Allison, we are soul sisters, I swear. I was nodding along to so much of what you write here and yes, I am in--all the way! Yes to letting Substack become a little too much of an obsession since entering this space in October. Yes to always having podcasts on--other people's voices and ideas in my head, which naturally reduces spaces for one's own original ideas (even if I do find myself in silent conversation with these virtual voices, agreeing or arguing with them and often snatch paper and pen to write down something that gets my own creative juices flowing). I am a fan of the Word for the Year and am in fact signed up for Susannah Conway (here on Substack)'s candlelight workshops to work through that process on Dec 28 (with an Unravel Your Year workshop Dec 21). This has been my biggest year of transition and 2024 will be my first year of fully being me, my Self, divorced, no longer full-time live-in caregiver of mom. So. Many. Possibilities. I love your words for every letter in the alphabet. Brilliant. The question: What is getting the best of me and what is getting the rest of me? So concise and powerful. I am thinking deeply right now about all I am Doing and how that prevents me from Being. How can I be present in the Doing? As my coach points out, I am great at the Doing. And I am great at the Being (self-exploration and inquiry). But can I "be" doing? Can I be present in every moment, in everything I do? That is my challenge heading into 2024. Thank you for this thought-provoking essay.
Amy - we def are kindred spirits, you and I. And we both jumped into this space here on Substack at the same time. I feel like you are the first friend I made on the first day of class of school 😅
Yes. Yes. Yes to this - can I "be" doing? Can I be present in every moment, in everything I do?
Please thank your coach for me. Lol. That is exactly what I am struggling with and where I want/need to do the most work. My mind wants to divide the two - like I only have two options. Go be in the act of doing something. Or just be (as in sit/ stay still/quiet). When what I am after is to “be” - BE fully immersed in what I am doing, no matter the task. With my noisy brain, it will be a hard to drop into it. This is where I’ll start in 2024.
Thanks for your kind and thoughtful words, as always. 💕
Thank you Allison. Your words resonate with me and really encourage me to connect with myself. Less scrolling and more strolling ( shared in another post) loll...love it. I just started reading Atlas of the heart and wasn't sure yet how I will leverage what Im learning. I now plan to pick some key words/emotions that have been lacking in my life and will focus on them to guide me through 2024.
Oh, I love that plan! I listened to Atlas of the Heart on Audible and enjoyed it. Brené is masterful at her craft! It stayed with me. I bet it led me to writing this piece here - my Alphabet Atlas. Here's to recharging with ourselves more this 2024! Thanks for letting me know this resonated.
Brilliantly composed. Love the way this weaves your "worklife" terminology and the language of contracts with what you want to cultivate more of. And yes to all the noise--such a relatable struggle for many of us. The easy accessibility of podcasts, great articles, books, not to mention the rest of our lives..there's often not much time or space to tune into our OWN voices. Seems to take regular, conscious effort to do this anymore. Thank you for opening up the topic and sharing thoughtfully again.
Thanks for this insightful comment, Addie - and for your continued reading of my work. I appreciate you!
Yes, double and triple YES to turning down the outside noise so we can attempt to hear what’s inside us. I’ve muffled my insides for so long, it just doesn’t come easy to me!
It was great to meet you on Friday night, Allison! Thank you for this excellent read. Not just food for thought, but food for action. I saw this today and it seals the deal for me.
So great meeting you Jane! I really enjoyed our conversation.
And thanks for sharing this. 💯 yes to this idea. We don’t need our phones as appendages. We’ve conditioned ourselves to think we need them within arms reach and that is how/where the disconnect occurs.
Definitely food for action.
Thanks for reading and thanks for letting me know how you feel about all this - it helps to know others are dealing with this, too✨🫶
Allison you did it again! I feel every single word of this and I am in. I’ve been thinking about this for awhile, the constant consumption of information and doing. It leaves little room for just being. I’m going to give your questions some serious thought. I think I know most of the answers, I just don’t like them and have not been ready to feel and accept them-lol. But if I learned anything from letting go of alcohol it is that you just have to jump. As I’m typing this though it just occurred to me that maybe the reason I haven’t been able to do that or commit to addressing my disordered eating, is because I know how incredibly hard and painful it was to quit drinking. Not the abstaining from drinking, but what I call the aftermath. But I also know it’s all tied together too. Or maybe it’s that I don’t have the space for it right now because I’m filing my time with other things- intentional? Maybe 😉☺️. What I’m trying to say is I’m ready to slow down and make some room!
Oh Amy - me too. Me too. I get it. I know it’s time to do the digging, change things up and examine and peel back - AND I’m aware of what that will stir up. Because as you point out, we experienced that (still experience that) as a result of quitting alcohol. The rawness that waits for us underneath. The aftermath (yes!!! That word nails it).
I relate to every single thing here. In fact, I have been researching that new light phone that only has text, phone call, podcast, and GPS capabilities. No apps or Internet browser! I’m seriously thinking about pulling the trigger and then yesterday Alex Dobrenko, who I follow did a post about switching to this exact phone which was weird. It feels like we all have hive mind.
