What you’ve written here feels like the soft click of a latch, the door finally swinging open to a room you’ve always known was there. A room where the air smells of ink & woodsmoke, where the windows have been flung wide & the light comes in slant, a little wild, a little unexpected.
I read your words & I see a quiet shedding. The safe coat hung by the door. The box of well-worn tools set down. You stand there—barefoot maybe—ready to work with what your hands were always meant to hold: not just what fits, but what calls. What sings.
There’s truly no need to explain yourself. We'll welcome the unvarnished lens. The off-kilter angles. The strange flavour that once left you aching & now might finally feed us all. What you call weird, I call the thing that will keep us coming back—not for the topic, but for the way the topic becomes yours in the telling.
Well, if you’re already standing in the space, I’d say you built it better than you realised. I just opened a window & named the scent. Here’s to letting a little more weather in. I’ll pop the kettle on, feels like a good day for a cross-breeze & a little creative mischief.
What a luminous thing to find waiting here. Thank you for stepping through the door with me. There’s been a curious little influx of kind souls showing up lately—either the algorithm’s drunk or the universe is having a rare generous streak. Whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re here. I promise more odd corners & imagery to stumble into.
YES< YES< YES!!!! I think it is what we are all looking for in this wild crazy ride through life. Let the emotion spin, keep spilling the info as you please, but let's all be REALLY WHO WE ARE!
It’s funny, there’s been an undertone to your latest writing that I’ve been curious about — it had me wondering if there was a medical diagnosis, a relationship change, or a career pivot coming. Something unsaid, unsettled, maybe?
Honestly you could write about frogs or Antarctica or your latest knitting project and I believe I’d still find it interesting — you see the world in a unique way, and if it comes with unfiltered Fridays & f-bombs like commas, bring it on!!
Yeah, hard to keep it from finding it's way through the crack lately, Leah. More just a gentle awakening triggered, in no small part, by the experiments I've been running as part of my 2x20.
“What I want is to spend less time conveying information, and more time evoking emotion, seeding insight, and provoking possibility.” YES PLEASE, DO THAT. xo
This spoke to me - ‘What I want is to spend less time conveying information, and more time evoking emotion, seeding insight, and provoking possibility.’ Absolutely, yes. Now I just need to find the courage to do it.
Jonathan, you were my inspiration to come to Substack and explore possibilities in my own thinking and writing. I look forward to your work—wherever that may lead you.
A million years ago—back in 2008-ish—I attended what may have been your first live workshop. We gathered in a small conference room in a NYC hotel. Lena West was there. Julie Daley flew in all the way from California. The course was about getting your work out into the world: blogging, writing, social media. It was the beginning for all of us.
I came because—well, because your voice called me there. But also because I was looking for kindred spirits. I had this outrageous idea that I might write a book about angels. And I said so, in that small (but to me, enormous) group of maybe 20 people. I stood up and said it out loud.
I remember the look on your face—puzzled, curious: Who is this person talking about angels? Is she for real? What do I say to encourage her? What I remember is this: You were kind. You were funny and encouraging. You drew me out, asking questions. You took me and my strange project seriously.
I’ve followed your journey—off and on—ever since. I've watched as you expand into each new iteration of your message, doing your best to grow into the human being who can hold that space in the world. Modeling a new way to be visible and also be real - fully human while also, truly gifted. (And honoring that in all of us at the same time.)
Each time you come to a crest like this and pause, I find myself exhaling with you. Ah, yes, I remember. I can do that too. This is why I still click, still read, still like and comment: because you speak from the real. And because of the way you pause—at the edge of something in yourself, in the world—and listen. That’s the pulse I feel in your writing, the rhythm that calls me back to mine.
Oh wow, I remember that workshop, Amy. Was so much fun. I think it might've been at the Roger Smith hotel in NYC back in those early blogging days. And so glad you've continued to write and share all of you!
Yes! That's the name - the Roger Smith. And we were all learning our way into this wide new way of getting our words into the world. Self-publishing, blogging. It was all just beginning. You were teaching from such a soul-led, heart-led place. I don't remember the content: I remember the transmission. Wow, that was a great class.
