“Fear Lies” - I love this lyrical affirmation because it speaks to anyone who has difficulty dealing with the challenges of life. Not just the creation of art. It has always been in the back of my mind (growing up in a large family with an even larger amount of conflicts) that the bigger question (and overall ‘fail safe’ for doing stupid things) about life was “What would happen if I didn’t do that?” Or the more common derivative used in many comedy sketches, “What could go wrong?” The answer to such a rhetorical question was typically: “nothing”. Or at least nothing as dramatic as the unexpected consequences of doing something stupid. Yet, the contrary can be expressed best for encouraging positive efforts in the question: “What can it hurt to try?” Asking such a question implies that potential positive outcomes are worth the effort. Of course, our pride has some value. But does it always have to be about “winning”? After all, isn’t there joy to be found in just “doing” or “creating”? All such questions are only limited by our perception of a reward for meeting any challenge. We are all guilty of second guessing ourselves when the opportunity for expression presents itself. Thankfully, there are communities like your’s , in Signal Fire, to encourage expression without judgement. Good thing for that because nobody plays their first solo at Carnegie Hall…
AHHH KEVIN! Welcome back dear friend. Asking yourself "What would happen if I didn't do that" is an amazing way to truly test the waters of your own regret. Your closing line before the poem is one I've never heard, and now adore. Nobody plays their first solo at Carnegie Hall. WOW. That's a powerful reminder my friend, that we have so little to lose if we just frame it that way. Thanks also for being my email penpal :)
Well, this haiku is for sure my second favorite. I have “Stronger than the pain / And able to defeat it / This will not break me” tattooed on my right arm. But this one is begging me to find a place for it, too.
As usual, exactly what I needed to read this morning. Thank you for taking the leap to start (and stick with) the Typerwriter series.
My word of the year is "Brave" and fear has been so hard to overcome. I know there is more around the corner with each brave step I take. I appreciate the encouragement of your lived experience.
As usual Elise, I am so honored you're here. Thank you for following along, for showing up, for sharing you. Brave for the year is the best word, and I am so glad you've chosen it. You're amazing.
I live my life in fear. Everything is ladeled with fear. My husband dying. My kids leaving me. My friends leaving. Bc there are so few left. They leave-I have borderline personality disorder and I get sick sometimes, mentally sick and very few people have stated with me-even my birth family
I’m still scared. I wonder what is ahead. And a lot of times I just see the pain. The fear.
But I’ve been working. Affirmations every morning taped to my bathroom mirror-I AM SAFE I AM HAPPY I AM LOVED I AM ENOUGH
THATS hard when you don’t believe them yet.
I’m crying pretty hard. You opened a can of worms TKG!
Samantha, you ARE so brave, so bold, so courageous, and you are so loved. To believe the fear, when we know fear lies, to bow to fear even when it tells the truth, is to live half a life. We cannot experience magic if we're always braced for pain, we cannot find ourselves if we keep hiding from what could, what will eventually, hurt. There is such freedom in knowing that we can do all things, be all things, endure all things, that we are here a short time and we get to CHOOSE how we wish to fill that time. What a gift, and when you forget, I will remind you.
I found today’s Signal Fire particularly inspiring and uplifting (I wish you would publish all of your Sunday ‘essays’ in a single volume). My favourite part is: “Point is, take the risks. Take the leaps. Put yourself out there time and time and time again,..” I should read this at the start of every day. It’s too easy to no longer challenge yourself to be open to new experiences, new people and different ways of doing things as you get older. I know that fear in many forms - primarily of failure or rejection - and probably more in my mind than in reality- has limited me throughout my life but I have been working at recognizing this and saying ‘yes’ to experiences I would have previously declined. I have a framed copy of your Typewriter poem that contains the following: “Bravery is knowing that it is OK to hurt when we accept the salvation place before us, it is ok to be afraid and it is ok to tremble. Do not fear the fall when it is the leaping that will set you free.” I love this poem. Today’s Signal Fire made me think of it.
Ah Laura, this is a fantastic idea! A volume of Signal Fire essays! Call it Signal Fire! I could self publish this for certain, maybe do 2 years in each, going back?! You're amazing, and I Love that you're here.
