You are indeed a writer and your "writings" spoke to my heart and mind.
KEEP WRITING, JEN...I gave up my passion for writing after becoming a "cog" in the wheel of workplace life, marrying (twice) raising two wonderfuls ons and being a Granna to my precious four grands. However...deep within me is this longing to be the "writer/poet" that our Creator intended for me.
I have ventured "one big toe" in the "writer's pond" by sub'ing on Substack about 9 months ago. I write "comments" on a Substack forum called "Coffee & Covid" written by an attorney, Jeff Childers. I do get quite a few (at least 25 or 30) "likes" or even "Replies" to my "Comments" whenever I venture forth (always careful to check my syntax and spelling--LOL!).
Who knows...maybe I WILL become what the Creator intended for me.
I'm ever so thankful to read these words from another "writing cohort", Jen...I'll keep putting forth the "words" as they are given to me! In H.S., my nickname was "Wordsworth"--LOL!
Thank you for this Jen. I thought I was at Rock Bottom a little while ago and I was trying to make some cautious gradual changes to get out and it seemed to be getting better and now I have hit a new rock bottom that is not allowing for cautious gradual change. I need to jump from the cliff or chew my leg off to get out of the trap(and perhaps several other overwroughtmetaphors ;)). And after the initial shame of hitting rock bottom and anger about the situation, I'm starting to see the beautiful, terrifying freedom of the situation. It's not the freedom of doing whatever I want, but the freedom of opening my eyes to the signs and synchronicities, listening to my inner voice to hear God, and building my skills to trust rather than control and to open to receiving grace. It's beautiful and exquisitely uncomfortable. Anyway, your writing is matching my moment and I appreciate you.
Ah, I love everything you’re saying here. Trust, let go, and let God. We definitely tend to mess things up by trying to control everything. And maybe it’s all that desire for control that leads us to R.B. in the first place.
You know what you need and I believe in you wholeheartedly ♥️
Thanks for writing about this structure of ideas. My calling was medicine. I practiced neonatology for over thirty years, caring for sick babies born prematurely or with birth defects. I interacted with thousands of parents, helping them through the roughest time of their lives. Sometimes I sat with them while their baby died. I was passionate about my work, and I often suffered because of it, with long call nights, too little sleep or sixty-hour work weeks. The pain and suffering during my training - three years of residency and three years of fellowship- were the biggest challenges. However, those years shaped me into the great physician I became. I was always passionate about my work, despite the pain. My rock bottom revelation came at age sixty-two when I was burned out, truly exhausted both physically and mentally. I had seen too many babies die, too many ethical dilemmas play out wrong, too many parents wanting everything done despite hopeless situations. I had to retire to recover and be honest while confronting all the issues that plagued me. Practicing medicine was and always will be my passion and my calling. You are probably right about the components necessary to figure this out each for ourselves. Thanks for writing.
Thank you for your dedication to parents and babies! We could use more individuals like you, driven by a higher calling, practicing medicine with genuine care for their patients. You’re one of the rare ones.
hi susan, wishing you the strength 💪to overcome your mental hardship. You did an awesome job! You helped so many people! 🛟
The time now is YOU!!!
Be gentle with yourself please. Do what your soul needs most. ❤️🩹
I've been there too! Although I do not like the word burnout, because it simplifies the whole interconnected reaction the body goes through in a state like this. Fatigue syndrom, PTSD or trauma are part of it. What you describe is a complete inner breakdown like an implosion. The body just decides not to work as you please anymore.
This is the challenge, especially when you are still very strong with your mind and your clarity and focus. Feeling paralyzed although your body is still functioning. A paradoxon.
When I was exhausted and couldn't get up for weeks I endulged myself in the feeling of sadness and listened day in and day out to the album *Aventine* from Agnes Obel - a feeling of deep gratitude for life and being alive helped me to get back on my feet 🦶
Please connect with me if you'd like to.
If there is anything I can do to be of help or to just talk or write ✍️ please do!
And for all future endeavours I wish you good luck 🍀
One thing comes to my mind:
I am a windsurf instructor. Please watch the film RESURFACE (on netflix I believe) short intro: Resurface follows veterans who find that the ocean is the one place they can go to for peace. ☮️ google netflix ptsd resurface nnd you will find a short trailer linked to youtube! Watch it and if possible watch this film. It helped me.
Maybe you find a calling in windsurfing, stand up paddling (SUP) or just walking and being in the nature. 🌱
Anyway, you should be proud of what you accomplished! rooting for you
Thank you for your openness and courage. I can assure you that your writing is meaningful and making a difference, keep going!
I have felt my calling for quite some time, but spent many years neglecting it or having old stories steer me down a path that pulled me away from it. It did lead to unpleasant struggles but also profound lessons.
One thing that has helped me connect to my intuition and inner guidance is a regular meditation practice. It has been completely transformative and I’m grateful that it’s helped me reconnect to my true mission. I wrote about it here, if it’s at all helpful. 🙏
Love this! Rational choices have gotten me to so many places I ultimately didn’t want to be. My intuition has always led me to the right place even when it didn’t make rational sense.
