I'll offer woundable to the collection of synonyms. Being open enough or close enough to others that you can be known, but also experience ruptures (and hopefully repair).
I love the photograph you used. It really captures the ideas you expressed. I also love the descriptions of grief. Grief occurs in life, so much more than I ever realized until recent years! Even disappointments are a type of grief, and I like how you put words to different expressions of grief.
As for the synonyms…I think the word “exposed” encompasses a lot (like Moriah suggested). It can mean exposure as in something to be protected (as in the example of your children’s lives) and it can also mean choosing to expose our lives, as when we choose to be vulnerable with other people. I love fragile as Meghan suggested, as in an object (or children!), and another choice might be “open to.” 🤗
Thanks for writing here, Angie, and exploring the shades of meaning among these words. I love reading this.
And yes, I'm so pleased I took that photo. I didn't want to, what with the SUV in the way, but now I'm so glad I did. Oh, the times we had there! And I think the photo expresses my alienation from it: the distance. I'm not "allowed" to go in, if that makes sense.
You're so right about grief. So right. Love to you.
Loved this newsletter, Rebecca. What a blessing those memories you shared are, and I understand completely: “What we grieve now: the impossibility, in any capacity, of recreating them.”
Thank you also for the scripture, the poem, and your beautiful descriptions.
I’m in! And I’ll offer fragile as a synonym for vulnerable. This word also implies delicate and so it makes me think of a thing, like a glass figurine. But it can also refer to a lack of protection and, therefore, vulnerable.
"Fragile" was the first synonym I thought of, too. And thinking of persons as fragile (in the context of vulnerability) adds a new dimension to the precariousness in view. I like it.
I’m still in! And I’ll say exposed. Both vulnerable and exposed can imply something available to harm in a way. But in my head I tend to think of vulnerable as more of a fact—it just is—and exposed implies some intentional revealing of something that should/would like to be protected or covered.
I’m going to say weak. This may be a strong shade away from vulnerable. But if I think of vulnerability as being open to harm, one could also use weak in some of those instances.
Grief can make you feel vulnerable. A sort of weakness. Thank you for sharing these memories. Beautiful.
Have you listened to the Malcolm Gladwell Revisionist History on memory? it comes to mind when I start to remember things from long ago.
“Weak”, “fragile”, “exposed”! These are all really good words for vulnerable! I think “exposed” or “unprotected” are right for me.
Words of affirmation are my love language, so criticism, especially when it’s harsh, leaves me feeling unprotected. I lived in such an environment for years, although it wasn’t always that way.
Part of grieving for me has been re-feeling such words. Hope for healing has been a longing in my heart for years. I feel like much of this has already happened within, but relationships are yet waiting. My reaction to harshness was to become harsh. Or maybe I was harsh first bc I had a sense of rejection?? Funny how magnets with the same poles push apart! Perhaps I’ll write a poem about this?
Agreed: "exposed" and "unprotected" are good ones, Annie. And it makes sense that criticism would feel particularly painful when words of affirmation are one's love language.
"My reaction to harshness was to become harsh." That makes so much sense. In that context, the harshness is a kind of protection. To *not* become harsh is to remain vulnerable, isn't it?
Thank you, dearest Rebecca! Still, I don’t WANT to be harsh! I want to entrust myself to the Righteous Judge who hold me in His loving arms “for always and always and always”!!😌
I'll offer woundable to the collection of synonyms. Being open enough or close enough to others that you can be known, but also experience ruptures (and hopefully repair).
Ah yes. "Woundable." That's a really, really good one.
I love the photograph you used. It really captures the ideas you expressed. I also love the descriptions of grief. Grief occurs in life, so much more than I ever realized until recent years! Even disappointments are a type of grief, and I like how you put words to different expressions of grief.
