Is so beautiful to realize cringe, awkwardness, vulnerability, mistakes, and failed attempts are often not proof you are failing… but proof you are actively becoming someone new 👏🏻✨
What you said about movement is so interesting! I've recently been learning about similar principles for stress relief; how literally shaking it off is a good way to blow off steam and tell your mind it's time to move on. Now I'm realizing there are so many other physical cues we can lean on to train our brains to get over things like embarrassment, self-consciousness, hesitation, etc. Fantastic piece 👏🏼
After inhaling your piece about C, I’ve had this one for dessert and what can I say – I am still hungry! 😂
Besides all the precious insights and tips you share I want to congratulate you for your intriguingly captivating writing style. You make it seem so effortless when I know for sure it isn’t. Know that this streak won’t stop, this is only the beginning 🪽❣️
sarah — "still hungry" is the highest compliment a writer can get, i think!! and your "this is only the beginning" landed at the exact moment i needed to hear it. thank you, truly 🤍
Thank you for writing part 2 and for all the tea and self work that you had to do to come back to this topic. Part of metamorphosing seems to be cocooning. So much to think on in your post. Moving the body, and learning to receive and be seen. Trying to get my words around what I want. Some of it's altered now that I have kids, but I want want to be creative. I want to work with fashion and art and be a taylor swift impersonator. Am I being too much? Lately I've been trying to get into my organizer mode because that's who I've been, not fully but what I usually hide with. Or am I just reorganizing my spaces because I'm not happy with where I'm at. "If I just move this piece ... If I just get this space pretty..." will I finally like it here?
This is brilliant. Often the real fear isn’t failure, it’s the identity shift success would require. Getting what you want can feel more destabilizing than not having it.
the body doesn't differentiate between "bad unfamiliar" and "good unfamiliar" — it just registers unfamiliar and tries to pull you back. the identity shift is the actual work. thank you for naming it so cleanly 🤍
Loved this two-part essay. The funny thing for me is that I knew, from the first episode, that I was Charlotte. An online quiz confirmed it. I was offended when a friend’s husband challenged the results, telling me he’d pegged me as a Miranda. Miranda!!! I’m even an art historian. Rich and fabulously dressed not so much, but Charlotte? Definitely. Thanks again. Most enjoyable reading.
anne — an art historian being pegged as a miranda?? sir! respectfully: the gallery walls, the eye for beauty, the romantic interior life — charlotte all the way!!!
ps: thank you so much for reading & supporting a little piece of my soul :)
Is so beautiful to realize cringe, awkwardness, vulnerability, mistakes, and failed attempts are often not proof you are failing… but proof you are actively becoming someone new 👏🏻✨
What you said about movement is so interesting! I've recently been learning about similar principles for stress relief; how literally shaking it off is a good way to blow off steam and tell your mind it's time to move on. Now I'm realizing there are so many other physical cues we can lean on to train our brains to get over things like embarrassment, self-consciousness, hesitation, etc. Fantastic piece 👏🏼
so many life hacks - so little time!
what a blessing that we've found each other on this little corner of the internet, so we can get much smarter (and stronger) much quicker :)
Agreed !
A little off the topic but I love the way you use words. Reading your work brings me pure satisfaction :)
catching back up on substack after leaning into life lately, and i just wanted to acknowledge this made my day, lena!
thank you oh so much <3
Utterly brilliant, as always
your support means the world to me :)
looking forward to seeing your face soon!
After inhaling your piece about C, I’ve had this one for dessert and what can I say – I am still hungry! 😂
Besides all the precious insights and tips you share I want to congratulate you for your intriguingly captivating writing style. You make it seem so effortless when I know for sure it isn’t. Know that this streak won’t stop, this is only the beginning 🪽❣️
sarah — "still hungry" is the highest compliment a writer can get, i think!! and your "this is only the beginning" landed at the exact moment i needed to hear it. thank you, truly 🤍
xx, the other sarah ;)
Rad, thank you ❤️🔥
Thank you for writing part 2 and for all the tea and self work that you had to do to come back to this topic. Part of metamorphosing seems to be cocooning. So much to think on in your post. Moving the body, and learning to receive and be seen. Trying to get my words around what I want. Some of it's altered now that I have kids, but I want want to be creative. I want to work with fashion and art and be a taylor swift impersonator. Am I being too much? Lately I've been trying to get into my organizer mode because that's who I've been, not fully but what I usually hide with. Or am I just reorganizing my spaces because I'm not happy with where I'm at. "If I just move this piece ... If I just get this space pretty..." will I finally like it here?
what or whom?
I absolutely love this piece! :) Saving this to re-read for when I inevitably go viral (ha!)
This stood out — subscribed right away. If it feels right, I’d appreciate you subscribing to mine too.
You brilliantly articulated what I’ve been feeling for years. Thank you! You’ve certainly inspired me! ⭐️
that's the whole reason i wrote it! so glad it found you, ainsley! 🤍
You are a really fantastic writer and you will keep finding more of your audience.
thank you. i'm going to tuck this one in my pocket for the next spiral :)
Thank you for this follow up piece and for your refreshing vulnerability!
thank you, rebecca! the vulnerability was the only way through, it turns out. grateful you're here 🤍
I love your writing. I found it today and it’s so insightful and boldly honest.
olivia — welcome!! what a thing to hear on day one. so glad you found your way over :)
This is brilliant. Often the real fear isn’t failure, it’s the identity shift success would require. Getting what you want can feel more destabilizing than not having it.
"more destabilizing than not having it" — yup!
the body doesn't differentiate between "bad unfamiliar" and "good unfamiliar" — it just registers unfamiliar and tries to pull you back. the identity shift is the actual work. thank you for naming it so cleanly 🤍
Loved this two-part essay. The funny thing for me is that I knew, from the first episode, that I was Charlotte. An online quiz confirmed it. I was offended when a friend’s husband challenged the results, telling me he’d pegged me as a Miranda. Miranda!!! I’m even an art historian. Rich and fabulously dressed not so much, but Charlotte? Definitely. Thanks again. Most enjoyable reading.
anne — an art historian being pegged as a miranda?? sir! respectfully: the gallery walls, the eye for beauty, the romantic interior life — charlotte all the way!!!
ps: thank you so much for reading & supporting a little piece of my soul :)