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This Week’s Featured Creator

This week, it gives me wonderful pleasure to introduce Jeannie Ewing, the writer behind I Grow Strong Again.

Quick Introduction

I am sincerely and deeply grateful that I came across Jeannie’s Substack a year and a half ago. Jeannie always shows up with a full heart, and her readers are continually met with kindness, grace, and refreshing, heartwarming authenticity.

Her Substack community encourages you to show up as yourself, knowing you’ll be welcomed with empathy, curiosity, and kindness the moment you step through the door.

Her heartwarming, tender, and courageous stories offer thoughtful reflections that invite you to return, week after week.

I’m delighted to share our conversation and offer you a closer look at the heart behind her words.

Conversation with Jeannie Ewing

What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when they spend time there?

I have always wanted to simply show up as me, sharing straight from my heart about life - not just the monumental events, but the everyday pockets of light and joy that I used to rush past.

I know we live in a frenetic culture, and I want to offer an invitation for people who stop by or scroll past my Substack space to pause, exhale, and slow down to notice the quiet and often hidden beauty that surrounds us every day.

In learning about microkindnesses, I feel strongly that these small gestures change our outlook - a smile, a hug, a handwritten note, the sighting of a butterfly or dragonfly, sitting with a sunset for five minutes.

We don’t have to do extraordinary or overwhelming practices in order to change our lives or the immediate world in which we live; we just have to adjust time within our day to make room for these micromoments of connection and awe.

What inspired you to begin writing or creating on Substack?

Honestly, I migrated my newsletter from MailChimp to Substack in March 2023, simply to change platforms for my biweekly (now weekly) newsletter.

Is there a topic, question, or idea that continually calls you back in your work? If so, what is it, and why does it matter to you?

“How am I showing up today? Am I bringing goodness wherever I go?”

It matters, because I’ve witnessed people’s moods and facial expressions shift when I choose to compliment someone, open the door for them, thank them, smile. Many times they will verbalize their gratitude and even open up about how hostile a lot of people/patients/customers can be.

If your writing or creative work could make one meaningful difference in someone’s life, what would you hope that difference would be?

For that person to know they are seen, valued, and loved for who they are.

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A Favorite Photograph

Attached is a photo of me with my daughter Sarah when she was a baby, in 2014. At the time, I had been struggling with accepting her diagnosis of Apert syndrome and was resisting the life of a caregiver.

I had been handed this challenge without warning and kept pushing it away. The photo illustrates a turning point that happened in my heart, when I decided to surrender to what is, instead of wishing for a different life. I decided to love Sarah.

What is something that brings you joy or peace in your everyday life outside of writing?

Beginning my day with meditation and journaling. This sets the tone for the entire day when I’m able to give myself the solitude of listening. It’s so important. I also love nature and taking daily walks with my dog, paying attention to the birds, especially ones I’m unfamiliar with. Reading helps me slow down at the end of the day, too.

Featured Article

Click the link below to read:

‘Pretty’ isn’t usually used to describe my daughter.

I Grow Strong Again

'Pretty' isn't usually used to describe my daughter.

Pretty is not a word typically used to describe someone with a craniofacial diagnosis. Usually, it’s the opposite: witch, ugly, monster. Sarah has heard all of these a handful of times. But never pretty…

Read more

2 years ago · 1095 likes · 222 comments · Jeannie Ewing

What has been the most unexpected gift of writing on Substack?

Forming real friendships and meeting them in real life. Such a gift to connect with people on a deeper level - humans who are emotionally aware and evolved, who believe in the good, who are kind and understand complexity and nuance. That’s refreshing in this world so polarized and polarizing.

Anything else you’d like readers to know?

I’m not a coffee drinker but love hot tea, and I’d rather spend time off reading or hiking than sightseeing with crowds of people.

What does “belonging” mean to you?

Belonging is a great word, because in my former days as a high school counselor, I learned that most kids think they have to fit in. That concept doesn’t always leave us in adulthood. But belonging isn’t about conforming to a group; it’s about being who you are and the group celebrating all the ways you are different and unique!

True belonging means every person in a community gets to be authentically themselves without shame or pressure to perform or change.

Warmly,

Jeannie Ewing

Author, Editor, Group Facilitator

Connect With This Creator

Creator Name: Jeannie Ewing

Publication Name: I Grow Strong Again / Ghost Mother

If This Resonates With You

One of the most meaningful ways to support a creator is simply to read their work and stay connected to it.

If something here speaks to you, I encourage you to take a moment to explore Jeannie’s Substack.

You can also support their work in small but powerful ways:

• Subscribe to their publication so you don’t miss new writing

• Leave a comment to let them know what resonated

• Restack or share a piece you loved

• Pass their work along to someone who might need it

These small actions are what help independent writers continue creating and what make spaces like Substack feel alive.

Interested in Being Featured?

Creator Spotlight exists to celebrate writers, artists, and creators whose work brings meaning, reflection, creativity, and connection to the Substack community.

If you’d like to be considered for a future feature, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to discovering new voices and sharing work that deserves to be seen.

Want More Discoveries Like This?

If you’re enjoying Creator Spotlight, I invite you to subscribe to Savor Life Studio.

Subscribe now

Each week, I feature a creator whose work brings insight, creativity, encouragement, and heart into the world.

If you’d like these discoveries delivered straight to your inbox, I’d love to have you join us at Savor Life Studio.

Thank you for being part of a space where creators support creators and thoughtful work is shared and celebrated. Your presence here means the world to me.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

Explore More Creator Spotlights

Meet Courtney Cunningham, the first creator featured in Creator Spotlight, and discover the heart, inspiration, and story behind her work. Click below to read.

Creator Spotlight: Courtney Cunningham

________________________

Meet John Rinaldo, one of Substack’s most inspiring and courageous voices whose writing and conversations stay with you long after you’ve experienced them.

Creator Spotlight: John Rinaldo

________________________

Meet Saira Anwar, an award-winning poet whose writing is filled with insight, courage, compassion, and wisdom that linger long after her words have circled your heart.

Creator Spotlight: Saira Anwar

________________________

Meet Dr Christine DiBlasio, A psychologist, martial artist, and writer weaving trauma, resilience, and hope into meaningful change.

Creator Spotlight: Dr Christine DiBlasio

________________________

Meet Sam Messersmith, A Certified Forest Therapy Guide Helping Others Rediscover Connection and Belonging.

Creator Spotlight: Sam Messersmith

________________________

Meet Juli Hammersley, the inspiring writer and creator behind Peaceful Healer, who gently invites us to slow down, reconnect with nature, and discover the beauty and peace available in the present moment.

Creator Spotlight: Peaceful Healer

________________________

Meet Debra King, the inspiring writer behind Beautiful Things Grow Here. Debra is a trauma-informed writer and poet, Debra shares personal essays, poetry, and gentle reflections that linger long after the final words have been read.

Creator Spotlight: Debra King

________________________

Meet Jane Duncan Rogers, and discover how embracing ageing can open the doorway to a more meaningful and joyful life.

Creator Spotlight: Jane Duncan Rogers

________________________

Meet Colin Durrant, who shares inspiring stories of transformation, resilience, and the wild places that teach us how to live

Creator Spotlight: Colin Durrant

________________________

Meet Jill Hart, who offers an inspiring and authentic approach to turning visibility into meaningful relationships, opportunities, and a thriving business.

Creator Spotlight: Jill Hart

________________________

Meet Maya Sarin, who writes about about living authentically, joyfully, and peacefully, while inspiring others to embrace their interior life and live their best life.

Creator Spotlight: Maya Sarin

________________________

Meet Jeff “H” Harrington, who writes about about music, creativity, and how to release music on Substack.

Creator Spotlight: Jeff “H” Harrington

More From Savor Life Studio

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

Subscribe now

This Week’s Featured Creator

This week, it gives me great pleasure to introduce Jeff “H” Harrington, the writer behind Release Your Song.

Quick Introduction

As a fellow musician, I was delighted to discover Jeff’s enthusiasm for encouraging other artists to share and release their music on Substack.

Jeff offers an incredibly authentic and genuine approach to creativity, along with pearls of wisdom that can be carried into any creative outlet. His lighthearted, non-stressful approach is both inspiring and refreshing.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Jeff and his creative work as much as I have.

Conversation with Jeff “H” Harrington

What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when they spend time there?

Thank you, Lis! On my Substack, I write about music, creativity, and how to release music on Substack.

Mainly, I hope to inspire artists to be more vulnerable and authentic in their art. I’d also like to inspire artists to release their work on Substack!

What inspired you to begin writing or creating on Substack?

I randomly heard about Substack a few years ago. As I spent more time here, I just loved it more and more. I love how “quiet” it is, especially because it’s not so focused on video, as opposed to other social media platforms.

And I’ve found such inspiring, supportive people here, and the talent level is incredible! For me, it’s an artistic utopia, and I couldn’t imagine my life without it.

About a year and a half ago, I started writing posts, even though I hadn’t really done much writing before. I’ve grown to love writing, though. It’s become a part of my life. It complements my music-making nicely.

Is there a topic, question, or idea that continually calls you back in your work? If so, what is it, and why does it matter to you?

The more I write about creativity and making music, the more fascinated I become with improving as a musical artist. I’m especially fascinated with trying to figure out how to dismantle all of the psychological blocks — for example, shame, perfectionism, procrastination.

If your writing or creative work could make one meaningful difference in someone’s life, what would you hope that difference would be?

1. to encourage people to make art, even if they don’t share it with anyone else

2. to encourage people to make their art as fearlessly as possible

3. to encourage people to share it on Substack!

A Favorite Photograph

This is a photo of my brother and me from a few years ago at one of my gigs. My brother is disabled, and since my mom passed, I have been living with him, and have been his caregiver. This photo captures a joyful moment.

What is something that brings you joy or peace in your everyday life outside of writing?

Walking. If I had to choose just one practice for maintaining my physical, mental, and emotional health, it would definitely be walking. It’s also incredible for working out creative ideas (the theory I’ve read is that walking involves bilateral motion, and so it activates both sides of your brain). It’s the ultimate multi-vitamin for my life.

Featured Article

I wrote this post about my aforementioned brother, and it includes a song I wrote about him.

Click the link below to read:

A Song About My Brother

Release Your Song

A Song About My Brother

I would like to share a song called “Patrick’s Song”, and it’s about my brother, Patrick. Patrick is 51 years old, but he is intellectually and emotionally at about a 3-year-old level…

Read more

a year ago · 103 likes · 91 comments · Jeff “H” Harrington and Jeff Harrington/InsideSkyChant

Anything else you’d like readers to know?

Most of the music I make these days is chant music. So, the lyrics are mostly ancient Sanskrit mantras. I have another Substack where I release that music and talk about it —

Click the link below to access Inside Sky

Inside Sky Substack

What advice would you offer someone who is just beginning their creative journey?

First, I would highly recommend making art of any kind! It’s incredibly fulfilling, inspiring, and fun. It gets you out of your head. It’s relaxing and therapeutic.

Second, I would say try to keep it light and fun. I think it should always be “play”. If you sit down to work on a painting or a song or a story and it’s just not happening that day, then get up and do something else! In my experience, either the ideas are there, or they aren’t — you can’t force it.

And if you make something, you don’t need to show it to anyone. You can treat it like you would a private diary. So, you can remove the pressure of wondering whether other people might like it. (Not that anyone should ever need to feel that pressure.)

