You’ll be ok. It won’t be the same with less of you, but I get it. You’re fortunate to have other things to keep busy. I lose a lot right now here because I’m still trying to keep notes to a minimum, if not totally turned off. That means a lot of looking for those I like. I think I’m in a mind space similar as yours. That bridesmaid (good, never good enough. Often second best) feeling never really goes away. Life’s a challenge. We get older and … BOOM ! One day the reality hits you in the face. It’s hard to be appreciative when you feel you’re always getting knocked down.
So, yes,I do understand. So much more than you think. You do what you need to do. Just know, anytime you need to, I’m here for ya ! Let me know and I’ll get you my email if you want. You’re a very special one to me here. Take care of yourself, snuggle with Deegs, and feel good.
Thanks, Nick for your honesty. I appreciate you and your writing. I will be leaving slowly and still writing. Social media as a whole I need to cut back on it.
I've been feeling a lot of this. I became quite disillusioned in Substack a while ago and suddenly went from addictive behavior to hardly using it at all.
I also seriously had to re-prioritize survival over self-expression.
Reading the comments on your piece I'm rather amazed to see how many other people here have actually been feeling the same disillusionment.
I'm not down with this pressure to constantly publish. I think the quality of writing here suffers from that pressure.
I think my participation here is going to continue along the same lines I have been following. Infrequent posts that I spend a long time writing and revising before I feel they are ready to publish. Writing only when the inner need to becomes almost desperate.
Thanks so much! It helps to know I'm not alone with this. This was one of my most vulnerable posts I feel like I have written and I have written many that make me anxious after I hit post.
I truly appreciate you taking the time to read and comment!
It’s not easy to just step away. But when the time is right to do so, you must honour what your soul is telling you. I’m there too…spending less time online. And it feels good 🙏
I've been here for about two years, as well. Never did social media before this--did Facebook just to be able to watch church once in a while. When I started writing poetry, someone suggested I come here and post it. Otherwise, I think I might have stopped writing at some point. It's been good mental exercise and has gotten me thinking seriously about a lot of things I should have much sooner. I don't know many people here on Substack, but the ones that have (mostly) stuck with me seem like wonderful human beings, people I wish lived closer, so I'd know them in real life. I'll have to settle with what I have here, however. I may be a bit addicted now, as well, but at least I have something to show for it, and I've learned so much and enjoyed other people's writing a lot. I don't consider that a waste. We all need time to examine our feelings and also realize that things are always changing in our lives, and that includes our needs. Perhaps your need for Substack will diminish, but I think it has been very good for you in being able to publish and to connect with other people. I've enjoyed having you here.
Thanks Carole for sharing experiences here. Those are all the things I love here and it helps me as a writer - yet it can take me away when I scroll here or other places.
I am going to try to spend more time reading and listening (so many I listen to while driving all day for work and it's a great feature.
I also want to spend more time on my writing and less on notes here. It definitely can be addictive
It's about balance and the struggle is real.
I'm glad we connected here and I found your writing.
I’ve been feeling this, too, Jane. In the end, what’s most important? It’s a s and our loved ones, and feeling pride in how we show up in the word — on paper, and IRL. We can’t give others’ approval so much weight!
I feel this. I get quite grumpy when I think of how much of my forties Covid robbed me of - my last hurrah, locked inside! But we can't let it be. I think Substack is becoming like any other doom scroll time suck sadly, I have only been active here as a writer for a year but the changes are not fun or inspiring to me as a writer. It feels much harder to gain traction or interaction, for me anyway, so I scroll notes, too lazy to read and connect, becoming part of the problem. Also FEBRUARY is the worst. It just is. Hope you find nourishment and change where you need it. Winter will be over soon (I keep telling myself!) ❤️
I will miss you, Jane. ❤️ Through the pandemic I lost myself in social media (Facebook) and almost destroyed my real life. I hid away inside from what I couldn’t bear on the outside. I cut social media off for a few years til I found this place. For me it’s less about hiding away from the outside but sharing art with likeminded people. But it’s hard to find the balance. I felt that pull away from here as well.
Thanks, Wildflower. It’s so easy to get lost on social media platforms and it is set up that way so you can, sadly.
I started here to share writing, and didn't know notes existed 2 years ago.
I will still be here but I have to limit time. I like being here to support other creators and write, but like any other platform it is a slippery slope.
You’ll be ok. It won’t be the same with less of you, but I get it. You’re fortunate to have other things to keep busy. I lose a lot right now here because I’m still trying to keep notes to a minimum, if not totally turned off. That means a lot of looking for those I like. I think I’m in a mind space similar as yours. That bridesmaid (good, never good enough. Often second best) feeling never really goes away. Life’s a challenge. We get older and … BOOM ! One day the reality hits you in the face. It’s hard to be appreciative when you feel you’re always getting knocked down.
So, yes,I do understand. So much more than you think. You do what you need to do. Just know, anytime you need to, I’m here for ya ! Let me know and I’ll get you my email if you want. You’re a very special one to me here. Take care of yourself, snuggle with Deegs, and feel good.
Thanks, Ken. I understand much of what your saying for sure.
I'll be on social media and here just monitoring my time here. I'm here to write read other writers and I have lost sight if that.
I truly appreciate your support here.
Thanks so much for commenting and taking the time to read.
Cheering for you! My time here has been limited lately - I felt a similar pull away from here. Glad I did.
But you’re a great writer and I hope you keep writing.
Thanks so much, Mike! I appreciate your support.