Thank you so much for all of that writing, this feels like a channeling from some higher consciousness😂 (maybe more writers and artists are channeling something higher than we know of!)
Here's the part that I liked most: "If you weren’t capable of your calling, your intuition wouldn’t bother you as it does. The persistent dream that surfaces in the shower, on walks in the park, in conversations, and through journal entries reveals itself to you because its manifestation is possible. What if you wholeheartedly commit to bringing that dream to fruition? What if you evolved into the person capable of turning your aspirations into reality, eclipsing the rational fears that hold you back?"
Thank you Tobias! My best writing definitely feels like it’s coming *through me* instead of *from me*, so you might be right about that whole channeling thing.
And I love that you shared your favorite part - that means the world to me 🙏 it was definitely one of my favorites, too 🤗
Beautiful, poignant piece. I, too, am on a path to unearth my calling, step away from the practical path and explore what my intuition had been whispering, now demanding, I follow.
My substack was my first experiment into this journey and I feel you on grappling with what we write, how and why. Keep it up! I needed this piece today!
I loved this call to action, thank you. And as a writer of a rock-related newsletter I am thinking of Rock Bottom. I am thinking about how commonly it conceived of as a cold, hard place of terminal impact. But I wonder too about how this final stopping ground is also a holding place. The only holding place big enough for the epic climb back out. For this a solid foundation is needed , and it's my belief that Rock Bottom is the only ground that can give us sufficient leverage to make our return. 🪨 xx
While I’m biased, I agree. I think R.B. is not only a holding place and a solid foundation for one to make a return, but it’s also (likely) a necessary step in the process.
I’ve hated the word passion for a long time. Every single business person on LinkedIn is following their passion for a good marketing story it seems. I do however love this version of passion. Of suffering of hardship of following ones personal calling. That is meaningful. Thankyou.
You are indeed a writer and your "writings" spoke to my heart and mind.
KEEP WRITING, JEN...I gave up my passion for writing after becoming a "cog" in the wheel of workplace life, marrying (twice) raising two wonderfuls ons and being a Granna to my precious four grands. However...deep within me is this longing to be the "writer/poet" that our Creator intended for me.
I have ventured "one big toe" in the "writer's pond" by sub'ing on Substack about 9 months ago. I write "comments" on a Substack forum called "Coffee & Covid" written by an attorney, Jeff Childers. I do get quite a few (at least 25 or 30) "likes" or even "Replies" to my "Comments" whenever I venture forth (always careful to check my syntax and spelling--LOL!).
Who knows...maybe I WILL become what the Creator intended for me.
Still "imagining"!!
I believe in you Sharon!
Even on this stack your comment resonates with so many. You certainly have a gift to share with your words 💝
I'm ever so thankful to read these words from another "writing cohort", Jen...I'll keep putting forth the "words" as they are given to me! In H.S., my nickname was "Wordsworth"--LOL!
It's true, so it shall be said!
I love your words, Sharon Wordsworth 😉🤗
Passion does not mean past time. Thanks for that insight.
🙏
You're answering the call to the higher purpose of the passionate soul, Jen, and in so doing, inspiring others to do the same. Beautiful!
Thank you, Jim! 🥰
Thank you for this Jen. I thought I was at Rock Bottom a little while ago and I was trying to make some cautious gradual changes to get out and it seemed to be getting better and now I have hit a new rock bottom that is not allowing for cautious gradual change. I need to jump from the cliff or chew my leg off to get out of the trap(and perhaps several other overwroughtmetaphors ;)). And after the initial shame of hitting rock bottom and anger about the situation, I'm starting to see the beautiful, terrifying freedom of the situation. It's not the freedom of doing whatever I want, but the freedom of opening my eyes to the signs and synchronicities, listening to my inner voice to hear God, and building my skills to trust rather than control and to open to receiving grace. It's beautiful and exquisitely uncomfortable. Anyway, your writing is matching my moment and I appreciate you.
Ah, I love everything you’re saying here. Trust, let go, and let God. We definitely tend to mess things up by trying to control everything. And maybe it’s all that desire for control that leads us to R.B. in the first place.
You know what you need and I believe in you wholeheartedly ♥️
Same ❤️
Love how your articles are big call outs. Thanks :)
No, thank you! It’s tough to say what I really want to and I’m so grateful it resonates 🙏
Every journey starts with a single step, nomatter how epic it will become.
Well done, keep going.
🤗
Thanks for writing about this structure of ideas. My calling was medicine. I practiced neonatology for over thirty years, caring for sick babies born prematurely or with birth defects. I interacted with thousands of parents, helping them through the roughest time of their lives. Sometimes I sat with them while their baby died. I was passionate about my work, and I often suffered because of it, with long call nights, too little sleep or sixty-hour work weeks. The pain and suffering during my training - three years of residency and three years of fellowship- were the biggest challenges. However, those years shaped me into the great physician I became. I was always passionate about my work, despite the pain. My rock bottom revelation came at age sixty-two when I was burned out, truly exhausted both physically and mentally. I had seen too many babies die, too many ethical dilemmas play out wrong, too many parents wanting everything done despite hopeless situations. I had to retire to recover and be honest while confronting all the issues that plagued me. Practicing medicine was and always will be my passion and my calling. You are probably right about the components necessary to figure this out each for ourselves. Thanks for writing.
