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Allison's avatar

Susan, thank you so much for highlighting I Am the Cage in The Quiet Life, and for welcoming a conversation about pain, a topic so often avoided or brushed under the rug. I love the idea of using whatever it is that causes you pain as a catalyst for creativity, and it really captures the impetus of I Am the Cage to a tee. The process of writing this book has indeed been bittersweet, and has taught me more than anything else that sometimes the most beautiful things can come from our most trying moments.

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Christiane Neukirch's avatar

If there is a pain you can’t get rid of, make it your creative offering…

This sentence from your book, dear Susan, is on the front page of my diary, I see it every day.

It’s the Motto that has been leading me on my path since.

Yes, I have a pain I can’t get rid of, and that’s probably the German trauma - which is showing up again these days : The pain to see what terrible things human beings can do to others (as our ancestors did) and how that never ceases. I dreamt the dream of our after-WW II-generation, that we never again would allow anything like that to happen again. But …

???? !!!

That is probably also part of why the war against Ukraine shakes me that much that it gives me pain deep in my soul and even my body.

I wish I could deliver more and greater healing there and in the world in general - like people who organise practical help, convoys etc…

But all I have is my creative way, the colours I can put to the mast - and I do hope my pictures, poems, music and texts - and being with the people there - can spread a little warmth and hope.

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