Hi!
I hope this message finds you well as we start November. I’ve been meaning to do a monthly short newsletter to talk about some of the stories I plan on publishing this month. Almost like a small editorial of sorts. I am still figuring out what direction to take this project, and I am glad you are here with me. I may seem small, but it’s a big cheer for me, just like running a marathon and having loads of people cheering you on for doing something to take on yourself.
You guys, in a way, are holding my hand, navigating the fears and emotions about work that feel all too personal at times. That is on theme this month, about the hands we hold.
Many metaphors out there about the things we hold, in our bodies, memories, and in our hearts. There is something about holding someone’s hand, and how that feeling can imprint more than just a symbol.
This month, you will be treated to stories about the kind of love that stays with you and how different it all can look. Each one asks its own question in its own way. All about what we tend to hold onto, and the cost to keep it or let it go. There are some people that never truly leave us, and something they stay with us like a held note of a song, a familiar fragrance, or a story we keep reliving again and again as we reach for someone.
The Zines will be published every Thursday:
Nov 5 · Always, with Me
A story about grief, memory, and the rhythm we carry long after the music stops. The arts are often depicted as having transcendent qualities, but what about the movement in the space between two people?
Nov 12 · Remember Me
A story about memory, longing, and the people who shape us before the world knows their name. We often celebrate the ones who make it to the stage, but what about the ones in the audience who knew them first?
Nov 19 · One Year
A story about longing, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to try again. We’re often told that some people never change, but what about the ones who come back, flowers in hand, ready to prove us wrong?
Nov 26 · Mama’s Hand
A personal favorite that comes full circle on a mother’s love. From a baby’s first grip to the biggest moments of growing up, one daughter holds her mother’s hand through it all, until the day she finally understands why her mother never wanted to let go. It arrives on Thanksgiving Day, for anyone who has someone to be thankful for.
There are some inevitable truths in this world, like death, and that is that people leave. A hard truth that we all must come to accept at some point in our lives. They move away, grow old, or stop calling. Some will vanish, and we’re left holding the space where their hand used to be. But one thing you can be sure of is that they always leave something behind.
These were written at different points through the years, and it was clear that I wrote these because I did not want to forget. I think you don’t either.
After each story, you’ll find Penny for Your Thoughts. Thought-provoking questions are my goal, but it is also a way to hear some of your stories and experiences in the comments.
I want to hear about who you carry, maybe the second chance you took for yourself, or the moment you finally understood your mother. Those conversations that I would love to have or be honored to read.
If these stories mean something to you, then share them with someone whose hand you’d hold. Maybe this is the month you could tell them why.
For those who feel deeply and aren’t afraid of the dark parts,
Elvy