I don't know if this helps, but we love your newsletter so much and would equally love it if it came out twice a month. We hear that we have to be WEEKLY and CONSISTANT as on-line makers. But I doubt any of your readers want you to work yourself into illness. Every newsletter you write is a jewel. No-one expects diamonds to fall into our lap every week, and definitely not at the expense of your instrument. xx
I hope you start to feel better and make time for rest. What's that saying? "If you don't make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness.” Well, I think a lot of us are guilty of that. Take care of yourself.
Take all the time you need! Whether you publish every week or once a month, none of that matters unless you feel good. I would much rather receive a newsletter from a writer that claims their joy, rest, and relaxation than an overworked, exhausted one. Otherwise...what is this all for? If we want different we have to be different. Writers cannot be a cog in a wheel. We are not built for such things.
When I pay for a Substack it is because I truly enjoy the writing and the discernment is up to the writer when they hit publish.
Thank you, Jenovia. That is very kind and deeply appreciated. I agree. And I feel similarly about subscribers’ inboxes and time and attention. I only want to send what feels good and ready to share—which is invariably work created with joy and curiosity, not from a place of obligation. So it’s a gift to hear you feel the same way.
Take a big break! Huge! Literally go to Napa… whatever you need. We’ll be here when you get back. It’s a privilege to read your newsletter, not an entitlement. Sending all the relaxing vibes.
You take very good care. We need, need your unique kinds and layers of *creaturehood* Caroline. You were the first and among the very few to whom I've subscribed on this platfuck/form, and I have no regrets. But tons of patience. You are not Job. Take time til you are called to write. Take good care.
I struggle with chronic exhaustion which has gotten better since I've been taking one, two or sometimes three naps a day (I'm self-employed). I also don't work one day every week which was a very scary decision.
What really helped was my brother one day telling me that being tired is only a problem if you have the assumption that you should be full of energy at all times. And that maybe that assumption is cruel and unkind. I've become much kinder since taking all those breaks, both to myself and to others.
So it's wonderful to read about your breaks, I highly recommend making them a permanent feature ❤️
I join the chorus of of Rest voices! Sorry that happened, friend. Wanna join me on my new Rest Protocol? So far, so good. Half an hour of rest every day, no matter what. And one day a week completely off income work and chores. Take good care, kitten.
As always, you are candid, refreshing, and poignant all at once. I too am all for breaks - I said to someone recently, "Don't wait until your skin peels off and cancer settles into your tear duct (a la me) to realize you've put everything else before your own well-being." Cheering you on in all the ways - self-care first and foremost. These days, people love to say, "Keep going." I'm going to suggest, "Keep going - when you're ready, on your own schedule, in your own way." What matters most is WHAT you bring to the table, not when or how often. I cherish your words whenever they choose to land. xoxo
yes Caroline, take breaks. often. we (your people) will still be here when you get back with a lighter heart and a stronger body. Take good care of yourself. Have fun. don't forget to notice the beauty of our natural world~butterflies and flowers and birds and moths and the breeze ruffling your hair and the leaves in the tree tops and the stars ~bernadette
For a moment I panicked when I read the subject and really thought you were moving 😂 relieved that is not the case and happy you’re taking a well deserved break! ❤️
It always amazes me when people find they need permission to rest, permission not to constantly toil, permission to recharge. Have many of us gotten so addicted to work or so numbed to the messages our bodies send us that we need an intervention?
Oftentimes I think this goes hand in hand with the unhealthy feeling that somehow we’re imposters at what we say we do to pay the bills, that some day we’ll be exposed as the frauds we think we are and be summarily drummed out of our profession.
Like Thudwick the Big Hearted Moose we continually take on more societal obligations in the form of people we must satisfy. We have our priorities completely skewed, always putting ourselves last, if at all.
I learned this the hard way almost twenty years ago, completely burning out twice in two years as an accountant. It was a difficult lesson to learn as I had three unforgiving taskmasters whose only word was “More” - my immediate boss, their boss and myself.
It took some therapy for me to discover that this road is a dead end one, that the only thing it produces is a will for your heirs. I discovered that one burnout is a definite warning. Two of them is a flashing red light to stop completely and move on to another line of work, a different position within the profession, a change of scenery such as moving to another city or climate or, as a last resort, taking a much needed and overdue extended sabbatical.
