Embracing every good, bad, messy and beautiful thing
Immerse yourself in the lived experience
As a writer, my muse is life itself. But sometimes, I don’t have the words.
I’m back from a short writing break, a break I didn’t realize I was taking until I took it. Then I looked back in the Hello Friday archive and realized I took a break at the same time last year for the same length of time.
It makes sense. My life falls into the rhythm of the school year, which carries my heart, emotions, and energy levels along with it.
Spring is a time when the work doesn’t stop, but the part of my brain that thinks creatively needs a pause. This season is no different.
In front of the curtain, you see me celebrating the wins—making appearances and attending speaking events for my book. When I pull back the curtain, you’ll see that my son is just days away from graduating from high school. You’ll see that late last year, my mom became critically ill, and she just returned home after a months-long hospital stay.
There have been moments when I’ve struggled to hold it all. I’ve hinted about it in posts like these:
We all live public and private lives. We celebrate wins, grieve losses, and shift priorities. We carry our lightness and burdens—the full spectrum of highs, lows, and everything in between.
Let this be our collective reminder to immerse ourselves in the lived experience. Be brave and willing to hold it all. There are many gifts to discover in life's raw, honest, terrible, and beautiful mess.
Worth celebrating:
This is the face of an author who sees her book in Barnes and Noble for the first time! It’s me! I’m the author.
“Girl in the Spotlight” is in stock at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. If you live in the area, buy it! If it sells out, they’ll order more.
I’m thrilled. It’s surreal. Sometimes dreams don’t rush in all at once, but that doesn’t mean they’re not coming true.
First time here?
I’m Angie Mizzell, the author of the coming-of-age memoir “Girl in the Spotlight.” It’s the story of how I learned to let go of society’s narrow definition of success, break cycles of the past, and come home to myself.
I’m glad you’re here! If you enjoyed this week’s newsletter, please share it!