One of the cool things about reading a piece at disparate times is the new knowledge you bring to that second reading. Today, when you listed those (seemingly) theoretical and disparate labels, I recognized all of them as describing you before you announced them as such. It’s a tiny thing, but it’s a really powerful thing to mark these two points in time and see clear evidence of growth forged by posted pieces and comments. Setting aside the piece for a moment, I found real warmth in that. I also found a proof of sorts—proof that reading another person’s personal writing really does help you get to know them.
As to the piece, I love the conceit. The last section, about rigidly categorizing ourselves, really leaves me thinking. I think we all seek some sense of belonging, and putting ourselves in a box facilitates that. It quiets all those tough questions about who we are and what our purpose is when we can say “I am _______”. My classes Question of the Day on Monday was “What are you about?” and I was impressed at all the different directions they took their responses. Whether the response was a joke or a probing self-incrimination, I learned something, as I did about myself when someone asked me and I admitted I didn’t know. I admire the platypus’ (which is to say, the creature’s and your) courage to shrug off the convenience of categorization and continuing to be its own unique self.
Last little silly thing: When I took Spanish in high school, I loved learning random words and working them into sentences. One of those words: ornitorrinco. It didn’t come to me when I read your original version in 2023, but it’s clear now where the Spanish word for platypus came from!
Thanks Michael. I’m hoping the next piece relates to your actually meeting a platypus, but I’ll continue to be excited for whatever you write.
Your first point is actually such an interesting one. I do love the idea that little by little, one random snippet at a time, we get to know more and more about the writers we read. I actually thought something similar when you wrote your piece about the girl and the whale. Because in some way I felt like, I’d read enough of your work to know in some way that you didn’t have kids, so when I read that piece I was so guessing myself for a bit haha.
Yes, I think you nailed it there too — the labels and categories quiet those deeper questions about who we are, and I guess, in a sense, what I’m inviting the reader to do (and what I feel personally compelled to do) is think about who and what I am beyond those labels.
Ohh that’s so cool! So does ‘ornitorrinco’ mean platypus in Spanish? How very interesting!
As for my next post being about me meeting a real platypus — ohh how I wish that were the case, but alas that will not be the case. But soon enough such a thing MUST happen.
Thanks as always Michael. I deeply value your careful reading and in-depth comments :)
Ornitorrinco does indeed mean platypus in Spanish. Thinking back a bit harder, I’m pretty sure my Spanish teacher taught us that one—a random fun word for a random fun animal.
I know so many people who search so long for a sense of belonging, but you (and the majestic monotreme in question) both speak to the importance of being more than just what we belong to. Unite under the team colors, but rejoice that all of us wearing them are unique below the jersey or kit.
With or without patting a platypus, I’ll be excited to read!
Thanks Michael! You are a straight up legend! I think what we did behind the scenes with the tester email resolved the glitch for us, so I’ve bene DMing some people to initiate the same process. And just today, I’ve bene DMing with Marco, who has also bene super helpful.
So again, really, thanks for helping me out bro! I appreciate you :)
Alas. No email for me. This one I extraneously hunted down by hand. (Although I did just do a search in my feed on the phone and it is there. My feed, unfortunately, has no chronological order to it. I suspect it might be a combo "newest" and "popularity contest" with the Ginormous Number pubs getting preference. Of course. Hence how much scrolling I had to do.) Anyway...no email for me. Only comment notifications of our blathering.
Also, I feel like I missed platypup and puggle the last time—both of which are fantastic!
I’d say there’s a third reason for posting this again. It’s a damn fine time for us all to remember not to other, to celebrate each of us and ourselves for our uniqueness.
Looking forward to the next platypi-forward post. 😜😊
Ohh I know right!? Aren’t those names just adorable! I didn’t mention it in the piece but a group of platypi are called a paddle. So there could be a paddle of puggles hehe. The alliteration is almost too perfect.
And yes, totally! Here’s to celebrating everyone’s (and our own) uniqueness!
There is so much to love about this post Michael. To start, I particularly love how you repeat, "The Platypus told me..." it made me smile every time, and it's such an effective piece of craft you've masterfully woven throughout the piece. I also love how this piece truly showcases the irony and 'whimsical rascality' of your "voice." 😁 I've been reading about "voice" in writing and it's something that is uniquely you - which ties in so beautifully with how this whole piece is about the platypus as a symbol of individuality, complexity, and resistance to simplistic categorization.
