Have you ever noticed that compliments on your hair tend to arrive the day before a haircut? I like Building Hope. It can accommodate a range of themes. I’ll be watching for your changes with curiosity and hope.
Ha ! I got my last haircut to please my new stepdaughter, in 1979, first one since quitting military service in 67......... might be a while to the next one.......
I love the name, too, which is why I'm not rushing into anything. Thanks for weighing in with this timely observation. I got a haircut on Monday this very week. 😊
Thanks for this, especially the braiding sweet grass reference/connection! And I was moved by your writing about the death of your parents and how everything was bright and vivid. So beautiful, and such a gift to have this reminder to appreciate my parents while they are still alive. Thank you.
The one that spoke to me is "Sustain the ones who sustain you and the earth will last forever." I need to re-read Braiding Sweetgrass. I look forward to this newsletter's metamorphosis, or growth into a new instar, however you like to think of it.
It's soft, just popped it up. Still trying to feel my way through the backside of the platform. Figure I'll tread for a month and then try to be assertive in intention. Hardest part is getting started. My worthiness in question ...
I need to work on the clarity of my writing. To invoke the emotion you are able to sustain post after post. But truly - thank you. I am coming at this from a different angle than my traditional writing (I might be trying to nurture - gads). It is such a contrast, decenter the human but connect the human with nature's survival and practice mechanisms as a perspective.
I love the sound of that. It’s so needed! And for you to say there’s emotion in my writing - you have no idea what a struggle that is for me. Sometimes I think my writing is how I heal from a lifetime of repressing my emotions. I was so shut down as a young adult.
Many thanks for seeing SmallStack and adding us to your work here, Julie! I really love how you're approaching this, and as a guy who often writes about the marvels of nature, I'm excited to see where this goes next.
Thanks for chiming in! I'm glad to have connected and look forward to seeing how SmallStack evolves. BTW, I have major logo envy! I'm excited about my name change, but don't have the graphic design chops to pull off a new logo, too.
I love the framing with lessons from Robin Wall Kimmerer in BRAIDING SWEETGRASS. Although, I confess to being a fan of your current title, Building Hope. Best wishes for your "move" and spring is a perfect time for making a new nest. I'll be reading whatever you name it.
I marvel at your ability to pull me in as a reader. To push my emotions into a reflective consideration. It is hard to thread this needle of purpose and interaction in the greater web of technology. It truly is a tangled web, but Charlotte did it with grace - ☺️. Don't be discouraged, you are reaching (and teaching) readers.
Hi Stacy, oh how your third sentence resonates with my own first year on Substack. Just about to take it to the next level with a new thread, which in part I owe to Julie....
I definitely need to reach out, build a community of support. Writing is lonely, right, and so it seems that validation for the effort sometimes must come from not just readers, but from like-minded writers. Forest for the trees, perspective or getting lost in our own tangled web of wondering what can be done differently.
Thank you so very much for the comment - for the effort to share your experience. You and Julie both.
Hi Stacey, writing isn't always lonely. There is a community here to embrace you. I am currently putting together a project to take this further, particularly for planet conscious minds. You can contact me via the direct "Message" me button on my next post - 29th May..... Maurice. P.S. Julie is a Gem.
Thanks so much, Stacy. I appreciate your reading and for this lovely encouragement. I didn't realize your Substack is now active, so I have some catching up to do. I've been getting a flurry of subscribers on your recommendation, so thank you for that, too! 💚
Something about this post would make me suspect your plans are falling into place, even if I didn't know it. A dinner party, an ecotone, a place where we do not have to obscure our light: this all sounds eminently appealing! I hope your move goes smoothly this weekend. What is it about everything happening at once? Godspeed!
Such a generous post, Julie. And then this beautiful expression of your own feelings. Can't help but quote it: "As much as I long to live open-hearted and to write from that place, it can be too much sometimes. I fall back to skimming the surface out of fear or weariness or sadness. When I walked in the world hours after my father died, and eight months later when my mother followed, there was light everywhere. It shone from people’s eyes, their faces, their torsos. It sparked every leaf on every tree and reminded me of when, at age twelve, I put on my first pair of eyeglasses. Stunned by how bright, how crisp and crystal clear the leaves were. And by what I had been missing. I always want to see like that, even as I shrink from it when it hurts." I am moved. xx ~ M.
I’m also in the process of rebuilding my Substack. It won’t include a change of name but mostly of focus and direction. I’m looking forward to see where you’re going. 🥰
Hi Julie, Three things..... 1). Just printed your ethos list, will frame it tomorrow for my wall. (Did you know I have a pro framing setup in my art studio ?). 2). Thanks for subscribing and restacking, consider yourself hugged ! 3). Stacey Boone has thanked us both, triggering something the way Suzanne has done.... 4). Didn't see your DM button here.... Mine will be be on my next post, love to hear from you... 5). Funny how three things grow into five, n'est-ce pas..... Maurice
Have you ever noticed that compliments on your hair tend to arrive the day before a haircut? I like Building Hope. It can accommodate a range of themes. I’ll be watching for your changes with curiosity and hope.
Ha ! I got my last haircut to please my new stepdaughter, in 1979, first one since quitting military service in 67......... might be a while to the next one.......
🤣
I love the name, too, which is why I'm not rushing into anything. Thanks for weighing in with this timely observation. I got a haircut on Monday this very week. 😊
Thanks for this, especially the braiding sweet grass reference/connection! And I was moved by your writing about the death of your parents and how everything was bright and vivid. So beautiful, and such a gift to have this reminder to appreciate my parents while they are still alive. Thank you.
I’m so glad, Erik. When I think of those days, I remember knowing that that light is there always, if only I notice. 💚
I loved reading this essay Julie. You are building a beautiful community here. And yes to the ethos — I really liked this one —
Sustain the ones who sustain you and the earth will last forever.
