I’m curious to know: Where in your life right now is someone else’s ideal departing from your actual, lived reality?
US-based subscribers, don’t forget to enter the book giveaway by dropping an emoji alongside a comment: 🚀 for Bruce’s book, ⛰️ for Cait’s, or 💰 for Myra and Abby’s!
🚀 currently one year out of undergrad and applying to graduate school. And in the next week I have to make the hard decision to turn down all the ones that I have gotten into because none of them are right for me this moment. So, I’m looking towards the future and figuring out what comes next. A book about transitions might just be perfect.
This sounds like such a momentous time of transition for you, Julia—I'm sending you lots of warm wishes as you take this tough next step! Bruce's book sounds like just what the doctor ordered. Thanks for entering the giveaway! 🤞
This is all VERY validating, and don’t we all crave more reality and less illusion? (Makes me think of the woman spending five minutes crafting her perfect selfie at my Pilates class this week, followed by a complete half-ass, phone-it-in job at the class itself. Who’s the Pilates for??)
I tried the publishing calendar for my website blog once upon a time—it’s now one of several idea repositories I keep adding to depending on my physical location. I used to feel badly, but by giving up on what I thought it should be or do, I ended up giving in to finding what actually works. Hard to check those shoulds!
Bree, I'm *so* glad to hear that this felt validating! Did you just hear me screaming into the void about your Pilates classmate's selfie?! 🫠 More reality and less illusion, indeed!
Love this behind-the-scenes! I'm actually in one of my default writing modes right now: nestled into the couch, wrapped up in two blankets, with my coffee perched precariously on the side of the couch (I've been doing this for months and will probably only stop when the cup gets knocked over and spills... which is inevitable.) It's not ergonomic, glamorous, or even particularly comfortable. But it works.
Thank you so much for mentioning my post on a year of enoughness! It’s exhilarating to find one’s own way sometimes. AND give ourselves permission to drop the “shoulds” and “best practices” that aren’t “best” for us!
You're so welcome, Marika—and thank *you* for writing that post! It's stuck with me ever since I read it, which is the mark of a really compelling idea. ✨
This is gold. It is so encouraging to know that your writing process is also a hot mess. (I mean that in the best way possible.) I always feel like it's just me! And yet, the finished product you produce every week is always elegant and insightful.
I'm almost surprised that you were surprised by the hot mess of it all 😅 But thank you, Chris—what a kind thing to say about the finished product! You're the best.
🚀 Every book sounds awesome, but Bruce’s is the one I think I most need to read right now. Thanks for sharing information about all of them an offering the chance to get one free!
🚀 Loving the behind the scenes! Honestly, the reality of this moment for me is I desperately want to travel more and even be nomadic for a while, but I have my family's needs to take into consideration. Sure, we can all work out the logistics, but I can't ignore the emotional aspect and working out a solution everyone is happy with. It's a balance between seeing what's in front of me and trying to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and really needing to stay in this transition period for longer.
I can feel that emotional tug-of-war from your description, Sarah. Balancing your family’s needs with your own is a complex undertaking with no easy answers! Here’s hoping you find one that feels right for now.
Thanks for sharing your story, and for entering the giveaway! 🤞
💰I always ”wanted” money and love to be completely separate entities, but the older I get the more I see how intertwined they are. If I’m struggling in one I’m often blocked in the other. Thanks for the book recs, I added all 3 to my hot mess google doc of all the books I want to read, quotes, links, etc. I really should organize it. 🤷♀️ 😁
Such a smart insight, Holly! Cheers to a disorganized book queue (I tried to make mine pretty in Goodreads but gave up on *that* folly many moons ago)...and thanks for entering the giveaway! 🤞
I LOVED this! This was so fun to read. I've never had a calendar. I'm just out here creating newsletters on pure ✨vibes✨ and chaos. 😂 I let my emotions lead me most of the time because if my heart isn't in it, it's not happening. I also want this space to be fun and relaxed. I have a day job and I get enough structure from it. I need freedom here. Substack is my playground.
Vibes and chaos FTW! 😍 *Such* a good point about letting our creative projects be a break from allllll the structure and demands of the rest of life, not yet another source of it.
You got me at Second Brain hahaha ! I say DO fall into the rabbit hole and, while you’re there, maybe check out the Second Brain notebooks I have created? https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CNLVHRMM
it's a very helpful thing to realize that everyone's work style - particularly when it comes to creative endeavors - is different. SO many people - especially adults pivoting to a creative career - get stuck in the "shoulds" about writing every day / writing a certain number of words, etc. when really it's all about figuring out how YOU work best and most productively.
I’m curious to know: Where in your life right now is someone else’s ideal departing from your actual, lived reality?
US-based subscribers, don’t forget to enter the book giveaway by dropping an emoji alongside a comment: 🚀 for Bruce’s book, ⛰️ for Cait’s, or 💰 for Myra and Abby’s!
🚀 currently one year out of undergrad and applying to graduate school. And in the next week I have to make the hard decision to turn down all the ones that I have gotten into because none of them are right for me this moment. So, I’m looking towards the future and figuring out what comes next. A book about transitions might just be perfect.
This sounds like such a momentous time of transition for you, Julia—I'm sending you lots of warm wishes as you take this tough next step! Bruce's book sounds like just what the doctor ordered. Thanks for entering the giveaway! 🤞
Of course! Congrats on your stackiversay! Hard decisions just mean new opportunities for personal growth!
