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I’ve jokingly called my substack my adult livejournal and I miss the days of sharing our online diaries with each other! There’s also some patriarchy coming through in non-critically criticizing the diary form, most often associated with teenage girls. Yet theirs and so many historical diaries contain so much insight and wisdom and beauty. I love your thoughts on the power of sharing, and it’s something I try to remind myself of when I start to question why I keep putting myself out there. Connection is everything. Thank you for always holding that truth so openly.

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I was a Livejournal devotee and feel such sweet nostalgia thinking about those days. And the patriarchal perspective of this is so, so resonant and true -- the value of it is so rich. Thank you for this reflection 🤍

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I too was a Livejournal gal. Thanks for this one today.

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I second this, also give me alll the diary entries! I love being able to take a peek into people's inner worlds. I find it so incredibly beautiful and generous when people share in that way.

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#10 all day long. I've often gotten down on myself for not being a more literary writer. I wish I wrote that way, god damn it i do, but I don't. It's not how the words come out of me. It's not how my mind moves through the world. I'll never get my MFA. I might never complete a full memoir or work of fiction. But I write, and people read. And they tell me it makes a difference, it means something, it saves moments or days or sometimes even lives. And that's more than enough. It is and it has to be. i've come to love fragmented stories and incomplete pieces. We live life in fragments..it's never one perfectly formed story arc when you're living it - so why shouldn't we write that way?

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Yes yes yes 🤍

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Exactly, I write how I talk and it isn't pretty! And my punctuation is made up. No MFA for me.

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Resonate so much with this! Everyone has their own voice and way of thinking and moving in the world. I'm relatively new to Substack and read so many amazing newsletters that a little voice of self-doubt crept in at how great they were compared to me, but I must remember that comparison is the thief of joy, and I need to concentrate on my own work.

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Your writing has been so powerful for me! Thank you for sharing this and all the windows into your world. Did you know the root of “worry” means to strangle. I’ve never forgotten that! Sending love and much gratitude to you!!

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Thank you for those words <3 and I did not know that, but WOW makes so much sense. Thanks for sharing!

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Grateful for your thoughts on Substack and what is worth sharing -- thank you, Lisa. And what a thrill to know that you read my book! ❤️

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Thank you for writing it! It was truly transcendent to read. And I'm very much looking forward to your May workshop (got childcare figured out so I signed up). <3

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I had a boyfriend who once scoffed at people who eat at Subway. My family ate at Subway every Sunday after church--it was a memory of togetherness for me, and I had never once thought to feel shame about eating at a chain sub restaurant until someone said something about it. It threatened something that felt sacred and important to me; something natural and even ordinary about my life was now under scrutiny. One time my sister wanted to show me a song she thought I would find cool and I laughed at it because I thought it was silly, but she was looking for connection to me in that moment, and I had a hand in her feeling embarrassment. These memories come to mind for me because I feel like there are invitations on either end of being the person whose preferences come under criticism, and being the critic. The former would be to lean in even further to what I love with abandon, and an invitation to get clear about what really matters to me, and the latter to come to have a greater sensitivity and respect for others in what they love, even if it it doesn't resonate for me. Both can be true. Subway is Subway for a reason, and so are diary entries, and so are acoustic covers of Drake songs... what a special thing it is that we come to the well that is other people's creativity and parts of us feels seen by it, while others of us remain stumped. :)

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Just a big yes to all of this. The link I posted from Samantha Urby speaks to this so beautifully, too -- just saying "I like it" and letting that be enough. Thanks for sharing this lovely reflection here 🤍

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You've captured that feeling of embarrassment, from both ways, so well. Thank you!

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Brilliant perspective, thank you Chandler.

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Thank you for sharing, once again it resonates. And to the podcast host who mentioned that some of these things are diary entries or shouldn’t be published - you can go read something else. Perhaps they’re reacting to a part of them that wishes they could be more open, honest and vulnerable. Of course, I have no way of knowing. And my substack newsletter is more in line with yours, Lisa. In that it is all in the process, without necessarily being the end lesson or some well researching report. It is me, sharing as a human about life and what I’m learning. (But at the end of the day, what else is life about?)

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Yes! It wasn't really about them at all -- it was mostly about what it brought up for me, how quickly we can question our own work/way of doing things. And how we can return to what is true, even after the questioning. Thanks for sharing 🤍

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It’s never really about them, it’s about what it brings up in us!

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Precisely ✨

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“There is room for you. There is room for your words and art, your message and your heart”.