Also, you can start by just collecting little scraps of ideas here and there. If you feel like you need to complete a whole song or painting or story right off the bat, then you might get really frustrated and discouraged. I would start by just collecting ideas, and then I think you’ll find that more fully formed concepts eventually start emerging.

Connect With This Creator

Creator Name: Jeff “H” Harrington

Publication Name: Release Your Song

If This Resonates With You

One of the most meaningful ways to support a creator is simply to read their work and stay connected to it.

If something here speaks to you, I encourage you to take a moment to explore Jeff’s Substack.

You can also support their work in small but powerful ways:

• Subscribe to their publication so you don’t miss new writing

• Leave a comment to let them know what resonated

• Restack or share a piece you loved

• Pass their work along to someone who might need it

These small actions are what help independent writers continue creating and what make spaces like Substack feel alive.

Interested in Being Featured?

Creator Spotlight exists to celebrate writers, artists, and creators whose work brings meaning, reflection, creativity, and connection to the Substack community.

If you’d like to be considered for a future feature, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to discovering new voices and sharing work that deserves to be seen.

Want More Discoveries Like This?

If you’re enjoying Creator Spotlight, I invite you to subscribe to Savor Life Studio.

Each week, I feature a creator whose work brings insight, creativity, encouragement, and heart into the world.

If you’d like these discoveries delivered straight to your inbox, I’d love to have you join us at Savor Life Studio.

Thank you for being part of a space where creators support creators and thoughtful work is shared and celebrated. Your presence here means the world to me.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

Explore More Creator Spotlights

Meet Courtney Cunningham, the first creator featured in Creator Spotlight, and discover the heart, inspiration, and story behind her work. Click below to read.

Creator Spotlight: Courtney Cunningham

________________________

Meet John Rinaldo, one of Substack’s most inspiring and courageous voices whose writing and conversations stay with you long after you’ve experienced them.

Creator Spotlight: John Rinaldo

________________________

Meet Saira Anwar, an award-winning poet whose writing is filled with insight, courage, compassion, and wisdom that linger long after her words have circled your heart.

Creator Spotlight: Saira Anwar

________________________

Meet Dr Christine DiBlasio, A psychologist, martial artist, and writer weaving trauma, resilience, and hope into meaningful change.

Creator Spotlight: Dr Christine DiBlasio

________________________

Meet Sam Messersmith, A Certified Forest Therapy Guide Helping Others Rediscover Connection and Belonging.

Creator Spotlight: Sam Messersmith

________________________

Meet Juli Hammersley, the inspiring writer and creator behind Peaceful Healer, who gently invites us to slow down, reconnect with nature, and discover the beauty and peace available in the present moment.

Creator Spotlight: Peaceful Healer

________________________

Meet Debra King, the inspiring writer behind Beautiful Things Grow Here. Debra is a trauma-informed writer and poet, Debra shares personal essays, poetry, and gentle reflections that linger long after the final words have been read.

Creator Spotlight: Debra King

________________________

Meet Jane Duncan Rogers, and discover how embracing ageing can open the doorway to a more meaningful and joyful life.

Creator Spotlight: Jane Duncan Rogers

________________________

Meet Colin Durrant, who shares inspiring stories of transformation, resilience, and the wild places that teach us how to live

Creator Spotlight: Colin Durrant

________________________

Meet Jill Hart, who offers an inspiring and authentic approach to turning visibility into meaningful relationships, opportunities, and a thriving business.

Creator Spotlight: Jill Hart

________________________

Meet Maya Sarin, who writes about about living authentically, joyfully, and peacefully, while inspiring others to embrace their interior life and live their best life.

Creator Spotlight: Maya Sarin

________________________

More From Savor Life Studio

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

Savor Life Studio ~ Create, Connect, and Grow in Peace is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

Subscribe now

This Week’s Featured Creator

This week, I’m delighted to introduce Maya Sarin, the writer behind Just This.

Quick Introduction

It’s been a complete joy getting to know Maya and gaining insight into her creative works here on Substack.

I was immediately drawn to her authenticity and courageous journey, which reminds us that when we take the time to listen and be fully present, the answers we seek are always within.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Maya as much as I have, whether reading her poetry or spending time wandering around her publication ‘Just This ‘; you are sure to find tender morsels of inspiration to carry forward into your own life’s journey.

Conversation with Maya Sarin

What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when they spend time there?

My Substack, Just This, is about living authentically, joyfully, and peacefully. I share glimpses from my own inward journey that support this way of living. Sometimes, these reflections take the form of a poem.

My journey started three years ago when I faced a life-threatening illness. As I turned inward, so much became available to me. So much opened up. It felt like a complete rebirth, a shedding of what didn’t belong and a return to what was true.

My goal with Just This is to inspire others to embrace their interior life and live their best life.

On occasion, I also share insights from the self-publishing journey; earlier this year I published my first poetry collection called Ultraviolet: Meditations on Healing & Transformation.

What inspired you to begin writing or creating on Substack?

I was healing from illness and wanted to share my experiences with others who might be going through something similar.

Is there a topic, question, or idea that continually calls you back in your work? If so, what is it, and why does it matter to you?

Yes, there are a few questions that call me back to my work:

• How can we reach our highest potential?

• Why are some of us able to remain resilient and optimistic, no matter what life throws at us?

• And why do some of us struggle with depression, or come to believe that life is happening to us, rather than for us?

This matters to me because of the strength, trust, and inner resources I was able to discover through my own experience. I believe that this inner support is available to each of us.

Sometimes we need the right guidance, some encouragement, or a gentle nudge to find our way back to ourselves.

If your writing or creative work could make one meaningful difference in someone’s life, what would you hope that difference would be?

To give others hope and to remind them that the answers we are seeking can be found in the natural world around us and within us. When we turn inward, the Universe, Spirit, the Divine, or our highest self seems to respond. The more time we spend there, the more we cultivate that relationship, and the more supported we can feel in our lives.

Subscribe now

A Favorite Photograph

This is the original oil-on-wood painting that is featured in my poetry book, Ultraviolet. It is my most precious piece of artwork. It depicts me flying on the scrub jay through the unknown. This bird played a pivotal role in my healing journey from illness.

What is something that brings you joy or peace in your everyday life outside of writing?

Tarot and journaling have become important parts of my daily wellness practice. Tarot found me just a few years ago, and it has become a surprisingly meaningful part of my day.

It is both special and empowering, a way to pause, ask questions, and listen to what wants to come through. And then there’s the simple beauty of tarot. You get to hold beautiful cards in your hands and look at beautiful art. It’s a win-win!

I love writing ‘morning pages,’ too. It creates space for whatever wants to emerge and that’s powerful.

Featured Article

Click the link below to read:

The Missing Anchor in Modern Life

Connect With This Creator

Creator Name: Maya Sarin

Publication Name: Just This & On Instagram @mayapens

What advice would you offer someone who is just beginning their creative journey?

Just create. Just write without overthinking it or worrying how it will be received. There is so much honesty and freedom in creating from that place. Your work doesn’t have to reach everyone; it will naturally find its way to the people who need to receive it.

Subscribe now

If This Resonates With You

One of the most meaningful ways to support a creator is simply to read their work and stay connected to it.

If something here speaks to you, I encourage you to take a moment to explore Maya’s Substack.

You can also support their work in small but powerful ways:

• Subscribe to their publication so you don’t miss new writing

• Leave a comment to let them know what resonated

• Restack or share a piece you loved

• Pass their work along to someone who might need it

These small actions are what help independent writers continue creating and what make spaces like Substack feel alive.

Interested in Being Featured?

Creator Spotlight exists to celebrate writers, artists, and creators whose work brings meaning, reflection, creativity, and connection to the Substack community.

If you’d like to be considered for a future feature, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to discovering new voices and sharing work that deserves to be seen.

Want More Discoveries Like This?

If you’re enjoying Creator Spotlight, I invite you to subscribe to Savor Life Studio.

Each week, I feature a creator whose work brings insight, creativity, encouragement, and heart into the world.

If you’d like these discoveries delivered straight to your inbox, I’d love to have you join us at Savor Life Studio.

Subscribe now

Thank you for being part of a space where creators support creators and thoughtful work is shared and celebrated. Your presence here means the world to me.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

Explore More Creator Spotlights

Meet Courtney Cunningham, the first creator featured in Creator Spotlight, and discover the heart, inspiration, and story behind her work. Click below to read.

Creator Spotlight: Courtney Cunningham

________________________

Meet John Rinaldo, one of Substack’s most inspiring and courageous voices whose writing and conversations stay with you long after you’ve experienced them.

Creator Spotlight: John Rinaldo

________________________

Meet Saira Anwar, an award-winning poet whose writing is filled with insight, courage, compassion, and wisdom that linger long after her words have circled your heart.

Creator Spotlight: Saira Anwar

________________________

Meet Dr Christine DiBlasio, A psychologist, martial artist, and writer weaving trauma, resilience, and hope into meaningful change.

Creator Spotlight: Dr Christine DiBlasio

________________________

Meet Sam Messersmith, A Certified Forest Therapy Guide Helping Others Rediscover Connection and Belonging.

Creator Spotlight: Sam Messersmith

________________________

Meet Juli Hammersley, the inspiring writer and creator behind Peaceful Healer, who gently invites us to slow down, reconnect with nature, and discover the beauty and peace available in the present moment.

Creator Spotlight: Peaceful Healer

________________________

Meet Debra King, the inspiring writer behind Beautiful Things Grow Here. Debra is a trauma-informed writer and poet, Debra shares personal essays, poetry, and gentle reflections that linger long after the final words have been read.

Creator Spotlight: Debra King

________________________

Meet Jane Duncan Rogers, and discover how embracing ageing can open the doorway to a more meaningful and joyful life.

Creator Spotlight: Jane Duncan Rogers

________________________

Meet Colin Durrant, who shares inspiring stories of transformation, resilience, and the wild places that teach us how to live

Creator Spotlight: Colin Durrant

________________________

Meet Jill Hart, who offers an inspiring and authentic approach to turning visibility into meaningful relationships, opportunities, and a thriving business.

Creator Spotlight: Jill Hart

More From Savor Life Studio

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

Savor Life Studio ~ Create, Connect, and Grow in Peace is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

Subscribe now

This Week’s Featured Creator

This week, I’m delighted to introduce Jill Hart, the writer behind You World Order.

Quick Introduction

What a complete joy to learn more about Jill’s creative and entrepreneurial work here on Substack.

Her inspiring, authentic approach to gaining visibility and building meaningful communities has been a delight to discover.

If you’re looking for thoughtful, proven strategies to build a business naturally and organically through trust and authentic connection, you have landed in exactly the right place.

Grab your favorite beverage, and I hope you enjoy learning about Jill’s Your World Order as much as I have.

Conversation with Jill Hart

What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when they spend time there?

The heart of my Substack is helping coaches, healers, and spiritual entrepreneurs realize that getting visible doesn’t have to feel exhausting or performative.

There is so much pressure online to chase algorithms, create endless content, and somehow be everywhere all at once. I don’t believe that’s the answer.

I believe your business deserves a home you actually own. A place where your ideas can grow into relationships, opportunities, clients, and community.

I hope readers leave feeling lighter. Less overwhelmed. More confident. I want them to believe they don’t need a bigger audience to make a meaningful impact. They need a clearer message, a simple system, and the courage to keep showing up.

What inspired you to begin writing or creating on Substack?

I’ve spent years interviewing incredible people on my podcast. After more than 600 conversations and over a million downloads, I kept noticing the same pattern.

The people making the biggest impact weren’t necessarily the loudest. They were the ones who consistently shared their ideas and built genuine relationships.

