I am a connector.
I love connecting people. I love when I’m in conversation with someone, and they’re telling me about something they’ve been working on or thinking about, and I get to say, “Oh, have you read this book? It sounds right up your alley.” Or “Have you heard of so and so? They explore similar ideas.” Or, my personal favorite, “Are you open to a rec? This thing helped me, and I think it could really help you, too.”
It lights me up to connect people with other people and resources I think might actually help them. It doesn't even really matter if they do anything with my recommendation. Obviously I hope they do, but even if they don’t, making these kinds of connections willingly and joyfully is still entirely worth it, because it shows the other person I’m listening and taking them seriously. Offering to connect them with others connects us right now—and that feels so good.
There are other reasons connecting people lights me up: I love helping people. I love sharing the things I actually believe in with others. I love how talking about the things that excite me (writing, journaling, feelings, parts work, creativity) deepens my understanding and appreciation of them.
Mostly this kind of connecting I love so much happens by happy accident. But lately I’ve been thinking about how I can make it more intentional. How can I connect you with more people, resources, and ideas to help you feel less alone and more inspired in your life and writing?
On a whim, I reached out to my friend Kelly Laughlin. She’s one of the many people who have helped shape my journaling practice into what it is today. She’s taught me so much; I knew she could teach you something, too. So I asked her if she’d be willing to write a guest essay about journaling for my readers. Her answer: YES! We spent a couple of weeks collaborating before sharing her essay, “Journaling for Tending to Self,” last week. (We’re doing a Substack live on Monday, June 22, at 11am CST/12pm EST to talk more about this—join us!)
My collaboration with Kelly was fun and exciting, and it sparked that same connecting feeling I love so much. I decided to reach out to other people whose work I admire. Would they be willing to share their insights, too? Every single one of them has said yes.
I’m still working out all the specifics, so I can’t say too much right now. (I also just don't want to jinx it, ha.) What I can say is that each of these guest pieces will dive deeper into the topics I already write about, and they’ll go wider, too, exploring specifics I personally don’t have experience with. Some of them will be essays like Kelly’s; others will be written interviews and Q&As. All of them will introduce you to new people, ideas, or tools you can use to navigate your own experiences with more confidence and self-compassion.
In other words, these guest pieces will be deeply helpful—I can’t wait to connect you with them!
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