How am I doin'?
Am I keeping your interest, or putting you to sleep? 🥱
Last week, I sent out my 31st weekly newsletter.
I’ve shared more than 30 stories from my life with you.
I’ve sat down every Monday since mid-December and stared patiently at my screen until finally finding something worth writing about, that I can send out on Tuesday morning.
And every week, I’ve received at least one comment, either public or private (and sometimes more than one), telling me that week’s newsletter resonated with that particular reader. Which makes me think I must be doing something right.
And yet…
After 31 weeks, I still struggle to tell people what I write about… or who I’m writing to.
I feel like I don’t have a clear purpose or direction when I write. Like, I’m just writing whatever comes to mind, talking about whatever I’m interested in, or whatever made the biggest impact that week, and like the act of writing it out is how I make sense of it, how I discover the hidden gems in the experience, how I (hopefully) find enlightenment, or insight maybe…
And I hope you find enlightenment, too…
Or, at least, entertainment…
But I don’t really know if I’m reaching you, or not. I don’t know if what I’m putting out is what you’re interested in reading. I don’t know who you are.
I feel a little bit like maybe I’m just talking into the abyss, waiting to see who will respond.
And maybe that’s okay, in the beginning stages of a weekly newsletter. Maybe that’s just the way it goes.
I mean, it has taken me a while just to find my voice, and my style… so maybe it just takes a wee bit longer to figure out who my audience is… or who I want them to be… and maybe I just need to give it more time, and all those answers will be revealed… I honestly don’t know…
When I started this, I wanted to show the world what it’s like to be a disabled veteran with PTSD and other mental health challenges, and not let those challenges define me. That’s still important to me. I feel like I need to share that story.
But I also wanna talk about basic success principles, that anybody can apply in their life, and see measurable change. Because I don’t want to share my story just for the sake of sharing it… I want it to uplift, and entertain, and enlighten.
I want to inspire you to take action toward your own goals and dreams… to believe in the life you’ve always wanted for yourself… and to take steps toward achieving that lifestyle.
It’s not worth me winning if I don’t get to bring you along.
But I don’t know who you are, and I don’t know what you need that I can provide.
You can help me with that, if you’d like.
Just reply to this newsletter and leave me a comment, publicly or privately. Tell me a little bit about yourself, about how you found my newsletter, what you think of it so far, and whether there are any success-related (or trauma-related) topics you’d like to see me talk about.
I want this newsletter to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
P.S. Next Thursday I’m going to introduce a new bonus article twice a month, which will deal specifically with the “how to” side of success, and of overcoming trauma or other major setbacks in your path.
I’ll be publishing these Thursday articles in addition to sharing my own story every Tuesday, just as I’ve been doing for the last 31 weeks.
Eventually, the Thursday posts will only be available to paying subscribers… but while I’m figuring out what I want those posts to look like, my goal is to share them with all my readers, so you can help me shape not just how I share my story — but also, how I share the practical advice that can help you.
So if you have any thoughts or ideas on what type of practical help I can provide, I’d love to hear those ideas, too. Again, you can leave me those comments publicly or privately. I read every response.
The first “how to” article is set to drop on Thursday, August 15th, at 9 a.m. CT. I hope you’ll let me know what you think of it.
I like to think of it as writing to let others know that challenges are present for most, but we always have the option of living through and pushing on. I like the posts I see on Facebook, too.
One of the things that I've enjoyed about your newsletter is when you talk about things you've done, like going to a concert for the first time in years. For people who have experienced trauma, getting back to life as they once knew it can be hard, even impossible, depending on the trauma experienced. So, things like going to concerts or even eating out in a restaurant can be a big deal.
I had taken long-distance solo drives to several places within my home state for many years, for example. After a few harrowing experiences one year, including almost ending off the road during a night of dense fog, I reached a point where driving at night on the highway was impossible without me having flashbacks, so I stopped driving on the highway after dark. To this day, I still cannot drive on the highway after dark, not even between nearby towns; any trips I take on the highway to other nearby towns must be done in daylight. After my dad's passing and my dog's crossing within the same year, I didn't even think about going anywhere much, let alone to conferences I've attended every year. It took three years before I could even think of making the trip, but two years ago I drove solo nonstop for two hours to a conference for the first time in many years. Talk about exhilarating! And my newly-adopted dog and ESA has traveled with me a few places. Most people take for granted many common experiences and activities, but for people who have experienced trauma, it can take a while to do many of those things, including dining at a restaurant or attending a conference.
I've enjoyed reading about your experiences as you navigate through life after trauma, as they help me and others see that it's possible to regain certain aspects of life again and even try new experiences. While I may never drive after dark on a highway again, there are still some things I get to do during the daylight hours. Thanks for showing us through your experiences how to begin again, and keep that part up. Let us continue to experience with you what happens when you may not have all the answers you wish to have. That's as much a part of the experience as the triumphs you may experience.
Overall, you're doing great. It's okay to not always have an answer or know what to do next. Sharing basic success tips is a great idea. I wish you all the best in this new step you're taking with the newsletter.~~Robin