Who I am.

I write about the landscape of grief, nature, and the wisdom of fools. The author of four books, my essays, poems, and reviews have been published in over 50 journals, including in the Huffington Post and Colorado Review. I’ve won the River Teeth Nonfiction Book Award, the Chautauqua and Literal Latte’s essay prizes, and my work has been nominated for four Pushcart Prizes and named a notable by Best American Essays. My account of hiking in Yosemite to deal with my wife’s death, Mountains of Light, was published by the University of Nebraska Press. http://www.markliebenow.com.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Taking Grief Out For a Spin


Verbalizing Trauma

I confess, I’m task-oriented. I get a thrill when I accomplish a lot of work, thinking that the more tasks I accomplish, the more successful and happy I will be. Working validates my existence.

Or I used to feel this way. Now, not so much. I’ve come to see that tasks are empty boxes if they don’t directly help others. My wife’s death made this clear. There is never an end to the number of tasks that need to be done, but people don’t live forever.

* If you would like to read the rest of this post, let me know and I’ll send it to you. *

2 comments:

  1. The rhythm of your writing is musical, eloquent, and deep. I understand the tendency to set yourself apart, and it takes courage to move from that sometimes lonely place. When we had our beloveds with us, we didn't have to stretch so much. Thank you for your words. x

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    Replies
    1. A lonely, and safe, place. But also ultimately boring, because longing rises within us to experience the unexpected again, the surprise, the wonder of other people. We long for the rhythm and music of life. Thank you, Tricia Ellen.

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