Re-Introduction: Be Fearless and Play
Welcome!
Greetings!
We’ve had some new subscribers come aboard in the last few months, so here’s a quick (re)introduction to who I am and what to expect from this blog/podcast/gathering of ideas: Be Fearless and Play.
Jessie, who?
My name is Jessie (Hi!) — and I write because I can’t not write.
Writing is medicine. A way of processing, coping, finding understanding, assigning meaning, and communicating with others. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, and I feel brave when I share little nuggets on the internet. I get a little carried away sometimes, taking us down fun tangents, but I do try to bring it back around by the end. Brevity is a skill I’m still developing. Thank you to everyone who’s been with me on this ride, you have all been so kind in your responses (online, and in-real-life). It warms my spirit to have you here. Thank you.
Personally — I’m a parent, spouse, friend, neighbor, sister, daughter, cousin, aunt, niece, knitter, reader, guitarist, music-lover, dabbler, gardener, wiggler, exerciser.
Professionally — I’m a nurse (though I offer zero nursing or healthcare advice in here). In hindsight, I’ve spent the last X number of years healing from career burnout. I’m also an aspiring fitness instructor. My hope in this career shift is to help folks in my community get and stay active, lead healthier lives, and incorporate intentional movement into their everyday routines. An object in motion stays in motion!
Spiritually — I’m a hoper, a dreamer, a magic-bean-buyer… :) I’ve gotten a lot of medicine through sharing my writing online. Processing by putting thoughts/feelings into words, and also by talking through some very complex and nuanced problems in the existing systems that surround us.
Enough about me, here’s a little about what we’re doing here.
Substack, what?
“Substack” is a blog/podcast newsletter website for content that’s typed or recorded (either audio or video). Posts can include webpage links, pictures, and Notes (which I haven’t used too much yet). I followed a few folks over here from Instagram, and particularly continue to enjoy Jeff Tweedy’s Starship Casual and Andrea Gibson’s Things That Don’t Suck.
Substack is free to use, and also has a Payment feature so audiences can support creators as they choose. How we spend our time is how we spend ourselves. I do this because I enjoy it — and I think of the payment feature as a “tip jar” — like what you see? Throw a little in the jar.
Why are we here?
Sharing and finding content online can be tricky. There’s so much to look at, and our time is finite. I would never want anyone to leave here feeling like they wasted any of it on me. Spend yourself wisely. I’ll point you toward a few posts that will get you caught up quickly from this point forward, then you can decide if you want to stick around and join in the fun. You can scroll right through or click on “Read Full Story” to get a deeper dive into older posts I’ve shared.
The nuances and roles in Healthcare:
Just a Nurse
When I go out in public wearing scrubs, also known as “a nurse uniform”, I’ve been asked what I do. “I’m a nurse,” I reply. “Oh, thank you for all that you do” is a response I often hear. I appreciate the kind words, the thought behind them, and the consideration that I might do something deserving of this person’s appreciation. Without knowing anything …
Worry burs and a dream world:
Showing Up
The recording above is from over the weekend, and though I’d love to narrate the whole thing I wrote below, I don’t have the energy. But I’m hopeful that you’ll have the energy to finish reading on your own after I get you started <3 Looking forward to hearing from YOU!
One of my recent favorites:
Nobody Wants to Work Anymore
“Nobody wants to work anymore”. Have you heard this phrase? I’ve seen it on the internet and tossed around in conversation to help explain why businesses everywhere seem to be short-staffed. “Nobody wants to work anymore” — could we possibly reframe or rephrase? Because, at its core, that means
I have no agenda, just piles of ideas. Sometimes, these posts grow from conversations with others. Feelings I can’t shake. Or just, simply put, a calling. Like an echo of an idea that won’t rest. I am a very social creature, and though I find the internet fascinating, I struggle to engage online the way I do in-real-life.
With that said, I invite your “likes” and/or “comments” as a response to what I’ve shared. Did it resonate with you? Do you have a correction? Something to add? Feel free to share at the end of a post, in the notes, or by sending me a message/email individually.
I’m happy to be here, and I’m happy that you’re here. The name of this blog is “Be Fearless and Play” — it’s a line from one of my favorite musical groups, Wookiefoot (musical medicine, if I do say so myself). “Be Fearless and Play” is a reminder, and a call, to put down the weight of worry, and pick up our tools to try something new. We’re in a time of exponential change in many industries and communities. My hope, my intention, is to shine a light on a path forward. We might not all know where we’re going, but it’s definitely more fun figuring it out together!
Thank you for spending a bit of yourself with me today.
Take good care!
Love,
Jessie
