Great post, Holly! Reading The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry last year pushed me to make changes I already knew I needed to make. One of those was cutting back on social media, which I haven't missed much. I was happy to discover Substack for writing and community building... and to discover a writer from the other end of Mississippi. Glad to be a part of your community!
That is nicely written - I like the use of the collapsing bridge as a metaphor for our own life. As for me...well...I'm one of those who always feel I have more in the tank - more weight I can endure. And yes, I've learned the hard way that I needed to temper my expectations and lower my load because...as you pointed out... rebuilding is difficult and costly. Thanks for the reminder...as I busily spend my days juggling work obligations with extended holiday plans...
Oh Holly, this is such a wonderful post. I love how you've knitted these pieces together so absolutely beautifully: the bridge, the overwhelm, Jonah - this is a gorgeous story, and such fabulous writing. Awesome.
The bridge - I mean, gosh, what was the driver of the rig even THINKING?
The 'too much' - it's great that you've recognised and acknowledged that: if you hadn't, then that's even more difficult!
Jonah - awesome x 1,000,000,000 and then some.
Holly, the reason I enjoy reading your work so much is because it IS about you, and it's because you've got stories to tell and experiences to share. There is no better authenticity in a person's writing than when they're writing about what they know about the most: their life, their past, their hopes for the future, all the funny things that happened a week last Tuesday on the way to the supermarket; you name it, I like to read about it!
Using that collapsed bridge as your central metaphor and leaping off point for your post is just wonderful. And the kind of writerly voice that makes you special. I really don't understand that person's comment about the self-focused post, at least not for certain kinds of Substacks like yours.
Sure, if you're writing about finance that might not work. But it does work for plenty and we've worked carefully to expand our focus to slowly include more topics. That keeps things fresh for us and for our readers. Well, that's the hope!
I'm going to have to echo what Rebecca said. I have no idea what that driver was thinking. Was he trying to do himself in?!
I wouldn't worry about writing about yourself. That is your true self coming out. It is your reality and I'm sure it helps people that you don't know about. I know it can help me when I'm having a bad day. I look forward to every newsletter you send out.
I'm happy that Jonah has completed so much time in rehab. Just think of what he has to look forward to now. And he'll have a bright future now.
Happy to be one of the 250 Holly! Gosh there is so much in this. Life really does throw so much doesn’t it. I had a moment where I realised I had been scammed this week - I was already on a zoom call so couldn’t do anything about it...
Jonah!!!! Eight months of Hard-Ass work, every moment of waking and non-waking hours-I have total respect for you and for you on your Healing Path. I broke too...it was two years ago. I could not carry the load of life and all that it put on my shoulders. I cried so many tears and created so much snot, it was impossible for me to believe my sinuses were capable of holding so much! I still struggle every day and some nights with roving anxiety/panic attacks/PTSD (I am not comparing my experience to yours-please know that. I am just sharing-lucky you. ha/ha) Holly, I am so happy that 250 people have found your work here on Substack! I am very, very thankful to be one of them. It is sacred to be part of your circle. May all our loads be lightened a little and may we say, "No" when it truly is the right answer to keep us from tipping over.
Holly congrats on your 250 subscribers! And sorry to be late to the party here. What great feast of topics in this issue!
I love what SE wrote about the niche being YOU. And yes that’s not the only good strategy out there for a Substack, but I think for some of us it’s the only startegy we can sustain.
I am having a great January bc I decided that every day this month I would do the bare minimum. It’s worked out so great so far. Rather than falling behind on stuff I’m actually ahead. I feel like the less I do, the more I relax and the less there is to do. It’s like I’ve discovered some weird paradox!
What a great newsletter. I'm so happy though that no one was hurt from the bridge collapse. You have such a gift when it comes to writing. The way you mingle a story within a story.
This is so timely for me, Holly. My bridge cracked a little over the weekend from a calendar too full of things. I live with a constant background anxiety that I’m doing the wrong things and wasting my time. I don’t know if that’s what causes me to pile on more or if I just miscalculated what I could hold this month. But like you said, there comes a time when you need to step back and reassess. I know there will be a lot of praying to do as I look forward toward the rest of the year so that I can understand where to fit in that necessary rest.
So good to know someone understands the struggle!
I've exceeded the limit of carrying around my regrets and the narrative of my past. They are the huge monkey breaking my back. I am so glad I came across your Substack, and I look forward to reading more!
Beautiful words Holly and I can certainly relate. Thank you for your stories. This is one area I want to get better at and reading your writing is helping me. Write on!
I love your newsletter, your writing and I love that it’s all about life. Your life, yes, but life just the same and I think there are many of us who see our own lives reflected back to us in your writing. 💕
I enjoyed reading it; very well written, and the effectiveness of the bridge metaphor was appreciated. For the artist to evolve, the niche is better served to be open at first but certainly not as a quiche. (probably a bad pun, and even worse as poetry). One of my specialties in mental health was opioid addiction. Please look at my last post about Eddie's recovery and evolved niche. https://www.inmindwise.com/p/wise-actions-when-feeling-overwhelmed
Great post, Holly! Reading The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry last year pushed me to make changes I already knew I needed to make. One of those was cutting back on social media, which I haven't missed much. I was happy to discover Substack for writing and community building... and to discover a writer from the other end of Mississippi. Glad to be a part of your community!
