This is wonderful!! I am so happy for you in this development and look forward to reading whatever you write. Welcome to the world of vulnerable writers on Substack :)
Thank you Isabel - I truly appreciate the support and encouragement. Somewhat dumbfounded to be honest by all the support but so open to it. Excited to see where this adventure takes us.
Matthew, I did this, too--38 years ago. It's a big cliff and a long free-fall, but I've never regretted a moment of it. Wishing you joy for your journey.
The name is great and the title was catchy. I liked the transparency of the post and am glad you decided to write! Look forward to more articles! Congrats on the shift, it isn’t always easy!
Thanks Jayshree - I appreciate the words of encouragement and I am excited to have discovered you here as well. Keep doing great things to teach us Luddites how all this tech stuff works!
This is a great new title, Matthew, and I appreciate your taking the time to show us your thought processes, how you arrived at the name, and the pleasure your writing gives you. Very glad to be part of your creator community, and that your family gives you their full support. Love the new logo too!
Thanks Ann - what a treasure this place is! I would never have imagined to find such a place after so many discouraging experiences with social media. Love your work and look forward to seeing your articles in my inbox.
This is a great article, and necessary I think. It brings us lovers of the written word, of story, together around your bookshelf, Matthew. You're doing a great job of evolving your project into what your heart tells you it should be.
By the way, the great things about beards is you can shave them off in an instant. So let's see that beard!
Thanks Don - really glad to have met you here and appreciate the work you are doing on your own publication. This is an amazing community and I am excited to see where the journey takes us.
Thank you so much Tami! You have been a big supporter and it really means the world to me. Glad the change resonates with you and I am excited about what the future holds.
Liked the old name; love the new one!! I'm glad you are finding your groove here on Substack, and I look forward to where it takes you (and your readers) in the coming months 😀
YES! I've so enjoyed following your journey and admire how you remain open to your creative process. I relate to so much of what you describe here, and I'm so glad you decided to write this instead of whatever you had planned. An inspiration to all of us!
I am quietly excited for your journey, Matt ... it's not my journey to get excited about, of course, but I'll be reading avidly and learning as we go. It's the oddest transition, and our respective Services will have well-trodden pathways to guide retirees through revolving doors. It takes a bold, imaginative and creative soul to ignore those pathways and doors and to fork sharply to the leftfield. Proud of you for making the choice and for creating space for your practice. Finding ways to settle gently into the sand and to allow the lack of structure and timetable to seep into yourself is a great challenge to face. And I am delighted that playfulness will find its voice too:
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing" (George Bernard Shaw)
Sincere gratitude for all your support and encouragement my friend. You are one of the few who really understand the unique perspective of this transition and all it entails. I get the weirdest looks when I tell folks what I plan to do after retirement! But even if it is hard to break out of that mold it is the right decision and I know it will pay dividends for the family going forward.
There are ways to be quietly proud of the Service you have given whilst keeping your eyes pointing forward ... those who follow the traditional post-Service paths often fill what they see as a loss by clinging tight to networks that suited those days. Finding new and invigorating communities swiftly turns perceived 'loss' into tangible gain ... places where you contribute by learning and sharing not by trading on old knowledge. Those weird looks speak volumes about the folk giving them, not about the man who is carving his own pathway. I'd rather hang out with the fella who is boldly heading somewhere new. B
Absolutely my friend. Speaking of hanging out, I need to get on your encouragement session calendar one of these days. My schedule has been hectic lately, but I don't want to put it off. We will sync up soon.
How wonderful to read of your joy in all the creative possibilities in the life ahead of you. As the ‘accompanying partner’ of someone still so deeply entrenched in his career I take heart that perhaps he will one day embrace rather than eschew the notion of retirement 🤞🏻
Vanessa - I have my fingers crossed for you as well! It is a tough decision and for me at least it was very much tied to my "provider" mindset, as if I wasn't working I wouldn't be taking care of my family. But there is so much more to caring than just bringing home a paycheck. Thanks for your support and glad to have you here.
I always look forward to reading your articles and am excited to see more from you. It can take a lot of tinkering and playing around to figure out what you want to do (in life and in writing). Privileged to follow you on this journey, Matthew!
Thanks Tiffany. These first few months definitely felt like a lot of experimentation and feeling my way blindly at times. Glad to have you here and be a part of each other's community of supporters.
Congrats on the new name and the very appealing logo. More importantly, on realizing what you want your writing to be.
Thanks David - I appreciate your early and ongoing support. It means more than you realize.
This is wonderful!! I am so happy for you in this development and look forward to reading whatever you write. Welcome to the world of vulnerable writers on Substack :)
Thank you Isabel - I truly appreciate the support and encouragement. Somewhat dumbfounded to be honest by all the support but so open to it. Excited to see where this adventure takes us.
I think it’s because there’s joy in watching people getting free. 🧡
Matthew, I did this, too--38 years ago. It's a big cliff and a long free-fall, but I've never regretted a moment of it. Wishing you joy for your journey.
