There's No There
Issue 109
Good evening, friends. Issue 109 is coming to you after three days in the woods, sans phone, clock, and modern amenities—save the heated mattress in my tent and utterly delicious food prepared daily by chef Finn Stern of Oakland’s Daytrip.
I was on a wellness retreat, and it wasn’t rough at all. It was fantastic. Meet my new friends:
Parting words from the retreat leader: “Change at the pace of nature.” Unfurl like a fern. 🌿
Wanderlust
After last week’s issue, where I wrote about the meandering nature of this very newsletter, a reader asked for more thoughts on meandering… “I’m having trouble niching down,” he said.
(For the uninitiated, niching down means focusing your content or business on a specific, well-defined topic. An example is a coach specializing in young adults with ADHD.)
The Letter does not have a niche (that I’ve defined). Some say they're imperative. I say no. Some say they must be specific. I say, if specificity is in your grasp, grasp it. If not, the more specific you attempt to be, the more nebulous you often become.
Why? You’re trying too hard, and it’s unattractive. When a person or brand claims to be something or tries hard to be something, we see through them, and we’re turned off. We like people (and brands) who lean into who they are, who own it, whatever IT is. Confidence is attractive. Feined confidence is not.
Often, niches are driven by your ego—followers, subscribers, money, notoriety, etc. There’s no shame in that game. It’s so common. What if you tried this instead: How can I serve the people of this crazy world? What gifts can I offer? You don’t need an answer today or tomorrow, or ever. Simply shifting your need for a niche to a need to serve will bring more beauty to your “audience” and make you more magnetic in seconds.
There’s no right way. It’s all right. Pick something and go. As you move, you’ll hone your unknowns. Write in a direction, and you’ll either struggle or flow (more likely struggle). Just. Keep. Going. Change at the pace of nature.
By being born on earth, you’re a member of a club. Welcome! What gifts would you like to offer the people of this club? There are many, many jobs to be done. Which will you choose, and how will you contribute? We’re waiting.
You Don’t Knead This Foccacia
Foccacia was one of the delicacies from my retreat that I promptly recreated twice upon returning. It certainly does not taste as good as Finn’s, but taking a page from my meandering book above—I’ll keep trying.
This no-knead foccacia recipe works pretty well. Be sure your yeast is still alive (read: not expired), and you’ll end up with something delicious everyone in the house will enjoy (even the hamster).
Please Remember
“We stumble and fall constantly even when we’re most enlightened.” —Thomas Merton.
There’s no there.
I love the word nebulous...borrowed from the clouds! So many egos on a mission, who think they have the answer, and so many lost souls who don't know the question. The answer is in the abyss, and I think the best answer is infinite love, everything else is just chatter. Yes, my highest purpose is to be of service. Wondering how I can be of service today, but meanwhile, that focaccia haunts me!!