36 Comments

Much of what you said resonated with me. I will choose the word 'curious' . I am new to writing and substack so I'm curious what other people are writing about. I am curious about my family history. I am curious about how far I can push my body with cold water therapy. I am curious about how to bring together my photography and painting. I am curious to visit Brazil for my brothers wedding. I am curious to know how I can support other women. I am curious to find my wild side . I am curious to know what this next chapter of my life holds now that my nest is empty.

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Thanks Cath, I love this, and I share your curiosity in so many similar areas!! I'm not an empty nester yet but not too far off and I currently can't quite picture it but am curious indeed. Substack is a brilliant place to explore that curiosity. I find as I get older I want to know more and more about my family history which is something I'm looking into for my second book. I think you'll love discovering other writers here on Substack and it is such a supportive community - I've met some brilliant women online here already (and men!!) and some I will be meeting in real life next month which is incredible. I shall follow you so I can keep in touch with your journey here. Much love x

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Percolating :)

Thank you for sharing this piece. ❤️

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Percolating - brilliant!! You are so welcome, thank you for being here ❤️

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One word: here.

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Perfect x

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Icosahedron. Many interests and hobbies, multiple careers presenting as facets that somehow make up a whole.

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Ooh I love a new word - yes that's a great image and way of expressing these multi-faceted lives we increasingly seem to lead. Different roles, aspects and elements of us that form together into one very interesting and complex shape! Love it x

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In one word - I am ‘inquisitive’ - I feel so much untapped energy within me, so many possibilities to learn more about myself and a hunger to birth the repressed woman that is crying to be released. Remaining inquisitive reminds me that our journey through life is a process - there is always something new & wonderful waiting to be discovered ✨🙏

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Yes - absolutely - I am inquisitive about everything!! It's similar to 'interested' but with an extra sense of urgency. I totally get that. I love learning, questioning, discovering. Just beautiful x

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Have a wonderful time in India Em.

A word to describe myself... like you over the years this has changed. I am at a crossroads in my life and this morning my word is ‘lost’. I am interested, intrigued by myself and I mean that in an unselfish, non narcissistic, self loving way. I need to find my lost self.

Today everyone else goes back to ‘normal’ as I settle down with the dog to write. Hoping that my darting fingers will resist the urge to delete the challenging phrases and find my peace.

‘Cx

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Thank you - I am so unprepared for India but will get my act together somehow between now and then!! I resonate totally with this - I often feel lost, and I am equally intrigued by myself. This whole process for me in the last couple of years has been about founding my lost self. At the moment I am very in tune with my sense of self but I know how precarious that can be. You will find yourself again ❤️

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I must do one of these myself. Always lovely to get to know the writer behind the letters 💗

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Hey!! Sorry for the delay - been in transit!! It's actually quite interesting to do this exercise for yourself as well as for introducing others to a page/writing. I find that how I describe myself is continually evolving! I'd love to read yours x

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Well, I started mine last night! I would also agree, I can even feel now the things I’m including might be different in a year! Hope your travels went well, enjoy! Xx

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Thank you, am in India as I type! 💕

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I meant journey 🙈 But I also hope your travels go well! 💚

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It's lovely to 'meet' you.

Only one word? Complicated!

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Haha that made me laugh out loud!! Complicated - yes!!!! 🙌🙌

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My word is very similar to yours! "Curious." I also picked a word for 2024 and it is "nurture." Happy to find fellow writers with chronic illness. You can learn more about me over on my about page. https://notesfromakindredspirit.substack.com/about 😊

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Yes I very much related to 'curious'. Ooh I've loved having a look at your page - kindred spirits indeed!! xx

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Oh thank you so much for the kind words! 😊

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❤️

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Lovely to get to know more about you here Emma, and I look forward to connecting online when space opens up, Enjoy India, I'm very envious, it is on my bucket-list, but I have not yet bitten the bullet and done it. My one word to describe myself? Hmm, can I have 3 - 'work in progress' or alternatively 'evolving' 😊

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evolving - love it!!! I love the fact that it's when we're 'grown up' that we start to realise we are continually changing, and God knows we're all works in progress!! Thank you so much for the comment and I'm sure I'll have some stories from India when I return! x

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Can't wait to read them 😃

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❤️

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I’ve loved getting to know you here all over again Emma. You have been a beautiful guiding lemon light that I will continue to step into as you shine very bright. Happy New Year to you and all the delights that are yet to come. 🙏💫

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Oh thank you - what a gorgeous comment, I can't tell you what that means 💕✨. It's been so lovely getting to know you too, and in this wonderful place. I look forward to sharing more of our respective journeys and a big Happy New Year to you xx

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Happy New Year Em. First, have a wonderful holiday with your mom. That is so wonderful and such a blessing.

My word would have to be “shedding.” It is empowering to know at this point of my life what is working and what is not and having the wherewithal to do something about it

Here’s a little about me.

https://open.substack.com/pub/charlenealofs/p/hello-begin-here?r=p8vx8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true

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Oh I LOVE that!! Yes, shedding is so powerful, and being at a stage in life with the realisation of what does and doesn't serve you well is magnificent. I look forward to reading your Substack, am about to dive in! xx

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Aw Emma I absolutely loved reading this. So honest and well-written. I definitely felt I got to know you a bit better through reading it.

I totally identify with you re the neurodiversity and the contradictions! I am also in admiration of your self-examination and then the fearlessness in your sharing. (Love you you admitted that you nearly deleted the bit about being interested in yourself... but of course! We all are interested in ourselves!)

I feel too brain-dead this morning to even think enough to come up with a word to describe myself. I resonated a lot with the folk above who picked "curious". So that may or may not be my word too. I don't think I'm ready yet to write such a heartfelt bio of myself. But I'm so new to Substack and the whole idea of it, I willl learn bit by bit how to put myself out there.

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Have an awesome trip to India Emma! 😍

My dad and I often chatted about going together, with just a rucksack on our backs - these chats were 30 odd years ago I hasten to add! Sadly we never got the chance to go, but it truly delights me to hear you’re going with your mum.

I’ll be thinking of you both - safe journey and please send your mum my love too!

With love and hugs xxx😘🤗

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One word...blooming (said by an Octogenarian who finally is coming into her own after years of helping others do the same). I love your posts, Emma. Thank you!

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Oh I love that one!! And thank you so much for your support and kind words, I'm so very grateful 🫶

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❤️❤️❤️

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