A new start
And I'm changing the day to Tuesday! She needs a little something in her corner anyways :)
Dear Newsletter,
I’ve missed you!
But I’m here again.
I believe that this summer I experienced burnout, or some sort of burnout. Sadly, this sweet piece of respite (my newsletter)! for me was one of the very first things to go. The second was my acting conservatory program - I’ve taken an open-ended break for an indeterminate period of time (from the school, not from acting, as I can’t wait to fill you in on)! 🎭 🎬
At this point the unfortunate truth is that if you are reading this, you have almost certainly experienced burnout at one time or another, as I’ve come to understand more and more that it is hardly avoidable in the endless, cyclical system that we’ve created for ourselves of working too hard and letting ourselves believe that we aren’t or haven’t done enough. Burnout seems to be the default. This is no good! I don’t know what to do about it but I have found comfort in reading others’ experiences, validated by articles in respected news outlets and interesting podcasts on the matter. I don’t want to belabor the point too much, and at this point I’m boring myself, but I share this in case it might resonate with you, too.
I’ve thought about this newsletter SO MUCH in the time since I officially last hit the “Publish” button (it looks like it was 7/11/22—not to worry, dear paid subscribers, I paused all subscriptions and won’t re-start them for a good while—I’m so grateful for your support!).
I have approximately 7 unfinished drafts on my dashboard. I’m itching and a little anxious like when you’re in class and have something to say but the teacher just won’t call on you.
I’m excited to be back—the weekly cadence is exciting to me like I just found a cool bubbling spring in the woods and if I drink it I get to be young forever but I don’t really want that I just love knowing the secret and having the wisdom to recognize that it isn’t worth it, that life is meant to be lived, not contained.
But anyways. I have SO MUCH TO FILL YOU IN ON! Starting with:
I got engaged!
I went to Maine
I’m sure there is much more I get to fill you in on but we’ll let that unfold, won’t we?
Cam and I have only just hatched an idea 🐣 to do something in the space behind the little house we’re in. There’s a shed that’s actually quite solidly built and has electricity 💡, so it’s not the CRAZIEST idea to think about making it somewhat habitable. Right?!? Rhymes with slimy mouse?
It almost feels too premature to share even the idea and for some reason I am feeling vulnerable even just typing this out but if I’m gonna make stuff, if I’m gonna have this newsletter, if I’m gonna write and process and share with you, I gotta be okay with sharing things I’m excited about!
It might never happen!
Such is the beauty of ideas, they get to have a life all their own, even if they never materialize on the physical plane.
Oh, well - more fodder for inspiration here! Brace yourselves!
I have been DEEP DIVING into Substack lately as I’ve been preparing for my re-entry here. I’m so inspired by this space, and so glad that I started this project a year (!) ago. Who even KNOWS what is going on here (NOT ME!), but I do know that writing and sharing is the salve for my little hands I just can’t keep moisturized, for my little artistic heart I just can’t keep calm.
If you have ever clicked into the Substack website itself, or even downloaded the app (10/10 highly recommend, the user experience is FUN), you’ll know that it is a gold mine of wonderful and interesting and exciting and heartwarming and thought-provoking writing. It’s a more satisfying scroll than social media, I can guarantee you that.
Here are some of my favorites:
On writing:
Lifestyle:
Black Girl Country Living by Hillarie Maddox (we interviewed her for The Good Dirt podcast, her episode will be out early next year!
Maybe Baby - her podcast is so fun! I’m obsessed with the intro music!
SFgirlbybay - I was recently reminded (thanks Caitlin!) of this blogger I used to love and has since moved to this platform. I love her style & design inspiration.
Women, Domesticity, Feminism, Social Media etc:
Art & Food:
And this newsletter, of course!
May the rest of your week be filled with twinkly lights and delicious holiday treats.
More soon.
made by:
emma