“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts
Some things in my life are too difficult to talk about. And there are some things that despite being hard I feel called to share in the hopes that someone out there can relate and feel a kinship with a fellow human being. There is this seesaw of wanting to share (because humans are beautiful creatures who like to connect over shared experiences) and wanting to keep things private (because at heart I’m a solitary butterfly).
This struggle has been with me for quite a while now, and as such I haven’t posted on here since December! There is something about spotting the first spring flowers though that makes me want to emerge from my shell and say hello.
The start of a new year doesn’t usually feel any different to me from the year before, but this year brought me into a whole different life from the one I’d been living for eleven years. Some of these changes began in 2022; some were in the works since before the pandemic. It was as if the structure I’d built around me started to come apart brick by brick, finally collapsing into a heap around me as the year ended and the new year began.
It sounds scary, devastating, and terrible, but it’s actually been quite empowering. I’m not out of the darkness yet, but there is a glimmer of light. There are still difficulties to wade through, but there have also been lots of good things slowly trickling into my life. Things such as: a new job that just fell into my lap (I can’t wait to share more about that soon), playdates with a dad friend and his kid which gives my son some semblance of normalcy, and kind letters and surprise gifts from friends.
When one’s entire life is uprooted, it’s tricky to know how to talk about it. I’m just grateful that throughout the chaos I was somehow able to keep writing; now that things are beginning to fall into place, I hope I can share my writing more frequently.
If you don’t follow me on Instagram, you might not know about my latest publications. I’ll list them with links at the end of this letter. I’m also back to working on a novel and I’ll share more details about it in a later post.
Going forward, I’ll continue to share life and writing updates. There will be a new feature once a month, Muse Monday, in which I support other creators by sharing about their work and linking to their websites and social media accounts.
I’m considering adding a paid subscription option as well but haven’t worked out the details yet. A few ideas are to offer tarot readings to paid subscribers, share pages from my poetry journal, and give a glimpse into my works-in-progress. If you have any thoughts about the kind of content you’d like to see from me (both paid and unpaid) please leave a comment and let me know.
As March continues and the spring equinox nears, my wish is that we will feel a burst of joyful energy and that beautiful things will materialize for all of us.
Enjoy this recipe to conjure the joyful exuberance of springtime.
Springtime Sunshine Tea
On a sunny day, fill a glass jar with lemon balm, mint, lemon verbena, and rose petals. Add spring water to cover the herbs. Place in the sun for a couple hours. Strain and serve in a beautiful glass or cup. As you sip your tea, imagine joy bubbling in your stomach.
Have a lovely week, dear hearts.
Caitlin
PUBLICATIONS
Autumn 2022 Anthology by Querencia Press
Winter 2022 issue of Capsule Stories
I can't wait to read more! I'm sorry things are so tough right now but just remember: you're tougher! 🤍
Of course I love reading your poems and writing. Can't wait for the novel!! Getting snippets of your life helps to feel an emotional attachment too which highlights the writing appreciation and connection. My example would be that for me, knowing the life of a painter and the background of a painting helps to absorb what the artist was trying to say. Just my thoughts anyway.