When I discovered Substack, it felt like the missing piece. It wasn’t another social media platform demanding more attention. It felt like a place where conversations could actually happen.

I started writing because I wanted a place where my podcast, my ideas, and my community could all live together. Today it’s become one of the most meaningful parts of my business because the connections are real.

Is there a topic, question, or idea that continually calls you back in your work? If so, what is it, and why does it matter to you?

I keep coming back to one question.

What if building your business could feel more aligned and less complicated?

So many brilliant people never get seen because they believe they need one more certification, one more funnel, or one more strategy before they’re ready.

I don’t think most people have a knowledge problem.

I think they have a clarity problem.

When you become clear about who you help, what transformation you create, and how you want to serve, everything else gets easier. Your content becomes easier to create. Your offers become easier to explain. The right people begin recognizing themselves in your work.

That kind of clarity changes everything.

If your writing or creative work could make one meaningful difference in someone’s life, what would you hope that difference would be?

I hope my work reminds people that the world doesn’t need another copy of someone else. It needs them.

Every one of us has a unique voice, a unique story, and a unique perspective that can change someone’s life. Too often, we stay quiet because we think we need more credentials, more followers, or more confidence before we deserve to be seen.

I believe the opposite is true.

When you choose to amplify your voice, monetize your mission, and get visible, you create opportunities to serve the very people who have been waiting to hear what only you can say.

If my writing inspires someone to finally publish the article, launch the podcast, share their message, or build the business they’ve been dreaming about, then I’ve done what I set out to do.

I truly believe we all have the power to change the world. Sometimes that change begins the moment we stop hiding and start sharing our gifts.

A Favorite Photograph

I’d love to share a photo of my kids - this was my youngest son’s wedding day - they were all part of the ceremony The oldest daughter officiated.

At the end of the day, everything I build comes back to them.

My business has never been about chasing success for its own sake. It’s about creating freedom, having meaningful conversations, and leaving something behind that matters.

Family reminds me why I do this work. They keep me grounded, grateful, and focused on what is truly important.

Subscribe now

What is something that brings you joy or peace in your everyday life outside of writing?

I find a lot of peace in simple things.

Spending time with my husband, watching my grandchildren grow, being outside with our dogs, and having conversations that make people think a little differently about what’s possible.

I also genuinely love learning. Whether it’s exploring a new business idea, experimenting with technology, or discovering a better way to help my clients, curiosity keeps life interesting.

I don’t think we ever stop becoming who we’re meant to be.

What advice would you offer someone who is just beginning their creative journey?

Don’t try to sound like someone you admire.

Sound like yourself.

Your voice is the one thing no one else can duplicate.

Start before you feel ready. Publish before it’s perfect. Let your work evolve in public.

Every article you write, every podcast you record, every conversation you have is another brick in something much bigger than you can see today.

Consistency compounds.

You never know which one piece of content will open the door to the opportunity that changes everything.

Featured Article

Click the link below to read:

How to Build an Audience You Actually Own -

Connect With This Creator

Creator Name: Jill Hart

Publication Name: You World Order

Anything else you’d like readers to know?

If there’s one thing I hope people take away from my work, it’s this.

Your voice matters.

Not because everyone needs to hear it, but because the people who need it won’t find it unless you’re willing to share it.

Subscribe now

If This Resonates With You

One of the most meaningful ways to support a creator is simply to read their work and stay connected to it.

If something here speaks to you, I encourage you to take a moment to explore Jill’s Substack.

You can also support their work in small but powerful ways:

• Subscribe to their publication so you don’t miss new writing

• Leave a comment to let them know what resonated

• Restack or share a piece you loved

• Pass their work along to someone who might need it

These small actions are what help independent writers continue creating and what make spaces like Substack feel alive.

Interested in Being Featured?

Creator Spotlight exists to celebrate writers, artists, and creators whose work brings meaning, reflection, creativity, and connection to the Substack community.

If you’d like to be considered for a future feature, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to discovering new voices and sharing work that deserves to be seen.

Want More Discoveries Like This?

If you’re enjoying Creator Spotlight, I invite you to subscribe to Savor Life Studio.

Each week, I feature a creator whose work brings insight, creativity, encouragement, and heart into the world.

If you’d like these discoveries delivered straight to your inbox, I’d love to have you join us at Savor Life Studio.

Subscribe now

Thank you for being part of a space where creators support creators and thoughtful work is shared and celebrated. Your presence here means the world to me.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

Explore More Creator Spotlights

Meet Courtney Cunningham, the first creator featured in Creator Spotlight, and discover the heart, inspiration, and story behind her work. Click below to read.

Creator Spotlight: Courtney Cunningham

________________________

Meet John Rinaldo, one of Substack’s most inspiring and courageous voices whose writing and conversations stay with you long after you’ve experienced them.

Creator Spotlight: John Rinaldo

________________________

Meet Saira Anwar, an award-winning poet whose writing is filled with insight, courage, compassion, and wisdom that linger long after her words have circled your heart.

Creator Spotlight: Saira Anwar

________________________

Meet Dr Christine DiBlasio, A psychologist, martial artist, and writer weaving trauma, resilience, and hope into meaningful change.

Creator Spotlight: Dr Christine DiBlasio

________________________

Meet Sam Messersmith, A Certified Forest Therapy Guide Helping Others Rediscover Connection and Belonging.

Creator Spotlight: Sam Messersmith

________________________

Meet Juli Hammersley, the inspiring writer and creator behind Peaceful Healer, who gently invites us to slow down, reconnect with nature, and discover the beauty and peace available in the present moment.

Creator Spotlight: Peaceful Healer

________________________

Meet Debra King, the inspiring writer behind Beautiful Things Grow Here. Debra is a trauma-informed writer and poet, Debra shares personal essays, poetry, and gentle reflections that linger long after the final words have been read.

Creator Spotlight: Debra King

________________________

Meet Jane Duncan Rogers, and discover how embracing ageing can open the doorway to a more meaningful and joyful life.

Creator Spotlight: Jane Duncan Rogers

________________________

Meet Colin Durrant, who shares inspiring stories of transformation, resilience, and the wild places that teach us how to live

Creator Spotlight: Colin Durrant

More From Savor Life Studio

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

Savor Life Studio ~ Create, Connect, and Grow in Peace is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

This Week’s Featured Creator

Subscribe now

This week, I’m delighted to introduce Colin Durrant, the writer behind Colin’s Chronicles.

Quick Introduction

Learning more about Colin’s Substack has been the highlight of my week.

Colin’s writing overflows with authenticity and heart, taking you on a journey through life’s deepest questions, unexpected adventures, and hard-won lessons.

His writing delves into the human condition and draws deeply from his own experiences to explore resilience, emotional depth, meaning, and how we can shift our perspective to create a life we truly love.

If you’re looking for soul-deep writing that captures your heart, opens your mind, and encourages you to keep going, no matter the obstacles, you’ve landed in the right place.

Pull up a comfortable chair and enjoy the ride.

You’re in for an exceptional read.

Conversation with Colin Durrant

What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when they spend time there?

I’m a channel writer. That means I put myself into a high vibrational state, connect to something bigger than myself, and write down whatever comes through. What comes through are old, timeless stories and lessons, for humanity and for me. Lessons on how to live a better, more fulfilling life.

I’m lucky enough to have found my purpose, and right now that purpose is helping people suffer less. My stories are meant to shift perspective and mindset. I spent 43 years suffering, struggling, not really wanting to be alive. Then I started to heal, to learn, to grow. I don’t help people because I read it in a book or took a course. I help them because I’ve lived it.

Most of what I write comes back to nature and to Africa. We run wellbeing groups for rural communities in Zambia, about 80 women and a handful of men, across three groups a week. My Substack writing is really the foundation for what we teach them there, small moments from the bush, a lion protecting his pride, a bird that calls every morning from the balcony where I stayed, and their stories feed back into my writing in turn.

A lot of it comes down to the same lesson wearing different shapes, letting go of what you’re carrying so you can actually move forward. We go back every year and bring people with us to experience the community, the wildlife, a completely different reality. It changes how people see their own lives.

If people are open to a new way of being, there’s a limitless world of magic available to them. That’s what I hope readers walk away with.

What inspired you to begin writing or creating on Substack?

Honestly, a friend sent me a link to his Substack, and that’s where it started. I was also looking for somewhere to publish my channel writing beyond my own website, somewhere I could reach more people and actually help them.

I’ve always loved reading and writing. I’ve written a few books on business and a novel about cybersecurity. Now I’m writing a book about my own journey, how I lived for years as a victim of my own life, and how I turned that around into a life I actually love. Substack has given me a way to build an audience and connect with people who think the way I do.

Is there a topic, question, or idea that continually calls you back in your work? If so, what is it, and why does it matter to you?

Helping people suffer less. Everything I write comes back to that one way or another. Whether it’s a warrior finally putting down something he’s been carrying for years, or a lion licking his wounds the morning after protecting his own, it’s always the same question underneath, how do we stop carrying what’s weighing us down. It’s not just something I want to do, it feels like an obligation, something bigger than me.

If your writing or creative work could make one meaningful difference in someone’s life, what would you hope that difference would be?

I want people to suffer less, and to start seeing the world differently, as a magical place full of possibility rather than something happening to them. To understand that they’ve created the life they’re living up to this point, which means they have the power to create a life they actually love.

Hearing back from the women we teach in Zambia is one of the most fulfilling things I know. Watching them change their mindset, take more responsibility for themselves, take action instead of waiting to be rescued, help their own families instead of waiting on someone else to do it. Watching that ripple out into their community is an incredible thing to witness.

A Favorite Photograph

A photo of me with two of the students in Zambia. Just before we left to come back to the UK. It is such an odd feeling leaving. It is nice going back to our life in the UK but we miss this place and the people so much. I wish their was a portal we could stop to to travel between the two places in an instant.

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What is something that brings you joy or peace in your everyday life outside of writing?

I get to the gym most mornings, it keeps me functioning as a human being, I need that fix. I walk a lot too, sometimes alone, sometimes with the dogs and my wife. We live close to nature and don’t take that for granted. There’s a small dam less than a mile from home, and we love watching the birds down there. One thing I never get tired of is watching a swan sit on her eggs, then watching the cygnets hatch and make their way through that first year of life. Not all of them make it, which is hard to watch, but most do. There’s a lot in this world to be grateful for.

These guys run a cafe at the Project and they look at us like family. Delicious coffees and lunches.

I love this photo with my wife and I and Janet Goh in the middle. She came with us to Zambia last year and we all had an amazing time. We were on safari in this photo and had stopped for some drinks to watch the sunset.

How can you not love this photo of a leopard in the wild in Zambia. I believe this is Lucy.

Here is my photo of my wife reading a story to some children at a library at Mufwe primary school. The children are so eager to learn and the 3 teachers are incredible. They are so enthusiastic and dedicated and you can tell they love their job and the children. They have about 500 children going through this library during the term. Each class spends about an hour per lesson learning to read in English.

I went for a walk every morning in Zambia and I had two or three dogs who used to join me. They’re not homeless, the dogs are just free to live and roam around. I loved the company.

Some of the ladies from our incredible wellbeing group. These women’s lives have changed in the last year and I am eternally grateful for having played a small part in that. It is very fulfilling work.

Featured Article

You Were Not Designed For The Life You Are Living

Go back far enough and none of this exists.