Oh Tyler, this one fills my heart and soul. Thank you so much for sharing your light with the world. It doesn't seem right that it only "costs" $1.25 to be able to be so inspired and encouraged in such a safe and loving space that you have created. That you put so much of you into each of these essays for the world to see. That you shine your light so brightly and let us know that you too, have known the darkness from which the your light breaks free from. Please know how much this means to me. And I am sure to many other people here. As someone who asks for money professionally, I know it can seem daunting and discouraging sometimes. You question your value and wonder if it's worth it. Please know that it really is. The impact that your words have on people's lives is priceless. And maybe that impact isn't felt as monetization. And sure, you can't really eat it, but I really hope that you feel it, and that it fills you up in your heart and soul with more light so you can keep shining bright!
Also, I will continue to send you random goodies, because $5 is just not enough!
Stay Rad
PS Everyone needs to watch Dying for Sex. It's brilliant.
You're so amazing, and you really don't know how much this means. I try so hard to impart value here, and to show people it's worth it. I wish I knew how to get more of the Free subscribers to join us, it'd truly change my life and take away so much worry if I could make a little more money doing this. It takes SO MUCH of my time haha.
Maybe you can add a tip jar button with a link to PayPal/venmo/zelle or whatever so people can add a little extra when it really moves them! That way when people don’t want to commit to a monthly payment they can still make a contribution when they are able to! PayPal might be the best option as it’s most widely used internationally! Just try it out! I think people will be moved to support you more!
I needed this reminder today. I generally do a good job of giving fear the middle finger, but lately it's been exhausting and I just want to give up. I'm tired of starting over and being alone.
“Fear Lies” - I love this lyrical affirmation because it speaks to anyone who has difficulty dealing with the challenges of life. Not just the creation of art. It has always been in the back of my mind (growing up in a large family with an even larger amount of conflicts) that the bigger question (and overall ‘fail safe’ for doing stupid things) about life was “What would happen if I didn’t do that?” Or the more common derivative used in many comedy sketches, “What could go wrong?” The answer to such a rhetorical question was typically: “nothing”. Or at least nothing as dramatic as the unexpected consequences of doing something stupid. Yet, the contrary can be expressed best for encouraging positive efforts in the question: “What can it hurt to try?” Asking such a question implies that potential positive outcomes are worth the effort. Of course, our pride has some value. But does it always have to be about “winning”? After all, isn’t there joy to be found in just “doing” or “creating”? All such questions are only limited by our perception of a reward for meeting any challenge. We are all guilty of second guessing ourselves when the opportunity for expression presents itself. Thankfully, there are communities like your’s , in Signal Fire, to encourage expression without judgement. Good thing for that because nobody plays their first solo at Carnegie Hall…
Capture the feeling,
to completely free yourself
of what can happen
A life to take in…
It doesn’t really matter,
what others may think.
I can see it now,
how it slipped through my fingers.
I never seized it.
AHHH KEVIN! Welcome back dear friend. Asking yourself "What would happen if I didn't do that" is an amazing way to truly test the waters of your own regret. Your closing line before the poem is one I've never heard, and now adore. Nobody plays their first solo at Carnegie Hall. WOW. That's a powerful reminder my friend, that we have so little to lose if we just frame it that way. Thanks also for being my email penpal :)
Well, this haiku is for sure my second favorite. I have “Stronger than the pain / And able to defeat it / This will not break me” tattooed on my right arm. But this one is begging me to find a place for it, too.
YOU are amazing, do you know this? If you need it written for you again, tell me, and I will do so.
As usual, exactly what I needed to read this morning. Thank you for taking the leap to start (and stick with) the Typerwriter series.
My word of the year is "Brave" and fear has been so hard to overcome. I know there is more around the corner with each brave step I take. I appreciate the encouragement of your lived experience.
As usual Elise, I am so honored you're here. Thank you for following along, for showing up, for sharing you. Brave for the year is the best word, and I am so glad you've chosen it. You're amazing.
I live my life in fear. Everything is ladeled with fear. My husband dying. My kids leaving me. My friends leaving. Bc there are so few left. They leave-I have borderline personality disorder and I get sick sometimes, mentally sick and very few people have stated with me-even my birth family
I’m still scared. I wonder what is ahead. And a lot of times I just see the pain. The fear.