Thank you for your dedication to parents and babies! We could use more individuals like you, driven by a higher calling, practicing medicine with genuine care for their patients. You’re one of the rare ones.
hi susan, wishing you the strength 💪to overcome your mental hardship. You did an awesome job! You helped so many people! 🛟
The time now is YOU!!!
Be gentle with yourself please. Do what your soul needs most. ❤️🩹
I've been there too! Although I do not like the word burnout, because it simplifies the whole interconnected reaction the body goes through in a state like this. Fatigue syndrom, PTSD or trauma are part of it. What you describe is a complete inner breakdown like an implosion. The body just decides not to work as you please anymore.
This is the challenge, especially when you are still very strong with your mind and your clarity and focus. Feeling paralyzed although your body is still functioning. A paradoxon.
When I was exhausted and couldn't get up for weeks I endulged myself in the feeling of sadness and listened day in and day out to the album *Aventine* from Agnes Obel - a feeling of deep gratitude for life and being alive helped me to get back on my feet 🦶
Please connect with me if you'd like to.
If there is anything I can do to be of help or to just talk or write ✍️ please do!
And for all future endeavours I wish you good luck 🍀
One thing comes to my mind:
I am a windsurf instructor. Please watch the film RESURFACE (on netflix I believe) short intro: Resurface follows veterans who find that the ocean is the one place they can go to for peace. ☮️ google netflix ptsd resurface nnd you will find a short trailer linked to youtube! Watch it and if possible watch this film. It helped me.
Maybe you find a calling in windsurfing, stand up paddling (SUP) or just walking and being in the nature. 🌱
Anyway, you should be proud of what you accomplished! rooting for you
Chris
🏄♂️🌊☀️
Thank you for your openness and courage. I can assure you that your writing is meaningful and making a difference, keep going!
I have felt my calling for quite some time, but spent many years neglecting it or having old stories steer me down a path that pulled me away from it. It did lead to unpleasant struggles but also profound lessons.
One thing that has helped me connect to my intuition and inner guidance is a regular meditation practice. It has been completely transformative and I’m grateful that it’s helped me reconnect to my true mission. I wrote about it here, if it’s at all helpful. 🙏
https://poetx.substack.com/p/mindfulness-the-gateway-to-everything
Thank you so much Jeremy!! 🙏
That was glorious. THANKS!
🙌🏽
Love this! Rational choices have gotten me to so many places I ultimately didn’t want to be. My intuition has always led me to the right place even when it didn’t make rational sense.
♥️
Thanks for being here. We appreciate your 5 things 🙏
I appreciate YOU!
Thank you so much for all of that writing, this feels like a channeling from some higher consciousness😂 (maybe more writers and artists are channeling something higher than we know of!)
Here's the part that I liked most: "If you weren’t capable of your calling, your intuition wouldn’t bother you as it does. The persistent dream that surfaces in the shower, on walks in the park, in conversations, and through journal entries reveals itself to you because its manifestation is possible. What if you wholeheartedly commit to bringing that dream to fruition? What if you evolved into the person capable of turning your aspirations into reality, eclipsing the rational fears that hold you back?"
Thank you Tobias! My best writing definitely feels like it’s coming *through me* instead of *from me*, so you might be right about that whole channeling thing.
And I love that you shared your favorite part - that means the world to me 🙏 it was definitely one of my favorites, too 🤗
Beautiful, poignant piece. I, too, am on a path to unearth my calling, step away from the practical path and explore what my intuition had been whispering, now demanding, I follow.
My substack was my first experiment into this journey and I feel you on grappling with what we write, how and why. Keep it up! I needed this piece today!
Thank you Leah! You as well 🤗
I loved this call to action, thank you. And as a writer of a rock-related newsletter I am thinking of Rock Bottom. I am thinking about how commonly it conceived of as a cold, hard place of terminal impact. But I wonder too about how this final stopping ground is also a holding place. The only holding place big enough for the epic climb back out. For this a solid foundation is needed , and it's my belief that Rock Bottom is the only ground that can give us sufficient leverage to make our return. 🪨 xx
This is deep. Like Rock Bottom deep.
While I’m biased, I agree. I think R.B. is not only a holding place and a solid foundation for one to make a return, but it’s also (likely) a necessary step in the process.
I’ve hated the word passion for a long time. Every single business person on LinkedIn is following their passion for a good marketing story it seems. I do however love this version of passion. Of suffering of hardship of following ones personal calling. That is meaningful. Thankyou.
Thank you, Elly! 🙏
I totally agree that the LinkedIn version of “passion” is so cringy 😬
This piece deeply resonates w me bc I quit my job to write a book I was aching to write. It’s now under consideration w publishing :)
Amazing!!! Congratulations! That’s HUGE!
Thanks so much! Let’s see if it gets accepted by any 🤞🏽
If there's a will, there's a way!