A Sacred Expanding
Jumping into the world of Substack
New Beginnings.
1. Why this, why now
[Dusts off the keyboard]
Bueller, Bueller - is this on?
Hello, friend! It has been awhile since I have been regularly writing online in a space of my own. I have been following the blogging/freelance writing space since about 2011 - does anyone else still remember their first free blogspot address? My original one, A Modern Grace, still makes me giggle.
Over the last few years, I have been writing less. I still publish freelance work from time to time, but writing for pure joy and delight has dwindled a bit. I have not found the time to dedicate to something that I have loved from the time I was a little girl.
I have followed a number of friends on Substack and financially supported their work from time to time (no, I am not asking that of you at this time!) and have continued to watch how the online writing community has continued to evolve over the last few years.
So why not jump both feet into the deep end of the Substack pool?
Because I have missed writing and connecting with other writers. There is an ache in the creative part of my spirit.
I am creating a space here purely for the delight that writing brings me. Words are a way I process my life experiences, how I pray, and I engage with the world around me. Something comes alive in me when I write, a spark that lights me up from the depths of my soul.
I would love to share pieces of the divine spark living in me with each of you - and hope you will feel free to share your divine spark with me too.
2. What kind of community are you looking to build here
I want to create a space where you find connection from another pilgrim on this journey. I am far from an expert of anything in life. The only thing I am an expert in is the experience of being Patty Breen (soon to be McNeil, more on that later ;). You are the expert of your own life experience. While I have never walked a mile in your shoes, I hope you feel my words or thoughts might leave you pondering something a bit more from your unique experiences and perspectives.
The values here will not be black and white thinking, ardent certainty, or judgment. Rather, what I want to cultivate in this space are things like: the art of a thoughtful question, nuanced discussions, sitting in the gray space of life, and holy curiosity.
I want to share what I noticing and paying attention to in daily life and also share other’s creative work as a way to highlight what other people are making.
The title of my newsletter, A Sacred Expanding, captures a beautiful concept that I have been sitting with this Advent and Christmas season from Stephanie Duncan Smiths new book, Even After Every Thing.
Stephanie writes: Expansion is the great ask upon our innermost muscles: to stretch beyond the borders of the self toward others making wide the way for deep connection, for contact with something that is other than ourselves. And yet, expansion is the way of growth. It is also the way of Advent.
The longer I sat with these words, I began to realize how the significant changes in my life were seasons of expansion: my divorce and annulment, leaving a decade long career of parish ministry for budding career in Catholic healthcare, dating in my late thirties, two moves (one across the state of Michigan), falling in love again and getting married. This last year in particular, was a year of great expansion - in many ways more than I could have ever imagined.
As I thought about creating a community here, I could not let go of this idea of expansion as a sacred, even holy concept. The reality is that life is continually expanding all around us, always shifting and changing. So it is with each of us. Whatever the expanding that is going on in your life or mine, I do believe it is also sacred. We just have to pay attention to it.
And so that is why I want to call this space, this newsletter, A Sacred Expanding. Sacred because the sacred is not found in just a house of worship but also in the ordinary life happening all around us. The word “expanding” captures the active nature of the word expansion, because life is always expanding around us.
I so look forward to pulling a chair up here with you as a like-minded spiritual companion in this world together.
3. The details
How will I use this space for us? I plan to write here weekly - please be patient as I continue to learn the ins and outs of writing on Substack. I feel that is something I can commit too and I also don’t want to be perspective.
My plan is to share an original essay or reflection from my heart to yours. I also plan to share the good work of other creatives that I encounter or love who may be of inspiration to you.
I know that many creatives use Substack as a way to monetize and support their work. At this time, I will not be doing so. I plan to offer free content for the time being. I feel asking people to financially support my work requires even more attention to crafting high-value content that people find as a value add. Right now, I do not think I have the time (both between work and planning a summer wedding) to do so. When and if I make a change, I will share with you.
Truly, I am just so glad you are here. I hope you find a kindred spirit in me as we reflect and explore the sacredness of life that is expanding all round us.
4. What is next?
So where do you go from here?
I would invite you to subscribe to my newsletter so you know when a new essay is available.
Feel free to send me a message or leave a comment. I would love to chat more with you. If you feel inclined to do so, share this space if you think someone else might enjoy reading.
(I am still figuring out these buttons to link and post. So if anyone is an expert in navigating those, let ya girl know. I am all ear’s. It looks a bit janky right now but I’ll get there eventually.)
That is all for now. Again, I am just delighted to have you here and look forward to hearing from you.
Wishing you peace on this 12th day of Christmas!
All the best,
Patty
Excited to have you here!!!