I've been following you for a couple years now, mostly from Good Life Project, and jumped here when you started. Thank you for sharing the process, telling on yourself, continuing to show up real in questioning yourself and your motivations and keeping your eye on what's calling. I too have been on a journey these last two years - changing everything (my own version of 2X20) and landing in a completly different life. Now what? What really matters? Do I have the courage to dream big and dive in? I stand on the precipice of authentic co-creation every day - some days I feel expansive and others I retreat into fear and self doubt (then anyalyzing why I'm there)! When I read your words I don't feel so alone and am comforted to know that someone as accomplished as you also dances that dance.
So, "yes please" to whatever you choose to put out here I don't believe it really matters whether we find it thought provoking - what matters is that you put it out and it feels authentic to you and aligned with who you are becomming. Your courage to share with a wider audience gives people like me the courage to do that in the circles I swim in. Thank you for holding the lantern on the path!
Love to hear you've been exploring your own version of 2x20, and learning and growing and shifting along the way. Glad this helped you feel a little less alone. Right there with you.
Heres my bit of advice from a non writer wanna be something more than i am... Baby steps. Lol.
I've been on a restricted diet for 10 years, or at least it seems. There are a million things i want to eat, but cannot. However there are things i could eat but my body just doesnt know what to do with it, so here is what ive been doing. Eat the meal I've been eating for x-amount of time and add one bite of something else. Do the same for the next two days. If all goes well, do the same for the rest of the week. Second week, try two bites at each meal. Sometimes it works, some times it doesnt.
It took me a year, yes a FULL YEAR, to go from eating one bite of apple to eating a whole raw apple. But then ... I never stopped. I've eaten an apple or two everyday for almost 3 years. And I savor every bite, every time.
You dont have to just switch the type of writing you share overnight. Continue the tried and true to keep food on your table and toss in a rogue one when ever you feel the ping. Some of us dont know your normal style and we'll read it, just because you wrote it. If its good its good. 🥰🤘🏼💯 PS, I also have a tendency to drop F-bombs that people shame me for, but sometimes it just feels good to say it. And also, makes people feel a little uncomfortable, just enough so they understand what I'm trying to convey. ☀️
Love the baby steps advice, Heather. Never been great at that. I tend to be more of a leap first, then respond along the way person. But I'm trying to be a bit more intentional and gentle these days.
You don't owe any of this internal world sharing to us readers. But, this reader would love to read more of your sarcasm, side eyed ponderings, and True Thoughs on life, people, art, culture, current events, publishing, making, and more.
Thanks, Angie. Less about owing anything to anyone, and simply feeling the call to share differently, and more openly. We'll see where it leads. Side-eye make take a little more time ha!
Congratulations, JF. I want to hear your more YOU thoughts and feelings. I think this is the perfect space for more of you. This is another layer of you awakening to who you are and how you want to express that. I think the best thing that will come of it is your humor emerging more. Blending your humor, sincerity, childlike curiosity and wonder with your super smarts - that’s what I want to read. Can’t wait to read the essay about books!
Ha! The second I realized you’re telling us there’s more, something you’ve been hiding, then that’s what I want to know about. Forever curious to know more about what’s ‘really’ going on with people.
So yeah, I’m interested to learn why advice books are written the way they are and what could be done differently. I think I’ve been following you for nearly 20 years too. Pretty sure I’ll be sticking around for all of it.
This is awesome!!!! Yes to snark and f-bombs baby. This feels more like messy and clumsy authenticity (aka “real” real) and less tidy and curated authenticity. We are here for it!
I’ve been internally singing “Let it flow!” since I read your reply to my comment 😅👍 Thanks for that!! I love the original song, too but sometimes we need to mix it up
Jonathan—
What you’ve written here feels like the soft click of a latch, the door finally swinging open to a room you’ve always known was there. A room where the air smells of ink & woodsmoke, where the windows have been flung wide & the light comes in slant, a little wild, a little unexpected.
I read your words & I see a quiet shedding. The safe coat hung by the door. The box of well-worn tools set down. You stand there—barefoot maybe—ready to work with what your hands were always meant to hold: not just what fits, but what calls. What sings.
There’s truly no need to explain yourself. We'll welcome the unvarnished lens. The off-kilter angles. The strange flavour that once left you aching & now might finally feed us all. What you call weird, I call the thing that will keep us coming back—not for the topic, but for the way the topic becomes yours in the telling.
So let it come, whatever shape it takes.
We’ll be here, ready.
We’ll follow the light through that open door.
That’s the room we want to be in, too.