As for the synonyms…I think the word “exposed” encompasses a lot (like Moriah suggested). It can mean exposure as in something to be protected (as in the example of your children’s lives) and it can also mean choosing to expose our lives, as when we choose to be vulnerable with other people. I love fragile as Meghan suggested, as in an object (or children!), and another choice might be “open to.” 🤗
Thanks for writing here, Angie, and exploring the shades of meaning among these words. I love reading this.
And yes, I'm so pleased I took that photo. I didn't want to, what with the SUV in the way, but now I'm so glad I did. Oh, the times we had there! And I think the photo expresses my alienation from it: the distance. I'm not "allowed" to go in, if that makes sense.
You're so right about grief. So right. Love to you.
Loved this newsletter, Rebecca. What a blessing those memories you shared are, and I understand completely: “What we grieve now: the impossibility, in any capacity, of recreating them.”
Thank you also for the scripture, the poem, and your beautiful descriptions.
I’m in! And I’ll offer fragile as a synonym for vulnerable. This word also implies delicate and so it makes me think of a thing, like a glass figurine. But it can also refer to a lack of protection and, therefore, vulnerable.
"Fragile" was the first synonym I thought of, too. And thinking of persons as fragile (in the context of vulnerability) adds a new dimension to the precariousness in view. I like it.
Thank you for your kind words about this post.
And you're on the list!
I’m still in! And I’ll say exposed. Both vulnerable and exposed can imply something available to harm in a way. But in my head I tend to think of vulnerable as more of a fact—it just is—and exposed implies some intentional revealing of something that should/would like to be protected or covered.
Wow, yes. I like what "exposed" adds to the word. Thanks for this food for thought.
Looking forward to chatting about the book with you!
Yay, my sister won! :-)
My synonym for vulnerable is exposed. When you are vulnerable, you lack protection or covering in some form, leaving you exposed to danger or harm.
I'm in for the book discussion! Just completed my second reading (audible this time) of it yesterday.
You and Moriah are on the same page! I like this synonym a lot. Thank you.
And great! You'll hear from me soon!
Yay I won! 🙂
I’m going to say weak. This may be a strong shade away from vulnerable. But if I think of vulnerability as being open to harm, one could also use weak in some of those instances.
Grief can make you feel vulnerable. A sort of weakness. Thank you for sharing these memories. Beautiful.
Have you listened to the Malcolm Gladwell Revisionist History on memory? it comes to mind when I start to remember things from long ago.
"Weak" is a good synonym. Actually, as I think about it, I feel like these words are often paired for precisely the reasons you give.
And indeed, grief is definitely a weakness. At the very least, it's a profound awareness of weakness.
We did listen to that episode some time ago. Fascinating. And helpful, in that context, when others can corroborate what one (believes) one remembers.
Oh and I'm in!
I suppose that’s an obvious statement. 😉
PS: Two types of grief:
1) Grieving what one has lost.
2) Grieving for what one wished for but never had.
Indeed, dear Annie.
“Weak”, “fragile”, “exposed”! These are all really good words for vulnerable! I think “exposed” or “unprotected” are right for me.
Words of affirmation are my love language, so criticism, especially when it’s harsh, leaves me feeling unprotected. I lived in such an environment for years, although it wasn’t always that way.
Part of grieving for me has been re-feeling such words. Hope for healing has been a longing in my heart for years. I feel like much of this has already happened within, but relationships are yet waiting. My reaction to harshness was to become harsh. Or maybe I was harsh first bc I had a sense of rejection?? Funny how magnets with the same poles push apart! Perhaps I’ll write a poem about this?
Agreed: "exposed" and "unprotected" are good ones, Annie. And it makes sense that criticism would feel particularly painful when words of affirmation are one's love language.
"My reaction to harshness was to become harsh." That makes so much sense. In that context, the harshness is a kind of protection. To *not* become harsh is to remain vulnerable, isn't it?
Please do write that poem. Please do.
Thank you, dearest Rebecca! Still, I don’t WANT to be harsh! I want to entrust myself to the Righteous Judge who hold me in His loving arms “for always and always and always”!!😌