19 Comments

Here’s to “quiet plodding.” ❤️ Your tenacity and consistency are such an inspiration to me. Love this one year recap, friend.

Expand full comment

Aww thank you friend!! 💛💛

Expand full comment

I can so relate to the calendar calming. We’ve been doing some life/schedule overhaul here too, because it was just too much. Also learning to own that it doesn’t matter what other people appear to be doing if what we are doing doesn’t work for our family. (Note to self: do not let pregnant self commit to things in the first year of your not yet born baby’s life!)

I loved “Try Softer”! So helpful. I need to find her other one that came out as I suspect I’d enjoy it equally.

Expand full comment

So glad to hear that you're also calming your calendar. It is so right that it does not matter if it works for other people, if it does not work for your family!! If you read Strong Like Water, let me know, because I am on the fence about it. Not sure if it will be a rehash of the same content or new stuff?

Expand full comment

Happy anniversary! It’s been a joy to read your work and write with you!

Expand full comment

Aww thanks Alyssa! Ditto. I've loved learning from you and writing alongside you!

Expand full comment

Congratulations on one year!! And on making tough choices to calm your calendar!! I totally agree that kindness matters SO much with writing.

Let’s see... reading right now. I just finished Ann Patchett’s This is the Story of a Happy Marriage. Very good. I started another book that I’m not going to name because I’m not sure how I feel about it. It’s definitely not love at first sight. 😐 Which is a shame because I liked the other book one of the authors wrote. Based on that,

I’m hanging in there... for now.

Eating when it’s hot? (40?! My goodness!) I made chickpea salad a lot last summer. It’s like tuna salad but for vegetarians. There are lots of recipes on line.

Expand full comment

Aww thank you so much Joy!! Kindness does matter! Here's hoping I am less insane next year.

Thanks for the book rec. I have an Ann Patchett book, Run, that I'm halfway through, but I can't summon the energy to pick it back up and finish it and I'm not sure why. Maybe This is the Story of a Happy Marriage will be better. Keen to try me some chickpea salad! 💛

Expand full comment

"No one was more surprised than me when my weird, angry beginner poems became my most popular content." I love this so much. I'm so glad you were brave and joined us to do something you hadn't done before.❤️

Expand full comment

Aww thanks Michelle! Thanks for letting me join. I've learned so much from you guys. It's been fun! 💛

Expand full comment

Happy one year! Here’s to being less insane and more quiet plodding in 2024 ❤️ right there with you.

Expand full comment

Thanks so much Ashlee! Glad to hear it's not just me 💛

Expand full comment

I loved this recap! You accomplished a lot this year. Congratulations! It blows my mind that you hadn’t written poetry before starting this.

I just got a new job, so for 2024, I guess I’m quitting my old one? 🤪 (I have to work one day in January in order to get paid for the Christmas holiday, so Jan 2 is my last day.) It will be interesting to see how my life changes in 2024!

Expand full comment

Oh wow thank you so much Erin!! Congrats on the new job, what will you be doing in 2024?

Expand full comment

Thank you! I'll be doing event planning and grant writing for a local non-profit. It's a completely new type of role for me, but I'm very excited!

Expand full comment

Ooooh! Sounds fun! Enjoy 👏👏👏

Expand full comment

So glad you're here Rebecca! I've so loved having a fellow Perth creative to follow and learn from and enjoy. Your poems are actually my favourite because they're so relatable.

In this hot weather I love making a loaded chicken salad - with roasted potato or bacon and egg and all the good veg! And top it off with a delicious creamy dressing 👌🏻 bonus: my fussy girls love it too 😜

Can't wait to keep reading your writing and hopefully 2024 is the year I join you here as a Perth Christian writer 🙌🏻

Expand full comment

Oh thank you so much Kym, and thank you for your consistent encouragement! It has been so lovely finding another Perth creative on Substack. Look forward to you joining one day as a fellow Christian writer! We could totally collaborate 😎🎉

Ps. That loaded chicken salad sounds delightful!

Expand full comment

Yes please! 🙌🏻

Expand full comment