I also love the synchronicity/how the universe is showing off again😁 with the fact that each of our posts with a variation of the word "Paradox" in the heading, were published within a couple of hours of each other😁♥️🙏🕊️
That wasn’t a piece of craft Camilla… The Platypus actually told me. Hehehe. But seriously thank you, I’ve glad you enjoyed that little trick — it was fun to play with.
And thank you, I’m so happy to hear that my voice shone through in this piece. I have actually been thinking about ‘voice’ in writing a lot too, as I feel it is such an important of what it means to really lean into becoming our own writers. I mean, I feel as though the more authentically I can convey and play with my particular voice, the more genuine my writing will become.
And omg I know right! I haven’t got a chance to read your piece yet, but I saw it in my inbox and I seriously thought, “Camilla is gonna love that synchronicity”. I told you the universe is a show off hahaha.
I love the way you tie in The Platypus and common thought. And... You made me think of Alice in Wonderland. I think there could also be The Platypus with the White Rabbit, or the March Hare, or the Caterpillar, if only Carrol had known the Platypus. And you made me think about the way I use labels and categories. Consultant, father, husband, son, friend, human being, Christian. Um... Yours is an inspiring piece. I'll think about it.
Ah! I love this so much Michael. And now I know why you’re The Curious Platypus! (Though I may ask you again in your interview. I’ll pretend to forget.)
I love this reminder, how categorization “can also cause people to hide that special thing that makes them unique.” And sometimes, even if a person isn’t hiding that special thing, humans tend to see what we’re already expecting to see, so these qualities could be hidden in plain sight.
We could all use more platypus medicine in our lives!
Wow, this is so fantastic, truly. Not only did I not know all those platypus facts, but it never occurred to me to consider the platypus in such a way. You have turned me into a platypus fan and given me a whole lot of thinks to think. Thank you.
Ohh that’s so wonderful to hear Jenn! I’m so glad you liked it, and I am absolutely thrilled to have turned you into a platypus fan. It truly is a wonderful creature.
Thank you so much for reading, commenting, and sharing :)
and this Michael is why YOU are our wise hero! Love this whole piece, and this ... "It highlights how categorisation can make people believe, this is how things are, as opposed to remembering, this is just how someone decided to arrange the world. " is worth reminding ourselves of every single day.
Yes, definitely, I think about this so often — there is no such thing as “that’s just the way it is” there’s just the way people decided things to be.
I even think about it with things as accepted as sitting. I mean, it’s accepted that sitting for lunch or meetings or writing is the way to do it, but after my back pain — I started questioning that shit heavily haha :)
I enjoy questioning EVERYTHING. It's addictive, being a curious person ha ha. I so enjoy discovering a 'conditioned belief' in myself and challenging it. Normally it is when I am triggered by an emotional response that I realise underneath that emotion lies my conditioning. It never seems to end either. I wanted to reach an 'enlightened' state at my age but when I level up.... I am at the beginning again ha ha ha.
You’re right it really is addictive. For some reason it is strangely satisfying. And yes, this sort of questioning and curiosity turned inward is so powerful for breaking through all that mucky conditioning! :)
So creative, the platypus is wise and inspiring! So fun to read and learn more about the platypus - great animal archetype.
I love your wrap up:
“when those categories and labels started to constrain that special part of me; instead of transcending them, I shrunk myself down so I could stay safely ensconced within them. I hid the weird and colourful part of myself that wanted to break free of those categorical boundaries. And I became nothing more than a hollow caricature of who and what I really was. But eventually, after much soul searching, I realised that I don’t need to hide myself. I don’t need to shrink myself down. And I don’t need to be aligned with anything to know who I am. I finally realised that I am perfectly fine just being me.”
Ohhhhh I do remember this one! It is one of the pieces--possibly THE piece--that convinced me to smash the Subscribe button. Either that or it was the Universe one. But this one was so many seemingly disparate things all woven together into one fascinating read. Humor, self-introspection, societal examination, science geekery, anthropomorphism (a highly undervalued and too-often-disparaged commodity), history, psychology, activism rawr, and wisdom. You platypus, you, Michael Edward!
