Tell me something true! Here's mine: There's a tightrope I've been walking for years. I'm ready to climb down from the wire, and grow some roots... or wings.
When Unkempt was first introduced, I screamed YES at the top of my lungs because someone else gets it. Personally I struggle a lot with the concept of niching down and becoming known for just the one thing you’re exceptionally good at. Like, we’re human, is someone really expecting us to narrow down our entire lived experience to just one topic?
And if Unkempt felt like it resonated, my god is this new era even better! I loved reading this newsletter, and I’m so happy for you and this new journey. Thank you for sharing!!
" Are any of us who others want us to be? " I love this sooo much. It feels like the real question behind so much of judgement and criticism the internet and world fire at one another these days. As a business owner, it feels impossible to balance this line AND feel authentic in who I show up as. In the end, it feels like a half-truth and that doesn't feel great.
I'm really looking forward to this shift AND I'm hoping that reading your words can help me navigate my own landscape of uncertainty. Your honesty and realness are such a beacon of light and I am deeply grateful for your courage to lead the way in these conversations.
P.S. I love you even more for your Gucci bag! xoxoxo
I’m almost two years in to a solopreneur business structure, and this discomfort is so so real for me, too. Wanting to root in my own center while feeling the traps of expectations and the ways we look to each other to answer and answer correctly all the questions of how to live and thrive in a broken world. It does a softening and an opening to read other people trying to name it. Thank you for opening this, Maia!
Congrats on your two years of businessing! What a feat. I'm here for any conversations around that delicate line of showing up, staying rooted and also trying to have all the answers. Additionally if you happen to HAVE the answers, do share. ;-)
It's really difficult being a business owner these days. It perpetually feels like both having an opinion and not having an opinion can tank your livelihood. I'm already feeling the shift here--this is going to be a safe place for us to discuss all the things.
And thank you for supporting my Gucci bag! I have always loved well crafted, long lasting fashion but I thought Gucci was just bling until I researched it... now its gonna be hard to go back!
100% Maia. I feel like I'm being "bad" for having an opinion or not having one. My clientele tends to run along one sided-opinions. Somedays I feel like my work is to offer a counter opinion. Somedays I just tell them to "take a deep breath of the lavender essential oil" :-)
This iconic bag of yours going to be visiting Whidbey in the fall??
I love hearing you say this, Maia. It feels "right" to me too. I'll be following you and your wisdom into your/our next chapter. I've been there with you for your last chapters, on and off, through the years. And I'm very eager to take this journey with you again, anew!
Wow, this hits home on so many levels! I was so excited to read this and couldn't put it down. Thrilled for you! Can't wait to see what happens next. 💖
Looking forward to being part of the transformation here. I do love your writing, Letting Magic In was pure magic. Reading your thoughts is always interesting and often they strike a cord in me. Earlier today I was thinking about controll and the feeling of losing control over my life. When ever I feel that loss or I'm giving it away I feel like I'm losing myself, like I'm showing up as someone else not true to who I am or want to be. Isn't life interestin?!
I agree, I've been reflecting on social media and how easy it is to ask for advice and recommendations. Which is great but the downside is if you only listen to social media and not yourself, your voice. To me it seems like many blindly listen to social media, I've done that mistake as well, and not too their gut feeling, their intuition. I'm trying to change that and live according to my values, my beliefs and my intuition.
Another trip around the spiral, eh? It’s one of the images you’ve brought into my life— the way we keep returning to our center, but we are always a bit different each time we revisit. Those things that are true for me, continue to meet me here, year after year, even as I grow towards a me who is always becoming. Thanks for offering this space for another year. I’m in!
After reading your latest post, I have decided to rejoin because I identify with the transformation you have been going through. I love the way you write and own 5 of your books which I read over and over. Connecting with nature is an important part of my life as a gardener and a herbalist.
I love this and thank you so much Maia. I too struggled between two worlds (my clinical professionalism and the magical herbal world; my hippy parts and the suburban mom world and have always been on the outside) and am working hard to unmask all that. It will be beautiful to see one of my mentors also work through that. I miss witch camp and that beautiful group of women and would be curious how more authentically I could show up now versus before. I can’t wait to see what new transformations and offerings you have in store!
I think it’s interesting how our personalities get bifurcated… sometimes it’s on purpose— we choose to hide a part of ourselves— but other times I think it’s just because we meet people in very specific contexts. We only get to know a certain side of them, and they only get to know certain side of us. Which is fine for a brief relationship. But when it goes on for too long, it starts to feel really uncomfortable.
I love this and needed to be reminded of the disconnect we create. I am looking forward to recognizing my authentic self in the coming months and years.
I love and need this space. Thank you.
💜💜💜
When Unkempt was first introduced, I screamed YES at the top of my lungs because someone else gets it. Personally I struggle a lot with the concept of niching down and becoming known for just the one thing you’re exceptionally good at. Like, we’re human, is someone really expecting us to narrow down our entire lived experience to just one topic?
And if Unkempt felt like it resonated, my god is this new era even better! I loved reading this newsletter, and I’m so happy for you and this new journey. Thank you for sharing!!
This made me so happy I read it aloud to my partner! Thank you for your enthusiastic support. Let's create a place where we can be whole humans!
