Kimberly, I have followed you for over twenty years. I think this is my favorite piece of all your writing. Keep being curious and thank you for sharing. You gave me a lot to ponder today! Much love! 💞
I absolutely loved this. I think it is one your best pieces yet ... which I think might be indicative of the growth in you others see, but you do not (yet). XX
Great piece! I was complaining to a friend about how whenever I start to get in the groove with some writing I hit some big interruption. I've thought of this as a message to not try to write. My friend told me, "NO, NO, NO! The muses just want you to have to fight harder to create!"
Food for thought for all of us who get frustrated by what we attempt!
I feel like I am on the same path as you only you articulate it better. I am finding that I just don’t find time to read at all and am still buying books. Or I don’t care for coffee anymore, but I’ll see merch of sayings “books, coffee, and cats” so want to buy it. I really am not being true because I really am not reading or liking coffee but it has been a part of my identity for 20 years. It is like having to say goodbye to a friend that has brought comfort to me in the past. I guess I don’t want to figure anything out anymore and want to enjoy the last good years I have enjoying and playing.
I recently learned that we get a bigger dopamine hit from the ANTICIPATION of a thing than we get from actually FINISHING it. What a 2x4 to the gut, because I must admit this is true. I definitely get a rush from finishing a project, but the beginning of a project - the VERY beginning, not the messy middle of actually DOING - is the biggest high. All the hope, untarnished by reality and the messiness of failure or falling short.
Would you like to know how many books I have started writing? And how many I have actually finished? Fortunately, I have a sense of humor about it, and perspective. It's OK that I had to prioritize parenting and providing for a good chunk of my life.
But, this is why I buy books, start them, and abandon them 1/3 of the way through.
So, maybe it's not that we are missing joy, so much as it is our own biology and chemistry.
We need that initial burst of dopamine to push us through the fear surrounding getting started. And when I find myself in the messy middle of doing, I remember: the rush of being finished IS still a pretty great high! If I can break things down into a series of ever smaller finishes, that can lead to each day feeling satisfied.
Wow, I love this Christy—so thoughtful! I agree, sometimes it's us having to prioritize other things, biology/chemisty, and our passion for starting versus moving through the messy middle. Thank YOU for all the hard work you've put into my many projects over the years. You're a gift! xx
The frustrations that arise when we care deeply. Curiosity about what happens next. And everything in between. Thank you for another beautifully written reflection on what it means to be a student of life. ❤️
Kimberly, I have followed you for over twenty years. I think this is my favorite piece of all your writing. Keep being curious and thank you for sharing. You gave me a lot to ponder today! Much love! 💞
Thank you, Holly, I'm so glad this resonated and appreciate your support all of these years! xx
I absolutely loved this. I think it is one your best pieces yet ... which I think might be indicative of the growth in you others see, but you do not (yet). XX
Dearest Belinda, what an incredibly kind statement, thank you! Here's to cheering alongside each others' growth all these years! xx
Absolutely!
Great piece! I was complaining to a friend about how whenever I start to get in the groove with some writing I hit some big interruption. I've thought of this as a message to not try to write. My friend told me, "NO, NO, NO! The muses just want you to have to fight harder to create!"
Food for thought for all of us who get frustrated by what we attempt!
YES, I love the idea that the muses want us to fight harder to create, thank you! xx
I feel like I am on the same path as you only you articulate it better. I am finding that I just don’t find time to read at all and am still buying books. Or I don’t care for coffee anymore, but I’ll see merch of sayings “books, coffee, and cats” so want to buy it. I really am not being true because I really am not reading or liking coffee but it has been a part of my identity for 20 years. It is like having to say goodbye to a friend that has brought comfort to me in the past. I guess I don’t want to figure anything out anymore and want to enjoy the last good years I have enjoying and playing.
YES to playing and enjoying... while honoring who we are, how far we've come, and where we're heading! xx
You’ve always been someone who was curious and who pondered and who learned. I love the fact that you continue on this journey.
Thank you so much. Cheers to curiosity! xx
I recently learned that we get a bigger dopamine hit from the ANTICIPATION of a thing than we get from actually FINISHING it. What a 2x4 to the gut, because I must admit this is true. I definitely get a rush from finishing a project, but the beginning of a project - the VERY beginning, not the messy middle of actually DOING - is the biggest high. All the hope, untarnished by reality and the messiness of failure or falling short.
Would you like to know how many books I have started writing? And how many I have actually finished? Fortunately, I have a sense of humor about it, and perspective. It's OK that I had to prioritize parenting and providing for a good chunk of my life.
But, this is why I buy books, start them, and abandon them 1/3 of the way through.
So, maybe it's not that we are missing joy, so much as it is our own biology and chemistry.
We need that initial burst of dopamine to push us through the fear surrounding getting started. And when I find myself in the messy middle of doing, I remember: the rush of being finished IS still a pretty great high! If I can break things down into a series of ever smaller finishes, that can lead to each day feeling satisfied.
Wow, I love this Christy—so thoughtful! I agree, sometimes it's us having to prioritize other things, biology/chemisty, and our passion for starting versus moving through the messy middle. Thank YOU for all the hard work you've put into my many projects over the years. You're a gift! xx
I needed to hear this at this moment in time. Thank you.
I'm so happy to hear, Kathleen! xx
Beautiful reflection, Kimberly. Thank you!
Thank you—I'm honored that it resonated! xx
🤌OMG, this line...
What we rarely see are the years spent in conversation with a dream. 💖
YES, powerful, no?! So. many. years! xx
Excellent.
Merci beaucoup! xx
Reading your words I realize that we do long for more presence, our own inner beauty reflecting into the world
Absolutely, Sophie, beautifully said! xx
The frustrations that arise when we care deeply. Curiosity about what happens next. And everything in between. Thank you for another beautifully written reflection on what it means to be a student of life. ❤️
Thank you for being a fellow student in my life and YES to continued curiosity about what happens next. You're a gem! xx
Amazing piece. Going through this as well. Such a strange feeling when parts of your identity no longer fit the same.
Thank you, Jenny! It sounds as if quite a few of us are in a similar spot right now. Now to honor our evolving selves.... xxx
Welcome to Paris, sister! 🤍
Merci beaucoup, Patricia. It's a treat to be here! xx