Thank you, Lisa. This is exactly what I needed to read today. As I look at taking my next career step, trying to move closer to what I feel my calling is, I've been filled with self-doubt, overthinking every aspect of the move I want to try to make. Thank you for reminding me to show up anyway, trusting myself, knowing I have something to contribute in the world, even if it feels scary.
Thank you for these sweet words of yours. They're giving me all kinds of Aries Full Moon vibes. A lot of it resonates as I'm stepping into the artist I know I am, but somehow it has taken 39 years to admit it to myself, to say it out loud, to BELIEVE it, to live by it. This Full Moon feels significant in so many ways. May we all follow our inner nudges despite the fears, the doubts, the what ifs.
Thank you for the beautiful picture of Point Lobos. My husband is a CA State Park Ranger. We used to live near Monterey and got to explore so many of the beautiful parks. I miss it. Garrapata coastal trail is one of my favorites.
Thank you also for another beautiful newsletter. To be honest, I am so afraid of everything these days that even just getting out of bed each morning feels brave. I feel shame about the things I am afraid of- basic things like eating, driving, social interactions. But then I think, I continue to do these things despite the fear. I refuse to make my life even smaller than it is. From the outside, it might look like I am not accomplishing anything, but it is a daily exhausting battle that requires the deepest kind of courage and bravery- to just keep going.
Thank you so much for still writing today, despite the urge not to, despite not still being in the upswing, I know that is so hard. While I love when you share pieces about hope, I also love and appreciate the pieces that are inspired by the down swings too. Both are so incredibly meaningful and both are so incredibly helpful, so thank you.
“Cheers to trusting our gifts, even when our knees wobble.
Cheers to staying committed to what matters, even when abandoning it feels safer.” Yes, cheers to this and everything else you shared. In my newsletter on Friday, I wrote about how butterflies remind me that new life emerges from dark places in which we feel trapped, and is always possible even when we can’t see how.
Cheers to being honest with yourself, especially when it feels contradictory or awful!
This line hit me right where it needed to, "I’m practicing trusting myself to be with the outcome instead of worrying about what it is."
I was talking to a friend earlier today and we came to a conclusion that our brain is always catching up to the is-ness of our behaviors/feelings/actions and trying to take all the credit. "Why did you say that stupid thing, say smarter things next time!" OR "You should be more careful in the future," OR "We could have made our lives so much easier!" Our brain interprets reality as if there is nothing else out there except brains interacting with other brains.
Just being with life and calming the brains delusions makes experiencing more real.
Thankyou for this. It really resonated. I've just decided to show up and write each week no matter what and see what happens. This week felt like wading through treacle and like I had nothing at all of value to say. But I'm glad I committed and did it anyway.
Writing this with tears brimming in my eyes. Once again your writing speaks so deeply to me and I'm so grateful to you for showing up in spite of fear. This is something I struggle with consistently and I think will be a lifelong dance. Your words make me feel less alone in this experience and I'm truly so inspired by your work and vulnerability. You make me wanna keep on the path. Big gratitude to you, Lisa. ❤️
Nourishing Essay Machines feed off of life's ups and downs, otherwise they would have no wise perspective to share, and it must be said, the downs, the fears, lend instant credibility, as they are universal (Sisyphus). Just wanted to share a note on Georgia O'Keefe as she too had her share of ups and downs - did you know she suffered from a serious eye problem, macular degeneration, which at the time it forced her to change the way she made her art. At some point she started to create from memory saying "You paint from your subject, not what you see." And she started making poetry (and I believe ceramics), so she definitely rolled with the punches.
Thank you for this, it's timely. Showing up even when you're scared *and* frankly a bit wobbly *and* unsure whether you're ill or just past it. Showing up. So many of us stepping into a 'new normal' that just isn't, to be honest, in the least *normal*! Thank you for your voice.
