Welcome to the weekly TRCJ — a thread for the Companion community to share the places we’re noticing tension, rest, curiosity, and joy in our daily lives.
My hope is that this weekly email will model how to build a good life based on these four pillars, while providing valuable resources to help you as you do.
You’ll receive this email every Wednesday. Each week, it will include a resource or idea for how I am experiencing tension, rest, curiosity, and joy in my own life. I encourage you all to share your own TRCJs in the comments as well.
This week, I’m opening up the comments to ALL subscribers—but soon they will only be available to paid folks. Don’t forget that annual paid subscriptions are just $50 right now, and include monthly Zoom workshops for the entire year!
Let’s get started with our first TRCJ:
With this new season of my work, I am experiencing internal tension as I reflect anew on the kind of writer I want to be. Over the last several years, the brand I’d built came to dictate my writing. In some ways, this was helpful. Limitations can be fertile ground for creative work. In other ways, it prevented me from stretching myself into the spaces I’ve long wanted to write.
I am excited for new freedom to question where, how, and with whom I want to share my work. This includes writing for a broader audience than just the faith-based space. But freedom also brings anxiety—it’s pushing me out of my comfort zone.
That tension of excitement and nerves helps me think I’m headed in the right direction…
This week I am working, but also resting on an Alaskan cruise with Beth Moore and ~600 other Beth Moore fans. I received this invitation a few days before my 35th birthday, which was a difficult birthday for me. I’ve been looking forward to this time away all year long. I love that it aligned with this pivot in my work, too!
What a way to kick off this new and needed season.
I’m currently curious about the ethics, logistics, and ramifications of influencer culture—especially family influencers. I am reading three books on/around the topic right now:
Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online by Fortesa Latifi
Girls: Generation Z and the Commodification of Everything by Freya India
Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet by Taylor Lorenz
This reading is part of my research on good life myths, as so many of the myths I’m researching are perpetuated through mom-fluencer accounts. It’s not lost on me that pregnancy and young childhood content is the most lucrative form of content, which melds nicely with a theological and political narrative encouraging women to have as many children as they can (more than you can afford, as leaders in this sphere are quick to encourage).
I should also note that there are people in my life that I love dearly who are full time family influencers. I see what a gift this career path has been to them, and what joy they bring their followers…and also I worry about the long term impact of it all. It’s especially strange to analyze these trends when my own work involves hefty social media engagement as well. I’ve personally experienced a huge uptick in engagement, both on Instagram and here on Substack, whenever I post about my own fertility. It’s jarring to realize the influence one could have when putting their family (or their quest for it) on display.
Are you listening to Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Hang?!?
Because if not, you should be.
I’m not a huge fan of celebrity podcasts in general; I’ve tried a few and never really gotten hooked. But Amy’s joy bubbles over into every interview and I can’t help but find myself smiling with every listen.
Amy models these pillars of tension, rest, curiosity, and joy in every conversation. My appreciation for the craft of comedy has deepened with each episode; and I’ve found myself fascinated by guests I never thought I’d enjoy. Plus I can’t help but have fun listening in on how much fun she is having with each interview.
My favorite episodes include Tina Fey (the very first episode!), Rachel Dratch, Ina Garten (obviously), Colman Domingo, Mindy Kaling, Nick Offerman, and Viola Davis. And that is me paring down my favorite episodes here.
Seriously, if you need a good laugh, give it a listen.
What about you? Where are you feeling tension? What’s bringing you rest? Who has sparked your curiosity? When have you experienced joy?
Share your answers in the comments below!
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