Read full story

Connect With This Creator

Creator Name: Colin Durrant

Publication Name: Colins’s Chronicles

Email: Colin@okapitech.co.uk

Website: www.okapitech.co.uk

Anything else you’d like readers to know?

This is about my adventures to Africa.

In 2027 I’m taking a small group to Zambia for two weeks. Not a safari. Not a version of Africa where you tick boxes off a list and go home with a few good photos.

This one won’t be for everyone. But if something in you has been asking to slow down, if you’re tired of your own life rushing past you, this might be exactly what you need.

I keep going back to the same community in the Luangwa Valley because every single time it resets something in me. These are people who have almost nothing by Western standards, and somehow they carry more resilience, more gratitude, more togetherness than most people I’ve ever met.

You’ll spend real time with them. You’ll support the conservation work happening on their doorstep. You’ll sit with children learning to read, and with students getting ready for university, and leave something behind that’s still there long after you’ve flown home.

There’s no rushing through any of it. No itinerary so packed you don’t have room to actually feel something. Just the bush, the people, and enough space to remember what matters.

I can’t promise you’ll come home the same person. I’ve never seen anyone manage it.

If that’s speaking to you, come with me.

Subscribe now

What has been the most unexpected gift of writing on Substack?

Connecting with like minded people. It’s shown me there’s a community of people on a similar journey to mine out there. When I look back at what actually lands with people, it’s never the polished stuff, it’s the pieces that came from something real, a bird that wouldn’t stop singing outside where I was staying, a lion worn out and being groomed by his own cub the next morning. People respond to that. It’s also shown me I don’t belong on platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook. They’re just not my people.

What do you hope people remember after reading your work?

The lesson inside every story. And then acting on it, even in a small way, so their life gets a little better, a little happier, a little more joyful.

Has a particular life experience shaped the way you write or create?

Spending time in rural Zambia changed me completely. Sitting with women who have almost nothing by Western standards, and hearing their stories, their resilience, their humour, their dignity, it recalibrates everything. I think that’s part of why animals show up in my writing so much too, they don’t perform for anyone, they just are, and that’s the same thing I saw in the women we work with. I came back a different writer, and a person with more purpose, someone who wants to keep showing up for people and impacting their lives in a good way.

What advice would you offer someone who is just beginning their creative journey?

Be brave. Be open, honest, vulnerable. Don’t chase validation through likes and subscribers. Focus on connecting with the right people, growth comes naturally from that. And decide what you actually want out of your creative journey before you start.

Is there a book, quote, or piece of wisdom that has influenced your life?

I’ve read lots of books, sometimes more than once which have helped me. There have been lots of breakthroughs and much wisdom. One of these takes a bit of getting your head around but has probably been the most influential.

“Once I understood and took responsibility for the life of suffering and struggle that I had created for myself, I understood that I had the power to create a life that I do love.”

What are you currently learning, wondering about, or exploring?

Manifesting, and manipulating time, slowing it down. The power we already have within us to create whatever it is we truly want. I am always focused on manifesting a parking place at the gym every morning. Because when it happens time and again, you realise you literally have the power to manifest. Its all about being playful with what you can manifest and create for yourself.

Thanks and kind regards,
​Colin

If This Resonates With You

One of the most meaningful ways to support a creator is simply to read their work and stay connected to it.

If something here speaks to you, I encourage you to take a moment to explore Colin’s Substack.

You can also support their work in small but powerful ways:

• Subscribe to their publication so you don’t miss new writing

• Leave a comment to let them know what resonated

• Restack or share a piece you loved

• Pass their work along to someone who might need it

These small actions are what help independent writers continue creating and what make spaces like Substack feel alive.

Interested in Being Featured?

Creator Spotlight exists to celebrate writers, artists, and creators whose work brings meaning, reflection, creativity, and connection to the Substack community.

If you’d like to be considered for a future feature, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to discovering new voices and sharing work that deserves to be seen.

You may also enjoy this earlier reflection on lifting voices and supporting one another within the Substack community:

Lifting Others Lights the Way

Want More Discoveries Like This?

If you’re enjoying Creator Spotlight, I invite you to subscribe to Savor Life Studio.

Each week, I feature a creator whose work brings insight, creativity, encouragement, and heart into the world.

If you’d like these discoveries delivered straight to your inbox, I’d love to have you join us at Savor Life Studio.

Thank you for being part of a space where creators support creators and thoughtful work is shared and celebrated. Your presence here means the world to me.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

Explore More Creator Spotlights

Meet Courtney Cunningham, the first creator featured in Creator Spotlight, and discover the heart, inspiration, and story behind her work. Click below to read.

Creator Spotlight: Courtney Cunningham

________________________

Meet John Rinaldo, one of Substack’s most inspiring and courageous voices whose writing and conversations stay with you long after you’ve experienced them.

Creator Spotlight: John Rinaldo

________________________

Meet Saira Anwar, an award-winning poet whose writing is filled with insight, courage, compassion, and wisdom that linger long after her words have circled your heart.

Creator Spotlight: Saira Anwar

________________________

Meet Dr Christine DiBlasio, A psychologist, martial artist, and writer weaving trauma, resilience, and hope into meaningful change.

Creator Spotlight: Dr Christine DiBlasio

________________________

Meet Sam Messersmith, A Certified Forest Therapy Guide Helping Others Rediscover Connection and Belonging.

Creator Spotlight: Sam Messersmith

________________________

Meet Juli Hammersley, the inspiring writer and creator behind Peaceful Healer, who gently invites us to slow down, reconnect with nature, and discover the beauty and peace available in the present moment.

Creator Spotlight: Peaceful Healer

________________________

Meet Debra King, the inspiring writer behind Beautiful Things Grow Here. Debra is a trauma-informed writer and poet, Debra shares personal essays, poetry, and gentle reflections that linger long after the final words have been read.

Creator Spotlight: Debra King

________________________

Meet Jane Duncan Rogers, and discover how embracing ageing can open the doorway to a more meaningful and joyful life.

Creator Spotlight: Jane Duncan Rogers

________________________

More From Savor Life Studio

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

Subscribe now

This Week’s Featured Creator

This week, I’m delighted to introduce Jane Duncan Rogers, the writer behind Embracing Ageing.

Quick Introduction

Getting to know Jane’s inspiring work has been genuinely delightful.

Drawing on both professional expertise and deeply personal experience, Jane offers readers a gentle gateway to embracing life, ageing, and every stage of life’s journey.

There’s an ever-present stream of gratitude, kindness, and wisdom flowing through Jane’s writing, inviting readers to embrace life’s most meaningful conversations with greater curiosity, courage, and appreciation for the preciousness of life.

This is the perfect time to settle in with your favorite beverage and enjoy getting to know Jane as much as I have.

Conversation with Jane Duncan Rogers

What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when they spend time there?

I was going to say it’s about ageing, but actually I think that is rather a funnel through which I reflect, inspire, learn and rejoice in life. Ageing in itself as a topic means you also (at least in my book) have to include death, ie no more life, and that ironically brings us TO life more than we realize! Hence appreciating what we have got, rather than feeling sad about what we haven’t.

I hope readers get a taste of that when they come to my site. I often get told they like the way I write, and often feel inspired by it, which is a lovely thing to hear.

I also hope readers experience a certain irreverence in my style, and can laugh with me at the predicament we find ourselves in – ageing with only one way out!

What inspired you to begin writing or creating on Substack?

I spent all of 2023 not working, having just received the state pension, which brought a little breathing space from having to work. It was uncomfortable to say the least, but I had been working so hard in the not-for-profit I had funded 8 years previously, that I really needed a rest, and I left that full-time position.

I promised myself I wouldn’t start writing anything until it was really bubbling up from within, and couldn’t help but spill over on the page. It took 10 months! Much longer than I imagined.

I’ve always been one for sharing what’s going on with me, in a way that I hope others will learn from, or be inspired by. So when it dawned on me that I was ageing, it seemed obvious that I could invite others who were also ageing to come on this journey with me. Then the name Embracing Ageing came quickly - I want to embrace it as much as I can, so it’s easier as I get older, and hopefully makes it easier for my readers too.

Is there a topic, question or idea that continually calls you back in your work?

Well, it might not be very popular to read this, but I do keep coming back to the need to discuss the end point in life, commonly called death. I do think it’s really ridiculous that the one thing we know for certain that will happen in this life (ie death) is the one thing that so many turn away from. And actually, when ageing and what it brings is acknowledged, it becomes much less scary, gives curiosity a chance to breathe, and we learn to expand our hearts, minds and souls right up until the last moment.

The wonderful thing about facing the definite fact that we are going to die is that it makes life so much more precious, fantastic, alive, juicy and joyous! Which is often not discovered unless we’ve had a brush with death in one way or the other.

If your writing or creative work could make one meaningful difference in someone’s life, what would you hope that difference would be?

If anything I write or say inspires them to be kinder to themselves during the ageing process, that would be wonderful. If it also included the practical element of planning ahead for a good death, then that would be a bonus! There’s an awful lot that can be done ahead of time to prepare well for the best end possible. And that’s all part of the consciously ageing well process.

A Favorite Photo

I love this pic because I remember laughing at whatever the photographer was saying; plus I am wearing my favourite colours

What is something that brings you joy or peace in your everyday life outside of writing?

I am a natural early riser, and I love to get out of bed and walk in the woods at the end of our road. I hardly ever see anyone else, so it’s just me and the birdsong, the wind riffling the leaves, and the water splashing in the stream. I love it and it totally sets me up for the day.

Has a particular life experience shaped the way you write or create?

Yes. In fact I divide my life so far into 3 sections: Before I met my first husband, while I was with him, and after he died.

His death has been instrumental in so many ways. I had been working as a counsellor and coach for many years, and was writing a blog focused on helping holistic small business owners to be more successful. You can’t live with someone who is going through cancer treatment without that affecting your work, so a lot of what I wrote at that time was about what we were going through and how it was affecting my work.

After he died, I knew I would write about it all at some point. I also knew deep down that I had to wait until the momentum took me. I did write, all the time in my journal, but it wasn’t until about 2 years after he died that I felt moved to pour out the whole story into what became Gifted By Grief: A True Story of Cancer, Loss and Rebirth. The first draft took me about 6 weeks, as it came gushing out and was quite a cathartic process. When it was published, readers were interested most in the questions I had asked my husband before he died. Questions like ‘what are your passwords, what kind of coffin do you want, how do you want your body dressed?’ Fairly hard hitting but important to know the answers to.

So I set up a not-for-profit organization to educate, encourage and enable people to answer these and all the other questions, get the legal stuff in place, and in short, put a good end of life plan in place. I also wrote my fourth book, Before I Go: The Essential Guide to Creating a Good End of Life Plan. I ran that company for eight years, and although I’m not in that role any more, I still work with some people individually to enable them to put a good end of life plan in place, and experience the relief and peace of mind that this brings.

So although by the time I wrote Gifted By Grief, I was already feeling grateful for what had happened as a result of the awful tragedy of my husband dying, I am even more grateful now, because his life AND his death have both contributed majorly to me being an award-winning writer, TedX speaker, and contributor in the ageing arena, where so many people find the subject challenging, and death in particular so hard to talk about.

Not to mention that I met a widower three years after Philip died, and we are now happily married and building a new house together. We refer to our marriage as having four people in it, as without our spouses having died, we would never have met each other.

Featured Article

Click the link below to read:

What’s the purpose of being alive after you’re retired

Embracing Ageing

What's the purpose of being alive after you’re retired?

Hi there…

Read more

3 months ago · 48 likes · 73 comments · Jane Duncan Rogers

Thank you so much for reading. Here is how to connect with Jane.