Thank you, Lisa. This is exactly what I needed to read today. As I look at taking my next career step, trying to move closer to what I feel my calling is, I've been filled with self-doubt, overthinking every aspect of the move I want to try to make. Thank you for reminding me to show up anyway, trusting myself, knowing I have something to contribute in the world, even if it feels scary.
Thank you for these sweet words of yours. They're giving me all kinds of Aries Full Moon vibes. A lot of it resonates as I'm stepping into the artist I know I am, but somehow it has taken 39 years to admit it to myself, to say it out loud, to BELIEVE it, to live by it. This Full Moon feels significant in so many ways. May we all follow our inner nudges despite the fears, the doubts, the what ifs.
Thank you for the beautiful picture of Point Lobos. My husband is a CA State Park Ranger. We used to live near Monterey and got to explore so many of the beautiful parks. I miss it. Garrapata coastal trail is one of my favorites.
Thank you also for another beautiful newsletter. To be honest, I am so afraid of everything these days that even just getting out of bed each morning feels brave. I feel shame about the things I am afraid of- basic things like eating, driving, social interactions. But then I think, I continue to do these things despite the fear. I refuse to make my life even smaller than it is. From the outside, it might look like I am not accomplishing anything, but it is a daily exhausting battle that requires the deepest kind of courage and bravery- to just keep going.
Thank you so much for still writing today, despite the urge not to, despite not still being in the upswing, I know that is so hard. While I love when you share pieces about hope, I also love and appreciate the pieces that are inspired by the down swings too. Both are so incredibly meaningful and both are so incredibly helpful, so thank you.
You have a beautiful and amazing soul.
“Cheers to trusting our gifts, even when our knees wobble.
Cheers to staying committed to what matters, even when abandoning it feels safer.” Yes, cheers to this and everything else you shared. In my newsletter on Friday, I wrote about how butterflies remind me that new life emerges from dark places in which we feel trapped, and is always possible even when we can’t see how.
Thank you for always showing up, no matter hiw you feel. You always manage to say the 'needed' thing.
Cheers to being honest with yourself, especially when it feels contradictory or awful!
This line hit me right where it needed to, "I’m practicing trusting myself to be with the outcome instead of worrying about what it is."
I was talking to a friend earlier today and we came to a conclusion that our brain is always catching up to the is-ness of our behaviors/feelings/actions and trying to take all the credit. "Why did you say that stupid thing, say smarter things next time!" OR "You should be more careful in the future," OR "We could have made our lives so much easier!" Our brain interprets reality as if there is nothing else out there except brains interacting with other brains.
Just being with life and calming the brains delusions makes experiencing more real.
Thankyou for this. It really resonated. I've just decided to show up and write each week no matter what and see what happens. This week felt like wading through treacle and like I had nothing at all of value to say. But I'm glad I committed and did it anyway.
I needed this today, that you so much!
Thank you for these beautiful words, I really needed to hear them🫶🏻✨
I needed this today🤍
Writing this with tears brimming in my eyes. Once again your writing speaks so deeply to me and I'm so grateful to you for showing up in spite of fear. This is something I struggle with consistently and I think will be a lifelong dance. Your words make me feel less alone in this experience and I'm truly so inspired by your work and vulnerability. You make me wanna keep on the path. Big gratitude to you, Lisa. ❤️
Nourishing Essay Machines feed off of life's ups and downs, otherwise they would have no wise perspective to share, and it must be said, the downs, the fears, lend instant credibility, as they are universal (Sisyphus). Just wanted to share a note on Georgia O'Keefe as she too had her share of ups and downs - did you know she suffered from a serious eye problem, macular degeneration, which at the time it forced her to change the way she made her art. At some point she started to create from memory saying "You paint from your subject, not what you see." And she started making poetry (and I believe ceramics), so she definitely rolled with the punches.
Thank you for this, it's timely. Showing up even when you're scared *and* frankly a bit wobbly *and* unsure whether you're ill or just past it. Showing up. So many of us stepping into a 'new normal' that just isn't, to be honest, in the least *normal*! Thank you for your voice.