Grazie per la tua testimonianza @wildletters. Mi hai fatto molto riflettere sulla scelta di come capire cosa è giusto condividere e cosa no. A volte siamo troppo leggero su queste tematiche
Congrats to you and Gent!! Celebrating you both and how special this sounds to honor your relationship in this way in this season of life. Thanks for sharing the both/and of this, gives me a lot of hope. ❤️
Congrats on your wedding Nicole! What wonderful news. Gent sounds like an amazing person to be sharing your life with. ❤️
Your journey towards respecting your own boundaries continues to inspire. I struggle with setting and keeping those boundaries. This deep work has so much more value than anything you might have had to « show » for it.
One thing that is helping me right now is the reminder that my boundaries can continue to shift and change. Maybe at some point in the future it'll feel really fun to share photos! Or like, photos of certain things. Maybe not! Who knows! So often I get caught in thinking I need to make one decision that will be THE decision, forever. When obviously that is not the case.
I am so very black and white like this - I assume that if I make a choice now or if I declare a boundary, that it must be like that forever and it makes me feel hesitant because maybe I just want this decision for me now and not forever. Thank you for the reminder that things are fluid and we are ever-changing!
And congratulations on your marriage - what lovely news!
There's also another in between option. (Not to make it more complicated. 😅) You could have a separate, *private* Instagram, and only allow... whoever you like to follow. Could be paid people here, or could just be.. for fun and real life friends?! 🤯😅 Just a thought if you like that way of connecting with people but don't want it to be *work* or to have to create *content* for content's sake. 🥰
Congrats to you and Gent! 💖 I'm so glad to hear you are no longer feeling like you're in mental health crisis mode. I am inspired by your writing, and especially the intentionality of what you choose to share (or not).
As someone who is very private online by nature, I can relate to the tenderness and frankly the necessity of keeping many things private and close to your heart.
Congrats to you and Gent! Hope you enjoyed your celebration ❤️
The social media sharing is so real… and I know we’ve talked about this at length before 😂 I’ve been back on Instagram for ~ 6 months after 2.5 years off, and im at the point again where I see more cons than pros about using it (and tbh, it’s too addictive for me to just look at infrequently). But it doesn’t have no value, so im having a hard time yet again to figure out what’s a good level of interaction with it for me. I think im off of sharing much myself, but would like to get to place where I interact with it a lot less… it’s honestly not how I want to keep up my friendships. I’ve had a lot of trouble with one of my oldest friendships recently, and one thing I found inherently different between us is that she feels close to people she only interacts with on Instagram, whereas that doesn’t feel like being in relationship to me. Anyway… getting rambly because this is something I think about often!
Deep relate, as you know. I am for real quitting Instagram next month (just finished making a little 9-grid that I can put up as a sort of digital business card over there to direct people here and to the GSDC, etc) and I am so sure this is the right choice and also so aware of the benefits I am giving up in exchange. A very nuanced thing!
I feel you Rachel! I share a TON less.... but there are a few people/stories I love to follow so I do. Infrequently. I use it to get up to date info on some things, and that's it. I do enjoy a daily 5-10 minute rabbit hole of funny and cute animal video laughs. That is about it.
Aw congrats to you both!! What a sweet thing. As an aside, when I married my guy years ago, we just had our families in a backyard. Even that felt too much! Vows can be such an intimate thing to "perform" in front of people. Nowadays, once a year we meet in a lovely place and do updated vows with our changing life needs.
Ooooo!! I love this idea for a yearly, personal, intimate vow renewal that gets to grow and change and reflect where you’re at then. Thanks for sharing ~ definitely taking this idea forward with me!
I’ve long admired the way you examine the “shoulds” of life and work to decide what works for you. Thanks for sharing with us. I appreciate reading your thoughts on content and social media in your life.
I’ve loved this letter just as much as I’ve loved every single missive you already wrote. Such deep reflections, elicited by your kind and honest approach to journeying internally. I admire the way you listen to - and act upon- what feels right for you, for your life right now.
Congratulations! I'm really enjoying the Abacus Artwork pictures. Obviously I loved the pictures of Mona too but I can get my fix of adorable dog pictures elsewhere lol.
After several years of unhealthy habits and weight gain, I started running again this summer. I picked a goal race and hired a running coach (a friend). It's taken a lot of courage to open up to him and let others see me for where I am right now. All that said and most importantly, congratulations to you and Gent! 💕
While you may not have a lot to SHOW, you have a lot to remember and love. Enjoy this journey, because I know it's beautiful to you. And, I'm so happy for you that you're feeling better.
Congratulations Nicole! Both on your marriage, and on figuring out what is right for you ❤️
“I was surprised at just how peaceful and fulfilled I felt when it finally came time to exchange our vows.” This is so beautiful, Nicole. ❤️
What a gorgeous discovery. Congratulations on it all. ♥️
Congratulations on your marriage! Gent is special, just like you. (I know I'm cheesy lol)
Aw, thanks Rachael 💜
Grazie per la tua testimonianza @wildletters. Mi hai fatto molto riflettere sulla scelta di come capire cosa è giusto condividere e cosa no. A volte siamo troppo leggero su queste tematiche
Congrats to you and Gent!! Celebrating you both and how special this sounds to honor your relationship in this way in this season of life. Thanks for sharing the both/and of this, gives me a lot of hope. ❤️
Soooo much both/and!
