and I can feel the depth and love you pour into Parents Who Think. You always call me back here and I'm grateful for that. I'm so honoured to be nominated and can't wait to respond. Perfectly timed. <3

Danusia Malina-Derben's avatar

Olivia, your words feel like an embrace, thank you. You always bring that same ancestral, rooted energy to your own work, and I’m moved by it. I can’t wait to read your answers when they arrive!

Kathleen Hobbs's avatar

Danusia, I am so happy that I follow, Cesca, or I never would have read your delightful, fabulous answers to the questions she posted.

Danusia Malina-Derben's avatar

Ah, thank goodness for Francesca! I’m so glad you followed that thread here, and thank you for such kind words. 💖

Kathleen Hobbs's avatar

You’re welcome, Danusia

Jenna Folarin's avatar

Danusia, I really enjoyed reading this post, especially the parts about collecting sentences and how you'd live in Venice as it'd remind you how beauty and decay are never separate. Your words are so evocative and just gorgeous to read. I'm so grateful for the nomination, thank you, it's so lovely of you! I'll enjoy diving into those questions, already mulling over my answers! X

Danusia Malina-Derben's avatar

That’s such a gorgeous thing to say. I’m so glad you felt that connection to the words. I’ll be looking out for your answers… I know they’ll come from the heart. 💓

Joanna Milne 🏺's avatar

What fascinating answers and excellent questions !

Loads to think about. It has got me thinking already. Thank you for the nomination too. It is rare to be asked my opinion at the moment and I absolutely love being asked for that ! I will keep you posted

X

Danusia Malina-Derben's avatar

I love that it’s stirred ideas already. And being asked your opinion? Long overdue, I’d say. Can’t wait to see your take. 👯‍♀️

Katrina Donham's avatar

Danusia! You are such a life-force! I am in awe of you. Thank you for the mention--I'm blushing. Who, me?? I think I'll have to get "Everyday Alchemist" embroidered on the back of a jacket or perhaps a baseball cap. Wow! What a compliment! I wear your title with pride. I look forward to digging into your questions soon. Thank you. 🙏🏼❤️

Danusia Malina-Derben's avatar

Katrina, I love that you’re claiming it! Everyday Alchemist suits you down to the ground. Can’t wait to read what you do with the questions. Sending big love 🥰

Francesca Bossert's avatar

Hurray! I'm so happy to see you take part in this, especially as we need to spread some sunshine at this time of the year. Anais Nin! What a brilliant idea! Yes to that - the atmosphere you describe reminds me of my little apartment under the rooftops in the slightly more bohemian area of Geneva where I lived when I was a student. You could have come over and we'd have smoked and conversed into the wee hours. Or maybe gone out dancing to the gorgeous little smoky club not far from there, where all the artists hung out. Because even in a place like Geneva, there are artists. Or there were. Now I don't know, because I can never get into town....

Thank you for this, Danusia, and thank you for your kind words.

You're a superstar - and one of the people I most admire on Substack,

Hugs

Francesca xx

Danusia Malina-Derben's avatar

Francesca, I could see that rooftop as I read your words — the light, the air, the promise of a night that could go anywhere. Thank you for inviting me into this bright corner of connection and for the kindest words. They mean more than you know.