It's Time to Get Serious
I'm committing to writing not only as a vocation, but as a career path. Today I ask for your support.
Writing and poetry — my first loves
As many of you know, my writing and work today centers around love. A blend of psychology, philosophy and spirituality, it’s where I share about the art of loving, and, how love, when practiced well, inspires the highest potential in our relationships, businesses, and world.
But my writing journey goes far back and beyond my fascination with love (or my conscious fascination with love, at least).
From childhood, writing was not only a vehicle for my creative expression, it was my safe haven and place of healing. Starting with songwriting because of my love of music and singing, I pivoted to poetry in my teenage years. Painful experiences at home and at school pushed me into a cocoon, where I isolated myself from the world around me. By the time I got to high school, I had cast my musical and performing arts aspirations aside. The last thing I wanted was a spotlight on me. I wanted to hide.
But poetry was a form of creative expression that wasn’t for an audience. Not my poetry, at least. It felt safe because I could be alone with it. It was just for me, save for on occasion when my AP English teacher, Mrs. Gattuso, would read poems I’d submitted for homework assignments aloud to the class. When this first happened, I remember being shocked that she thought my writing was worthy of being shared. I felt embarrassed, flattered, and naked at once. My poetry was vulnerable — my pain poured onto paper. (Incidentally, English, Psychology, and Art were the only classes I was inspired to stay awake for (literally) in high school. No surprise there. Oh, and history with Mr. Patton, because he gave a damn about learning lessons from history and cared deeply about his students — especially the ones who were struggling. Shoutout to Mr. Patton.)
“That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history." — Aldous Huxley
Why this, why now
I’ve always shied away from calling myself a writer. In fact, I never actually considered it until a few years ago. Still, upon consideration, I didn’t proclaim myself a writer or writing my vocation. But I am now.
After thirty-five years on this planet, I realize that my life’s message and purpose is most effective when shared through the written word. I’m working on my first book now, which I hope to have published by the end of summer (prayers, please). In the meantime, Substack is an additional step in the direction of writing as a career path.
But writing, like most quintessential art forms, is very difficult to make a living from. I’ve been sharing my writing for years on social media, a range of blogs I’ve created, and other people’s blogs. I’ve never charged a fee. Monetizing my creations has never come naturally to me. In fact, money has always felt like a foreign concept; one that’s never quite added up (no pun intended). Our planet is abundant and there is plenty to go around, so why do we need money?
That’s a rhetorical question.
I understand why money matters (on a superficial level). And if I’m to take writing seriously — if I’m to commit to writing not only as a vocation but also as a career — I need to treat it as such. That’s why I created a Substack, because it gives my readers the opportunity to support my work not just by reading and sharing my content, but by subscribing and supporting my message financially, too.
I invite you to take the journey to your real self
The community I intend to create here is one of learning, inspiration, transformation and healing. It is my hope that my writings will instill in you the courage to take actions towards choosing love so that you can live freely — as your real self.
But I have to warn you.
Being a part of this community and following the encouragement in my writings will not always be easy. Uncovering who we really are, seeing and accepting our true self and choosing love is the ultimate test in a world designed to maximize the superficial and minimize the spiritual. It’s a scary thing to look under the bed. But it’s not so scary once we do and realize there was nothing really to be afraid of after all.
I invite you to make the courageous choice of joining me in exploring life’s biggest questions, and healing the parts of yourself that are holding you back from living freely — as your real self and in your true purpose.
I invite you to join me in prioritizing truth and love so you can say at the end of your life: ‘I put what really mattered first, always. I chose love, even when it wasn’t easy. And because I did, my life was well lived.’
Finally, I ask for your support
Whether you’ve been following my writings for a while and have found them helpful, or are a newcomer inspired by what you’ve read here today, I hope you’ll consider subscribing and contributing to this Substack, and sharing it with your friends.
It takes a village. I can’t make my writing and message a success without your help.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Love always,
Samantha