But I’ve been working. Affirmations every morning taped to my bathroom mirror-I AM SAFE I AM HAPPY I AM LOVED I AM ENOUGH
THATS hard when you don’t believe them yet.
I’m crying pretty hard. You opened a can of worms TKG!
You are being courageous by sharing this with us.
Thank you so much. This is a safe place. ❤️
Samantha, you ARE so brave, so bold, so courageous, and you are so loved. To believe the fear, when we know fear lies, to bow to fear even when it tells the truth, is to live half a life. We cannot experience magic if we're always braced for pain, we cannot find ourselves if we keep hiding from what could, what will eventually, hurt. There is such freedom in knowing that we can do all things, be all things, endure all things, that we are here a short time and we get to CHOOSE how we wish to fill that time. What a gift, and when you forget, I will remind you.
I found today’s Signal Fire particularly inspiring and uplifting (I wish you would publish all of your Sunday ‘essays’ in a single volume). My favourite part is: “Point is, take the risks. Take the leaps. Put yourself out there time and time and time again,..” I should read this at the start of every day. It’s too easy to no longer challenge yourself to be open to new experiences, new people and different ways of doing things as you get older. I know that fear in many forms - primarily of failure or rejection - and probably more in my mind than in reality- has limited me throughout my life but I have been working at recognizing this and saying ‘yes’ to experiences I would have previously declined. I have a framed copy of your Typewriter poem that contains the following: “Bravery is knowing that it is OK to hurt when we accept the salvation place before us, it is ok to be afraid and it is ok to tremble. Do not fear the fall when it is the leaping that will set you free.” I love this poem. Today’s Signal Fire made me think of it.
Ah Laura, this is a fantastic idea! A volume of Signal Fire essays! Call it Signal Fire! I could self publish this for certain, maybe do 2 years in each, going back?! You're amazing, and I Love that you're here.
Or the ones that really resonated with people, judging by the responses.
❤️ Buy the boots, eat the cake...it's why we're here, this being human. Fear is part of this experience. Fear is the ultimate oppressor.
Thank you for sharing, Tyler. I hope you can feel the love as we read your words. Thank you for being a good example for the rest of us. ✨❤️
YES TO ALL OF THIS. I hope you can feel MY love for YOU when you're reading the words I write. :)
Oh Tyler, this one fills my heart and soul. Thank you so much for sharing your light with the world. It doesn't seem right that it only "costs" $1.25 to be able to be so inspired and encouraged in such a safe and loving space that you have created. That you put so much of you into each of these essays for the world to see. That you shine your light so brightly and let us know that you too, have known the darkness from which the your light breaks free from. Please know how much this means to me. And I am sure to many other people here. As someone who asks for money professionally, I know it can seem daunting and discouraging sometimes. You question your value and wonder if it's worth it. Please know that it really is. The impact that your words have on people's lives is priceless. And maybe that impact isn't felt as monetization. And sure, you can't really eat it, but I really hope that you feel it, and that it fills you up in your heart and soul with more light so you can keep shining bright!
Also, I will continue to send you random goodies, because $5 is just not enough!
Stay Rad
PS Everyone needs to watch Dying for Sex. It's brilliant.
You're so amazing, and you really don't know how much this means. I try so hard to impart value here, and to show people it's worth it. I wish I knew how to get more of the Free subscribers to join us, it'd truly change my life and take away so much worry if I could make a little more money doing this. It takes SO MUCH of my time haha.
Maybe you can add a tip jar button with a link to PayPal/venmo/zelle or whatever so people can add a little extra when it really moves them! That way when people don’t want to commit to a monthly payment they can still make a contribution when they are able to! PayPal might be the best option as it’s most widely used internationally! Just try it out! I think people will be moved to support you more!
I will be forever grateful that you found your bravery! Never doubt!
:) Thanks for helping me find it!
I needed this reminder today. I generally do a good job of giving fear the middle finger, but lately it's been exhausting and I just want to give up. I'm tired of starting over and being alone.
Fear should know every contour of your middle finger. Now, and always.