Thank you for re-sharing. It's a great one! And I look forward to seeing why we needed this reminder/education.
You are too kind. I appreciate your kind (and extensive) words on my writing so much, it really does mean a lot. Also I love what you said about anthropomorphism — great point. :)
What a silly thing to critique! I mean, it’s such a fun thing to do. And it’s also one of those things where, people don’t actually know that that’s not what the animals are thinking either hehe :)
I loved this the first and second time though this round has put me in an existential crisis of fur, venom and glow in the dark sass. Can I handle the next post?
One of the cool things about reading a piece at disparate times is the new knowledge you bring to that second reading. Today, when you listed those (seemingly) theoretical and disparate labels, I recognized all of them as describing you before you announced them as such. It’s a tiny thing, but it’s a really powerful thing to mark these two points in time and see clear evidence of growth forged by posted pieces and comments. Setting aside the piece for a moment, I found real warmth in that. I also found a proof of sorts—proof that reading another person’s personal writing really does help you get to know them.
As to the piece, I love the conceit. The last section, about rigidly categorizing ourselves, really leaves me thinking. I think we all seek some sense of belonging, and putting ourselves in a box facilitates that. It quiets all those tough questions about who we are and what our purpose is when we can say “I am _______”. My classes Question of the Day on Monday was “What are you about?” and I was impressed at all the different directions they took their responses. Whether the response was a joke or a probing self-incrimination, I learned something, as I did about myself when someone asked me and I admitted I didn’t know. I admire the platypus’ (which is to say, the creature’s and your) courage to shrug off the convenience of categorization and continuing to be its own unique self.
Last little silly thing: When I took Spanish in high school, I loved learning random words and working them into sentences. One of those words: ornitorrinco. It didn’t come to me when I read your original version in 2023, but it’s clear now where the Spanish word for platypus came from!
Thanks Michael. I’m hoping the next piece relates to your actually meeting a platypus, but I’ll continue to be excited for whatever you write.
Your first point is actually such an interesting one. I do love the idea that little by little, one random snippet at a time, we get to know more and more about the writers we read. I actually thought something similar when you wrote your piece about the girl and the whale. Because in some way I felt like, I’d read enough of your work to know in some way that you didn’t have kids, so when I read that piece I was so guessing myself for a bit haha.
Yes, I think you nailed it there too — the labels and categories quiet those deeper questions about who we are, and I guess, in a sense, what I’m inviting the reader to do (and what I feel personally compelled to do) is think about who and what I am beyond those labels.
Ohh that’s so cool! So does ‘ornitorrinco’ mean platypus in Spanish? How very interesting!
As for my next post being about me meeting a real platypus — ohh how I wish that were the case, but alas that will not be the case. But soon enough such a thing MUST happen.
Thanks as always Michael. I deeply value your careful reading and in-depth comments :)
Ornitorrinco does indeed mean platypus in Spanish. Thinking back a bit harder, I’m pretty sure my Spanish teacher taught us that one—a random fun word for a random fun animal.
I know so many people who search so long for a sense of belonging, but you (and the majestic monotreme in question) both speak to the importance of being more than just what we belong to. Unite under the team colors, but rejoice that all of us wearing them are unique below the jersey or kit.
With or without patting a platypus, I’ll be excited to read!
I’m so happy to now know how to say platypus in a different language! that’s so cool :)
Yes, indeed! Rejoice in your uniqueness!
Thanks Michael :)
I had the same experience while reading that list for the second time! It really is a fascinating and heart-warming thing.
Yay! That’s so nice to hear! Thanks Alexx :)
Just to let you know that it worked I got the email, bro. But I'll read your post and leave you a comment later!
Thanks Michael! You are a straight up legend! I think what we did behind the scenes with the tester email resolved the glitch for us, so I’ve bene DMing some people to initiate the same process. And just today, I’ve bene DMing with Marco, who has also bene super helpful.
So again, really, thanks for helping me out bro! I appreciate you :)
We're a great team! ;-)
Hell yeah!
Alas. No email for me. This one I extraneously hunted down by hand. (Although I did just do a search in my feed on the phone and it is there. My feed, unfortunately, has no chronological order to it. I suspect it might be a combo "newest" and "popularity contest" with the Ginormous Number pubs getting preference. Of course. Hence how much scrolling I had to do.) Anyway...no email for me. Only comment notifications of our blathering.