It seems many of us are feeling the pull down from our phones. I am just so sick of feeling compelled to check it, of asking my kid to put his away. I’m suddenly super nostalgic for the days before digital currency was the be all. Things were so much simpler.
I’m the same with all the content streaming in, podcasts, audiobooks, newsletters, Substack, etc.--it’s both good and bad. Finding that balance is tricky, I haven’t found it yet. I know that I don’t take walks in silence as much as I used to, and those always helped with my writing. My brain would work out a plot point or whatever while I was walking. So more of that for me in 2024, I hope!
Walking definitely helps me move my thoughts along, too. I can’t remember the last time I went for a walk “unplugged”. It’s time to make that a priority.
Feels good to know others get it and are after the same kind of balance.
To me, micro-magic means the little things and moments that might go missed if we rush through our days. For instance, the thumping of my dog’s tail on the floor every morning when my daughter takes her first few sleepy steps out of her bedroom each morning (micro-magic) or the way light filters through a tree and the shadows that result (micro-magic). Not a silly question- glad you asked! ☺️
A wonderful post from you today. You've dug deep into more difficult work as your aim is true. Layer from layer we find more answers and form new questions. The mind is a trickster, indeed. The single most important thing we can do in our lifetime is to know our minds. To know your mind is to be still for a spell and watch how it works. It's difficult. It's a life's work. The beauty of that work, day after day, is that it opens you up so you are there to help others and the world. What a nice prize! And it's with you all the time!
Your writing is a balm for a countless number of people. It's beautiful to read . It's personal. It's available. It's a noble thing you do. Admirable.
Brian - thank you for this thoughtful response. I’m so happy to be with you here and thank you for letting me know what resonates with you. I agree - while my mind is a trickster, getting to know it more intimately (not turning away from it when it feels heavier or looks darker) will produce gifts. Mostly to myself. And it’s ok ti give to myself.
I love your perspective and appreciate this message so very much. 🫶
Allison, we are soul sisters, I swear. I was nodding along to so much of what you write here and yes, I am in--all the way! Yes to letting Substack become a little too much of an obsession since entering this space in October. Yes to always having podcasts on--other people's voices and ideas in my head, which naturally reduces spaces for one's own original ideas (even if I do find myself in silent conversation with these virtual voices, agreeing or arguing with them and often snatch paper and pen to write down something that gets my own creative juices flowing). I am a fan of the Word for the Year and am in fact signed up for Susannah Conway (here on Substack)'s candlelight workshops to work through that process on Dec 28 (with an Unravel Your Year workshop Dec 21). This has been my biggest year of transition and 2024 will be my first year of fully being me, my Self, divorced, no longer full-time live-in caregiver of mom. So. Many. Possibilities. I love your words for every letter in the alphabet. Brilliant. The question: What is getting the best of me and what is getting the rest of me? So concise and powerful. I am thinking deeply right now about all I am Doing and how that prevents me from Being. How can I be present in the Doing? As my coach points out, I am great at the Doing. And I am great at the Being (self-exploration and inquiry). But can I "be" doing? Can I be present in every moment, in everything I do? That is my challenge heading into 2024. Thank you for this thought-provoking essay.
Amy - we def are kindred spirits, you and I. And we both jumped into this space here on Substack at the same time. I feel like you are the first friend I made on the first day of class of school 😅
Yes. Yes. Yes to this - can I "be" doing? Can I be present in every moment, in everything I do?
Please thank your coach for me. Lol. That is exactly what I am struggling with and where I want/need to do the most work. My mind wants to divide the two - like I only have two options. Go be in the act of doing something. Or just be (as in sit/ stay still/quiet). When what I am after is to “be” - BE fully immersed in what I am doing, no matter the task. With my noisy brain, it will be a hard to drop into it. This is where I’ll start in 2024.
Thanks for your kind and thoughtful words, as always. 💕
Thank you Allison. Your words resonate with me and really encourage me to connect with myself. Less scrolling and more strolling ( shared in another post) loll...love it. I just started reading Atlas of the heart and wasn't sure yet how I will leverage what Im learning. I now plan to pick some key words/emotions that have been lacking in my life and will focus on them to guide me through 2024.
Oh, I love that plan! I listened to Atlas of the Heart on Audible and enjoyed it. Brené is masterful at her craft! It stayed with me. I bet it led me to writing this piece here - my Alphabet Atlas. Here's to recharging with ourselves more this 2024! Thanks for letting me know this resonated.
Brilliantly composed. Love the way this weaves your "worklife" terminology and the language of contracts with what you want to cultivate more of. And yes to all the noise--such a relatable struggle for many of us. The easy accessibility of podcasts, great articles, books, not to mention the rest of our lives..there's often not much time or space to tune into our OWN voices. Seems to take regular, conscious effort to do this anymore. Thank you for opening up the topic and sharing thoughtfully again.
