I got an alert for this essay and was enjoying reading it to only find this lovely shout out! Thank you and well wishes on defining your creative process and practice. 🤎
Is it me, Maya? Am I the name you wrote the essay to? ‘Cause it feels like it.
There is the strangest calling to continue to create, despite the fear of telling the truth online. A weird sort of peaceful, blissful happiness takes over me when I share the truth here on Substack. God is doing something. I feel what you feel, and I’ve felt it for weeks.
I’m literally doing an experiment (I’m prolly gonna keep saying this in your comments til it’s over) on how to show up as an artist after five years of running full speed up the corporate ladder. I’m doing it because I can’t *not* do it.
Writing is helping me work through some things I’ve known for a long time but was too afraid to let myself believe. I’m tired. We’re all tired. And I believe this Substack movement is a part of the solution to how we’re feeling and the negative impact that’s had on society. God is healing us and we’re sharing it with the world.
I shared your essay from “maya’s body” with an intern at the day job. She’s 23 so I thought it would be the perfect to share with her now: “pretend this is a friend from the future” I said. It really resonated with her and she said that essay felt like the Issa Rae mirror scene from Insecure! lol you nailed it! Take care and keep going (and breathing and resting)!
1. Thanks for the unexpected shout out, Maya! 👀I was already a fan of your writing, but now I’m becoming a fan of the person behind such brilliant work. Thanks again. ❤️
2. Re: number 8: In the words of author Anne Lamott, “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” With that being said, you can still keep it classy and ambiguous without lowering into petty territory. The truth no matter how ugly or inconvenient it is, is still the truth. So, share the stories and if a hit dog hollers, that’s none of your business.
3. This is another excellent piece! I’m so grateful for this platform.
I got an alert for this essay and was enjoying reading it to only find this lovely shout out! Thank you and well wishes on defining your creative process and practice. 🤎
Is it me, Maya? Am I the name you wrote the essay to? ‘Cause it feels like it.
There is the strangest calling to continue to create, despite the fear of telling the truth online. A weird sort of peaceful, blissful happiness takes over me when I share the truth here on Substack. God is doing something. I feel what you feel, and I’ve felt it for weeks.
I’m literally doing an experiment (I’m prolly gonna keep saying this in your comments til it’s over) on how to show up as an artist after five years of running full speed up the corporate ladder. I’m doing it because I can’t *not* do it.
Writing is helping me work through some things I’ve known for a long time but was too afraid to let myself believe. I’m tired. We’re all tired. And I believe this Substack movement is a part of the solution to how we’re feeling and the negative impact that’s had on society. God is healing us and we’re sharing it with the world.
I shared your essay from “maya’s body” with an intern at the day job. She’s 23 so I thought it would be the perfect to share with her now: “pretend this is a friend from the future” I said. It really resonated with her and she said that essay felt like the Issa Rae mirror scene from Insecure! lol you nailed it! Take care and keep going (and breathing and resting)!
1. Thanks for the unexpected shout out, Maya! 👀I was already a fan of your writing, but now I’m becoming a fan of the person behind such brilliant work. Thanks again. ❤️
2. Re: number 8: In the words of author Anne Lamott, “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” With that being said, you can still keep it classy and ambiguous without lowering into petty territory. The truth no matter how ugly or inconvenient it is, is still the truth. So, share the stories and if a hit dog hollers, that’s none of your business.
3. This is another excellent piece! I’m so grateful for this platform.
Keep going ❤️✨