Summer hours
Consider this my out-of-office auto-reply.
In an uncharacteristically personal update: we’ve just welcomed a new baby to our family. The days are filled with walks and books and (gentle!) kisses on baby’s head and sitting in the backyard watching the big kids run through the sprinklers (and tears and big feelings and sleepless nights and huge adjustments and ungodly amounts of spit-up and more laundry than I knew was humanly possible).
Even with all the postpartum stuff, the new normals, the chaos (which ps: the word “chaos” gets redefined each time you bring home a new baby) — with all the stuff, it’s been kind of nice? An unexpected reprieve?
I’m not writing. I’m not posting. The last few weeks of essays were pre-written and scheduled, so I’m not trying to hit some deadline or thinking about if I should be “pivoting my strategy” or whatever. Maybe I was burnt out, but in the last couple weeks, I just simply haven’t missed it.
Here’s what I’m trying to say: I’m taking a little break.
Do you know that Rilke quote? It goes: “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.”
I feel those words deep in my bones. I thrive in these warmer months. I live for the longer days, the sun, the heat, the sweat. Getting to experience the summer through my children’s eyes is like having the gift of a second childhood. I quite simply cannot spend these months head-down in my computer when I have the chance to experience this. I can’t let this time slip away.
So what does this mean in practical terms? From a publishing perspective, I'm committing to nothing. If I have something I want to say, I'll pop in and write an essay, but I'm not planning on sharing work on a schedule. Maybe you’ll hear from me, but probably, you won’t.
Paid subs — this means no exclusive essays until I’m back.
The Detox program will remain active, and I’ll continue to monitor it for anyone who wants to participate.
I’ve also opened up the community chat to all paid and free subs in case you want to connect/bounce ideas of each other.
Seriously, and truly, from the bottom of my heart, no hurt feelings if you unsubscribe. There are so many new voices in this space who I am sure can fill the void.
If you are interested in starting the Detox, feel free to join the paid subscription, and then cancel when you finish. I've tried to find another platform that could host it so it doesn't have to be tied to a monthly subscriber fee, but I haven't found a good option.
Is this going to be good for business? Nope. Is this going to be good for me, the human being? Yes.
I left Instagram nearly a year ago (which woah! just realized that as I typed it), but now I’m going to leave the rest behind for a bit. This summer will be paperbacks and disposable cameras and peach juice dripping down our arms. It will be teaching my kids how to journal and tie-dye and make lemonade. It will be barefoot and fireflies and bug bites and late bedtimes and sleeping in (for everyone but me and the baby, of course). It will be, I hope, an invincible summer.
See you when schools back in session friends!
HAGS KATS LYSM