Fortunately I had enough money saved up so that I could do all of them. I was able to take six months to rest and restore my sanity (because let’s face it - it’s insane to constantly work) and, at the end of that time I moved to another city with better prospects for work AND play.
As I said that was about a generation ago. Today I realize this entire scenario may not be financially feasible for some people but I strongly urge you to use those two weeks or however much banked vacation you have saved and treat yourself to some much needed peace of mind.
Thank you for being you, Caroline. This is so timely for me and I’m sure others, a reminder about the power and importance of rest. I always think of the airplane analogy and needing to put your own oxygen mask on before assisting others. And it never ceases to amaze me how the body will tell us what the mind refuses to hear and it makes it impossible to ignore. Echoing Angelique, I cherish this newsletter and would continue to do so if weekly, monthly or whenever you feel like it! Take good care of yourself! ❤️
Thank you, Caitlin. I don't anticipate I'll be scaling back (at least for now), but I sincerely appreciate your support and encouragement. It means so very much!
Funny Part 1: I started reading your pins and needles description, I was like Dear Lordess, don’t tell me she’s got M.S. (these sensations happened to me about a decade ago when I was burning all the oils during all of the midnights until BAM!) Sigh of relief. All the more reason to TAKE ALL THE NAP-AS!
Funny Part 2: I literally JUST stumbled into your world via a recommendation from Jane Ratcliffe courtesy of Alex Dobrenko’s sub (anyone who loves Tarot, go here!) so this is my first newsletter and thus I didn’t even notice your nap-a! AGAIN: TAKE ALL THE NAP-AS!
I don't know if this helps, but we love your newsletter so much and would equally love it if it came out twice a month. We hear that we have to be WEEKLY and CONSISTANT as on-line makers. But I doubt any of your readers want you to work yourself into illness. Every newsletter you write is a jewel. No-one expects diamonds to fall into our lap every week, and definitely not at the expense of your instrument. xx
I hope you start to feel better and make time for rest. What's that saying? "If you don't make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness.” Well, I think a lot of us are guilty of that. Take care of yourself.
Thank you, Israel. Much appreciated.
Yes!
Take all the time you need! Whether you publish every week or once a month, none of that matters unless you feel good. I would much rather receive a newsletter from a writer that claims their joy, rest, and relaxation than an overworked, exhausted one. Otherwise...what is this all for? If we want different we have to be different. Writers cannot be a cog in a wheel. We are not built for such things.
When I pay for a Substack it is because I truly enjoy the writing and the discernment is up to the writer when they hit publish.
Wishing you the coziest of rest.
Thank you, Jenovia. That is very kind and deeply appreciated. I agree. And I feel similarly about subscribers’ inboxes and time and attention. I only want to send what feels good and ready to share—which is invariably work created with joy and curiosity, not from a place of obligation. So it’s a gift to hear you feel the same way.
Take a big break! Huge! Literally go to Napa… whatever you need. We’ll be here when you get back. It’s a privilege to read your newsletter, not an entitlement. Sending all the relaxing vibes.
Thank you, friend. Appreciate your support and encouragement in all ways. ❤️
You take very good care. We need, need your unique kinds and layers of *creaturehood* Caroline. You were the first and among the very few to whom I've subscribed on this platfuck/form, and I have no regrets. But tons of patience. You are not Job. Take time til you are called to write. Take good care.
Thank you. I so appreciate your support and encouragement, in all ways. (And I am absolutely adopting “platfuck” as a new favorite term.)
I struggle with chronic exhaustion which has gotten better since I've been taking one, two or sometimes three naps a day (I'm self-employed). I also don't work one day every week which was a very scary decision.
What really helped was my brother one day telling me that being tired is only a problem if you have the assumption that you should be full of energy at all times. And that maybe that assumption is cruel and unkind. I've become much kinder since taking all those breaks, both to myself and to others.
So it's wonderful to read about your breaks, I highly recommend making them a permanent feature ❤️
I join the chorus of of Rest voices! Sorry that happened, friend. Wanna join me on my new Rest Protocol? So far, so good. Half an hour of rest every day, no matter what. And one day a week completely off income work and chores. Take good care, kitten.