Creator Contact Information

Creator Name: Jane Duncan Rogers

Publication Name: Embracing Ageing

Subscribe Here

If This Resonates With You

One of the most meaningful ways to support a creator is simply to read their work and stay connected to it.

If something here speaks to you, I encourage you to take a moment to explore Jane’s Substack.

You can also support their work in small but powerful ways:

• Subscribe to their publication so you don’t miss new writing

• Leave a comment to let them know what resonated

• Restack or share a piece you loved

• Pass their work along to someone who might need it

These small actions are what help independent writers continue creating and what make spaces like Substack feel alive.

Interested in Being Featured?

Creator Spotlight exists to celebrate writers, artists, and creators whose work brings meaning, reflection, creativity, and connection to the Substack community.

If you’d like to be considered for a future feature, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to discovering new voices and sharing work that deserves to be seen.

You may also enjoy this earlier reflection on lifting voices and supporting one another within the Substack community:

Lifting Others Lights the Way

Want More Discoveries Like This?

If you’re enjoying Creator Spotlight, I invite you to subscribe to Savor Life Studio.

Subscribe now

Each week, I feature a creator whose work brings insight, creativity, encouragement, and heart into the world.

If you’d like these discoveries delivered straight to your inbox, I’d love to have you join us at Savor Life Studio.

Thank you for being part of a space where creators support creators and thoughtful work is shared and celebrated. Your presence here means the world to me.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

Explore More Creator Spotlights

Meet Courtney Cunningham, the first creator featured in Creator Spotlight, and discover the heart, inspiration, and story behind her work. Click below to read.

Creator Spotlight: Courtney Cunningham

________________________

Meet John Rinaldo, one of Substack’s most inspiring and courageous voices whose writing and conversations stay with you long after you’ve experienced them.

Creator Spotlight: John Rinaldo

________________________

Meet Saira Anwar, an award-winning poet whose writing is filled with insight, courage, compassion, and wisdom that linger long after her words have circled your heart.

Creator Spotlight: Saira Anwar

________________________

Meet Dr Christine DiBlasio, A psychologist, martial artist, and writer weaving trauma, resilience, and hope into meaningful change.

Creator Spotlight: Dr Christine DiBlasio

________________________

Meet Sam Messersmith, A Certified Forest Therapy Guide Helping Others Rediscover Connection and Belonging.

Creator Spotlight: Sam Messersmith

________________________

Meet Juli Hammersley, the inspiring writer and creator behind Peaceful Healer, who gently invites us to slow down, reconnect with nature, and discover the beauty and peace available in the present moment.

Creator Spotlight: Peaceful Healer

________________________

Meet Debra King, the inspiring writer behind Beautiful Things Grow Here. Debra is a trauma-informed writer and poet, Debra shares personal essays, poetry, and gentle reflections that linger long after the final words have been read.

Creator Spotlight: Debra King

More From Savor Life Studio

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

Subscribe now

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

Subscribe now

This Week’s Featured Creator

This week, I’m delighted to introduce Debra King, the writer behind Beautiful Things Grow Here.

Quick Introduction

Learning more about Debra’s talents and offerings here on Substack has been delightfully inspiring.

As a trauma-informed writer and poet, Debra shares personal essays, poetry, and gentle reflections that linger long after the final words have been read.

Her gentle and welcoming community offers a sacred space to process, reflect, and rebuild at a pace that feels deeply healing and restorative.

One sentence, in particular, stayed with me long after our conversation. I believe it beautifully captures the heart of Debra's work:

I want them to know they are not what happened to them, but what they choose to create from it.

I hope you enjoy meeting Debra and discovering the treasured gifts within Beautiful Things Grow Here, as much as I have.

Conversation with Debra King

What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when they spend time there?

I started Beautiful Things Grow Here because I know what it feels like to feel completely frozen by life. When you’ve been through trauma, your world can feel incredibly small. I wanted to build something where we can just slow down and process things together without any pressure. When people spend time here, I want them to feel safe and I hope they leave feeling like they can take a deep breath and go at their own natural pace.

What inspired you to begin writing or creating on Substack?

I started writing when I was a teenager, and back then, my voice was so shaky. I was scared of everything. I thought if I just forgot about what happened, I could move on. I definitely wasn’t writing down the details of my past back then, I was just writing poetry and random thoughts because I had no other way to express the heavy emotions inside me. But because I didn’t know how to handle those feelings, when I did pour things out on paper, I often ended up re-traumatizing myself. I didn’t realize that just touching those dark corners in my poems would trigger everything, leaving my body completely frantic and exhausted. Over time, I learned that poetry and writing could be more than just hobbies or a way to survive; they could be the exact tools I used to safely find my way back into my own skin.

But finding those tools was a long process, and I didn’t start my true healing journey until a few years ago. I am 47 now, and it took decades of carrying the secrets of my past before I began doing the deep work of therapy and learning how to safely reparent myself. Once I started discovering how to work with my nervous system instead of against it, I realized how many other people were still fumbling in that same isolated darkness and I wanted to share the tools that finally brought me some peace.

I chose Substack because I needed a space that allowed for a more intentional way of connecting. Social media can feel so overwhelming and chaotic, but this platform feels more like a cozy, spacious room where I can share honest personal essays and reflections without any glossy filters. It gave me a way to move from just working through things alone in my own journals to building a gentle healing circle with people who want to process these things together safely, at a pace that protects our well-being.

Is there a topic, question, or idea that continually calls you back in your work? If so, what is it, and why does it matter to you?

I am always drawn back to how our bodies hold onto our past experiences, and how we can use writing to safely move through that tension. Living with multiple chronic illnesses myself, I know exactly how deeply childhood trauma and grief imbed themselves in our physical bodies.

That connection is why my work focuses so heavily on emotional healing and the hard work of rebuilding yourself after survival. As a writer and certified trauma-informed writing coach with training in somatic therapy, I teach people how to write near something before trying to write directly about it. That means pacing yourself and writing what you can handle right now, rather than diving straight into the center of a wound.

It matters to me because I want to help people build a practice that actually feels like care, not something that triggers a physical setback. It is exactly why I created Beautiful Things Grow Here. I wanted a supportive place for personal essays, poetry, and honest reflections on how we can all become a little softer with ourselves.

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If your writing or creative work could make one meaningful difference in someone’s life, what would you hope that difference would be?

I want to help people see that they can face their past and hold their own difficult stories without being swallowed by them. If someone reads my work or tries a writing prompt or somatic exercise and realizes that allowing themselves to feel the heavy things is exactly how they return to themselves, then that is everything to me.

I want them to know they are not what happened to them, but what they choose to create from it.

A Favorite Photo

The photo I’m sharing, was taken at Book Soup on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and it captures the exact moment I saw my poetry book in a bookstore for the very first time. My dream has always been to see my work sitting on a shelf among the authors I grew up admiring, so this was a dream come true. It is also incredibly special because my first poetry book, Metamorphosis, is a deep exploration of grief; I wrote it six months after my dad died, and a year later, there I was holding it in the store.

What is something that brings you joy or peace in your everyday life outside of writing?

I love being out in nature and getting my hands dirty gardening, watching things grow and change. At the end of the day, I really love the process of cooking a meal from scratch, chopping vegetables, and putting something comforting together. Just sitting down to eat, relaxing, and laughing with my husband completely grounds me. Those simple, quiet moments remind me of how good it feels to just be here, to be safe, and to be present in my own life.

Featured Article

How I’m Healing Through Writing About Trauma

Creator Contact Information

Creator Name: Debra King

Publication Name: Beautiful Things Grow Here

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Anything else you’d like readers to know?

I recently updated my paid subscription into The Healing Garden. I chose that name because a room has four strict walls, but a garden has room to breathe, to shift with the seasons, and to grow at its own natural pace. Inside our circle, we do bi-monthly audio poetic remedies where I read the poems aloud and share the deeper trauma-informed ‘why’ behind the lines, along with body-focused writing prompts.

I also offer self-paced mini-courses at the end of each month, like Tending the Soil: Somatic Writing for High Anxiety, which are deep-dive modules created to help you navigate patterns or places where your nervous system tends to get stuck.

But whether you want to dig a little deeper with us there or just stay in our free circle, I am just incredibly grateful you are here today.

If This Resonates With You

One of the most meaningful ways to support a creator is simply to read their work and stay connected to it.

If something here speaks to you, I encourage you to take a moment to explore Debra’s Substack.

You can also support their work in small but powerful ways:

• Subscribe to their publication so you don’t miss new writing

• Leave a comment to let them know what resonated

• Restack or share a piece you loved

• Pass their work along to someone who might need it

These small actions are what help independent writers continue creating and what make spaces like Substack feel alive.

Interested in Being Featured?

Creator Spotlight exists to celebrate writers, artists, and creators whose work brings meaning, reflection, creativity, and connection to the Substack community.

If you’d like to be considered for a future feature, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to discovering new voices and sharing work that deserves to be seen.

You may also enjoy this earlier reflection on lifting voices and supporting one another within the Substack community:

Lifting Others Lights the Way

Want More Discoveries Like This?

If you’re enjoying Creator Spotlight, I invite you to subscribe to Savor Life Studio.

Subscribe now

Each week, I feature a creator whose work brings insight, creativity, encouragement, and heart into the world.

If you’d like these discoveries delivered straight to your inbox, I’d love to have you join us at Savor Life Studio.

Thank you for being part of a space where creators support creators and thoughtful work is shared and celebrated. Your presence here means the world to me.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

Explore More Creator Spotlights

Meet Courtney Cunningham, the first creator featured in Creator Spotlight, and discover the heart, inspiration, and story behind her work. Click below to read.

Creator Spotlight: Courtney Cunningham

________________________

Meet John Rinaldo, one of Substack’s most inspiring and courageous voices whose writing and conversations stay with you long after you’ve experienced them.

Creator Spotlight: John Rinaldo

________________________

Meet Saira Anwar, an award-winning poet whose writing is filled with insight, courage, compassion, and wisdom that linger long after her words have circled your heart.

Creator Spotlight: Saira Anwar

________________________

Meet Dr Christine DiBlasio, A psychologist, martial artist, and writer weaving trauma, resilience, and hope into meaningful change.

Creator Spotlight: Dr Christine DiBlasio

________________________

Meet Sam Messersmith, A Certified Forest Therapy Guide Helping Others Rediscover Connection and Belonging.

Creator Spotlight: Sam Messersmith

________________________

Meet Juli Hammersley, the inspiring writer and creator behind Peaceful Healer, who gently invites us to slow down, reconnect with nature, and discover the beauty and peace available in the present moment.

Creator Spotlight: Peaceful Healer

More From Savor Life Studio

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

Subscribe now

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

Subscribe now

Creator Spotlight Questions

This Week’s Featured Creator

This week, I’m delighted to introduce Juli Hammersley, the writer behind Peaceful Healer.

Quick Introduction

I first discovered Juli's Substack over a year ago and was immediately drawn to the gentle wisdom woven throughout her writing. Her deep connection with nature, heartfelt reverence for gratitude, and peaceful practices for slowing down invite readers to return to the present moment with greater awareness and compassion.

Peaceful Healer is a welcoming refuge where readers are invited to slow down, listen deeply, and savor each new moment while discovering a profound sense of acceptance and belonging.

Each post feels like a gentle invitation to honor ourselves, deepen our connection with the natural world, and return to the quiet wisdom of the present moment.

