Oh, hi there. It’s me. I’m sitting in South Carolina where I’ve been with my parents and Kit for two weeks (and Bri who joined us a few days ago). It thunderstorms every afternoon. The ocean feels like bath water. It’s been lovely.
I have so many things living inside of me these days. They’re living simply, which I love for them. They come and go, passing one another in the kitchen. Some mornings, it’s a hand gesture or grunt. Other evenings, I lay awake as they hold deep conversations (presumably around a fire). It feels spacious yet cramped. Growing but not yet ready to be seen. Evolution at its finest.
And that’s about it, really. I have some updates I’m ready and excited to share. Others that will wait because I have no idea what they look like at the moment. There’s peace amidst it all and really, that’s all I could ask for.
Life Updates
Currently, life feels sweet with not much to report. The biggest thing I’m excited about is an end of life training I’m doing this September. End of life training is what many refer to as a “death doula”. The training I’m doing is in line with death doula but different from hospice as hospice is clinical/requires a nursing degree.
I first considered dipping my toe into this realm of life when I lived in WA. I wanted to volunteer somewhere and had heard about a program called No One Dies Alone. Run through the hospitals, this program is focused on what its name implies — no one (should) die alone. Volunteers sit with hospice patients in the hospital and offer presence and comfort.
My dad had been this person for both my mom’s parents and his father as they passed. And I had always found such honor and beauty in that. I decided I wanted to follow in those footsteps.
But between hospital disorganization and poor timing (we moved a couple of months later), I never volunteered.
Fast forward a couple of months after Olive died. I thought about it again. Although one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, being there for Olive as she took her last breaths reconfirmed for me that being there for people in life AND death is both an honor and a need. People are deserving of both, but often we shy away from death.
Now, going back to the beginning of June, I found my way back to this conversation. I was sitting next to two writers, one who had recently become a hospice nurse. I loved them immediately. They were honest, funny and deeply kind. Dianna and I started talking about what it’s like being a hospice nurse and the theme quickly turned to one of beauty, honor, truth and love. It was her dream job, she explained. It was such an honor to be there for people during this inevitable part of life.
I mentioned the seeds that I had planted. She encouraged me (and sent along one the best podcasts I’ve ever listened to). And the rest is history.
I’m learning from Alua Arthur through her “Going with Grace: End of Life Training and Education” program. It runs for 14-weeks with opportunities to connect with people and volunteer time to aid them and their families on the end of life journey.
I have no idea where this will take me — one of the many things I love about it. All I know is it feels inviting and expansive and I’m curious at what it has to teach me. As Dianna said, “we, as writers, like to peek into the abyss”. So, here I go.
Work Updates
First work update is the job I mentioned a couple of months ago. I started in early May and can’t believe I’ve been there for just over two months. Time. Has. Flown. and I. Have. Loved. It. I resisted looking for and finding a full-time position for a very long time. I know myself. I know what I need. And I felt as though a full-time position and corporate setting simply could not give me this. Boy, was I wrong. Is it perfect? No. But nothing is. I decided to trust myself — I would know it when I saw it. It’s possible for me to feel supported financially and still feel creative, connected and valued.
I’m so excited to share that I’m working as a writer, creative consultant and trainer at The Writer. Based in London with a team in NYC, we work with mainly Fortune 500 brands to help them with brand messaging, Tone of Voice, re-writes, and training. That’s just a handful of the many things we do. It’s been incredible educating and empowering people how to write in a way that is relatable and approachable. It’s an exciting puzzle to take business-jargon heavy copy and make it sing. No matter what we touch, at the core of it all is the goal of connecting people with language that’s inclusive and easy to understand (but still fun to read). I feel so grateful to be learning all I am. And for the people I get to call my teammates.Second work update is a tiny but extremely exciting update regarding Dwell. We have the official working title nailed down and the first round of edits are done, which means it’s been passed to press. Pinch me. I can hardly believe it! There were some big organizational changes, which I love and think you will, too. As with every step of the editing process, the change has the reader in mind and I think it makes the book and it’s content all that more accessible and tangible.
Next up? Copyediting and…book cover designs!!! I can’t wait to share that with you next. Thank you so much to everyone who has asked about it’s process and celebrates every tiny win along with me. It means everything. And I’m so happy and excited that I get to share it with you.
Some things I’ve loved lately
Usually, I do gratitudes but this month I’m going to share some things I’ve found on the internet that I love.
Why your cosmic insignificance is a wonderful thing by Oliver Burkeman: Ever feel so small it feels freeing? Interconnective? Blissful? Read this.
The Power of the Bittersweet: Insight into Susan Cain’s book Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole and how she views longing as the fulcrum of creativity. Very in line with my way of thinking/feeling. Dwell vibes, for sure. I love it all. I hope you do, too.
Speaking of cosmic insignificance, one of my favorite books "How to Change Your Mind” by Michael Pollan is now a Netflix series. I started it last night and had acid-inspired dreams. You’re welcome.
Kurt Vonnegut on the shapes of stories. It’s good for a chuckle (and reflection on how really, the human experience is an endless amount of shapes.):
That’s it for me today, friends. I love you and miss you and we’ll talk soon. x
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