For all of us creatives who struggle with self-doubt, thank you for sharing this 💗

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From one to another <3

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Love this, Lisa, especially point 10, and how you write. That podcast hot was talking hogwash! And I’m cross/sad at the thought there will be some folk who take on what he said and will change/curb themselves because of it.

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Thank you for sharing -- may we all continue learning how to be ourselves in the world, trusting it'll be for those it's meant for <3

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by Lisa Olivera

The need for dopamine hits that aren't from your phone resonates deeply (she types on her phone)! I have been in a rut where I am so burned out that after completing my responsibilities for the day, I just lay on the couch and scroll. I am going to make a list of things that bring me joy aside from my phone (and will do so on a piece of paper, not on my phone!!!). Thank you for the inspiration.

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I hope your list supports you! Such a simple and helpful practice.

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by Lisa Olivera

“Let it find the people it’s meant to find”

Liking this - what you were saying about writing. Reminds me of a similar realization about finding friends. Showing up from our true self, real responses, honest vulnerabilities… enables the discovery of kindred spirits. This is what we all really want, but the inevitable (necessary :-) discord or rejection along the path can completely derail the dream of friendship.

When I look at this openly, I get how precious, invaluable and precarious friendship is for us. And I realize, too, how necessary this rocky path is, for success.

Seems like I absolutely must accept the bumps on paths leading to… true expression, true friendship, truth about myself, truth about our culture, species… all of it.

I’m so YES with the following:

“ learn to differentiate between when we’re moving from the truth and when we’re not ”

I think you are right we can learn this. It helps me keep walking when a storm (inside) engulfs me, or when I feel alone when speaking/writing from the heart.

I’ll go on record saying your newsletter writing style touches and conveys the truth quite well, and imagining it formatted as an “essay” (who started teaching us that drivel, eh :-) - invokes the vomit urge.

Hey - sad to hear about the book rejection. I sure want to read it. If “they” don’t see the gem… their loss. Seems you already see the light coming through those cracks! (L. Cohen) 😊

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Thank you for this reflection -- I resonate with so much of what you shared. "Seems like I must accept the bumps on paths leading to..." this part especially. Accepting the bumps helps me not internalize or identify as them. An ongoing practice, much like everything. Thanks as always!

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by Lisa Olivera

I felt discouraged after reading some comment talking about why reading some substacks (and of course I read it as mine) feels like reading someone’s food diaries.... thanks for writing this, because I felt so blocked after reading that comment and couldn’t write anything at all. It’s better to show up, create, and practice.

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So much better. And it's hard to do sometimes, knowing there will be folks who don't like it. That's one of the reasons I loved the Samantha Urby piece I linked in the shared links -- her ability to just say, "I like it" inspired me a lot. Thank you for sharing <3

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by Lisa Olivera

I don't know what literary writing really means. I do love to read... i've never delved into the technicality of literature, so maybe my feedback is ... less credible so to speak. But, I LOVE LOVE the way you write. It flows like poetry, it speaks to my soul, and often is a balm to my wounds. It (your writing) truly is an art, and I don't think art is meant to follow any rules; art is free.

I come here every Sunday to find resonance, to find connection, to learn because it is so clear that you have experienced heartbreak, pain, and grief and from that you know and understand life in a way that most people just... don't. Your writing is like drinking wisdom and love at the same time.

I wish I could express how much your writing means to me.

As always, thank you for sharing what you do and HOW you do.

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Thank you Allie, for all of these words and for the continuous thoughtful and kind comments you leave here. It means a lot, truly.

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If that person doesn’t like journal entries, that’s on them 🤣 I only recently found you, but I really appreciate this share. 💜💜

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Thank you!

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Thank you for continuing to share from the in-between 💛

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Thanks for reading 🤍

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by Lisa Olivera

“I thought about the relief of just being honest instead of trying to be impressive.” - LOVED this! ❤️

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So much relief there. 🤍

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Have you read the book The Molecule of More? It’s about dopamine. One of the things I learned from it is that reliance on dopamine interferes with what he refers to as the “here and now” chemicals (such as serotonin) that allow us to enjoy the present moment. It really gave me a different perspective on our dopamine-driven culture, which is all about more, seeking, acquiring, desire, need.

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I haven't read it but it sounds super interesting! The "dopamine booster" phrase is really just ways of actually nourishing myself, which doesn't usually involve my phone -- maybe I should have used a different title for the list!

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I think you’d find it super interesting! I felt like I learned a lot about why certain practices (like meditation, for me) are so helpful in undoing the conditioning of our environment/technology. I love your list idea, I’m going to try it!

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Adding to my (long) to-read list, it sounds so great. Thank you for the rec!

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