It has been a delight getting to know Juli through her writing. I hope you enjoy meeting her and discovering Peaceful Healer as much as I have.

Conversation with Peaceful Healer

What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when they spend time there?

At the heart of my Substack is an invitation to slow down.

In a world that often asks us to move faster, do more and think harder, I hope my writing offers a gentle pause—a place where people can simply breathe, reconnect with themselves and remember that peace is never as far away as it sometimes seems.

Through reflections on mindfulness, nature, breath, gratitude and everyday wisdom, my intention is not to teach people how to become someone different. It is to help them rediscover who they already are beneath the noise. If someone leaves feeling a little calmer, a little lighter or a little more hopeful than when they arrived, then my writing has done its job.

My life has changed profoundly over the past few years, and writing has become a way of making sense of that journey. Alongside creating meditations and breathwork, Substack has become a place where I can share the quieter reflections that arise from living close to nature, practicing mindfulness, and discovering that even in life’s more challenging seasons, peace can still be found.

What inspired you to begin writing or creating on Substack?

I’ve spent many years guiding meditation, breathwork and mindfulness practices through Insight Timer, where my focus has always been creating spaces for stillness and healing.

Substack felt like a natural extension of that work. It gave me somewhere to explore the ideas behind the meditations—the quiet observations, stories and moments of wonder that don’t always fit into an audio track.

I also love the sense of community here. It feels less like broadcasting and more like sitting down with friends over a cup of tea, sharing thoughts that invite reflection rather than rushing towards answers.

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Is there a topic, question, or idea that continually calls you back in your work? If so, what is it, and why does it matter to you?

I always return to one simple question:

How can we meet this moment with a little more presence and a little more kindness?

Whether I’m writing about the breath, trees, gratitude, healing, curiosity or life’s inevitable challenges, it always comes back to that.

Life isn’t asking us to be perfect. It’s inviting us to be present.

I believe extraordinary peace is often found in ordinary moments—the way sunlight falls through leaves, the sound of birdsong, one conscious breath, or choosing compassion over criticism. These small moments can quietly transform the way we experience our lives.

If your writing or creative work could make one meaningful difference in someone’s life, what would you hope that difference would be?

I would hope it helps someone remember that they are enough.

Not because they have achieved more, become more productive or finally figured everything out—but because their worth has always been there.

Many people carry an inner voice that tells them they should be doing more or being more. If my work helps soften that voice and replace it with one of gentleness, acceptance and self-compassion, then that is a gift beyond measure.

Peace doesn’t arrive once life becomes perfect. It begins in the way we meet ourselves today.

A Favorite Photo

I would love to share a photograph taken at Cotehele, a beautiful National Trust estate in Cornwall.

It’s one of the places I return to again and again. Ancient trees, quiet woodland paths and the River Tamar have become trusted companions in my own journey of slowing down. Whenever life feels full, nature reminds me that everything has its own rhythm.

That photograph captures more than a landscape for me. It represents stillness, resilience and the gentle wisdom that the natural world offers so freely when we’re willing to pause and listen.

What is something that brings you joy or peace in your everyday life outside of writing?

Walking in nature is probably the greatest gift I give myself.

Whether it’s wandering through woodland, standing beside the sea, watching bees moving from flower to flower or simply noticing the changing seasons, I find endless inspiration outdoors.

I also love meditation, breathwork is a passion of mine, qi gong and photography. They all invite me to pay closer attention to life as it unfolds.

I’ve come to believe that joy isn’t something we have to chase. More often, it’s something we notice when we slow down enough to see it.

Featured Article

Morning Breathwork: Inhale Gratitude: Exhale Loving Kindness

Click the link below to read:

Morning Breathwork: Inhale Gratitude: Exhale Loving Kindness

Creator Contact Information

Creator Name: Juli Hammersley

Publication Name: Peaceful Healer

Subscribe

Anything else you’d like readers to know?

I believe even the smallest pause can become a turning point. If my words encourage someone to take one deeper breath, step outside into nature or treat themselves with a little more kindness today, then I’m deeply grateful.

If This Resonates With You

One of the most meaningful ways to support a creator is simply to read their work and stay connected to it.

If something here speaks to you, I encourage you to take a moment to explore Peaceful Healer’s Substack.

You can also support their work in small but powerful ways:

• Subscribe to their publication so you don’t miss new writing

• Leave a comment to let them know what resonated

• Restack or share a piece you loved

• Pass their work along to someone who might need it

These small actions are what help independent writers continue creating and what make spaces like Substack feel alive.

Interested in Being Featured?

Creator Spotlight exists to celebrate writers, artists, and creators whose work brings meaning, reflection, creativity, and connection to the Substack community.

If you’d like to be considered for a future feature, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to discovering new voices and sharing work that deserves to be seen.

You may also enjoy this earlier reflection on lifting voices and supporting one another within the Substack community:

Lifting Others Lights the Way

Want More Discoveries Like This?

If you’re enjoying Creator Spotlight, I invite you to subscribe to Savor Life Studio.

Subscribe now

Each week, I feature a creator whose work brings insight, creativity, encouragement, and heart into the world.

If you’d like these discoveries delivered straight to your inbox, I’d love to have you join us at Savor Life Studio.

Thank you for being part of a space where creators support creators and thoughtful work is shared and celebrated. Your presence here means the world to me.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

Explore More Creator Spotlights

Meet Courtney Cunningham, the first creator featured in Creator Spotlight, and discover the heart, inspiration, and story behind her work. Click below to read.

Creator Spotlight: Courtney Cunningham

________________________

Meet John Rinaldo, one of Substack’s most inspiring and courageous voices whose writing and conversations stay with you long after you’ve experienced them.

Creator Spotlight: John Rinaldo

________________________

Meet Saira Anwar, an award-winning poet whose writing is filled with insight, courage, compassion, and wisdom that linger long after her words have circled your heart.

Creator Spotlight: Saira Anwar

________________________

Meet Dr Christine DiBlasio, A psychologist, martial artist, and writer weaving trauma, resilience, and hope into meaningful change.

Creator Spotlight: Dr Christine DiBlasio

________________________

Meet Sam Messersmith, A Certified Forest Therapy Guide Helping Others Rediscover Connection and Belonging.

Creator Spotlight: Sam Messersmith

More From Savor Life Studio

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

Subscribe now

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

Subscribe now

Creator Spotlight Questions

This Week’s Featured Creator

This week, I’m delighted to introduce Sam Messersmith, the writer behind Wandering Willow

Quick Introduction

I first discovered Sam’s Substack about a year ago and was immediately drawn to her deep connection with the natural world and her beautiful sense of belonging within it.

Sam shares herself and her creative work with a genuine, grounded authenticity. She invites readers into her community with open arms, and before long, it feels like stepping into a space that is safe, nurturing, and deeply restorative.

What shines most is her perspective on our relationship with the natural world, one that feels both grounding and deeply inspiring.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Sam as much as I have.

Conversation with Sam Messersmith

What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when they spend time there?

The heart of my Substack—well, my Substack is called Wandering Willow because of a love of nature and a longing to wander. I think wandering can be done anywhere: in the inner world or the outer world. My thoughts wander quite a lot, and wandering in nature is a good way to spend some time, à la forest bathing, as I am also a Forest Therapy Guide.

The heart of it is just remembering that we are nature. We’re not part of nature; we are nature. Nature is almost always a mirror for exactly what we need, and/or it holds space for what we need. Nature is at the heart of everything that I do, and so it’s quite an inspiration for my writing as well.

I hope that readers experience some curiosity in my space. I think curiosity is a great way to live—getting curious about the natural world and our place in it. Perhaps even choosing to think differently about how we see the more-than-human world, and ourselves.

Ultimately, I want freedom, peace, safety, and connection for myself. Those are my pillars, and I hope that maybe people would experience that as well when they spend time at my Substack, Wandering Willow.

My outdoor writing space—there is always a cat nearby (or on my notebook) when I write. Han (left) and Chewy (right)

What inspired you to begin writing or creating on Substack?

This question is always one of my favorites because, in a nutshell, Forest Therapy is the reason that I’m here on Substack.

I’ve written about how Forest Therapy changed my life here. I had a bit of a burnout moment and quit my job with no safety net. There were a lot of mental health struggles at the time, and after trying a lot of different modalities and therapy, I still wasn’t finding the relief that I needed.

I went down an internet rabbit hole and found Forest Therapy. As soon as I read about it, something clicked, and I knew it was for me. I wanted to become a Forest Therapy Guide before I had even gone on a walk. Reading about the premise of forest bathing was enough to hook me, but once I actually experienced it, it was a truly mystical, magical, life-changing experience.

That experience put me on the path to becoming a certified Forest Therapy Guide. In doing that, there’s a certain return to yourself that happens. I’ve noticed that a lot of people in transitional phases of life are drawn to this work, and that was certainly true for me.

It helped me rediscover myself, come home to myself, and reawaken the writer in me.

I used to play on a typewriter as a kid before I even knew how to spell. I wrote short stories as a preteen, poems as a teenager and into my twenties. Writing has always been how I process my emotions. Then life got busy, and that part of me faded into the background.

Forest therapy gave me the space and quiet to remember who I am. It’s a deeply spiritual and powerful practice for me, and the writing came naturally from that experience.

I’d always had “work from home, writing” on my vision board, even before the pandemic. The pandemic brought the work-from-home part, and Forest Therapy brought the writing.

I’ve always had this deep urge to write. I can’t fully explain it—it’s just something I’ve always needed to do. Substack finally gave me a place to share that writing with other people. And honestly, I also thought I’d make money. Anyone who’s been here a while knows it’s possible, but it’s not easy. That’s ultimately what brought me to Substack.

Photo of me in Tazewell, TN in 2024 where I completed my Forest Therapy Guide training

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Is there a topic, question, or idea that continually calls you back in your work? If so, what is it, and why does it matter to you?

The idea that continually calls me back in my work is that everything is connected. Everything is connected.

Where I feel that most strongly is in nature. Nature is the place where I remember. Nature is the place where I can listen and be taught and be held, and be accepted for who I am. It feels like home in the deepest sense of the word.

Nature is where I remember that we are connected. We are nature. We’re not only connected to nature—we are nature. In the forest, I’m connected to the trees through my breath, and I can feel that connection when I’m there amongst the trees and the grass. There’s no separation between us. Just fully experiencing that same sunlight on me and the wind on my skin, and knowing it’s all one single thread that runs through all of life.

I know that there’s also so much more to life, to the world, to the universe, and that we’re still all connected. Even the planets have their own influences on us, from the tides to astrology and sunlight. It just really reminds me that we’re all connected. Everything is connected.

For me, that also means I belong in that. I’m accepted in that, and those are threads that I’ve been pulling at all my life—to just feel like I belong.

Photo taken by me in Tazewell, TN 2024. Hearts in nature are my jam.

If your writing or creative work could make one meaningful difference in someone’s life, what would you hope that difference would be?

I hope for the things that I wish I had.

They say that there’s a loneliness epidemic, and we all feel so disconnected. For me, I struggle to feel like I belong. So I want that for myself, and I want that for everyone.

I want everyone to feel like they belong, that they’re connected to something greater. They’re connected to each other as human beings. They’re connected to the plants and animals and elements. I hope they can feel a true sense of connection and know that they belong.

They deserve to be here, on this planet, in this place, at this time. They inherently belong, and the world needs them and their gifts to be shared here. They’re here for a reason.

Me at Coopers Rock, WV in 2025. My husband is the source of the bubbles, at my request.