That is nicely written - I like the use of the collapsing bridge as a metaphor for our own life. As for me...well...I'm one of those who always feel I have more in the tank - more weight I can endure. And yes, I've learned the hard way that I needed to temper my expectations and lower my load because...as you pointed out... rebuilding is difficult and costly. Thanks for the reminder...as I busily spend my days juggling work obligations with extended holiday plans...
Oh Holly, this is such a wonderful post. I love how you've knitted these pieces together so absolutely beautifully: the bridge, the overwhelm, Jonah - this is a gorgeous story, and such fabulous writing. Awesome.
The bridge - I mean, gosh, what was the driver of the rig even THINKING?
The 'too much' - it's great that you've recognised and acknowledged that: if you hadn't, then that's even more difficult!
Jonah - awesome x 1,000,000,000 and then some.
Holly, the reason I enjoy reading your work so much is because it IS about you, and it's because you've got stories to tell and experiences to share. There is no better authenticity in a person's writing than when they're writing about what they know about the most: their life, their past, their hopes for the future, all the funny things that happened a week last Tuesday on the way to the supermarket; you name it, I like to read about it!
Using that collapsed bridge as your central metaphor and leaping off point for your post is just wonderful. And the kind of writerly voice that makes you special. I really don't understand that person's comment about the self-focused post, at least not for certain kinds of Substacks like yours.
Sure, if you're writing about finance that might not work. But it does work for plenty and we've worked carefully to expand our focus to slowly include more topics. That keeps things fresh for us and for our readers. Well, that's the hope!
Great post as usual Holly!
I'm going to have to echo what Rebecca said. I have no idea what that driver was thinking. Was he trying to do himself in?!
I wouldn't worry about writing about yourself. That is your true self coming out. It is your reality and I'm sure it helps people that you don't know about. I know it can help me when I'm having a bad day. I look forward to every newsletter you send out.
I'm happy that Jonah has completed so much time in rehab. Just think of what he has to look forward to now. And he'll have a bright future now.
Happy to be one of the 250 Holly! Gosh there is so much in this. Life really does throw so much doesn’t it. I had a moment where I realised I had been scammed this week - I was already on a zoom call so couldn’t do anything about it...
This is really fantastic. The “weight limit exceeded” thing is absolutely right!
Jonah!!!! Eight months of Hard-Ass work, every moment of waking and non-waking hours-I have total respect for you and for you on your Healing Path. I broke too...it was two years ago. I could not carry the load of life and all that it put on my shoulders. I cried so many tears and created so much snot, it was impossible for me to believe my sinuses were capable of holding so much! I still struggle every day and some nights with roving anxiety/panic attacks/PTSD (I am not comparing my experience to yours-please know that. I am just sharing-lucky you. ha/ha) Holly, I am so happy that 250 people have found your work here on Substack! I am very, very thankful to be one of them. It is sacred to be part of your circle. May all our loads be lightened a little and may we say, "No" when it truly is the right answer to keep us from tipping over.
Holly congrats on your 250 subscribers! And sorry to be late to the party here. What great feast of topics in this issue!
I love what SE wrote about the niche being YOU. And yes that’s not the only good strategy out there for a Substack, but I think for some of us it’s the only startegy we can sustain.
I am having a great January bc I decided that every day this month I would do the bare minimum. It’s worked out so great so far. Rather than falling behind on stuff I’m actually ahead. I feel like the less I do, the more I relax and the less there is to do. It’s like I’ve discovered some weird paradox!
What a great newsletter. I'm so happy though that no one was hurt from the bridge collapse. You have such a gift when it comes to writing. The way you mingle a story within a story.
This is so timely for me, Holly. My bridge cracked a little over the weekend from a calendar too full of things. I live with a constant background anxiety that I’m doing the wrong things and wasting my time. I don’t know if that’s what causes me to pile on more or if I just miscalculated what I could hold this month. But like you said, there comes a time when you need to step back and reassess. I know there will be a lot of praying to do as I look forward toward the rest of the year so that I can understand where to fit in that necessary rest.
So good to know someone understands the struggle!
I've exceeded the limit of carrying around my regrets and the narrative of my past. They are the huge monkey breaking my back. I am so glad I came across your Substack, and I look forward to reading more!
Hi Holly...I know all the theory about not carrying too much...but I seem to continually choose to try and fit too mucg in my life rather than less!
Beautiful words Holly and I can certainly relate. Thank you for your stories. This is one area I want to get better at and reading your writing is helping me. Write on!
Sending you long distance hugs.
I love your newsletter, your writing and I love that it’s all about life. Your life, yes, but life just the same and I think there are many of us who see our own lives reflected back to us in your writing. 💕
I enjoyed reading it; very well written, and the effectiveness of the bridge metaphor was appreciated. For the artist to evolve, the niche is better served to be open at first but certainly not as a quiche. (probably a bad pun, and even worse as poetry). One of my specialties in mental health was opioid addiction. Please look at my last post about Eddie's recovery and evolved niche. https://www.inmindwise.com/p/wise-actions-when-feeling-overwhelmed