40 Comments

Love this, especially “The gold is in the shit.” Reminds me of Yeats, who said that “love has pitched his mansion in the place of excrement.”

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I know, Jessica's answers are so wonderful! And, oh, Yeats and Jung think alike!

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I'm so happy Jessica got to share more of her wonderful mind with us

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Jessica does have the most wonderful mind!! I loved getting this peek into it! Glad you enjoyed it, too!

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Fabulous! Love using "shit" to help things grow, one way or another. It's the old "if life hands you lemons, make lemonade" suggestion. As a former therapist, I used that line and similar ones because it was most often why the client/patient arrived. Life had become a little murky for one reason or another and we all appreciate seeing things more clearly with understanding why and moving ahead.

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Gary I like your reflective response, read some of your blogs & subscribed Saturday 21 Oct. I don’t see shite though, in my own life it’s not happy/ not unhappy at 60 yrs old. Embracing my gray for three years👊

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Aw, that's wonderful, Gary. My sense is you were a lovely and brilliant therapist! Grateful you're sharing your wisdom here. Glad you enjoyed this interview!

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“Does your shit feel like fertilizer?” 😂 😂 😂 I trust it will eventually. It’s still composting--in the late stage, before it can be applied to the ground without burning things. That stage, no joke, is called “curing.”

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Love this interview, thank you!

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I'm so glad! Jessica says so many wonderful things!

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Hah! I love that!! And how perfect! Thanks for sharing!

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Oct 2, 2023Liked by Jane Ratcliffe

Yo! I have always been guided by T&B, but didn't know it until some way into my seventh decade oozing around in this strange and wonderful human form. And gray is just an aspect of the wonderment. My girlfriend is just a wee few breaths behind me in time, and her 'used to be blonde' is now such a mesmerizing white-ish bright something with dark blonde streaks - do I need to say that I love it? Any way as age ripens in you I know you have a delicately tender embrace to wrap around her and all she may bring. Oh yeah, she also embraced life in the high Sierras as a young woman and if I were to see at her with another's eyes, there are wrinkles. But I just don't see anything but her. Love your essays. Be well.

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That's so beautiful, Devakai. I feel the same way. It's a relief, isn't it? And pretty wonderful! I'm deeply grateful. Thanks for your kind words on my writing. And I'm glad you enjoyed this interview! If you're not familiar with Jessica's Substack you might really enjoy it! It's in keeping with much of what you shared here.

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Thank you so much for a lovely interview!!

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I love your answers so much! Thank you for filling in the BB&B!

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So refreshing to get to peek into the mind and life of Jessica DeFino she is one of my favorite writers here on Substack! Thank you.

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Glad you enjoyed it. Jessica is soooo good. One of my favs, as well!

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Oct 2, 2023Liked by Jane Ratcliffe

I was also obsessed with the "angus, thongs, and full frontal snogging" series! It's such a weird gem!

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I'm heading straight to Thriftbooks for that one!

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Sounds like a good plan! Curious to hear what you think!

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It definitely sounds weird! And possibly also wonderful! Will have to check it out!

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Oct 2, 2023Liked by Jane Ratcliffe

This was delightful! I want a jungian therapist!

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I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Me, too!

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Love this so much

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I'm so glad you enjoyed it! It's definitely one of my favs!

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Wow this was tremendous

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Isn’t it so good! One of my faves. Glad you enjoyed it! 🌸

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Absolutely love the simplicity, acceptance and celebration of answer 7 ❤️

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I know! I agree! I was sort of delighted by that response!

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Oct 2, 2023Liked by Jane Ratcliffe

Jessica always manages to have her finger on the pulse of all things true. Loved this whole interview.

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I know! She does! I want to go out to tea with her!! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!

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Thanks, Jane. Humbled by your words. I did what I could with what I had where I was. Not at all sure about wisdom or brilliance, just gave it my best and still at it although in different ways. Grateful to you and for you in this good work.

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awesome

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Indeed! Glad you enjoyed it!

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I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love this woman. Candid, thoughtful and always interesting. Great Q&A which I thoroughly enjoyed!

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I agree! Jessica is beloved! I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🌸

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