A Favorite Photo

This photo is of my husband and me, on September 23, 2016. We celebrated our 1st Wedding Anniversary with a paint night. It is my favorite painting we’ve created together (we’ve done many date night paintings at Painting with a Twist). Painting in a group is really fun, and I was surprised at how much my husband enjoyed painting and the process. He absolutely gushes over my work, and it’s one of my favorite things about him. These paintings hang just above our tv, and I look at them everyday.

What is something that brings you joy or peace in your everyday life outside of writing?

Our two cats bring me a lot of joy and peace every day, and also some frustration too if I’m being honest haha. They keep me grounded, and mindful. They remind me to take breaks and play. They also remind me to eat lunch when I get way too focused on a task and forget to eat. Their silly antics make me laugh. They always have to come with me when I go out on the deck, even if I’m just watering the plants for 5 minutes. Tending to our potted zinnias and marigolds has brought me a lot of joy this year too.

Featured Article

Birdsong is a Basic Need

It felt like a homecoming—a softening, a small opening to wonder, and a beautiful reminder of how healing nature can be.

Click the link below to read:

Birdsong is a Basic Need

Creator Contact Information

Gather in community once a month to share what is lighting you up at:

Show and Tell for Grown-Ups.

Creator Name: Sam Messersmith

Publication Name: Wandering Willow

Subscribe Here

Anything else you’d like readers to know?

If you’re longing for a gentler relationship with yourself and the more-than-human world, I’d love to welcome you to Wandering Willow. I’m also slowly growing into offering online forest therapy experiences, alongside my writing, for those who feel called to remember their connection with nature.

If This Resonates With You

One of the most meaningful ways to support a creator is simply to read their work and stay connected to it.

If something here speaks to you, I encourage you to take a moment to explore Sam’s Substack.

You can also support their work in small but powerful ways:

• Subscribe to their publication so you don’t miss new writing

• Leave a comment to let them know what resonated

• Restack or share a piece you loved

• Pass their work along to someone who might need it

These small actions are what help independent writers continue creating and what make spaces like Substack feel alive.

Interested in Being Featured?

Creator Spotlight exists to celebrate writers, artists, and creators whose work brings meaning, reflection, creativity, and connection to the Substack community.

If you’d like to be considered for a future feature, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to discovering new voices and sharing work that deserves to be seen.

You may also enjoy this earlier reflection on lifting voices and supporting one another within the Substack community:

Lifting Others Lights the Way

Want More Discoveries Like This?

If you’re enjoying Creator Spotlight, I invite you to subscribe to Savor Life Studio.

Subscribe now

Each week, I feature a creator whose work brings insight, creativity, encouragement, and heart into the world.

If you’d like these discoveries delivered straight to your inbox, I’d love to have you join us at Savor Life Studio.

Thank you for being part of a space where creators support creators and thoughtful work is shared and celebrated. Your presence here means the world to me.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

Explore More Creator Spotlights

Meet Courtney Cunningham, the first creator featured in Creator Spotlight, and discover the heart, inspiration, and story behind her work. Click below to read.

Creator Spotlight: Courtney Cunningham

________________________

Meet John Rinaldo, one of Substack’s most inspiring and courageous voices whose writing and conversations stay with you long after you’ve experienced them.

Creator Spotlight: John Rinaldo

________________________

Meet Saira Anwar, an award-winning poet whose writing is filled with insight, courage, compassion, and wisdom that linger long after her words have circled your heart.

Creator Spotlight: Saira Anwar

________________________

Meet Dr Christine DiBlasio, A psychologist, martial artist, and writer weaving trauma, resilience, and hope into meaningful change.

Creator Spotlight: Dr Christine DiBlasio

More From Savor Life Studio

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

Subscribe now

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days

Subscribe now

Quick Introduction

Collaborating with Dr. Christine DiBlasio has been an inspiring and delightful experience, and I could not be more excited to introduce you to her creative work, passions, and remarkable accomplishments.

Christine’s conversational writing style invites readers to engage, reflect, and pull up a chair to linger within her welcoming and healing community.

Her extensive work as a psychologist, combined with her background in martial arts, brings deep compassion and insight into her writing and fuels her commitment to meaningful change.

Christine’s breadth of knowledge around trauma, resilience, violence prevention, and empowerment illuminates pathways toward healing and hope.

I sincerely hope you enjoy getting to know Dr. Christine DiBlasio as much as I have.

What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when they spend time there?

There is no doubt that times are hard.

The antidote, at least for me: hope, compassion, connection, courage, and knowledge—all while working for meaningful change. I wholeheartedly believe in the power of people working together for good and the importance of connection and compassion. Together, we can make a difference.

One of my mantras: “Hope is a renewable energy source.” Furthermore, hope is a prerequisite for positive change.

My Substack capitalizes on my background as a psychologist with 30+ years of experience working with trauma survivors. This is uniquely paired with my martial arts background (5th-degree black belt). Over 20 years ago, I co-founded a non-profit that integrates advances in trauma research with movement-based approaches to foster violence prevention and trauma recovery. This has been incredibly inspiring and meaningful work.

I bring passion for all of these topics to my posts.

My writing leans towards a conversational, informal style. I welcome comments, questions, and suggestions. I’d like it to feel like you are talking with a friend. Because you are!

What inspired you to begin writing or creating on Substack?

As a child, I found that reading and writing were lifelines, helping me cope with everyday stress.

In 2025, I began a desired career transition. That, paired with current events, prompted me to start writing on Substack and to revive that legacy coping strategy.

My initial goal was modest: to connect with and bring hope to just one person. In the end, I have made many wonderful connections and enjoy learning about a wide range of topics from so many talented writers here on Substack.

Is there a topic, question, or idea that continually calls you back in your work? If so, what is it, and why does it matter to you?

That is a tough one.

Trauma, resilience, healing, empowerment, safety, and well being are common themes. I also share information on violence prevention strategies. These topics relate to my life’s work, and I remain incredibly passionate about each of them.

Lastly, humor—and animals—have saved me from many dark times. I try to bring lightness to my writings when possible, while maintaining respect for the topic under discussion. And I frequently share photos of my adorable cats or other animals I find along the way.

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If your writing or creative work could make one meaningful difference in someone’s life, what would you hope that difference would be?

That is an easy one!

Quite simply, I want readers to know this:

YOU ARE NOT ALONE. You matter. Your experiences matter.

Healing is possible.

And…I’m listening.

Is there a favorite photo you would like to share with readers? It could be a photo of yourself, a place you love, something you’ve created, or anything meaningful to you. Please tell us a little about why you chose it.

It was hard to choose, as I have thousands of photos that I love! This photo was taken on an ordinary summer day, after spending time with friends. My husband and I wandered over to watch the sunset, and a friend captured this peaceful and gorgeous scene. Lake Champlain is simply beautiful.

A second favorite is below. I call this “Turtle Parade”. We see this all the time on the Lamoille River in VT, yet it never ceases to make me smile.

What is something that brings you joy or peace in your everyday life outside of writing?

Three things immediately come to mind:

• Movement is my medicine. I run, practice karate, weight train, bike, walk, kayak, play pickleball—you get the idea!

• Nature. I simply love being out in nature.

• Connecting with trusted friends.

Anything else you’d like readers to know?

I love to collaborate on topics of mutual interest. I welcome ideas or suggestions for future posts as well.

Click below to view:

A question and answer session with USA TODAY's 2023 Women of the Year honoree for Vermont. Christine DiBlasio

Featured Posts:

“Art Informed by Science”

Dr Christine DiBlasio

July 22, 2025

Mental Health Matters

Dr Christine DiBlasio

May 12

Haunted by the Shadow of Trauma

Dr Christine DiBlasio

June 25, 2025

The Emotional Cost of Caring

Dr Christine DiBlasio and Ordinary Therapist

Jan 7

Connect With This Creator

Creator Name: Dr. Christine DiBlasio

Publication Name: Unsilenced, For Good

If This Resonates With You

One of the most meaningful ways to support a creator is simply to read their work and stay connected to it.

If something here speaks to you, I encourage you to take a moment to explore Dr Christine DiBlasio’s Substack.

You can also support their work in small but powerful ways:

• Subscribe to their publication so you don’t miss new writing

• Leave a comment to let them know what resonated

• Restack or share a piece you loved

• Pass their work along to someone who might need it

These small actions are what help independent writers continue creating and what make spaces like Substack feel alive.

Interested in Being Featured?

Creator Spotlight exists to celebrate writers, artists, and creators whose work brings meaning, reflection, creativity, and connection to the Substack community.

If you’d like to be considered for a future feature, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to discovering new voices and sharing work that deserves to be seen.

You may also enjoy this earlier reflection on lifting voices and supporting one another within the Substack community:

Lifting Others Lights the Way

Want More Discoveries Like This?

If you’re enjoying Creator Spotlight, I invite you to subscribe to Savor Life Studio.

Subscribe now

Each week, I feature a creator whose work brings insight, creativity, encouragement, and heart into the world.

If you’d like these discoveries delivered straight to your inbox, I’d love to have you join us at Savor Life Studio.

Thank you for being part of a space where creators support creators and thoughtful work is shared and celebrated. Your presence here means the world to me.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

Explore More Creator Spotlights

Meet Courtney Cunningham, the first creator featured in Creator Spotlight, and discover the heart, inspiration, and story behind her work. Click below to read.

Creator Spotlight: Courtney Cunningham

________________________

Meet John Rinaldo, one of Substack’s most inspiring and courageous voices whose writing and conversations stay with you long after you’ve experienced them.

Creator Spotlight: John Rinaldo

________________________

Meet Saira Anwar, an award-winning poet whose writing is filled with insight, courage, compassion, and wisdom that linger long after her words have circled your heart.

Creator Spotlight: Saira Anwar

________________________

More From Savor Life Studio

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

Subscribe now

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days

Subscribe now

Creator Spotlight

This Week’s Featured Creator

This week, I’m delighted to introduce Saira Anwar, the writer behind Saira The Poet

Quick Introduction

I have been enjoying Saira’s treasured words, poetry, and friendship on Substack for over a year.

Her writing is filled with insight, courage, compassion, and wisdom that linger long after her words have circled your heart.

I had the privilege of reading Saira’s poetry collection, Rising From Despair. It is a journey of light, love, and inspiration. Each poem breathes hope into daily rhythms, offering encouragement with every turn of the page.

The accompanying writing prompts offer powerful, thoughtful questions that gently guide the reader toward deeper self-understanding and their own journey of healing and discovery.

Saira explores tender and universal themes, and you will find yourself returning to her poetry and words of hope, courage, and faith again and again.

I sincerely hope you enjoy getting to know Saira as much as I have.

Conversation with Saira Anwar

What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when they spend time there?

