“60 is just around the corner, this is not a dress rehearsal. Live in it, find every crumb of joy, savor the 15 minutes.” When I read that, I felt like you’d read my mind--life is short!
Five kind nerds are the ones that will still be there for you when the sun goes (briefly) behind a cloud. Here's to them and to you for your moment in the sun. You will have many more and will deserve every single one.
I'm a person who was going to comment on your last newsletter and say how much I could identify but did not. So I'm commenting on this one! Inhabit, indeed, all the places, all the emotions, all the changes (thank god not always, although sometimes, all at once). I'm inhabiting a new place as well and find that I want to fill it, as its so much more spacious than anywhere I've occupied for the last 20 years. But I'm resisting the urge to "decorate," and instead, wondering, what will come to live with me? what won't? I'm curious and a little excited. Thank you again for prompting my pondering!
Well done on your thing/going viral! It’s lovely that people recognised your great writing. I know you have been talking about inboxes in this but I am most intrigued by how you felt it wasn’t your best writing and that better writing hadn’t got that same attention. There’s something in figuring out what clicks with people. Would be great to know if you have tried to figure out what it was about your piece and whether it has changed anything about how or what you write!? Plus also love your mother...
I have no idea what clicks - wish I did! The lesson for me is this: Just keep throwing stuff out there and something will click. I write for myself and hope that someone connects with it. All that said, the essay that got so much attention had links to research, blah blah - I hope that's not what clicked because I don't love doing it.
I love that your 80 year old Mother feels a need to "shake up her life". This gives me great comfort as I am finishing out 68. A switch flipped for me and my wine break became teetotal a few years ago. I say switch but it was more of an agonizing break up with a bad boyfriend. Then I realized this was just the shake up I needed. And now I'm ready for another. Good luck with the inbox. Something about being likeable will take us all where we don't need to go. ❤️🔥
“Like a toddler.” Lol. I just read You Could Make This Place Beautiful! In two nights, inhaled indeed. Cannot wait until friends have finished to compare notes. I am counting myself one of your five nerds even if I’m not 😂 I consistently think you are one of the strongest writers I know 🏆
PS I sometimes delete whole bunches of unread emails and it’s better than stealing or cutting school, neither of which I’ve done 😂If you need a cheap thrill, minor rebellion, I highly recommend
Followed your recommendation and took a look at Maggie Smith's book ...Oh my goodness, Lisa! Deja Vu! (Think you know what I've been going through, re: divorce etc) Anyway after reading the sample I've ordered it and now I can't wait, until I can settle down tonight and get reading. Thank you. (Ps. can you drop me an email?)
It did. Can you re-send ? - although I'm having trouble remembering what I was going to ask! :) The stress of the last few months has absolutely shredded my brain.
I sent a message today, lmk if it doesn't find you. Maybe I'm using an incorrect email? Can relate to the shredded brain, no worries if a response is an unwelcome chore. Be kind to yourself, heal the brain and body - you deserve it after this year!
I can relate to the inbox thing. I needed to take some time off to focus on a few things, so turned all my notifications off. It was wonderful for awhile, but then I hardly had anything in my inbox. I fretted what this might say about me! An empty inbox, does that mean nobody LOVES me? We just can't win. lol. I feel you though. Same age, same issues.
“60 is just around the corner, this is not a dress rehearsal. Live in it, find every crumb of joy, savor the 15 minutes.” When I read that, I felt like you’d read my mind--life is short!
A beautiful essay.
Five kind nerds are the ones that will still be there for you when the sun goes (briefly) behind a cloud. Here's to them and to you for your moment in the sun. You will have many more and will deserve every single one.
Betsy! Thanks so much for this sweet reply ❤️
Hi Lisa,
I'm a person who was going to comment on your last newsletter and say how much I could identify but did not. So I'm commenting on this one! Inhabit, indeed, all the places, all the emotions, all the changes (thank god not always, although sometimes, all at once). I'm inhabiting a new place as well and find that I want to fill it, as its so much more spacious than anywhere I've occupied for the last 20 years. But I'm resisting the urge to "decorate," and instead, wondering, what will come to live with me? what won't? I'm curious and a little excited. Thank you again for prompting my pondering!
Well done on your thing/going viral! It’s lovely that people recognised your great writing. I know you have been talking about inboxes in this but I am most intrigued by how you felt it wasn’t your best writing and that better writing hadn’t got that same attention. There’s something in figuring out what clicks with people. Would be great to know if you have tried to figure out what it was about your piece and whether it has changed anything about how or what you write!? Plus also love your mother...
I have no idea what clicks - wish I did! The lesson for me is this: Just keep throwing stuff out there and something will click. I write for myself and hope that someone connects with it. All that said, the essay that got so much attention had links to research, blah blah - I hope that's not what clicked because I don't love doing it.
This is good advice - just write for yourself and hope that someone connects. I think trying to predict what clicks could take the joy out of writing!
I love that your 80 year old Mother feels a need to "shake up her life". This gives me great comfort as I am finishing out 68. A switch flipped for me and my wine break became teetotal a few years ago. I say switch but it was more of an agonizing break up with a bad boyfriend. Then I realized this was just the shake up I needed. And now I'm ready for another. Good luck with the inbox. Something about being likeable will take us all where we don't need to go. ❤️🔥
“Like a toddler.” Lol. I just read You Could Make This Place Beautiful! In two nights, inhaled indeed. Cannot wait until friends have finished to compare notes. I am counting myself one of your five nerds even if I’m not 😂 I consistently think you are one of the strongest writers I know 🏆
❤️❤️
PS I sometimes delete whole bunches of unread emails and it’s better than stealing or cutting school, neither of which I’ve done 😂If you need a cheap thrill, minor rebellion, I highly recommend
Excellent. An yes, the inbox angst is real ...
Followed your recommendation and took a look at Maggie Smith's book ...Oh my goodness, Lisa! Deja Vu! (Think you know what I've been going through, re: divorce etc) Anyway after reading the sample I've ordered it and now I can't wait, until I can settle down tonight and get reading. Thank you. (Ps. can you drop me an email?)
Hi Cary! I dropped you an email back in October and am wondering if it fell through cracks? I used Substack as an address, as I couldn't find another.
It did. Can you re-send ? - although I'm having trouble remembering what I was going to ask! :) The stress of the last few months has absolutely shredded my brain.
I sent a message today, lmk if it doesn't find you. Maybe I'm using an incorrect email? Can relate to the shredded brain, no worries if a response is an unwelcome chore. Be kind to yourself, heal the brain and body - you deserve it after this year!
I can relate to the inbox thing. I needed to take some time off to focus on a few things, so turned all my notifications off. It was wonderful for awhile, but then I hardly had anything in my inbox. I fretted what this might say about me! An empty inbox, does that mean nobody LOVES me? We just can't win. lol. I feel you though. Same age, same issues.