Congrats on your wedding Nicole! What wonderful news. Gent sounds like an amazing person to be sharing your life with. ❤️
Your journey towards respecting your own boundaries continues to inspire. I struggle with setting and keeping those boundaries. This deep work has so much more value than anything you might have had to « show » for it.
One thing that is helping me right now is the reminder that my boundaries can continue to shift and change. Maybe at some point in the future it'll feel really fun to share photos! Or like, photos of certain things. Maybe not! Who knows! So often I get caught in thinking I need to make one decision that will be THE decision, forever. When obviously that is not the case.
I am so very black and white like this - I assume that if I make a choice now or if I declare a boundary, that it must be like that forever and it makes me feel hesitant because maybe I just want this decision for me now and not forever. Thank you for the reminder that things are fluid and we are ever-changing!
And congratulations on your marriage - what lovely news!
There's also another in between option. (Not to make it more complicated. 😅) You could have a separate, *private* Instagram, and only allow... whoever you like to follow. Could be paid people here, or could just be.. for fun and real life friends?! 🤯😅 Just a thought if you like that way of connecting with people but don't want it to be *work* or to have to create *content* for content's sake. 🥰
I've thought about that, yeah, but honestly social media in general does not ultimately feel worth it to me anymore!
Congrats to you and Gent! 💖 I'm so glad to hear you are no longer feeling like you're in mental health crisis mode. I am inspired by your writing, and especially the intentionality of what you choose to share (or not).
As someone who is very private online by nature, I can relate to the tenderness and frankly the necessity of keeping many things private and close to your heart.
Also loving the prints by Abacus Corvus Artwork!
I'm soon going to be doing a giveaway for ya'll, of three gift cards to their online shop :D
Omg, that's amazing! 🤩
Nothing to show EXCEPT A SPOUSE lol - congratulations!!!!!!!
lol okay yes but he was already here, SO 😂
I thought the same thing ;)
Congrats to you and Gent! Hope you enjoyed your celebration ❤️
The social media sharing is so real… and I know we’ve talked about this at length before 😂 I’ve been back on Instagram for ~ 6 months after 2.5 years off, and im at the point again where I see more cons than pros about using it (and tbh, it’s too addictive for me to just look at infrequently). But it doesn’t have no value, so im having a hard time yet again to figure out what’s a good level of interaction with it for me. I think im off of sharing much myself, but would like to get to place where I interact with it a lot less… it’s honestly not how I want to keep up my friendships. I’ve had a lot of trouble with one of my oldest friendships recently, and one thing I found inherently different between us is that she feels close to people she only interacts with on Instagram, whereas that doesn’t feel like being in relationship to me. Anyway… getting rambly because this is something I think about often!
Deep relate, as you know. I am for real quitting Instagram next month (just finished making a little 9-grid that I can put up as a sort of digital business card over there to direct people here and to the GSDC, etc) and I am so sure this is the right choice and also so aware of the benefits I am giving up in exchange. A very nuanced thing!
I feel you Rachel! I share a TON less.... but there are a few people/stories I love to follow so I do. Infrequently. I use it to get up to date info on some things, and that's it. I do enjoy a daily 5-10 minute rabbit hole of funny and cute animal video laughs. That is about it.
Aw congrats to you both!! What a sweet thing. As an aside, when I married my guy years ago, we just had our families in a backyard. Even that felt too much! Vows can be such an intimate thing to "perform" in front of people. Nowadays, once a year we meet in a lovely place and do updated vows with our changing life needs.
All the best to you both ❤️
Ooooo!! I love this idea for a yearly, personal, intimate vow renewal that gets to grow and change and reflect where you’re at then. Thanks for sharing ~ definitely taking this idea forward with me!
Congratulations to you and Gent!
I’ve long admired the way you examine the “shoulds” of life and work to decide what works for you. Thanks for sharing with us. I appreciate reading your thoughts on content and social media in your life.
Congratulations! Sounds to me like you've got a lot to show. A husband, renewed mental health.. that's a pretty accomplished summer! 😅💖
I’ve loved this letter just as much as I’ve loved every single missive you already wrote. Such deep reflections, elicited by your kind and honest approach to journeying internally. I admire the way you listen to - and act upon- what feels right for you, for your life right now.
Aaaaand, congratulations to you and Gent ❤️
Congratulations! I'm really enjoying the Abacus Artwork pictures. Obviously I loved the pictures of Mona too but I can get my fix of adorable dog pictures elsewhere lol.
Ha, yes, and also you know I am always down to email you Mona pics 🐶
After several years of unhealthy habits and weight gain, I started running again this summer. I picked a goal race and hired a running coach (a friend). It's taken a lot of courage to open up to him and let others see me for where I am right now. All that said and most importantly, congratulations to you and Gent! 💕
While you may not have a lot to SHOW, you have a lot to remember and love. Enjoy this journey, because I know it's beautiful to you. And, I'm so happy for you that you're feeling better.