Thank you, Julia 🤗 You are wise beyond your years!
It’s all a ruse! Aren’t we all just trying our best!! 😝😄
Yes, and that's on a good day!! 😜
This is all VERY validating, and don’t we all crave more reality and less illusion? (Makes me think of the woman spending five minutes crafting her perfect selfie at my Pilates class this week, followed by a complete half-ass, phone-it-in job at the class itself. Who’s the Pilates for??)
I tried the publishing calendar for my website blog once upon a time—it’s now one of several idea repositories I keep adding to depending on my physical location. I used to feel badly, but by giving up on what I thought it should be or do, I ended up giving in to finding what actually works. Hard to check those shoulds!
Bree, I'm *so* glad to hear that this felt validating! Did you just hear me screaming into the void about your Pilates classmate's selfie?! 🫠 More reality and less illusion, indeed!
Love this behind-the-scenes! I'm actually in one of my default writing modes right now: nestled into the couch, wrapped up in two blankets, with my coffee perched precariously on the side of the couch (I've been doing this for months and will probably only stop when the cup gets knocked over and spills... which is inevitable.) It's not ergonomic, glamorous, or even particularly comfortable. But it works.
Okay, you *definitely* win for best writing setup, Aja! The precarious coffee cup is what did it for me 😂 but I am also fervently Team Two Blankets.
Thank you so much for mentioning my post on a year of enoughness! It’s exhilarating to find one’s own way sometimes. AND give ourselves permission to drop the “shoulds” and “best practices” that aren’t “best” for us!
You're so welcome, Marika—and thank *you* for writing that post! It's stuck with me ever since I read it, which is the mark of a really compelling idea. ✨
To enough-ness! 🥂
I'll drink to that!
This is gold. It is so encouraging to know that your writing process is also a hot mess. (I mean that in the best way possible.) I always feel like it's just me! And yet, the finished product you produce every week is always elegant and insightful.
I'm almost surprised that you were surprised by the hot mess of it all 😅 But thank you, Chris—what a kind thing to say about the finished product! You're the best.
🚀 Every book sounds awesome, but Bruce’s is the one I think I most need to read right now. Thanks for sharing information about all of them an offering the chance to get one free!
It is *such* a fabulous read—I think you'd really enjoy it, Wendi. Thanks for entering the giveaway! 🤞
Ripe vs. unripe is delightful to think about. Thanks for this.
Mary, I'm so happy to hear that it resonated with you!
🚀 Loving the behind the scenes! Honestly, the reality of this moment for me is I desperately want to travel more and even be nomadic for a while, but I have my family's needs to take into consideration. Sure, we can all work out the logistics, but I can't ignore the emotional aspect and working out a solution everyone is happy with. It's a balance between seeing what's in front of me and trying to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and really needing to stay in this transition period for longer.
I can feel that emotional tug-of-war from your description, Sarah. Balancing your family’s needs with your own is a complex undertaking with no easy answers! Here’s hoping you find one that feels right for now.
Thanks for sharing your story, and for entering the giveaway! 🤞
💰I always ”wanted” money and love to be completely separate entities, but the older I get the more I see how intertwined they are. If I’m struggling in one I’m often blocked in the other. Thanks for the book recs, I added all 3 to my hot mess google doc of all the books I want to read, quotes, links, etc. I really should organize it. 🤷♀️ 😁
Such a smart insight, Holly! Cheers to a disorganized book queue (I tried to make mine pretty in Goodreads but gave up on *that* folly many moons ago)...and thanks for entering the giveaway! 🤞
Congrats on your stackiversary, Maddie! You are wonderful. So happy you're here! xo
Thanks so much, Sandra! Meeting you here has been one of the biggest highlights of this past year. ❤️
You are too kind, sunshine! xo
I LOVED this! This was so fun to read. I've never had a calendar. I'm just out here creating newsletters on pure ✨vibes✨ and chaos. 😂 I let my emotions lead me most of the time because if my heart isn't in it, it's not happening. I also want this space to be fun and relaxed. I have a day job and I get enough structure from it. I need freedom here. Substack is my playground.
Vibes and chaos FTW! 😍 *Such* a good point about letting our creative projects be a break from allllll the structure and demands of the rest of life, not yet another source of it.
You got me at Second Brain hahaha ! I say DO fall into the rabbit hole and, while you’re there, maybe check out the Second Brain notebooks I have created? https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CNLVHRMM
Ahh, this is totally amazing, Barbs—what a fabulous project! The synchronicity here is cracking me up 😂
🚀 I really enjoyed Bruce’s book The Search. Thanks for giving us a peek into your process!
I've got The Search on my shelf to read soon—thanks for the push, Jamie! 🤗
it's a very helpful thing to realize that everyone's work style - particularly when it comes to creative endeavors - is different. SO many people - especially adults pivoting to a creative career - get stuck in the "shoulds" about writing every day / writing a certain number of words, etc. when really it's all about figuring out how YOU work best and most productively.
Truer words, never spoken! 🔥
⛰️I have a hot mess notebook (or 2…or 3 😆) and often I find getting it all out of my head makes room for something legit!
Cheers to the hot mess notebook! 😜