From Us To YOU: Supportive Advice Through The Authentic Power Of Community

Writers’ collaboration birthed through Medium

Yvonne is surrounded by her grandkids on her seventieth birthday. Her house teems with the large family — three sons, their wives, two kids each. The walls reverberate with merriness. Yvonne is grateful, she has received a lot in life. Yet, as dusk turns to night, and the dinner plates are cleared up, she looks out the window pensively. Despite being surrounded by her loved ones, she’s lonely. And guilty for feeling that way. What else could she possibly want? She’s had more than her fair share of life’s joys. Hasn’t she?

Ophelia is ecstatic about her upcoming wedding day. She’s going to be united with her soulmate forever and ever. She can’t wait to start her new life. The best part of all? Her family and in-laws get along like a house on fire. What else can a girl ask for? Her family has promised her nothing but the moon for her wedding day and honeymoon. Ophelia crosses her fingers for luck, still unable to believe she’s reached exactly where she wanted to be in life. When her phone buzzes, she looks reflectively at the texts from her fiancé. The link he’s sent is for a resort in Mexico known for its loud nightlife and casinos. He should know she would hate that kind of honeymoon. Ophelia pauses, a small doubt nagging her belly. Has she made the right choice?

Uma is a bright teen, and the favorite of her teachers and friends. Her early interest in science matches her parents’ desire to see her grow up to be a scientist, a future Uma heartily desires for herself too. She has a dreamy boyfriend, and when she looks at the mirror, she’s pleased at the pretty picture she poses. Yet, she’s weirdly drawn to the backbencher of her class, a Goth girl who’s known for cutting herself. Uma sees her often, sitting outside the school mental health counselor’s office.* She’s tempted to sit with her, talk to her, heal her. Is it a phase, Uma wonders, something I’ll outgrow? Or does this point toward something more pressing in herself that she must uncover sooner rather than later?

Whether it’s Yvonne, Ophelia, Uma, or Yousuf, Orlando, Ulrich; the point is, it could be YOU. Or someone you know.

We are all born alone and die alone. After all, who has shared with you the pain of being squeezed through the birth canal, emerging into bright light, being handled by moving shapes that turn into strangers, and the loud wail that suddenly emanates from yourself? No one, absolutely no one can share that experience.

Through all the experiences that we suffer through alone, often in a glass-walled room of our own creation, bound sometimes by shame, and sometimes by shock, through all those experiences when we feel loneliest of all, like alien DNA transplanted onto earth, wondering …if only someone would hear me now, understand me now…

It is at those rock-bottom times in our lives that we most need to remember that while we may be alone in some of life’s most formative experiences, we need not feel lonely because community can still be formed with people who have experienced similar rock bottoms, albeit at a different point in life. That knowledge doesn’t necessarily pull us out of our current hole but gives us perspective that…this too shall pass. That…this isn’t the end of the world. That…if someone else has come through this intact, perhaps I can too.

And like we all know; this alone can make a huge difference.

With this idea of giving support through collective experience, was born the idea for From Lemon. Brought to you by Suzanne V. Tanner, Amy Marley and Paroma Sen.

Three women that came together to just lend a shoulder, a napkin, a virtual hug, experience, and advice. Whatever you may need at the moment.

Because we know that feeling alone is the loneliest feeling in the world. We’ve been there. And we believe in the power of women, with all our learned and inherited powers of nurture, holding up those that need it. We believe in the power of community.

Check us out, and tell us what you think?

• Please note: The above links will take you offsite, outside of Medium.
• Please note: We are not certified mental health professionals and do not intend to be substitutes for that community. From Lemon’s advice is from the perspective of a concerned friend only.

Want more? We sure hope you do.

A note to our writer friends: Before 2021 ends, we will invite a few interested WRITERS to join us in a one-off guest writer spot. The opportunity will be either: 1. A fourth commentator on a particularly dicey dilemma OR 2. A general guest post.

Dear WRITERS: please let us know in the comments or by email if you wish to discuss this future opportunity. Our email is: [email protected]