As always, you are candid, refreshing, and poignant all at once. I too am all for breaks - I said to someone recently, "Don't wait until your skin peels off and cancer settles into your tear duct (a la me) to realize you've put everything else before your own well-being." Cheering you on in all the ways - self-care first and foremost. These days, people love to say, "Keep going." I'm going to suggest, "Keep going - when you're ready, on your own schedule, in your own way." What matters most is WHAT you bring to the table, not when or how often. I cherish your words whenever they choose to land. xoxo
yes Caroline, take breaks. often. we (your people) will still be here when you get back with a lighter heart and a stronger body. Take good care of yourself. Have fun. don't forget to notice the beauty of our natural world~butterflies and flowers and birds and moths and the breeze ruffling your hair and the leaves in the tree tops and the stars ~bernadette
For a moment I panicked when I read the subject and really thought you were moving 😂 relieved that is not the case and happy you’re taking a well deserved break! ❤️
The "moving to Nap-a" punchline at the end made me smile
Thank you, Miles. 😊
It always amazes me when people find they need permission to rest, permission not to constantly toil, permission to recharge. Have many of us gotten so addicted to work or so numbed to the messages our bodies send us that we need an intervention?
Oftentimes I think this goes hand in hand with the unhealthy feeling that somehow we’re imposters at what we say we do to pay the bills, that some day we’ll be exposed as the frauds we think we are and be summarily drummed out of our profession.
Like Thudwick the Big Hearted Moose we continually take on more societal obligations in the form of people we must satisfy. We have our priorities completely skewed, always putting ourselves last, if at all.
I learned this the hard way almost twenty years ago, completely burning out twice in two years as an accountant. It was a difficult lesson to learn as I had three unforgiving taskmasters whose only word was “More” - my immediate boss, their boss and myself.
It took some therapy for me to discover that this road is a dead end one, that the only thing it produces is a will for your heirs. I discovered that one burnout is a definite warning. Two of them is a flashing red light to stop completely and move on to another line of work, a different position within the profession, a change of scenery such as moving to another city or climate or, as a last resort, taking a much needed and overdue extended sabbatical.
Fortunately I had enough money saved up so that I could do all of them. I was able to take six months to rest and restore my sanity (because let’s face it - it’s insane to constantly work) and, at the end of that time I moved to another city with better prospects for work AND play.
As I said that was about a generation ago. Today I realize this entire scenario may not be financially feasible for some people but I strongly urge you to use those two weeks or however much banked vacation you have saved and treat yourself to some much needed peace of mind.
Thank you for being you, Caroline. This is so timely for me and I’m sure others, a reminder about the power and importance of rest. I always think of the airplane analogy and needing to put your own oxygen mask on before assisting others. And it never ceases to amaze me how the body will tell us what the mind refuses to hear and it makes it impossible to ignore. Echoing Angelique, I cherish this newsletter and would continue to do so if weekly, monthly or whenever you feel like it! Take good care of yourself! ❤️
Thank you, Caitlin. I don't anticipate I'll be scaling back (at least for now), but I sincerely appreciate your support and encouragement. It means so very much!
Funny Part 1: I started reading your pins and needles description, I was like Dear Lordess, don’t tell me she’s got M.S. (these sensations happened to me about a decade ago when I was burning all the oils during all of the midnights until BAM!) Sigh of relief. All the more reason to TAKE ALL THE NAP-AS!
Funny Part 2: I literally JUST stumbled into your world via a recommendation from Jane Ratcliffe courtesy of Alex Dobrenko’s sub (anyone who loves Tarot, go here!) so this is my first newsletter and thus I didn’t even notice your nap-a! AGAIN: TAKE ALL THE NAP-AS!
We’ll all still be here! Even the newbies!
Yay! So glad you made it here!
Yes!! Any writer who celebrates the art of taking breaks is my kind of writer!
It's always easier to give the advice to rest than it is to take it. Here's to slowing down and seeing the growth that comes with it. 🤍
I am so deeply in favor of you taking a rest. And me taking a rest! I think we'll create better things if we do.
Hear, hear! A Kuppet retreat, perhaps? 🤔
FOR REAL a Kuppet retreat where we rest for ourselves and don't try to be everything for everyone would be exactly what I need.