On an Outpouring of Kindness

It’s been a bit of a rough year for my family and me. A few months ago, we lost my Grandma Ruthie and then a couple of weeks ago we had to say goodbye to our beloved pup Sophie. Of course, these events were deeply sad… but at the same time, Ruthie and Sophie both had long and incredible lives full of joy and treats. Even when you know your time with someone is coming to an end, and you’ve gotten to say your goodbyes, it still stings and it’s not something I’ve had a lot of experience with. Thankfully, I have this small platform from which I can broadcast my woes and see if they resonate with anyone else. Boy, was that a good idea!

For most of my three years writing this blog, I’ve written about the little things in life that either make me happy or comically frustrated. These essays are fun to write: I get to make jokes, yell about something stupid (like trash cans that are the wrong color), or try and convince you to read a book that made me feel like Neo seeing The Matrix for the first time.

Then, there are those times where I let myself be vulnerable and voice my insecurities or sadness. These are markedly less fun to write (there are just so many fewer places for dick jokes) but they’re one of the few times where I’ve felt like the modern internet isn’t just a cesspool of all the worst parts of humanity. This year I’ve gotten more kind messages than I can count about my grandmother, my dog, and my anxiety about finding a new job in the current economic climate.

People who I know and love dearly and people who I’ve never even met have reached out or commented that the feelings I shared echoed their own. There’s simple comfort in knowing that other people feel or have felt the way you do and have been able to get on with their lives. They’ve shared stories of losing loved ones, anecdotes of wonderful pups of all sizes and shapes, and words of advice on how to make a living in this wildly confusing world of ours.

Sometimes, when I look at this little community I’ve fostered, I feel…lacking. I’ve been writing every week for three years and the growth hasn’t been as exponential as I would have hoped. But, during these times of struggle, these three-hundred-and-change subscribers, you wonderful people, have shown me that what I’ve done here, what I’ve built over these years has been oh so worth it.

When I started this Substack, I told myself that I wouldn’t ever care how many readers I had, that I would just write as an outlet. As a typical, egotistical writer, I lose track of this mantra CONSTANTLY! During these past few months, though, you all have reminded me exactly why writing just to get your feelings out is a worthy pursuit.

So, thank you! Thank you for reading and commenting and for everything you do!