Future You Would Like a Word with Today You
what matters more -- being safe or having a voice?
I’d like you to get a message like the one below from someone who loves your work one day in the future, whatever that work is — art, writing, healing, teaching… whatever you are drawn to share.
Laura sent this to me in my Instagram DM’s.
I’m sharing this with you because it’s so easy to believe your creative work is having zero impact or, if you aren’t sharing your work yet, it’s easy to believe that it won’t matter so why bother? It’s too late.
I had no idea that Laura had a folder with my newsletters in it. No idea that Laura was reading my work. No idea my thoughts were helping her.
Two things to ask yourself:
What am I waiting for when it comes to sharing my work?
Who can I tell their work matters to me? (send a DM or an email or a note — tell the people who fill your life with meaning and beauty and knowledge thank you.)
I shared on Substack this week (Substack has a Twitter-like feature called Notes) this thought about talent:
When you focus on talent or some other question of measurement from outside you, it’s so easy to lose sight of what matters. Which is how curious you are, how much you love stories and music or color or whatever we love about creating, and how dedicated you are to learning your craft. The easy street promise of talent and fame colludes with the part of us that doesn't want to risk looking stupid while we learn, that doesn't want to fall down and get up again and again and again.
Seth responded with:
Then I told Seth,
After my first book, The Woman’s Comfort Book was published, my editor told me that I really couldn’t write when I wrote that book. And she was right, I was a terrible writer. And yet the book has sold 350K+ copies and is still in print. And I/ learned to write. It took me years. But I did it and I did it in public.1
Talent is awesome, I would love more of it. Being successful and always making it look easy, also awesome (or it must be, I wouldn’t know) but what’s more important to me than talent or looking good is having a voice. Taking risks. Showing up. Making stuff.
What’s more important to you? Name it. If it’s still important, it’s not too late.
Take a moment to share what’s most important to you these days.
Quick note: I’ve turned off the option to pledge to support this newsletter financially. I was going to build a paid community here but I decided to give myself grace around that for now so I can write my novel but don’t worry, I’ll still be writing every week. For free!
You can always buy a book to support me - send a paper copy as a gift, extra helpful. Thank you! Or share this newsletter. Also amazing!
Thank you to everyone who already pledged your support - you will not be paying me now and I love you!
Hugs,
Jen
I rewrote my note to Seth in this post but the idea is the same.
What's most important to me these days is to continue to express my voice honestly in thoughts as well as emotions as well as sensations in my writing out regularly, without judgment or shame, the lifelong varied trajectories my life has taken due to Complex Trauma since birth and to this day; and to be willing to wait for the lightbulb moments in which the seemingly disparate pieces of my living out of this trauma suddenly or gradually fall together in meaningful connections, understandings...none of this writing or waiting feels safe to me, even though it is only on my private papers, yet it does feel very alive and courageous for me to slog through a lot and keep finding myself on the other side as I sit here today at 68 years - if one day what I have experienced can be of support or help to another or others, then that would be just great too, but is not necessary to my own ongoing working out.
FYI - I was able to visit Woman's & Children First Bookstore on the North Side of Chicago recently with my daughter. (It has not changed much - still a fantastic independent book seller, perhaps more extensive shelfs of LGTGAI+ authors). I know I first met you when you appeared at this bookstore to promote The Woman’s Comfort Book. I have followed you ever since. Since my daughter is 28 --- this has to be 30 years?? So to echo the writer with the folder (I am not that organized!) - yes you have and continue to make an impact ripples.