When the Circus Is Calm
Issue 74 is a juggling act
Greetings, dear ones.
I’m typing Issue 74 from my office, which I haven’t worked in since I stopped working with Write of Passage almost four months ago. While my office is only steps from where I set up my makeswhift workstation, the dining table, I couldn’t bring myself to return to the actual box… until now.
Over the weekend, I smudged the space with a homemade sage bundle, shifted the furniture, and the new energy beckoned me back.
Once, my cat Romeo barfed on his favorite fur mat (not pictured), and, despite my cleaning it, he didn’t return to it for over six months—presumably until he forgot what had happened. I can relate.
Today, we’re both back where we belong, and the world can go on as planned.
Podcasting Call of Duty
A few months ago, following the above, I submitted a question to the hosts of a podcast I admire very much—The Art of Accomplishment. I’ve recommended it here many times. If you’ve taken my reco, you’re smart. If not, you’re still smart (but you could be smarter).
The hosts, Joe and Brett, requested listener submissions and I heeded the call. The episode with my question finally aired, so what follows is “old news,” though applicable nonetheless. I’m proud to say the feelings I describe continued—a feeling of deep peace, despite the situation.
“One of my contracts ended recently, leaving me in an unexpected space of peace. How can I feel this way with so little money coming in? Why am I okay?
What is the difference between letting go and doing nothing?”
In it, Joe picks up on my awareness of feeling good despite a hard situation. Can I trust it? What if I’m being irresponsible?
Far too often, we know how it feels to feel bad, and we completely miss out on knowing what it feels like to feel okay—even good. We assume ease equals irresponsibility and anxiety equals progress. How wrong we are. The very opposite is true.
I tell you, experiencing this peace feels like learning to unicycle a tightrope while juggling fire while holding a baby—completely impossible, yet absolutely remarkable to witness. I never knew I could do it, until one day I could.
Decades of practice, finally gave way to calm, despite the circus. The wisdom of age. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
My question begins around the 9:10 mark, though a wise reader would listen to all 73 episodes.
Fine, She’s Nine
My youngest turned nine in late Feb and we hosted her birthday party at House of Air over the weekend. I promised you an update, so this is that.
At one point, a dad asked me, “How many kids do you have here?” I looked at him blankly and said, “I have no idea. Am I supposed to know that?” When the answer was obviously yes, I counted 13.
Happy Birthday, beautiful lady.
Winner Winner (Without the) Chicken Dinner
There was a winner in last week’s newsletter naming poll. You voted to change the name of this fine document to Hello Silverstein.
Goodbye The Letter, Hello Silverstein!
In 2011, I named my sole proprietorship Hello Silverstein, which came to me in a flash of writing and has always felt so right. About a year ago, I nabbed simonesilverstein.com and shelved Hello Silverstein to create a more direct tie between myself and my content. One’s name is always something to claim.
Today, Hello Silverstein comes back in the form of this newsletter, thanks to you. The Letter will go into retirement, and The Word Coach is figuring itself out.
There are a lot of balls in the air.
In the meantime, let’s get into Wayback Machine and look at my website, Hello Silverstein, from 2011.
By the way, have you played around on Wayback Machine? ”Explore more than 794 billion web pages saved over time.”
The experience is a bit clunky, but the gems you pull up are worth the clunk (sounds a bit like this newsletter :).
These Are Fire 🔥
If you’re looking for faux candles, and who isn’t, these are great. Real is preferred, but sometimes you want a dancing wick to make light patterns on your ceiling without the potential for ignition. I haven’t regretted this purchase, nor have the children (who regularly “borrow” them for ambiance).
PS: The remote is overkill.
PPS: The batteries are a buzz kill (though necessary).
Lunch With Pops
Two Silversteins, one photo. Today, I met my Pop for lunch in San Francisco at Wayfair Tavern. A fine establishment with even finer company.
Both of us find taking selfies terribly embarrassing. We did our best.
Love the picture of your Dad - he has great eyes! Plus, he looks familiar!
Candles... You mentioned your kids borrow them for ambiance....I'm reminded how much we ALL need extra peace and calm in our lives, and candles are a great way to sooth the nervous system. (And the faux ones give the parents peace of mind too 😂.) So thank you for that. It would Never. Have. Occurred. To. Me. to actually buy faux candles b/c I love/am a snob for *real* things...but come to think of it, I don't burn candles anymore b/c of 1) the artificial scents 2) I'm afraid the cats will knock them over and start a fire, and 3) I try hard to have clean air in the house/protect my lungs, SO faux candles here I come 🤣 Anyway, enough about me. LOL. Thanks for the great newsletter!!!
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