Damn! That’s so annoying. When I have some time, I’ll send you a DM and see if what I did with Michael B, helps resolve the email issue for you too.
Thanks for letting me know Alexx! And thanks for tracking the piece down. I appreciate you :)
Ok groovy. 🤞🤞🤞
My friend, I loved this the first time. And I love it again!
Thanks Holly! I really appreciate that. I suspect you’ll enjoy next fortnight’s post too as you inspired it ;)
Also, I feel like I missed platypup and puggle the last time—both of which are fantastic!
I’d say there’s a third reason for posting this again. It’s a damn fine time for us all to remember not to other, to celebrate each of us and ourselves for our uniqueness.
Looking forward to the next platypi-forward post. 😜😊
Ohh I know right!? Aren’t those names just adorable! I didn’t mention it in the piece but a group of platypi are called a paddle. So there could be a paddle of puggles hehe. The alliteration is almost too perfect.
And yes, totally! Here’s to celebrating everyone’s (and our own) uniqueness!
Thanks Holly :)
There is so much to love about this post Michael. To start, I particularly love how you repeat, "The Platypus told me..." it made me smile every time, and it's such an effective piece of craft you've masterfully woven throughout the piece. I also love how this piece truly showcases the irony and 'whimsical rascality' of your "voice." 😁 I've been reading about "voice" in writing and it's something that is uniquely you - which ties in so beautifully with how this whole piece is about the platypus as a symbol of individuality, complexity, and resistance to simplistic categorization.
I also love the synchronicity/how the universe is showing off again😁 with the fact that each of our posts with a variation of the word "Paradox" in the heading, were published within a couple of hours of each other😁♥️🙏🕊️
That wasn’t a piece of craft Camilla… The Platypus actually told me. Hehehe. But seriously thank you, I’ve glad you enjoyed that little trick — it was fun to play with.
And thank you, I’m so happy to hear that my voice shone through in this piece. I have actually been thinking about ‘voice’ in writing a lot too, as I feel it is such an important of what it means to really lean into becoming our own writers. I mean, I feel as though the more authentically I can convey and play with my particular voice, the more genuine my writing will become.
And omg I know right! I haven’t got a chance to read your piece yet, but I saw it in my inbox and I seriously thought, “Camilla is gonna love that synchronicity”. I told you the universe is a show off hahaha.
Thanks so much Camilla :)
I literally laughed out loud at your thought, “Camilla is gonna love that synchronicity”😂🤣😂
Honestly though, it was just too perfect! Hahaha :)
Cheers to the universe showing off✨🧚♀️🤸♀️🌼🌷🌈🌺🪷💕🌙💫☀️😎
Indeed! Hooray! 😁🙃😁🙃
So glad you brought this one back ME! Quite profound.
Thank you SJ! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :)
I love the way you tie in The Platypus and common thought. And... You made me think of Alice in Wonderland. I think there could also be The Platypus with the White Rabbit, or the March Hare, or the Caterpillar, if only Carrol had known the Platypus. And you made me think about the way I use labels and categories. Consultant, father, husband, son, friend, human being, Christian. Um... Yours is an inspiring piece. I'll think about it.
Thank you Michael! I really appreciate that. The idea that my writing motivates you to think about things is actually so special to me.
And ohh that’s cool, I love the idea of thinking about the platypus in the same vein as the White Rabbit.
Thanks for reading Michael. I appreciate you brother :)
And thank you for writing!
Ah! I love this so much Michael. And now I know why you’re The Curious Platypus! (Though I may ask you again in your interview. I’ll pretend to forget.)
I love this reminder, how categorization “can also cause people to hide that special thing that makes them unique.” And sometimes, even if a person isn’t hiding that special thing, humans tend to see what we’re already expecting to see, so these qualities could be hidden in plain sight.
We could all use more platypus medicine in our lives!
Yes, definitely. People do tend to see what they want to see, and it seems as though we often ‘see’ labels, instead complex unique individuals.
Thanks so much for your kind words Kimberly. (And hehe, I look forward to explaining where The Curious Platypus name came from.)
:)
Wow, this is so fantastic, truly. Not only did I not know all those platypus facts, but it never occurred to me to consider the platypus in such a way. You have turned me into a platypus fan and given me a whole lot of thinks to think. Thank you.
