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Kaarin Marx Smith's avatar

“If you feel like an outsider — you just haven’t met your tribe yet. There are people out there whose hearts will feel like home….”

Thank you to John Mark Green for this wonderful reminder and thanks to Beth Kempton and Suleika Jaouad and Sarah Fay - SW@W for helping me find mine.

https://substack.com/@kaarinsmith/note/c-116051184

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Dr. Heidi's avatar

This is beautiful Kaarin, I can relate to this at times and I am so happy for you to feel you have found that, and here as well!

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Katie DeBonville's avatar

This week I wrote a series of haiku for women who swear. We need them! https://open.substack.com/pub/kdbonville/p/haiku-for-women-who-swear?r=4e5q4&utm_medium=ios

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Leslie Senevey's avatar

Yes, yes and yes!

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Shawna Ayoub's avatar

That gave me a laugh!

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Shawna Ayoub's avatar

As a parent as well, I can't imagine how hard it would be not to smother.

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Leslie Senevey's avatar

I fail. I smother. But he’s gracious about it.

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Pam Johnston's avatar

What a beautiful reflection on the never-ending worry that comes along with motherhood. Keaton sounds like a delightful young man who's lucky to have such a devoted mom. Happy Mother's Day to you!

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Leslie Senevey's avatar

Thank you! He is delightful, but I am definitely the lucky one!

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Great post!

My Wednesday essay is about the difference between being an introvert and isolating: https://nantepper.com/p/hey-nan-whered-you-go

And my podcast essay is about my rescue pup, Maisy and what she's taught me about radical acceptance. https://nantepper.com/p/a-daily-dose-of-radical-acceptance-dd8

Thank you for doing this every week, Jessica. It's very supportive! xo

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Victoria's avatar

Hello lovely folks - thanks Jessica

I wrote a 2-part article: How do I make sense of grief, purpose, pressure, and all these publishing possibilities, on the fifth anniversary of two birthdays?

😳 Part 1: Past and Present Grief Discombobulates this Publisher's Purpose.: https://www.carermentor.com/p/past-and-present-grief-discombobulates

💡 Part 2: "Realignment (Head-Heart-Gut) with a Publisher's Hat On." https://www.carermentor.com/p/realignment-head-heart-gut-with-a

Are you aware/Have you embraced admin responsibilities of publishing?

I assessed and recalibrated my messy discombobulated thinking and expectations. Also, Part 2 I share important facts about Substack fees, UK tax considerations and info on in-app payments. I hope something helps others.

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Maura J. Zimmer's avatar

This week I wrote a “Dear John” letter to a difficult friendship; a letter about hurt, and a reflection on my own behavior in and out of platonic relationships.

https://modernstrength.substack.com/p/dear-old-friend

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Shawna Ayoub's avatar

Yes! I love a letter. And this--how good to recognize the benefits of letting go.

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Pam Johnston's avatar

This week I wrote a post about a recent writing retreat and what it taught me about remembering who I am on my own, apart from being a wife and mother and dementia caregiver.

https://open.substack.com/pub/msmiddler/p/retreat?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=3gdcc

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Leslie Senevey's avatar

I love this reflection. Reminds me that we are always there, even when buried by the heavy blankets of life. Kind of like the buds of spring buried under the earth in winter.

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Shawna Ayoub's avatar

I wrote about how reading lit that reflects my heritage has me rediscovering myself through my own (inner) writing. https://surviveyourstory.substack.com/p/finding-ourselves-in-writing

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Maura J. Zimmer's avatar

After reading your essay I’m pondering “Do I only read what I know/like?” Great point.

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Shawna Ayoub's avatar

It’s easy to get cozy! And there’s nothing wrong with reading what we love. A stretch is always a good exercise. 😃 Thank you for reading!

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Kathryn Vercillo's avatar

Looking forward to reading through the shares. Over on Threadstack where I share fiber arts and crafts, I shared a creative exercise of putting intentional mistakes into your craft project as a way of releasing perfection. When we practice letting go in craft, it teaches us we can let go in other areas of life. https://open.substack.com/pub/threadstackcommunity/p/letting-go-exercise-for-fiber-artists

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Amy Gabrielle's avatar

This week, my nipples weighed in on Glennon-gate - was she "bullied off Substack or did she enter the arena too grandiosely?

https://amygabrielle.substack.com/p/an-open-letter-from-my-nipples-to-df6

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Nan Tepper's avatar

I loved this post! xo

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Amy Gabrielle's avatar

Thank you so much Nan! Trump fuckery has got me really down lately. Currently isolating and taking care of Henry's basic needs. Love you 🥰❤️

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Nan Tepper's avatar

I hear you. Isolating is a good temporary measure, but not a long time solution, right? Here if you want vent! xo Love you, too, Amele!

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Kaarin Marx Smith's avatar

@Beth Kempton wrote a great sentence about the tension between taking care of yourself and engaging in the world: " We cannot exist only in the vicinity of crisis or still point. We have to know both the suffering of the outer world and calm in the inner world to process and cope with difficult things." I hear you Amy + Nan!

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Nan Tepper's avatar

That's beautiful. What a sentence. WOW.

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Dr. Heidi's avatar

Today is Mother's Day which can be tender for many, me included. My mum has dementia and I am her sole caregiver. I am also childless, not by choice. It made me think about “mothering” and how much of it I have done and do. It isn't bound to biology or a specific life stage.

What if mothering wasn’t just about raising children—but about raising consciousness, nurturing possibility, and holding space for others to grow? https://substack.com/@heidilescanec/note/c-116285744

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Amber Groomes,Ph.D. (she/her)'s avatar

Today I posted some thoughts about practicing self-compassion in motherhood; specifically, that we should do it for ourselves and not only because it benefits others (even though it does!)

https://open.substack.com/pub/agroomes/p/self-compassion-in-motherhood-is?r=30pxzo&utm_medium=ios

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Amy Cowen's avatar

I wrote this week about avocado sandwiches and how they bring "this time last year" to the surface and an exercise in memorization last week in committing a poem to memory.

https://illustratedlife.substack.com/p/pink-shirts-in-the-garden-mothers-day-memorizing-recuerdo-millay

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Karen Geiger's avatar

This week I wrote my first mindful Monday post. May change the name - not sure yet🤔 but I wanted to say something about being. Intentional and minimal. We don’t need EVERYTHING, all the stuff, all the time. https://open.substack.com/pub/thewriteremedy/p/greek-mythology-and-mental-decluttering?r=1zwyro&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

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Robin LaVoie's avatar

I didn't write a lot this week - except for notes to my congresspeople, emails to doctors, to do lists, and drafts/scraps/wonderings that may or may not go anywhere - but I did share this "productivity hack" Note in the midst of decluttering/procrastination in my home office :) https://substack.com/@robinlavoie/note/c-114193584

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