" Are any of us who others want us to be? " I love this sooo much. It feels like the real question behind so much of judgement and criticism the internet and world fire at one another these days. As a business owner, it feels impossible to balance this line AND feel authentic in who I show up as. In the end, it feels like a half-truth and that doesn't feel great.
I'm really looking forward to this shift AND I'm hoping that reading your words can help me navigate my own landscape of uncertainty. Your honesty and realness are such a beacon of light and I am deeply grateful for your courage to lead the way in these conversations.
P.S. I love you even more for your Gucci bag! xoxoxo
I’m almost two years in to a solopreneur business structure, and this discomfort is so so real for me, too. Wanting to root in my own center while feeling the traps of expectations and the ways we look to each other to answer and answer correctly all the questions of how to live and thrive in a broken world. It does a softening and an opening to read other people trying to name it. Thank you for opening this, Maia!
Congrats on your two years of businessing! What a feat. I'm here for any conversations around that delicate line of showing up, staying rooted and also trying to have all the answers. Additionally if you happen to HAVE the answers, do share. ;-)
It's really difficult being a business owner these days. It perpetually feels like both having an opinion and not having an opinion can tank your livelihood. I'm already feeling the shift here--this is going to be a safe place for us to discuss all the things.
And thank you for supporting my Gucci bag! I have always loved well crafted, long lasting fashion but I thought Gucci was just bling until I researched it... now its gonna be hard to go back!
100% Maia. I feel like I'm being "bad" for having an opinion or not having one. My clientele tends to run along one sided-opinions. Somedays I feel like my work is to offer a counter opinion. Somedays I just tell them to "take a deep breath of the lavender essential oil" :-)
This iconic bag of yours going to be visiting Whidbey in the fall??
Lol— I hear you on the essential oil!
I will try to bring her to Bainbridge—I think she’d enjoy riding the ferry.🤣
I love hearing you say this, Maia. It feels "right" to me too. I'll be following you and your wisdom into your/our next chapter. I've been there with you for your last chapters, on and off, through the years. And I'm very eager to take this journey with you again, anew!
Thanks for sticking with me Christine! I guess I’m good at modeling transformation.🤣
Wow, this hits home on so many levels! I was so excited to read this and couldn't put it down. Thrilled for you! Can't wait to see what happens next. 💖
Me too🤣
Looking forward to being part of the transformation here. I do love your writing, Letting Magic In was pure magic. Reading your thoughts is always interesting and often they strike a cord in me. Earlier today I was thinking about controll and the feeling of losing control over my life. When ever I feel that loss or I'm giving it away I feel like I'm losing myself, like I'm showing up as someone else not true to who I am or want to be. Isn't life interestin?!
Always interesting…. If we pay attention. The world is noisy. I’m thinking about ways to quiet that noise so I can hear myself better.
I agree, I've been reflecting on social media and how easy it is to ask for advice and recommendations. Which is great but the downside is if you only listen to social media and not yourself, your voice. To me it seems like many blindly listen to social media, I've done that mistake as well, and not too their gut feeling, their intuition. I'm trying to change that and live according to my values, my beliefs and my intuition.
Hey Maia,
Another trip around the spiral, eh? It’s one of the images you’ve brought into my life— the way we keep returning to our center, but we are always a bit different each time we revisit. Those things that are true for me, continue to meet me here, year after year, even as I grow towards a me who is always becoming. Thanks for offering this space for another year. I’m in!
And thank you for reflecting me back to me, Mame. It’s so lovely to have a community where we have witnessed each other for so many years.
After reading your latest post, I have decided to rejoin because I identify with the transformation you have been going through. I love the way you write and own 5 of your books which I read over and over. Connecting with nature is an important part of my life as a gardener and a herbalist.
Thanks so much for sticking with me! 🙏💗
Looking forward to the new format.
💗
I'm excited and energized. Bring it on, Maya!
🙏💜
I love this and thank you so much Maia. I too struggled between two worlds (my clinical professionalism and the magical herbal world; my hippy parts and the suburban mom world and have always been on the outside) and am working hard to unmask all that. It will be beautiful to see one of my mentors also work through that. I miss witch camp and that beautiful group of women and would be curious how more authentically I could show up now versus before. I can’t wait to see what new transformations and offerings you have in store!
I think it’s interesting how our personalities get bifurcated… sometimes it’s on purpose— we choose to hide a part of ourselves— but other times I think it’s just because we meet people in very specific contexts. We only get to know a certain side of them, and they only get to know certain side of us. Which is fine for a brief relationship. But when it goes on for too long, it starts to feel really uncomfortable.
I love this and needed to be reminded of the disconnect we create. I am looking forward to recognizing my authentic self in the coming months and years.
AH! Thanks for calling out the disconnect WE CREATE. We are both Dr. Frankenstein and the monster, both. Truth. Big truth.
So so resonant, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Lisa. I have loved reading your writing as its evolved. There's a fluidity you seem to be playing with now that touches me deeply.
I am excited to be a part of this new conversation. Great name by the way 💚
I'm so glad you like the new name and that this conversation feels inspiring!
Bravo!!
💗💗💗
I cried when I read this... I so need this too ❤️
💗💗💗
Its so easy to think we are the only ones who feel a certain way… I so often feel alone until I write about it and people say “me too.”