I’ve never related to something more! I’m navigating my way out of creative block & needed to hear this. It feels good to take control of the ship & find myself again!
Late to the party here but this is absolute GOLD DUST right now, reminding myself that everything is part of the process of getting to who I am (and will be) , that the only thing we can trust is our ability to live; appreciate this essay on such a deep level and you’ve introuced me to such a useful concept (identity capital), somethin I want to sit with an interrogate, to use as a lens to write more and more.
I totally relate to how starting a substack has helped, and I’m so glad that finding a community here has helped ❤️ in short, I loved this
What a great reminder. I'm personally in the midst of my "quarter life crisis" and contemplating if I should take a masters next - but was apprehensive as I'm not sure if it would "derail" me. Now I'm convinced I should read The Defining Decade because of the insights shared in this piece.
“Admitting naivety or that I have little knowledge of something always gives me the space to accept who I am and be more curious about what’s out there. Putting up a front is a waste of time.”
This is great. Rolling this at the top of my 2025 resolution list. Thank you for this.
This came up in my feed way later than it was published but this was exactly what I needed to read tonight. I just made the very difficult decision to leave my first post college job for a new opportunity and was having such mixed feelings about it especially after a very rough year personally and professionally. This came at the perfect time as a reminder that it’s all part of the journey 🫶🏻
Ugh this came at the perfect time - I am in the funk of all funks and honestly am forgetting who I am. Thanks for the vulnerability and sharing your experience. I keep a list of my fav Substack pieces and am adding this one to my list to come back and reread ❤️
it happens! I got to a point where I told myself, this HAS to be my lowest point - and if it goes up from here, what does that look like? It was the first time I felt in control of all of that and made me more motivated to accept the funk and move past it :)
Whoa this piece hit! I also read The Defining Decade for the first time last year, as I was gearing up to quit my job and move abroad to pursue freelance writing. And yeah, pitching publications (even though most responses are a no or lack thereof) is part of a journey and building toward a larger goal, which I really had to repeat to myself at first when I was literally just hoping for my FIRST byline... Even (and maybe especially) the aspects of my experience living abroad over the last year that aren't easily quantifiable or resume-able, which includes the personal/social components of life, are important toward that identity capital that can take so many forms.
🤸🏼 there’s nothing more respectable than a woman fully comfortable in her own skin. Keep doing you - I’m proud of all your choices and leaps of faith too !
I’ve never related to something more! I’m navigating my way out of creative block & needed to hear this. It feels good to take control of the ship & find myself again!
Late to the party here but this is absolute GOLD DUST right now, reminding myself that everything is part of the process of getting to who I am (and will be) , that the only thing we can trust is our ability to live; appreciate this essay on such a deep level and you’ve introuced me to such a useful concept (identity capital), somethin I want to sit with an interrogate, to use as a lens to write more and more.
I totally relate to how starting a substack has helped, and I’m so glad that finding a community here has helped ❤️ in short, I loved this
What a great reminder. I'm personally in the midst of my "quarter life crisis" and contemplating if I should take a masters next - but was apprehensive as I'm not sure if it would "derail" me. Now I'm convinced I should read The Defining Decade because of the insights shared in this piece.
“Admitting naivety or that I have little knowledge of something always gives me the space to accept who I am and be more curious about what’s out there. Putting up a front is a waste of time.”
This is great. Rolling this at the top of my 2025 resolution list. Thank you for this.
would love love love to hear about your grad school process!
This came up in my feed way later than it was published but this was exactly what I needed to read tonight. I just made the very difficult decision to leave my first post college job for a new opportunity and was having such mixed feelings about it especially after a very rough year personally and professionally. This came at the perfect time as a reminder that it’s all part of the journey 🫶🏻
I loved this and Julia’s piece ❤️❤️
awww thanks viktoriia xx
Ugh this came at the perfect time - I am in the funk of all funks and honestly am forgetting who I am. Thanks for the vulnerability and sharing your experience. I keep a list of my fav Substack pieces and am adding this one to my list to come back and reread ❤️
it happens! I got to a point where I told myself, this HAS to be my lowest point - and if it goes up from here, what does that look like? It was the first time I felt in control of all of that and made me more motivated to accept the funk and move past it :)
Whoa this piece hit! I also read The Defining Decade for the first time last year, as I was gearing up to quit my job and move abroad to pursue freelance writing. And yeah, pitching publications (even though most responses are a no or lack thereof) is part of a journey and building toward a larger goal, which I really had to repeat to myself at first when I was literally just hoping for my FIRST byline... Even (and maybe especially) the aspects of my experience living abroad over the last year that aren't easily quantifiable or resume-able, which includes the personal/social components of life, are important toward that identity capital that can take so many forms.
thank you Casey !!
Ahhhhhhhh in love with this and a great reminder for myself. I'm so proud of you :')
awww ryann ty for the shoutout <3 I loved reading this
🤸🏼 there’s nothing more respectable than a woman fully comfortable in her own skin. Keep doing you - I’m proud of all your choices and leaps of faith too !
thank you so so much!!!