Pause

Pause in the dark, let silence grow,
A seedling waits beneath the snow.
The shortest day, the longest night,
Still turns the world toward the light.

Near dusk in Duke Forest

As we arrive at this winter solstice, the year's darkest and shortest day, I find myself reflecting on my writing journey. When I began my memoir in 2019, it was a deeply personal endeavor—a space for me to explore and reflect on my life, for myself.

In July 2023, I started sharing parts of that journey on Substack, beginning with Part I – In the Beginning. Sharing each week brought accountability, momentum, and connection. Over the last year and a half, we’ve journeyed nearly through Part II – In Between.

But recently, the rhythm of weekly writing and posting has shifted. It feels more like pressure than possibility. And so, I’ve decided to return to the way I began—writing for myself, in a quieter, more private space. During this pause, I plan to complete Part II and move into Part III – In the End: Or the New Beginning—with the hope of sharing and posting again at some point in 2025.

The new year may bring the completion of this work, but for now, I’m approaching it as a gentle intention rather than a fixed deadline.

To each of you who has read or listened, reached out, and encouraged me along the way: thank you. Many of you represent connections across my 50+ years of life, and it means so much to be known as I truly am and to know you in return. I posed the question in the introduction of my memoir, "What is my life for?" Surely, deeper connection—with myself and others—is part of the answer.

Thank you for being here.