🌺Deadly flowers🌵

Entry#78 on writing for three years straight and the courage to not wither

#78

I wrote this a few days ago,

“Just a quick shout out to all the people trying to figure out a new business service, trying to get the courage to go out on their own, or trying to find their voice and speak into a crowded and noisy marketplace. I’m feeling that today.

I’ve been working with an extraordinary coach Stacey Davidson to try and sift through the ideas and rabbit holes of what I could offer this world. I’m nowhere near ready to share. But it’s coming closer. I’ve been brave enough to even consider what else I could bring, other than the project-to-contract-to-project services I have offered for seven years +… so I will see this through.

Stacey is so patient with me. She often uses the metaphor of birthing and so I am reminiscing about the tough, vulnerable places you go to when you’re in labour.

Today I feel like I’m about to give up - but that means I might be close. I hope I’m not like a succulent who pours all their glory into the flower, only to wither. Gosh this is quite the process. I’m glad I’m doing it though.”

I added the photo below, of my lovely succulent collection. One tiny succulent has decided to flower for the first time ever and it has created a lengthy, many-headed floral masterpiece. I hope it doesn’t kill itself in the process. I’m not sure if this succulent is monocarpic (new word for Scrabble lovers, you’re welcome) but it could be. What a shame that would be, to wither.

Succulents, 2023

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Friday Flow is three years old this month. Amazing huh?

I know that over 160 of my readers open it consistently to have a browse. Sometimes as many as 200. Lots more of you don’t engage at all. I know that many of you enjoy it - because you either tell me in an email, or when I cross paths with you around town, or when we connect for some other reason. I don’t write to please you, so of course I don’t mind if you don’t like what I write.

Three years in, I don’t believe I will wither and stop writing Friday Flow. Moving to Substack has made it easy and I’ve entrenched the habit of writing, which was my aim.

But I do think about what is next. Like that process I’m in with Stacey right now, there’s something else brewing. It might be more writing, it might be in a different format. I am not yet clear - but all I know is that I have more to say and I if I don’t say it the words might wither inside of me and leave me with a belly full of mushy petals.

What do your unspoken words feel like?

Let’s just say them, so as to not find out what withering is like.

That is all for today. As always, I look forward to hearing what you heard, saw and felt when reading this.

With love,

Michelle xx