This is my 100th Musing
Can you even believe it?
100 is a lot. It’s wild to think back to early 2023 when I started. I didn’t have a book published and I had zero following. Legit my first subscribers were my husband, my best friend, and my mom.
The vision was small too. Twice a month I would share about writing, creativity, and how to stay connected to the joy of it all. I never thought wait till I write 100 of these or this is going to become a huge part of my life.
For me it was just about sharing. About being brave enough to put a little more of myself out in the world.
And yet, here we are.
In truth, 100 musings wasn’t some herculean effort. It didn’t require me to train daily or push a boulder up a hill. It was more like the famous phrase coined by Anne Lamott: bird by bird. Month after month, tenacity made it possible. Sometimes it felt like ideas were bursting at the seams. Other times I felt really demotivated. Ebbs and flows of fear and courage, just as life feels oh so often.
And now after 100 of these babies, I can honestly say it’s a huge part of my life. I genuinely love writing to you. And I think the thing that’s surprised me the most is the joy from connecting with strangers. Strangers who no longer feel like strangers. I might not be able to recognize you if we pass on the street but I get you!
We live in a world where people spend more time broadcasting some angle, than being real. I was very nervous to put too much of myself out there, like it would be weaponized against me in some way.
It was palatable.
But over the years, that’s not what I saw. I saw how peeling back the layers, talking about my writing and whatever other harebrained ideas I was up to, opened the door to connect with some really amazing people.
People from all over the world who are navigating the same feelings about their art. Loving it, hating it, being afraid of it, being afraid for it, searching for motivation, and searching for ease.
So there is no three point plan here. No “Here is how you write 100 Substacks.” Just write. Share about yourself and your passions. Don’t try to be perfect or curated. It doesn’t matter where you are at in the process. It can grow with you over time.
Tell people that wild idea you have for a story.
Show someone your in-progress painting, and talk about the bits you are unsure about.
Chat to a mom at the park about your dream backyard and what to grow.
Brainstorm over text about cake flavor combinations.
Start your own substack for chicken scratch drawings and food art.
Let the world see the bits of what make you, you.
I took some time to look back over my old musings and found a few that jumped out to me. So here they are, if you want a little more joy and entertainment today.
This one surprised me. I had more people reach out about how much it resonated than I ever expected. I didn’t realize the depth we had in common and it was really cool to see when we did.
This was one of my favorite creative projects from last year. It’s still going too! I still highly recommend doing this with friends.
If you need a laugh today, go back and give this one a read. It’s me getting glamor shots at the mall with some friends, and yes it’s just as ridiculous as it sounds.
As you move through your week, chat with one person about your art. It could be a close friend, the checkout person at the grocery store, or even me. Put yourself out there. Let your excitement and joy be contagious, because we all could use a little more of that right now.
Keep on creating,
How my creativity looks this week: Puzzles. I have been doing a lot of them the last week. Like so many puzzles. It’s been a good way to stay in the here-and-now, and remind me to trust the process.
Where I’m seeing the muse: the Netflix show, The Lincoln Lawyer. They did such a great job casting with Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. The character is so nuanced, and a unique blend of confidence, charisma, intelligence, and passion. It doesn’t help that he’s easy on the eyes either. Have I seen it before? Yes, but apparently law dramas are a comfort watch.
A Creative Reminder from the 4 of Cups: Don’t get so caught up looking at all the things you don’t have, that you miss what you do. Everyone’s path is moving at its own pace, and each comes with their own set of challenges. Shift your focus to gratitude for what you do have, however small. Water that seed because it grows where you water.
100 Musings!!! And don’t forget — four books published in that time too!! Congrats to you!
Congrats on 100; I'm so very glad you've shared your musings with us. You are endlessly inspiring.