17 Comments

The moment you describe at the beginning of this piece is exactly when I knew we were onto something with Foster too, Sara. And if my mom reads this comment, I most definitely do not have any experience with what it feels like to be high at all whatsoever in my life not even once except for this time when no substances were involved in the slightest. Cool? Cool

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Oh absolutely. Absolutely no substances at any time!

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Lovely, Sara! Thank you for so kindly including my reflections on my body.

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Thank YOU, Russell, for writing them.

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It was a trip for sure! Thank you for reminding me of that season closing ceremony! Was the book you embarrassingly bought any good?

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Ha! You know, I don't even remember. I think just knowing it existed really boosted the spirit. I love a timely reminder that I am not alone. :)

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This is so great, Sara, to see you high on life and this new relationship with Foster. I agree that the closing session call was very different and like nothing I'd experienced with other cohorts of writers. I sure experienced that with you, too. The challenge may be in staying connected at that level with everyone who jumps up and down and says, "Of course and include me, me, me."

While writers are working their writing, it's a shift for you and Dan and Stew to get out of your roles as writers or coaches and turn into domesticators. The data tells us that it takes one kind of persona to be a founder, starter, entrepreneur and a different kind of professional skills to take the business further. In other words, the pioneer who came first doesn't always want to stay there a domesticate the community or be the first mayor. The pioneer wants to ride off and find another frontier.

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Thank you for the kind words, Georgia! I'm so glad to hear your experience was similar. And I hear you about the challenge of staying connected -- being on Substack is one of the avenues we're taking to make that a little easier. Thanks for being here.

Great point about the domesticators. I feel grateful and lucky to be working alongside an amazing core team at Foster as we bring varied skills and talents to the table. We are keenly aware that this is about more than just us, and we are doing our best to operate with the long term health of the collective in mind.

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SO beautiful, thank you for sharing your journey Sara <3

I found this part a great reminder for my artistic journey: how to have patience with myself as a developing writer, how to be OK with my work not measuring up to my own standards, how to not take criticism so personally, how to write on days I really didn’t feel like it, and how to just. keep. going. Most importantly, I learned to trust that showing up and doing my best was the most important part of the process.

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Thank you, Caryn. A lifelong effort!

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this “ to strengthen my connection with something greater than myself...” sticks with me as something that’s maybe hijacked and siloed in certain domains… that strengthening a writing connection is 'THE greater than myself thing' is something I’m taking with me! ❤️‍🔥

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Not feeling very articulate this morning, so: ❤️🔥😍🤌🪩🖤

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😂

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“I’m talking raised body temperature, buzzy feeling of euphoria, heart beating so strongly I could both feel it in my limbs and hear it in my ears.”

On Zoom? Is this Jeffrey Toobin using a pseudonym?

🤪

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Ha! But no, no private parts were fondled over the course of this Zoom call.

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It’s wonderful to know some people retain a sense of dignity!

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i love this and def want to take this journey with you soon!

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