10 Comments
User's avatar
Courtney's avatar

I had to read this in 2 parts ha! I am excited for you to take this summer - or however long - to just BE. I am a lurker (consumer), not a poster on most socials, and the reason being, I don’t want to deal with the inner struggle to commodify my hobbies and then lose joy in said hobbies. So the last section - it sucks that right when you get attention from whichever ink company, it’s right when you’re burnt out. I appreciate all that you share in your newsletter and everywhere else, you truly got me back into journaling and I’m so grateful for that. As someone who was able to take a few months off from everything (gosh a decade ago?) I truly hope it is wonderful for you!!!

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Claire's avatar

THANK YOU!!!! I'm so excited, too. I'm grateful for this life!!!!

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Laura's avatar

Claire I need you to know I’ve only finished the Arkansas section and I have tears in my eyes. Got me reminiscing in the kitchen on a Monday.

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Claire's avatar

AHHHHH, thank you Laura. I also cry every time I think about it too hard.

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Kate LaChapelle's avatar

you contain multitudes girlie! excited for you and these upcoming chapters :)

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Claire's avatar

thank you so much, Kate :')

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Yvonne K's avatar

Claire, I absolutely resonated with your comment that you could be good at a lot things. For me, after 20 years at the same company, I finally got courage to leave and find something more fulfilling. Because, I KNEW I COULD DO A LOT OF THINGS. I'm in my late 40s and made this career change to a different industry and it's been great. Yes, scary, but necessary. Trust your abilities, you will find a career or more than one that is worthy of your talent and time.

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Kate's avatar

As someone else in education who has been feeling the itch to move away for the last few years I'm so excited for you! I'm still in the process of figuring out the eternal question of "if not here then where?"

We'll find our where though. I believe in us.

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Emily's avatar

listen as an educator also dealing with major burnout....thank you for sharing this! A hobby + a monetized hobby are different wolves and if you're trying to figure that out AND a new job/career...that is a lot. May your summer be deeply restful! We can be more than just one thing!

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Kate's avatar

Oh my gosh, Adventure Subaru. I was returning home from vacationing in Arkansas, and just before I got to Fayetteville the engine of my Outback decided it had enough and went kaput forever. My car was towed to the dealership. I went all across the country with my car, and I'm pretty sure the dudes there thought I was nuts because I cried when I had to say goodbye to it!

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