You have a publication...start acting like it

To be clear, that’s me talking to me, not you gentle reader.

Up until now, I’ve treated my Babystack like a silly thing. At times it’s felt like an extension of my journal, but in a super awkward way. I’m a Very Funny Person, so people tell me. I’m witty, sarcastic without being bitter, and I like to tell a good story.

That is, until you give me the stage on open mic night. All of a sudden I’m staring out at the audience tapping the mic “is this thing on?”, my witty remarks swallowed by the void that is the silent audience.

Turns out YES, the mic is most definitely on. And this time I actually want it to be on stage.

I haven’t taken my writing seriously, languishing under the lies I tell myself… “no one wants to hear what I have to say”, “so-and-so has a bigger audience”, and “why even bother?” (that one is absolute poison, it stops me in my tracks every single time).

Fact of the matter is I’ve written extensively, prolifically for 15 years. Long, process-y, writing that feels like a compulsion. The kind of writing that painfully excavates and exposes bruises and shattered hearts. It’s writing that connects the hidden dots in my life, recognizes deep patterns and cycles, purges out the grief and anger.

You can see why I’d want to keep that hidden. Who wants to read angst and anger? I guess some people do. Plenty of tortured artists and songwriters have left legacies doing just that.

I’m starting to see the medicine of my journey. And it’s starting to make sense. It’s time to harvest the wisdom. It’s time to build something.

It’s time to start taking myself seriously.

Early morning in Spain, near Pamplona

The Inner Traveler is about those hidden landscapes that lurk deep within us. It’s also a nod to my travels and adventures that have spurred major change in my life, welcome and honestly, unwelcome change. The writing attempts to make sense of it all.

Tangible ways to support me.

• Don’t just follow, subscribe

  • Follows are for social media, and social media might just be making all of us a little dumber. I’m on Substack to slow it down, requesting you to pour a hot bevvy, pull up a chair, and go on a journey, maybe even an adventure with me. Subscribing is an act of support and tells me you’re on board. I appreciate you.

• Buy Me a Croissant

  • Erm, don’t you mean Buy Me a Coffee? Absolutely not, no. One of my unhinged joys in life is chasing down the P E R F E C T croissant. I wrote about my croissanting journeys here and here. Croissanting, a Lifestyle™ will continue to be an ongoing series on this substack. And yes, croissanting is an actual verb.

My wee babystack will eventually graduate to paid subscriptions. This is a goal of mine. One of those tiers will most definitely be a Croissanting tier.

I can’t wait.

Welcome to my substack, friend. I’m glad you’re here.