My Oxford Year, the book is a gem. Far better than the movie. That was sub par. Also why didn’t we talk about Sinners? I loved that movie and I hate horror gothic films.
I've said before that I love this format and your monthly roundups, there's some stuff I kind of gloss over (sorry, Sabrina!) and others I linger over. With any diary, for any normal thinking person (I didn't phrase that well, it's meant to be a nice thing!), there is going to be a lot of the heavier, darker stuff. When I did my month-long experiment in journalling which I then published I decided to go all-in with full honesty and soul clearing if that was my mood on that particular day. I sometimes found it cathartic, but at other times it sent me into more of a spiral, though I'm much better dealing with it these days than I used to be - that's a product of age, cynicism and having been through way too much crap to care as much anymore. It's a coping strategy for me, but not one I necessarily recommend for others.
I hope that makes sense. It's a roundabout way of saying I kind of understand what you're going through but at the same time I don't. I REALLY hope that makes sense!
Sorry to hear about your dear dog and all the other stuff, the thoughts, feelings, having to move, wanting to stay under the covers. It does sound like you have ways to help deal with it, and music can definitely be a powerful tool, and I hope the meditation provides clarity (I've never been able to get into meditation).
A final thought on Substack/social media. I get what you're saying, but this is my 'problem', one I've droned on about endlessly. I love Substack (despite it irritating me on some days) and hate all other types of social media, and I really don't want to be anywhere near TikTok and IG yet I persist in doing it for brand/marketing/book purposes. That's the only reason at this point and damn, I find it tiresome and draining and soul-destroying. (X/Twitter doesn't count - I use it and have a healthy relationship with it - scrolling a bit for news and some decent wit).
On the Substack growth/notes dilemma - I just do my thing as I see fit and if it leads to growth, great, if not, no worries. What helps me is not trying to have a concrete strategy in terms of growth - ultimately I want to make a living from writing books but I'm still fumbling way along blindly and trying to have fun in the process.
For what it's worth, your notes always make me chuckle and brighten my day! 😁
Thank you for the lovely comment! I’m glad you like my notes and this post format.
About the journal thing, I believe I get what you mean. I’ve been keeping a physical diary for years in which I basically vomit my thoughts/feelings every morning. Sometimes it’s cathartic and liberating, other times it makes me spiral more, as you said. But, overall, I find it helpful, so I keep up with the practice.
As you can imagine, this Substack journal thing is edited. I don’t mean I’m not honest – I always try to be in my writing – but I’m selective of what I choose to share, and mindful of maintaining some sort of balance between good stuff/bad stuff, the personal and the superficial. However, the past month has been particularly shit, and it would have felt inauthentic to gloss over everything. I also hope that when I share the darker stuff, it makes readers feel less lonely, because I have a nagging suspicion that many of us aren’t doing particularly well at the moment, considering the state of, well, everything. Also, ty for the good thoughts 😊
Anyway, I think it’s crucial to find a healthy balance with online sharing, which applies to social media as well. I’m sorry you find it so draining, and it’s annoying that you have to basically become a content creator nowadays to convince others that your creativity is marketable. Maybe you could try limiting the number of platforms you use, or focus on one at a time? For instance, I no longer bother with Instagram outside of sharing stories I hope my friends find funny, along with some of my Substack output. Reels feel toxic to me, more than tiktok. However, if you have fun in the process, that's a silver lining for sure 😎
My Oxford Year, the book is a gem. Far better than the movie. That was sub par. Also why didn’t we talk about Sinners? I loved that movie and I hate horror gothic films.
I may read the book after all, I'm sure it's superior, I just need some distance from the movie now. Sinners!!
I've said before that I love this format and your monthly roundups, there's some stuff I kind of gloss over (sorry, Sabrina!) and others I linger over. With any diary, for any normal thinking person (I didn't phrase that well, it's meant to be a nice thing!), there is going to be a lot of the heavier, darker stuff. When I did my month-long experiment in journalling which I then published I decided to go all-in with full honesty and soul clearing if that was my mood on that particular day. I sometimes found it cathartic, but at other times it sent me into more of a spiral, though I'm much better dealing with it these days than I used to be - that's a product of age, cynicism and having been through way too much crap to care as much anymore. It's a coping strategy for me, but not one I necessarily recommend for others.
I hope that makes sense. It's a roundabout way of saying I kind of understand what you're going through but at the same time I don't. I REALLY hope that makes sense!
Sorry to hear about your dear dog and all the other stuff, the thoughts, feelings, having to move, wanting to stay under the covers. It does sound like you have ways to help deal with it, and music can definitely be a powerful tool, and I hope the meditation provides clarity (I've never been able to get into meditation).
A final thought on Substack/social media. I get what you're saying, but this is my 'problem', one I've droned on about endlessly. I love Substack (despite it irritating me on some days) and hate all other types of social media, and I really don't want to be anywhere near TikTok and IG yet I persist in doing it for brand/marketing/book purposes. That's the only reason at this point and damn, I find it tiresome and draining and soul-destroying. (X/Twitter doesn't count - I use it and have a healthy relationship with it - scrolling a bit for news and some decent wit).
On the Substack growth/notes dilemma - I just do my thing as I see fit and if it leads to growth, great, if not, no worries. What helps me is not trying to have a concrete strategy in terms of growth - ultimately I want to make a living from writing books but I'm still fumbling way along blindly and trying to have fun in the process.
For what it's worth, your notes always make me chuckle and brighten my day! 😁
Thank you for the lovely comment! I’m glad you like my notes and this post format.
About the journal thing, I believe I get what you mean. I’ve been keeping a physical diary for years in which I basically vomit my thoughts/feelings every morning. Sometimes it’s cathartic and liberating, other times it makes me spiral more, as you said. But, overall, I find it helpful, so I keep up with the practice.
As you can imagine, this Substack journal thing is edited. I don’t mean I’m not honest – I always try to be in my writing – but I’m selective of what I choose to share, and mindful of maintaining some sort of balance between good stuff/bad stuff, the personal and the superficial. However, the past month has been particularly shit, and it would have felt inauthentic to gloss over everything. I also hope that when I share the darker stuff, it makes readers feel less lonely, because I have a nagging suspicion that many of us aren’t doing particularly well at the moment, considering the state of, well, everything. Also, ty for the good thoughts 😊
Anyway, I think it’s crucial to find a healthy balance with online sharing, which applies to social media as well. I’m sorry you find it so draining, and it’s annoying that you have to basically become a content creator nowadays to convince others that your creativity is marketable. Maybe you could try limiting the number of platforms you use, or focus on one at a time? For instance, I no longer bother with Instagram outside of sharing stories I hope my friends find funny, along with some of my Substack output. Reels feel toxic to me, more than tiktok. However, if you have fun in the process, that's a silver lining for sure 😎
i'm sorry to hear about your dog and am sending you all the good vibes 💜
also love this concept and how it's formatted!
Thank you ❤️ about the concept, sometimes I have thoughts but they don't warrant a whole post, this felt right ☺️
so sorry about your dog, that’s so tough! sending you lots of love as you get through your move ❤️
Thank you, Liv, that's so kind of u ❤️