Thanks for this insightful comment, Addie - and for your continued reading of my work. I appreciate you!
Yes, double and triple YES to turning down the outside noise so we can attempt to hear what’s inside us. I’ve muffled my insides for so long, it just doesn’t come easy to me!
yes, thank you for this. exactly what i needed to read today <3
So glad you read it and felt resonance. Thanks, Rowan!
It was great to meet you on Friday night, Allison! Thank you for this excellent read. Not just food for thought, but food for action. I saw this today and it seals the deal for me.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0e_jdHCOOI/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
So great meeting you Jane! I really enjoyed our conversation.
And thanks for sharing this. 💯 yes to this idea. We don’t need our phones as appendages. We’ve conditioned ourselves to think we need them within arms reach and that is how/where the disconnect occurs.
Definitely food for action.
Thanks for reading and thanks for letting me know how you feel about all this - it helps to know others are dealing with this, too✨🫶
Allison you did it again! I feel every single word of this and I am in. I’ve been thinking about this for awhile, the constant consumption of information and doing. It leaves little room for just being. I’m going to give your questions some serious thought. I think I know most of the answers, I just don’t like them and have not been ready to feel and accept them-lol. But if I learned anything from letting go of alcohol it is that you just have to jump. As I’m typing this though it just occurred to me that maybe the reason I haven’t been able to do that or commit to addressing my disordered eating, is because I know how incredibly hard and painful it was to quit drinking. Not the abstaining from drinking, but what I call the aftermath. But I also know it’s all tied together too. Or maybe it’s that I don’t have the space for it right now because I’m filing my time with other things- intentional? Maybe 😉☺️. What I’m trying to say is I’m ready to slow down and make some room!
Oh Amy - me too. Me too. I get it. I know it’s time to do the digging, change things up and examine and peel back - AND I’m aware of what that will stir up. Because as you point out, we experienced that (still experience that) as a result of quitting alcohol. The rawness that waits for us underneath. The aftermath (yes!!! That word nails it).
I’ll be slowing down alongside you in 2024. 🫶✨
Thanks for your thoughtfulness here.
I relate to every single thing here. In fact, I have been researching that new light phone that only has text, phone call, podcast, and GPS capabilities. No apps or Internet browser! I’m seriously thinking about pulling the trigger and then yesterday Alex Dobrenko, who I follow did a post about switching to this exact phone which was weird. It feels like we all have hive mind.
It seems many of us are feeling the pull down from our phones. I am just so sick of feeling compelled to check it, of asking my kid to put his away. I’m suddenly super nostalgic for the days before digital currency was the be all. Things were so much simpler.
I see you, Julie. Me too. 🫶
I’m the same with all the content streaming in, podcasts, audiobooks, newsletters, Substack, etc.--it’s both good and bad. Finding that balance is tricky, I haven’t found it yet. I know that I don’t take walks in silence as much as I used to, and those always helped with my writing. My brain would work out a plot point or whatever while I was walking. So more of that for me in 2024, I hope!
Walking definitely helps me move my thoughts along, too. I can’t remember the last time I went for a walk “unplugged”. It’s time to make that a priority.
Feels good to know others get it and are after the same kind of balance.
Thanks, Sarah!
A beautifully thoughtful piece, thank you. Ritual and micro-magic really speak to me!
Micro-magic is what I am after. That is my leading word (if I had to pick one). Yes 🫶🫶
Thanks, Belinda.
❤️Thank you for sharing this!
Potentially silly question, but what do you mean by micro-magic?
To me, micro-magic means the little things and moments that might go missed if we rush through our days. For instance, the thumping of my dog’s tail on the floor every morning when my daughter takes her first few sleepy steps out of her bedroom each morning (micro-magic) or the way light filters through a tree and the shadows that result (micro-magic). Not a silly question- glad you asked! ☺️
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain! :)
Love it. Stirred up the word Examine for me for 2024.
Examine. Yes! That’s a great one to lean into to. I love that.
I’ll be examining all the stuff that gets kicked up for me this year, too. Hard work but it will pay off!
Thanks for reading 😘
Good morning, Allison,
A wonderful post from you today. You've dug deep into more difficult work as your aim is true. Layer from layer we find more answers and form new questions. The mind is a trickster, indeed. The single most important thing we can do in our lifetime is to know our minds. To know your mind is to be still for a spell and watch how it works. It's difficult. It's a life's work. The beauty of that work, day after day, is that it opens you up so you are there to help others and the world. What a nice prize! And it's with you all the time!
Your writing is a balm for a countless number of people. It's beautiful to read . It's personal. It's available. It's a noble thing you do. Admirable.
I wish you well in your endeavors.
Brian - thank you for this thoughtful response. I’m so happy to be with you here and thank you for letting me know what resonates with you. I agree - while my mind is a trickster, getting to know it more intimately (not turning away from it when it feels heavier or looks darker) will produce gifts. Mostly to myself. And it’s ok ti give to myself.
I love your perspective and appreciate this message so very much. 🫶