Ah, what a beautiful metaphor, Kim. Love how you've phrased this. It's like I'm already standing in the space you've described.
Jonathan—
Well, if you’re already standing in the space, I’d say you built it better than you realised. I just opened a window & named the scent. Here’s to letting a little more weather in. I’ll pop the kettle on, feels like a good day for a cross-breeze & a little creative mischief.
Kim this is stunningly beautiful!! Don’t know you or your work at all, but just subscribed to hopefully find more imagery like this! ✨
Leah—
What a luminous thing to find waiting here. Thank you for stepping through the door with me. There’s been a curious little influx of kind souls showing up lately—either the algorithm’s drunk or the universe is having a rare generous streak. Whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re here. I promise more odd corners & imagery to stumble into.
Beautiful
Kim, yessss I’ll follow the light through that open door too so beautifully written
Heather—
Ah, welcome in. The door’s wide & the floor’s warm—thank you for walking through with such open-hearted grace.
YES< YES< YES!!!! I think it is what we are all looking for in this wild crazy ride through life. Let the emotion spin, keep spilling the info as you please, but let's all be REALLY WHO WE ARE!
Thanks for the freedom, Laura. Agreed, I think it IS what we're all looking for, especially now.
Please, let’s all be a bit weird.
Right!
It’s funny, there’s been an undertone to your latest writing that I’ve been curious about — it had me wondering if there was a medical diagnosis, a relationship change, or a career pivot coming. Something unsaid, unsettled, maybe?
Honestly you could write about frogs or Antarctica or your latest knitting project and I believe I’d still find it interesting — you see the world in a unique way, and if it comes with unfiltered Fridays & f-bombs like commas, bring it on!!
Can’t wait for next week 👀
Yeah, hard to keep it from finding it's way through the crack lately, Leah. More just a gentle awakening triggered, in no small part, by the experiments I've been running as part of my 2x20.
“What I want is to spend less time conveying information, and more time evoking emotion, seeding insight, and provoking possibility.” YES PLEASE, DO THAT. xo
Working on it, Shelley! Need to get my brave up. xo back at ya.
This spoke to me - ‘What I want is to spend less time conveying information, and more time evoking emotion, seeding insight, and provoking possibility.’ Absolutely, yes. Now I just need to find the courage to do it.
That makes two of us, Anna. We can work on it together.
Jonathan, you were my inspiration to come to Substack and explore possibilities in my own thinking and writing. I look forward to your work—wherever that may lead you.
Oh that's so nice to hear, Jamie. Hope the Stack community has kept the inspiration going.
Jonathan —
A million years ago—back in 2008-ish—I attended what may have been your first live workshop. We gathered in a small conference room in a NYC hotel. Lena West was there. Julie Daley flew in all the way from California. The course was about getting your work out into the world: blogging, writing, social media. It was the beginning for all of us.
I came because—well, because your voice called me there. But also because I was looking for kindred spirits. I had this outrageous idea that I might write a book about angels. And I said so, in that small (but to me, enormous) group of maybe 20 people. I stood up and said it out loud.
I remember the look on your face—puzzled, curious: Who is this person talking about angels? Is she for real? What do I say to encourage her? What I remember is this: You were kind. You were funny and encouraging. You drew me out, asking questions. You took me and my strange project seriously.
I’ve followed your journey—off and on—ever since. I've watched as you expand into each new iteration of your message, doing your best to grow into the human being who can hold that space in the world. Modeling a new way to be visible and also be real - fully human while also, truly gifted. (And honoring that in all of us at the same time.)
Each time you come to a crest like this and pause, I find myself exhaling with you. Ah, yes, I remember. I can do that too. This is why I still click, still read, still like and comment: because you speak from the real. And because of the way you pause—at the edge of something in yourself, in the world—and listen. That’s the pulse I feel in your writing, the rhythm that calls me back to mine.
Oh wow, I remember that workshop, Amy. Was so much fun. I think it might've been at the Roger Smith hotel in NYC back in those early blogging days. And so glad you've continued to write and share all of you!
Yes! That's the name - the Roger Smith. And we were all learning our way into this wide new way of getting our words into the world. Self-publishing, blogging. It was all just beginning. You were teaching from such a soul-led, heart-led place. I don't remember the content: I remember the transmission. Wow, that was a great class.