I think you might just be showing us the way here 🙏
Beautiful, thanks, Kate! Today was a good day. 💚
I often think of that chapter in relation to other things. It can inform so much, if we let it.
So true.
The one that spoke to me is "Sustain the ones who sustain you and the earth will last forever." I need to re-read Braiding Sweetgrass. I look forward to this newsletter's metamorphosis, or growth into a new instar, however you like to think of it.
Exactly! It’s so full of goodness. Assigning it to my students every year is partly selfish! 😉
💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 Thank you, friend.
Awwwww!! This made my day. 💚x💯
It's soft, just popped it up. Still trying to feel my way through the backside of the platform. Figure I'll tread for a month and then try to be assertive in intention. Hardest part is getting started. My worthiness in question ...
I feel you. Also here to tell you, you (and your writing) are most definitely worthy!
I need to work on the clarity of my writing. To invoke the emotion you are able to sustain post after post. But truly - thank you. I am coming at this from a different angle than my traditional writing (I might be trying to nurture - gads). It is such a contrast, decenter the human but connect the human with nature's survival and practice mechanisms as a perspective.
I love the sound of that. It’s so needed! And for you to say there’s emotion in my writing - you have no idea what a struggle that is for me. Sometimes I think my writing is how I heal from a lifetime of repressing my emotions. I was so shut down as a young adult.
Many thanks for seeing SmallStack and adding us to your work here, Julie! I really love how you're approaching this, and as a guy who often writes about the marvels of nature, I'm excited to see where this goes next.
Thanks for chiming in! I'm glad to have connected and look forward to seeing how SmallStack evolves. BTW, I have major logo envy! I'm excited about my name change, but don't have the graphic design chops to pull off a new logo, too.
Feel free to ask me my process. I am a literal zero at graphic design, so you’ll easily outpace me in the next five minutes.
No way! Now I'm doubly impressed. Please spill the syrup on your process. . . at your convenience, of course.
I love the framing with lessons from Robin Wall Kimmerer in BRAIDING SWEETGRASS. Although, I confess to being a fan of your current title, Building Hope. Best wishes for your "move" and spring is a perfect time for making a new nest. I'll be reading whatever you name it.
Thanks for reading and for weighing in, Jill. It’s great food for thought.
Beautiful piece Julie. Really appreciate the spirit that this is written in.
Thanks for reading, Sam.
I marvel at your ability to pull me in as a reader. To push my emotions into a reflective consideration. It is hard to thread this needle of purpose and interaction in the greater web of technology. It truly is a tangled web, but Charlotte did it with grace - ☺️. Don't be discouraged, you are reaching (and teaching) readers.
Hi Stacy, oh how your third sentence resonates with my own first year on Substack. Just about to take it to the next level with a new thread, which in part I owe to Julie....
I definitely need to reach out, build a community of support. Writing is lonely, right, and so it seems that validation for the effort sometimes must come from not just readers, but from like-minded writers. Forest for the trees, perspective or getting lost in our own tangled web of wondering what can be done differently.
Thank you so very much for the comment - for the effort to share your experience. You and Julie both.
Hi Stacey, writing isn't always lonely. There is a community here to embrace you. I am currently putting together a project to take this further, particularly for planet conscious minds. You can contact me via the direct "Message" me button on my next post - 29th May..... Maurice. P.S. Julie is a Gem.
🥰
Thanks so much, Stacy. I appreciate your reading and for this lovely encouragement. I didn't realize your Substack is now active, so I have some catching up to do. I've been getting a flurry of subscribers on your recommendation, so thank you for that, too! 💚
Something about this post would make me suspect your plans are falling into place, even if I didn't know it. A dinner party, an ecotone, a place where we do not have to obscure our light: this all sounds eminently appealing! I hope your move goes smoothly this weekend. What is it about everything happening at once? Godspeed!
So true!! It's FULL MOON ENERGY! Thanks for the much-needed boost!
Most welcome! Aha - full moon - anything's possible. ;-)
Our Substack light and enlightenment....... mmmmmm
Such a generous post, Julie. And then this beautiful expression of your own feelings. Can't help but quote it: "As much as I long to live open-hearted and to write from that place, it can be too much sometimes. I fall back to skimming the surface out of fear or weariness or sadness. When I walked in the world hours after my father died, and eight months later when my mother followed, there was light everywhere. It shone from people’s eyes, their faces, their torsos. It sparked every leaf on every tree and reminded me of when, at age twelve, I put on my first pair of eyeglasses. Stunned by how bright, how crisp and crystal clear the leaves were. And by what I had been missing. I always want to see like that, even as I shrink from it when it hurts." I am moved. xx ~ M.
Thanks, Mary. I enjoy hearing what resonated.
Julie, may your move go with ease.
I love all of this. I am particularly enchanted with the way you direct us to your sources..."the marvelous!"🌱
I’m also in the process of rebuilding my Substack. It won’t include a change of name but mostly of focus and direction. I’m looking forward to see where you’re going. 🥰
Good luck with it, Claudia. Looking forward to seeing it.
I’ve already started quietly 😁
Hi Julie, Three things..... 1). Just printed your ethos list, will frame it tomorrow for my wall. (Did you know I have a pro framing setup in my art studio ?). 2). Thanks for subscribing and restacking, consider yourself hugged ! 3). Stacey Boone has thanked us both, triggering something the way Suzanne has done.... 4). Didn't see your DM button here.... Mine will be be on my next post, love to hear from you... 5). Funny how three things grow into five, n'est-ce pas..... Maurice
5 is better than 3! Abundance! I could use some pro framing right about now. 🙃
Well, if ever you're passing..... I'm less than 4,000 miles away 🤣❤️