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Claire Elizabeth's avatar

Hello everyone, I'm Claire from the south coast of New South Wales, Australia.

I'm a palliative care nurse, lifelong reader, aspiring writer, wife, mother of four adult children, and recent Substack newcomer. Much of my writing at the moment is shaped by an unexpected chapter in my life: recovering from a concussion sustained in a motor vehicle accident fifteen months ago.

These days I'm interested in writing about recovery, identity, books, midlife, family, travel, faith, and the ways life sometimes asks us to reinvent ourselves. I'm looking forward to reading your stories and being part of this community.

Krissy's avatar

I'm writing short daily pieces focused on finding the rainbow in everyday life. Just started this daily practice on Substack a week ago, testing it out. Doesn't seem to fit nicely into a Substack category, but if you see a good fit somewhere, let me know.

Come smile with me: https://kkgrandmarais.substack.com/p/todays-smile-7?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=195bmo

A.MarissaSira's avatar

SOUL INITIATION / ESOTERIC WRITING

Hi, I'm Anca, born in Romania, raised in New York City, and living in Northern California for three decades. I'm a doctor of Chinese medicine and also a writer and artist with a BFA. I draw on descent mythology, esoteric traditions I've studied for many years, and what I witness clinically (the ways the body carries soul) to write about the underworld passages that change us. My Substack is The Threshold and the Orchard.

I'm also at work on a book.

My most recent post, The Voice That Speaks First, moves from a clinical encounter (a patient who overrode her own body's knowing before a date that confirmed every warning) into a larger inquiry: how the same faculty that protects us in the intimate and personal is the one we need to bear witness to what is happening collectively. It's about the oldest intelligence we carry, and what it costs when we stop listening.

https://amarissasira.substack.com/p/the-voice-that-speaks-first?r=1iyhk5&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

Lee Bodkin's avatar

I write about what calls to me. I write about trauma, reinvention, love, forgiveness, and the unseen wonders of life.

At 60, I found myself jobless, homeless, and no longer living with my husband of 30 years. Mine is a story of reinvention. I look forward to sharing pieces of my journey with this Midstack Community.

'The Unknown is the Place Where All Things are Possible. Enter it with Grace."

— Wise words from a Yogi teabag.

PS, I was thinking of closing my Substack before I stumbled on Midstack.

Latest post: Pieces and Patterns: The Stories We Carry

https://reclaimedandrising.substack.com/p/pieces-and-patterns-the-stories-we?r=5d7azq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Sarah Farina's avatar

Hi everyone! I joined Substack last week and Midstack has felt like home. I'm enjoying the deep personal reflections, shared photos of nature and art and travel. Here is my post for today: https://thesarahfarina.substack.com/p/the-moment-your-old-life-stops-fitting?r=8go0p9&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

She Finally Writes...'s avatar

Hello wonderful midstack writers! 🤗 IAM Sonita, from East London.

And I am very new to Substack, so still learning as I go!

But I bravely posted my very 1st publication last night.. and today has been a rollercoaster of emotions ever since!!

It's been overwhelming and exciting and anxiety inducing and freeing and then nerve wracking and then liberating.. and so on... All day! 🫣😅

But now the day is finally over and I'm laying down and quietly breathing.. and dare I say it; but there's a slow and tentative feeling of pride creeping in.. *I really did it, I wrote the thing, and I pressed the publish button... And then I sat there staring at the screen wide eyed!* ✨🥹🥹✨ What a day it has been!

I've written a life piece about living with shame... And my dream is to eventually be a healing/self help/self love /fiction and memoir author! 💖

Please come and say Hi to me anytime, I simply love human connection of ALL kinds! Xx

https://sonitaturner25.substack.com/p/writing-through-the-shame?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=5kvp38

Victoria's avatar

Hi Sonita - bravo on publishing your first piece, and one that's so deeply personal. Thanks for sharing. Keep going!

She Finally Writes...'s avatar

Thank you so much Victoria!!