Ohh that’s so wonderful to hear Jenn! I’m so glad you liked it, and I am absolutely thrilled to have turned you into a platypus fan. It truly is a wonderful creature.
Thank you so much for reading, commenting, and sharing :)
I shall never look at one the same ☺️
That is so wonderful to hear! Thank you Jenn :)
and this Michael is why YOU are our wise hero! Love this whole piece, and this ... "It highlights how categorisation can make people believe, this is how things are, as opposed to remembering, this is just how someone decided to arrange the world. " is worth reminding ourselves of every single day.
Thank you April!
Yes, definitely, I think about this so often — there is no such thing as “that’s just the way it is” there’s just the way people decided things to be.
I even think about it with things as accepted as sitting. I mean, it’s accepted that sitting for lunch or meetings or writing is the way to do it, but after my back pain — I started questioning that shit heavily haha :)
I enjoy questioning EVERYTHING. It's addictive, being a curious person ha ha. I so enjoy discovering a 'conditioned belief' in myself and challenging it. Normally it is when I am triggered by an emotional response that I realise underneath that emotion lies my conditioning. It never seems to end either. I wanted to reach an 'enlightened' state at my age but when I level up.... I am at the beginning again ha ha ha.
You’re right it really is addictive. For some reason it is strangely satisfying. And yes, this sort of questioning and curiosity turned inward is so powerful for breaking through all that mucky conditioning! :)
Also, for what’s it’s worth I think you are profoundly enlightened, April :)
Ha ha, as a homie OG legend I should say that is the level I have been proudest to reach so far!
I was gonna say, all homie OG legends are enlightened hehe :)
So creative, the platypus is wise and inspiring! So fun to read and learn more about the platypus - great animal archetype.
I love your wrap up:
“when those categories and labels started to constrain that special part of me; instead of transcending them, I shrunk myself down so I could stay safely ensconced within them. I hid the weird and colourful part of myself that wanted to break free of those categorical boundaries. And I became nothing more than a hollow caricature of who and what I really was. But eventually, after much soul searching, I realised that I don’t need to hide myself. I don’t need to shrink myself down. And I don’t need to be aligned with anything to know who I am. I finally realised that I am perfectly fine just being me.”
Thank you Melissa. I’m glad you enjoyed the piece, and I’m thrilled to hear you like hearing about the platypus.
And thank you, I got a bit vulnerable in the wrap but it felt appropriate. :)
Yesss get vulnerable haha, great stuff
Thanks :)
Ohhhhh I do remember this one! It is one of the pieces--possibly THE piece--that convinced me to smash the Subscribe button. Either that or it was the Universe one. But this one was so many seemingly disparate things all woven together into one fascinating read. Humor, self-introspection, societal examination, science geekery, anthropomorphism (a highly undervalued and too-often-disparaged commodity), history, psychology, activism rawr, and wisdom. You platypus, you, Michael Edward!
Thank you for re-sharing. It's a great one! And I look forward to seeing why we needed this reminder/education.
Thank you Alexx!
You are too kind. I appreciate your kind (and extensive) words on my writing so much, it really does mean a lot. Also I love what you said about anthropomorphism — great point. :)
It is sooooo under-appreciated but one of my favorite things. I e taken flack for it in critique groups. Ugh. Whatever. I just loved it.
What a silly thing to critique! I mean, it’s such a fun thing to do. And it’s also one of those things where, people don’t actually know that that’s not what the animals are thinking either hehe :)
Right?! Ugh. Silly humans... Hahaha!
Silly indeed. :)
This was so fun, Michael - sorry it took me so long to get here! For the record, I vote - like you - for "platypi."
Thanks Troy! Much appreciated brother!
And no need to apologise.
Haha and yes, glad to have you on the platypi side. :)
I loved this the first and second time though this round has put me in an existential crisis of fur, venom and glow in the dark sass. Can I handle the next post?
Hahaha thank you RenoQueen! The platypus is prone to induce such existential crisis’s with its paradoxical nature!
I hope the next post, which I just posted a few days ago, isn’t too much to handle existentially (hint: it’s actually quite chill and silly). :)
I'm going to read it soon!
Thanks RenoQueen :)