Susan - thank you for encouraging me and particularly since you have been there! It is a big leap but I can't wait to see what unfolds.
The name is great and the title was catchy. I liked the transparency of the post and am glad you decided to write! Look forward to more articles! Congrats on the shift, it isn’t always easy!
Thanks Jayshree - I appreciate the words of encouragement and I am excited to have discovered you here as well. Keep doing great things to teach us Luddites how all this tech stuff works!
Thanks, Matthew, we are on a similar journey.
This is a great new title, Matthew, and I appreciate your taking the time to show us your thought processes, how you arrived at the name, and the pleasure your writing gives you. Very glad to be part of your creator community, and that your family gives you their full support. Love the new logo too!
Thanks Ann - what a treasure this place is! I would never have imagined to find such a place after so many discouraging experiences with social media. Love your work and look forward to seeing your articles in my inbox.
This is a great article, and necessary I think. It brings us lovers of the written word, of story, together around your bookshelf, Matthew. You're doing a great job of evolving your project into what your heart tells you it should be.
By the way, the great things about beards is you can shave them off in an instant. So let's see that beard!
Thanks Don - really glad to have met you here and appreciate the work you are doing on your own publication. This is an amazing community and I am excited to see where the journey takes us.
Love the new title and logo! Always enjoy reading your pieces! We are grateful and thankful for your service…enjoy your new normal thoroughly.
Thank you so much Tami! You have been a big supporter and it really means the world to me. Glad the change resonates with you and I am excited about what the future holds.
I love the new name. Excellent.
Thanks Joel - appreciate your words of encouragement and the example you set with your excellent publication.
Love the new title and logo. Bravo!
Thanks Jackie! Sincerely appreciate the support. It should be an exciting new direction!
This was a great read. I love the way you are evolving here Matthew. Congratulations!
Thanks Pamela - greatly appreciate your support. Hope you get to feeling better soon.
Your welcome and thank you!
Liked the old name; love the new one!! I'm glad you are finding your groove here on Substack, and I look forward to where it takes you (and your readers) in the coming months 😀
Thanks Kate! I am excited about the journey. Thanks for your support.
YES! I've so enjoyed following your journey and admire how you remain open to your creative process. I relate to so much of what you describe here, and I'm so glad you decided to write this instead of whatever you had planned. An inspiration to all of us!
Maria - thank you my friend! Really appreciate the kind and encouraging words.
I am quietly excited for your journey, Matt ... it's not my journey to get excited about, of course, but I'll be reading avidly and learning as we go. It's the oddest transition, and our respective Services will have well-trodden pathways to guide retirees through revolving doors. It takes a bold, imaginative and creative soul to ignore those pathways and doors and to fork sharply to the leftfield. Proud of you for making the choice and for creating space for your practice. Finding ways to settle gently into the sand and to allow the lack of structure and timetable to seep into yourself is a great challenge to face. And I am delighted that playfulness will find its voice too:
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing" (George Bernard Shaw)
Sincere gratitude for all your support and encouragement my friend. You are one of the few who really understand the unique perspective of this transition and all it entails. I get the weirdest looks when I tell folks what I plan to do after retirement! But even if it is hard to break out of that mold it is the right decision and I know it will pay dividends for the family going forward.
There are ways to be quietly proud of the Service you have given whilst keeping your eyes pointing forward ... those who follow the traditional post-Service paths often fill what they see as a loss by clinging tight to networks that suited those days. Finding new and invigorating communities swiftly turns perceived 'loss' into tangible gain ... places where you contribute by learning and sharing not by trading on old knowledge. Those weird looks speak volumes about the folk giving them, not about the man who is carving his own pathway. I'd rather hang out with the fella who is boldly heading somewhere new. B
Absolutely my friend. Speaking of hanging out, I need to get on your encouragement session calendar one of these days. My schedule has been hectic lately, but I don't want to put it off. We will sync up soon.
How wonderful to read of your joy in all the creative possibilities in the life ahead of you. As the ‘accompanying partner’ of someone still so deeply entrenched in his career I take heart that perhaps he will one day embrace rather than eschew the notion of retirement 🤞🏻
Vanessa - I have my fingers crossed for you as well! It is a tough decision and for me at least it was very much tied to my "provider" mindset, as if I wasn't working I wouldn't be taking care of my family. But there is so much more to caring than just bringing home a paycheck. Thanks for your support and glad to have you here.
It works for me! I shall enjoy following your exploration of your future.
Thanks Richard! Glad to have you along for the ride.
I always look forward to reading your articles and am excited to see more from you. It can take a lot of tinkering and playing around to figure out what you want to do (in life and in writing). Privileged to follow you on this journey, Matthew!
Thanks Tiffany. These first few months definitely felt like a lot of experimentation and feeling my way blindly at times. Glad to have you here and be a part of each other's community of supporters.