Your words means a lot to little me and big me combined!!! 💕🦋🥰

Audra Emmerich's avatar

https://audraemmerich.substack.com/ You can also check me out on Instagram @tabsicantclose

Audra Emmerich's avatar

Hi my nams is Audra Emmerich and I am a middle school English teacher. I write about the tabs people carry and don't always say out loud. My writing focuses on being the eldest daughter, caregiving, marriage,motherhood,teaching, identity. The way women keep functioning while their brains are holding 47 tabs.The real central focus is what it costs to be the person who notices everything and what it finally takes to notice yourself.

Jessica Smock's avatar

I’m a former middle school English teacher! I love the metaphor of tabs open :)

Jacqueline Mantz Rodriguez's avatar

Good morning, I hope all of us are well, healthy, and have ease of being. I write memoir and essays about teaching, health and fitness, recovery, and even my dogs. I write every morning. Here is a link to my latest post about caring for ourselves as we care for others as teachers.

https://teacherwriterbreath.substack.com/p/tired-teacher

Natasha Steer's avatar

Hi all! My writing lives somewhere between memoir, nervous system awareness, and literary reflection. I became a solo mom at nineteen, spent years raising my son while traveling the world together, and now find myself writing about what happens when adventure gives way to healing, grief, self-trust, and rebuilding.

https://natashasteer.substack.com/p/losing-my-wallet-in-bangkok

Jacqueline Mantz Rodriguez's avatar

I read your essay Natasha, thank you.

Natasha Steer's avatar

Thank you for reading! :)

Pocket Courage's avatar

Hi. I'm 50 and I write about a change manager's point of view when she's the one going through change herself. On career pivots, habits, family, friendships and the insights when you're living what you usually help others through. https://pocketcourage.substack.com/

Kelsey Formost's avatar

PERSONAL ESSAY- Kelsey here👋🏼🤓 I’m a former actress/screenwriter who now writes about the roles women are forced to play in real life (and how to break out of them).

Here’s my essay on embracing my gray hair after my root coverup melted on the set of ‘Modern Family’: https://kelseyformost.substack.com/p/i-hid-my-gray-hair-for-hollywood?r=22jh2p&utm_medium=ios

Julie Verfurth - Awake Woman's avatar

Hello, I'm Julie. I have a background in naturopathic and mind/body medicine AND a purpose to fulfill since turning 50 of guiding women from self-suppression (all those years of pushing themselves out of the picture) to full authentic self-expression (you unapologetically being you). The journey is both physical and spiritual and requires turning over deep patterns as well as finding courage to return to the real state of brilliance that you were born with.

My latest post is:

Calling all Sovereign Selves! New Epoch Emerging!

https://drjuliev.substack.com/p/calling-all-sovereign-selves-new?r=2dmsr9

Claire Moffat's avatar

Hi! I’m Claire from Sydney, Australia a senior writer, independent author, and former digital media publisher.

My Substack, The Phoenix Project, explores reinvention, visibility, work, ageing, creativity and economic independence for women over 50.

My book of the same name looks at how women can rebuild confidence, income and identity in the second half of life especially in a world shaped by ageism, AI and rapid change.

At the moment, I’m also writing family history, which has deepened my interest in women’s resilience across generations. Here's my post for today: https://clairemoffat.substack.com/p/7-reasons-to-use-a-coach-to-grow........(your career after 50)!

Julia Seaonsea's avatar

Oops I’m new here and posted to fast before I got to say: this is a story of leaving my career to focus on my family. Career burnout! Mature parenting I’m 42 with two small kids.

KiKi Walter's avatar

What a great thread this is!

Hi! My name is KiKi Walter. I grew up in the Adirondack Mountains of Northern New York--but I now hail from Orange County in Southern California. I mostly write memoirs and publish the online magazine "The Memoirist" here on Substack (and Medium), as well as The Memoirist Quarterly literary journal.

The Memoirist features Substack writers from all over the world who share their memoirs and personal essays with us. Check us out, and if you're interested in submitting stories to The Memoirist, please feel free to DM me!

https://thememoiristpub.substack.com/

KiKi Walter's avatar

I was born in Saranac Lake but mostly raised in Malone.

Jessica Smock's avatar

Hey, Kiki! Small world! I grew up in the Adirondacks too! Just north of Warrensburg, near Chestertown and North Creek. Where did you grow up?