Milestones, the audacity to rest, and a special request

When I talk about this space being a collaborative, creative community, I truly mean it! But I need your help.

Hello.

I’m sitting down to write this letter on the summer solstice. I’m a day late doing my bi-weekly career check-in, there’s a bag of dinosaur-themed decorations from Party City on the dining room table, the weeds have overtaken the paving stones (again), and as type, little fingers reach for my keyboard, wanting to be part of what mommy is up to, always.

I love this time of year. 

And. 

It can feel a bit overwhelming, trying to squeeze it all in. The summertime activities— afternoons by the pool, camping under the stars, making fresh salads and homemade shortcakes with the season’s brightly colored berries on top. 

Hanging out with my sister in her inflatable unicorn pool, 2020

Today marks two and a half years since my father passed, near the winter solstice. In nine days, we’ll be celebrating Noah’s 1st birthday. In three more, I’ll be turning thirty-six. 

There are big milestones deserving attention and smaller ones, too. 

Eight months of writing on Substack, sixty-three (now four) love-letters to you. Fifteen (and counting!) submitted query letters for my ten-years-in-the-making novel. Countless ideas and dreams for where to go next and how to share the becoming.

Thank you for being here. 

Staying home with Noah full-time while trying to nurture my writing practice has been an immense privilege. It has given me clarity, laser focus, and the chance to learn how to center myself in my own life at a time when it is the most tempting to get lost in someone else.  

It’s a gift to be in this season of motherhood and writing but it’s also exhausting. 

Sometimes all I want to do is eat ice cream on the couch and watch “Never have I ever.”

My word for this year is audacity. When I chose it, I imagined myself having the courage to put on my first art show, sign with an agent, publish some poetry and more. Needless to say, that’s not exactly how things have worked out and it’s probably for the best.

Instead, I’ve been cultivating the audacity to rest. To do less. To nap without setting an alarm. 

If you’ve been following along the Creative Contemplation journal, our theme for July is Nourish. The affirmation I wrote for this month is, “I choose to water what gives me life, refilling my cup before pouring into others.”

Isn’t if funny how what we offer others is usually what we need, too?

Dear Ones, my body and nervous system are in need of deeper rest. As we prepare to move across country at the end of the summer, celebrate two birthdays, and spend time with family, I will be taking the month of July off from writing my Sunday letters to you. 

I hope to use this time to reflect, play, and stay present with the myriad of changes coming our way. 

Mon petite prince, 2023

I have a lot of ideas for how to grow this community and serve you with my gifts of hospitality, positive affirmation, and intuition. I believe the time and effort I spend on Heartbeats is valuable. My goal is for this to be a reciprocal offering that benefits you by offering encouragement, tools to nurture your creativity, and a collaborative community while providing financial value for my family. 

Here’s my special request for you.

If you have the means and find resonance here, deepen your commitment to showing up for yourself and others by becoming a paying member of Heartbeats. 

When I talk about this space being a collaborative, creative community, I truly mean it! But I need your help. 

I created a poll with some ideas I have to offer paid memberships. I’d love for you to go through the list and ask yourself honestly, “Is that something I’d pay for?” “Is it worth $5 a month?” I want to create meaningful experiences and offerings that make you feel, “Hell YES!”

Take the poll- “Heck yes, I’d pay for that!”

Over the next four weeks, I’ll be sending you some of my favorite archived letters, so you’ll still see Heartbeats in your inbox (or app!). I’m also turning on the button that allows any Heartbeats subscriber to start their own chat thread so you can connect with each other directly.

I can’t wait to see what conversations take place and how this community will deepen from me taking a step back. It’s vulnerable to ask for help and state what I need from you, too. Yet. I am leaning in with a vulnerable heart trusting we will find our way forward, together.

All my love, (see you soon).
Mariah

This week’s invitation:

1. What are your plans for the summer? How will you be nourishing yourself?

2. Do you have a word for the year? Is the meaning different now than when you chose it?

3. What milestones (big and small) are you celebrating/commemorating in your creative or personal life?

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Become a member of a thriving, collaborative community

Join our weekly chat thread and introduce yourself.

Participate in a monthly art share for artists of all backgrounds and skill.

Download the free Creative Contemplation journal, a monthly new moon journal with affirmations and creative prompts.

Join our online new moon circle July 16th at 11 am CDT.

P.S. Substack created a new way to grow our community. Now, if you share a Heartbeats letter or refer a friend, you can earn up to a whole year of a paid membership in gratitude for your help in widening our shared safety net of connection. 

Simply click the “Share” or “Refer a Friend” buttons I’ll be putting in the letters and Substack will take care of the rest!