I am so proud of you. I know you're more than capable of finding a balance and beating the call of the doom scroll.❤️💪❤️
Thanks so much, Mike your support means the world to me and always will. It's all about balance and remembering my why to write in the first place.
I’m glad you were here. I don’t always agree with your perspective, but I found it very interesting to read. And you are an excellent writer.
But yeah, go through that door.
I’m leaving Substack slowly. I too have things to do. The only regret I have about leaving is losing voices such as yours.
Thanks, Nick for your honesty. I appreciate you and your writing. I will be leaving slowly and still writing. Social media as a whole I need to cut back on it.
Same. Will take me all year as subscriptions run out (some will be more painful to let go than others).
I hear you! I appreciate your support and you subscribing to my writing.
I've been feeling a lot of this. I became quite disillusioned in Substack a while ago and suddenly went from addictive behavior to hardly using it at all.
I also seriously had to re-prioritize survival over self-expression.
Reading the comments on your piece I'm rather amazed to see how many other people here have actually been feeling the same disillusionment.
I'm not down with this pressure to constantly publish. I think the quality of writing here suffers from that pressure.
I think my participation here is going to continue along the same lines I have been following. Infrequent posts that I spend a long time writing and revising before I feel they are ready to publish. Writing only when the inner need to becomes almost desperate.
Thanks so much for commenting and sharing your insight here.
I think how often someone publishes here depends on the writer and creators here.
I never thought about it pushing content here. It's something to think about.
I can so resonate with this. Thank you for your vulnerability !!
Thanks so much! It helps to know I'm not alone with this. This was one of my most vulnerable posts I feel like I have written and I have written many that make me anxious after I hit post.
I truly appreciate you taking the time to read and comment!
It’s not easy to just step away. But when the time is right to do so, you must honour what your soul is telling you. I’m there too…spending less time online. And it feels good 🙏
Thanks, Darcy. For now it is baby steps on all social media.
I've been here for about two years, as well. Never did social media before this--did Facebook just to be able to watch church once in a while. When I started writing poetry, someone suggested I come here and post it. Otherwise, I think I might have stopped writing at some point. It's been good mental exercise and has gotten me thinking seriously about a lot of things I should have much sooner. I don't know many people here on Substack, but the ones that have (mostly) stuck with me seem like wonderful human beings, people I wish lived closer, so I'd know them in real life. I'll have to settle with what I have here, however. I may be a bit addicted now, as well, but at least I have something to show for it, and I've learned so much and enjoyed other people's writing a lot. I don't consider that a waste. We all need time to examine our feelings and also realize that things are always changing in our lives, and that includes our needs. Perhaps your need for Substack will diminish, but I think it has been very good for you in being able to publish and to connect with other people. I've enjoyed having you here.
Also, I agree. It has helped me with publishing here and a platform for my writing.
Thanks Carole for sharing experiences here. Those are all the things I love here and it helps me as a writer - yet it can take me away when I scroll here or other places.
I am going to try to spend more time reading and listening (so many I listen to while driving all day for work and it's a great feature.
I also want to spend more time on my writing and less on notes here. It definitely can be addictive
It's about balance and the struggle is real.
I'm glad we connected here and I found your writing.
Thank you, Jane. I’m very glad to have found you here, too.
Thanks, Carole!
Yes, you’ve managed to crank out books, too! I’m not sure if I’ll ever do one—it would just be a re-hash, mostly. Maybe someday.😊
Thanks so much, Carole! The last 4 ones were poetry books and didn’t sell near as well as my novella, but they are mine!
I’ve been feeling this, too, Jane. In the end, what’s most important? It’s a s and our loved ones, and feeling pride in how we show up in the word — on paper, and IRL. We can’t give others’ approval so much weight!
So true. Thanks so much, Gayle for commenting and reading.
You are not alone in these feelings.
Thanks, Logan!
I feel this. I get quite grumpy when I think of how much of my forties Covid robbed me of - my last hurrah, locked inside! But we can't let it be. I think Substack is becoming like any other doom scroll time suck sadly, I have only been active here as a writer for a year but the changes are not fun or inspiring to me as a writer. It feels much harder to gain traction or interaction, for me anyway, so I scroll notes, too lazy to read and connect, becoming part of the problem. Also FEBRUARY is the worst. It just is. Hope you find nourishment and change where you need it. Winter will be over soon (I keep telling myself!) ❤️
I think Covid was a collective trauma. It was a global pandemic. We all were affected in some ways and life has forever changed.
It is becoming so easy to doom scroll here. I enjoy writing and interacting like this. Yet the scroll is so easy to do on any platform
February is a tough month as it is. We've had so much snow this year, much more than usual.
Thanks for sharing your insight and kind words. I truly appreciate it.
Jane, everything you speak about is understandable. Do what’s best for you hun, it’s time to take care of you! 😇♥️
Thanks so much , Jo-Ann. I truly appreciate you here.
Thank you Jane, and I do appreciate you saying that, blessings…
I will miss you, Jane. ❤️ Through the pandemic I lost myself in social media (Facebook) and almost destroyed my real life. I hid away inside from what I couldn’t bear on the outside. I cut social media off for a few years til I found this place. For me it’s less about hiding away from the outside but sharing art with likeminded people. But it’s hard to find the balance. I felt that pull away from here as well.
Thanks, Wildflower. It’s so easy to get lost on social media platforms and it is set up that way so you can, sadly.
I started here to share writing, and didn't know notes existed 2 years ago.
I will still be here but I have to limit time. I like being here to support other creators and write, but like any other platform it is a slippery slope.
I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
I too understand!
Thanks, Tracy
I understand completely, Jane. Hugs
Thanks so much, Rea!