Jonathan - my friend whom I've never met,
I've been following you for a couple years now, mostly from Good Life Project, and jumped here when you started. Thank you for sharing the process, telling on yourself, continuing to show up real in questioning yourself and your motivations and keeping your eye on what's calling. I too have been on a journey these last two years - changing everything (my own version of 2X20) and landing in a completly different life. Now what? What really matters? Do I have the courage to dream big and dive in? I stand on the precipice of authentic co-creation every day - some days I feel expansive and others I retreat into fear and self doubt (then anyalyzing why I'm there)! When I read your words I don't feel so alone and am comforted to know that someone as accomplished as you also dances that dance.
So, "yes please" to whatever you choose to put out here I don't believe it really matters whether we find it thought provoking - what matters is that you put it out and it feels authentic to you and aligned with who you are becomming. Your courage to share with a wider audience gives people like me the courage to do that in the circles I swim in. Thank you for holding the lantern on the path!
Love to hear you've been exploring your own version of 2x20, and learning and growing and shifting along the way. Glad this helped you feel a little less alone. Right there with you.
Yes please!
Heres my bit of advice from a non writer wanna be something more than i am... Baby steps. Lol.
I've been on a restricted diet for 10 years, or at least it seems. There are a million things i want to eat, but cannot. However there are things i could eat but my body just doesnt know what to do with it, so here is what ive been doing. Eat the meal I've been eating for x-amount of time and add one bite of something else. Do the same for the next two days. If all goes well, do the same for the rest of the week. Second week, try two bites at each meal. Sometimes it works, some times it doesnt.
It took me a year, yes a FULL YEAR, to go from eating one bite of apple to eating a whole raw apple. But then ... I never stopped. I've eaten an apple or two everyday for almost 3 years. And I savor every bite, every time.
You dont have to just switch the type of writing you share overnight. Continue the tried and true to keep food on your table and toss in a rogue one when ever you feel the ping. Some of us dont know your normal style and we'll read it, just because you wrote it. If its good its good. 🥰🤘🏼💯 PS, I also have a tendency to drop F-bombs that people shame me for, but sometimes it just feels good to say it. And also, makes people feel a little uncomfortable, just enough so they understand what I'm trying to convey. ☀️
Love the baby steps advice, Heather. Never been great at that. I tend to be more of a leap first, then respond along the way person. But I'm trying to be a bit more intentional and gentle these days.
You don't owe any of this internal world sharing to us readers. But, this reader would love to read more of your sarcasm, side eyed ponderings, and True Thoughs on life, people, art, culture, current events, publishing, making, and more.
Thanks, Angie. Less about owing anything to anyone, and simply feeling the call to share differently, and more openly. We'll see where it leads. Side-eye make take a little more time ha!
Congratulations, JF. I want to hear your more YOU thoughts and feelings. I think this is the perfect space for more of you. This is another layer of you awakening to who you are and how you want to express that. I think the best thing that will come of it is your humor emerging more. Blending your humor, sincerity, childlike curiosity and wonder with your super smarts - that’s what I want to read. Can’t wait to read the essay about books!
Thanks, C! I like the way you put that, "another layer." I think that's what I'm after as well.
Ha! The second I realized you’re telling us there’s more, something you’ve been hiding, then that’s what I want to know about. Forever curious to know more about what’s ‘really’ going on with people.
So yeah, I’m interested to learn why advice books are written the way they are and what could be done differently. I think I’ve been following you for nearly 20 years too. Pretty sure I’ll be sticking around for all of it.
Love to keep "rolling" in writing together here and beyond, Janet.
You’re so great. Thank you for opening up the space for yourself, for all of us.
Thanks, Piver! Big <3
This is awesome!!!! Yes to snark and f-bombs baby. This feels more like messy and clumsy authenticity (aka “real” real) and less tidy and curated authenticity. We are here for it!
Ha, they're coming, though likely in a test the waters kind of way. Gotta ease into it, Suzanne. Then, who knows, may just dive into the deep end.
Dive in buddy! It’s pretty awesome in the deep end! 😉
Thank you for your sharing!!! Yes! Let it flow! The right people will read and resonate and honor the child creatively within you 🥰
Oh my, as soon as I read your comment, that iconic chorus, "let it go" popped into your mind lol. But I like let it flow better.
I’ve been internally singing “Let it flow!” since I read your reply to my comment 😅👍 Thanks for that!! I love the original song, too but sometimes we need to mix it up
Hope the writing keeps flowing.