I created this substack in 2021 to explore my own feelings and emotions. Iāve always been a more sensitive person, as well as an artist and writer. But I never really knew what that meant in terms of expressing myself. The more Iāve done the work to write about my feelings, the more Iāve discovered the many emotions that like to make their home in my mind and body (usually all at once). As this newsletter has grown into a community of 4,000+ subscribers and sensitive friends, Iāve discovered Iām far from alone in this experience.
The name of this newsletter is a play on the phrase I loathe most in conflict conversations: āFeelings asideā¦ā It squashes and diminishes the other person's feelings, even if they donāt reflect the whole truth. Their feelings are still valid, and they still matter. Thatās it. Itās fairly simple. Feelings aside, except not.
All subscribers can expect weekly micro-essays about creativity, relationships, grief, quiet joys, and big life questions. This is a place for community and acceptance in a world that doesnāt always understand nuanced or complicated feelings. While the writing is the framework of this substack, the comments section is the beating heart, and itās where other sensitive writers, artists, and readers from all over the world chime in and share their resonance and stories. Itās the very best aspect of this entire project. And itās why I keep writing.