This is a space for those learning to belong to themselves again. I write poetry and reflections on heartbreak, loss, self-abandonment, and rebuilding identity after emotional rupture. I share a weekly Friday newsletter featuring poems, reflections, and writing prompts with a growing community. I hope that when readers spend time here they feel seen, a little less alone, and reminded that their story is not over.⁣ ⁣

What inspired you to begin writing or creating on Substack?⁣ ⁣

My brother has been encouraging me since the beginning of my writing journey to start a newsletter. It was him who helped me put out the very first issue on 27th December 2024. In my first year I was finding my feet with how Substack works. I found it daunting and had no idea how it worked at first. But I have come to love doing a newsletter every week and am now in my second year.⁣ ⁣

Is there a topic, question, or idea that continually calls you back in your work?⁣ ⁣

Belonging. It is the thread that runs through everything I write. The question I keep returning to is how we find our way back to ourselves after heartbreak, loss, and self-abandonment. After experiences that stripped us of our confidence, our light, and our sense of who we are. That journey back to belonging, to yourself, to hope, is what my poetry and reflections are always reaching towards.⁣ ⁣

If your writing could make one meaningful difference in someone’s life, what would you hope that difference would be?⁣ ⁣

That they felt less alone. That they read a line and recognized something they had been carrying without words for it. I don’t write to fix anyone. I write to name what is real, to say I see you, and to remind them that what they lived through was always worth acknowledging. If someone closes my newsletter feeling a little less alone in their experience, that is everything.⁣ ⁣

Subscribe now

A Favorite Photo

I would love to share photos from the year Rising From Despair came into the world. I chose these particular photos because they capture the milestones of Rising From Despair’s first year in the world.

• The Strange Inc. Book Awards 2025

• Indies Today Awards 2026 Semi-Finalist sticker represent two separate international recognitions from US based award organizations.

I am deeply grateful that the book continues to be recognized in literary spaces. The photos from Khushi Festival in August 2025 and MNW Grand Annual Open Mic Night in September 2025 show me performing and sharing my work with live audiences. And the photo from Ruth O’Reilly’s show on AllFM in July 2025 captures one of the earliest and most meaningful moments of the book’s journey, being celebrated on radio just weeks after publication.⁣ ⁣

I am deeply grateful for everyone who has walked this journey with me. Thank you to each person who has supported this book and believed in the power of healing through words. May this continue to be a book that meets people where they are, and reminds them they are not alone.⁣ ⁣ ⁣

What is something (or several things) that brings you joy or peace in your everyday life outside of writing?

Outside of writing, my faith brings me the most grounding and peace. It is the anchor beneath everything I do. I find joy in family, in sharing meals together, and in the simple pleasure of a walk in nature.

I love reading, performing at open mic nights and events, and the warmth of meeting friends. And my Substack community has become a genuine source of connection and joy. The people who show up every Friday, who share their own journeys, who simply sit with the words, they mean more to me than I can say.

Celebrating Saira: Award-Winning Poet and Author of Rising From Despair: A Journey to Hope

Saira is an award-winning poet, author and spoken word artist, and the author of Rising From Despair: A Journey to Hope, Winner of the Strange Inc. Book Awards 2025 and Semi-Finalist in the Indies Today Awards 2026. Rising From Despair: A Journey to Hope celebrates its one-year anniversary on 27th June 2026.⁣

What makes this book unique is that every poem comes with a journaling prompt, so you can begin your own healing journey alongside mine.

Available across Amazon, Waterstones, and all major retailers.⁣

Signed and numbered copies available through my website: ⁣

Saira Anwar Website

Thank you so much for reading. Here is how to connect with Saira.

Creator Contact Information

Saira Anwar⁣

Publication Name: Saira The Poet by Saira Anwar⁣ ⁣

If This Resonates With You

One of the most meaningful ways to support a creator is simply to read their work and stay connected to it.

If something here speaks to you, I encourage you to take a moment to explore Saira’s Substack.

You can also support their work in small but powerful ways:

• Subscribe to their publication so you don’t miss new writing

• Leave a comment to let them know what resonated

• Restack or share a piece you loved

• Pass their work along to someone who might need it

These small actions are what help independent writers continue creating and what make spaces like Substack feel alive.

Interested in Being Featured?

Creator Spotlight exists to celebrate writers, artists, and creators whose work brings meaning, reflection, creativity, and connection to the Substack community.

If you’d like to be considered for a future feature, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to discovering new voices and sharing work that deserves to be seen.

You may also enjoy this earlier reflection on lifting voices and supporting one another within the Substack community:

Lifting Others Lights the Way

Want More Discoveries Like This?

If you’re enjoying Creator Spotlight, I invite you to subscribe to Savor Life Studio.

Subscribe now

Each week, I feature a creator whose work brings insight, creativity, encouragement, and heart into the world.

If you’d like these discoveries delivered straight to your inbox, I’d love to have you join us at Savor Life Studio.

Thank you for being part of a space where creators support creators and thoughtful work is shared and celebrated. Your presence here means the world to me.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

Explore More Creator Spotlights

Meet Courtney Cunningham, the first creator featured in Creator Spotlight, and discover the heart, inspiration, and story behind her work. Click below to read.

Creator Spotlight: Courtney Cunningham

________________________

Meet John Rinaldo, one of Substack’s most inspiring and courageous voices whose writing and conversations stay with you long after you’ve experienced them.

Creator Spotlight: John Rinaldo

________________________

More From Savor Life Studio

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

Subscribe now

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days

Subscribe now

Creator Spotlight

This Week’s Featured Creator

This week, I’m so excited to introduce John Rinaldo, the writer behind The Positive Pen.

Quick Introduction

One of the gifts of joining Substack was discovering writers like John early in my journey.

I was immediately drawn to his natural and profound gift with words and mesmerized by the way he brings them to life. His writing has a remarkable ability to spill onto the page and find its way straight to your heart within moments.

A few months ago, I had the supreme pleasure of reading John’s inspiring book, Earned Not Given. This powerful story of courage, tenacity, and hope is written with such depth of spirit and authenticity that it reaches the very core of the human experience.

John’s gifts travel far and wide across Substack. His ability to connect creators, uplift voices, and build a compassionate community is deeply inspiring.

Reading his responses reminded me of his resilience, compassion, and generous spirit, all of which shine through so clearly.

I sincerely hope you enjoy getting to know John as much as I have.

Conversation with John Rinaldo

What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when they spend time there?

The heart of *The Positive Pen* is hope, resilience, and authentic storytelling. Life is filled with challenges, setbacks, and unexpected turns, but it is also filled with opportunities for growth, healing, and connection. The Positive Pen is more than a publication to me. It is a collection of stories, lessons, and reflections that I hope will leave footprints for my children long after I am gone. No matter where life takes them, they will always have a place where they can reconnect with my thoughts, my experiences, and a part of who I was.

When readers spend time with my work, I hope they feel encouraged, understood, and reminded that they are not alone in whatever journey they are facing. If my words help someone find hope, perspective, or the strength to keep moving forward, then I have accomplished what I set out to do.

What inspired you to begin writing or creating on Substack?

I’ve always believed in the power of stories. Throughout my life, I’ve experienced personal challenges, health scares, family struggles, and moments that forced me to rethink what truly matters. Writing became a way to process those experiences and share lessons learned. Substack offered a platform where I could connect directly with readers and build a community around meaningful conversations rather than algorithms.

Is there a topic, question, or idea that continually calls you back in your work? If so, what is it and why does it matter to you?

The idea I continually return to is perseverance. How do we keep moving forward when life doesn’t go according to plan? Whether it’s overcoming loss, rebuilding relationships, recovering from illness, or pursuing a dream later in life, I am fascinated by the resilience of the human spirit. It matters because every person faces difficult chapters, and I believe our stories can help others navigate their own.

If your writing or creative work could make one meaningful difference in someone’s life, what would you hope that difference would be?

I hope my writing encourages someone not to give up. If a reader feels inspired to take one more step, have one more difficult conversation, pursue one more dream, or simply appreciate another day, then my work has served its purpose.

Sometimes the smallest shift in perspective can change the course of a person’s life. I call it the soul work of a life lived. Some days are beautiful. Some days are difficult. Both shape who we become. Both are worth experiencing, and both are worth writing about. Through our stories, we find meaning, connection, and the reminder that even in life’s hardest moments, there is still something worth holding on to.

Subscribe now

A Favorite Photo

One of my favorite photos is of my children and our support dog, Remi. My children inspired me to write Earned, Not Given, a book about perseverance, personal growth, and the lessons learned through life’s challenges. Remi inspired me to write Remi’s Journey, a story told from his perspective. In the photo, Remi is sitting in his favorite chair, watching the world outside—a spot where he spends much of his day keeping a close eye on everything around him. This image represents family, inspiration, and the stories that have shaped my writing journey.

Another meaningful image is a photograph of one of my paintings. It was created during a time when I began finding peace within myself, and, surprisingly, it was also when I rediscovered who I truly was. The painting symbolizes healing, self-reflection, and the personal growth that helped me reconnect with myself.

Featured Article

The Day I Stopped Feeling Sorry for Myself

There was a moment when I realized no one was coming to save me. No one was going to fix my problems, carry my burdens, or change my circumstances. As difficult as that realization was, it became the turning point in my life. It was the day I stopped feeling sorry for myself and started taking responsibility for the life I wanted to build. Sometimes the hardest truths become the foundation for our greatest growth.

Click the link below to read:

The Day I Stopped Feeling Sorry for Myself

What is something that brings you joy or peace in your everyday life outside of writing?

The simple things. Walking our support dog, Remi, in the early morning before the world wakes up. Watching a sunrise over the water. Spending time with my children. I especially enjoy exploring different places and spending time on the water boating. Traveling and discovering new destinations remind me how big the world is and how much there is to experience beyond our daily routines.

I also find peace in creating whether it's writing, painting, photography, or simply sitting quietly with a cup of coffee and my thoughts. As I've gotten older, I've learned that joy isn't usually found in the big moments. It's found in the ordinary ones we take the time to notice.

Thank you so much for reading. Here is how to connect with John.

Creator Contact Information

John Rinaldo

The Positive Pen – Stories of resilience, personal growth, and the soul work of a life lived.

Substack: The Positive Pen

Podcast: Stories, Soul Work & Substack

Film Project: Ciao Bello: Forgotten in the Shadows

Bookstore: The Positive Pen Bookstore, featuring writers, authors, and independent creators

Publisher: Rinaldo & Partners Publishing

If This Resonates With You

One of the most meaningful ways to support a creator is simply to read their work and stay connected to it.

If something here speaks to you, I encourage you to take a moment to explore John’s Substack.

You can also support their work in small but powerful ways:

• Subscribe to their publication so you don’t miss new writing

• Leave a comment to let them know what resonated

• Restack or share a piece you loved

• Pass their work along to someone who might need it

These small actions are what help independent writers continue creating and what make spaces like Substack feel alive.

Interested in Being Featured?

Creator Spotlight exists to celebrate writers, artists, and creators whose work brings meaning, reflection, creativity, and connection to the Substack community.

If you’d like to be considered for a future feature, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to discovering new voices and sharing work that deserves to be seen.

You may also enjoy this earlier reflection on lifting voices and supporting one another within the Substack community:

Lifting Others Lights the Way

Want More Discoveries Like This?

If you’re enjoying Creator Spotlight, I invite you to subscribe to Savor Life Studio.

Subscribe now

Each week, I feature a creator whose work brings insight, creativity, encouragement, and heart into the world.

If you’d like these discoveries delivered straight to your inbox, I’d love to have you join us at Savor Life Studio.

Thank you for being part of a space where creators support creators and thoughtful work is shared and celebrated. Your presence here means the world to me.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

More from Savor Life Studio

Meet Courtney Cunningham, the first creator featured in Creator Spotlight, and discover the heart, inspiration, and story behind her work. Click below to read.

Creator Spotlight: Courtney Cunningham

________________________

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

Subscribe now

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days

Creator Spotlight

This Week’s Featured Creator

This week, I’m delighted to introduce Courtney Cunningham, the writer behind Not a Niche.

Quick Introduction

When I first arrived on Substack over a year ago, Courtney was one of the first creators I connected with.

I deeply admire the honesty and openness Courtney brings to her writing.

Through her reflections and stories, she shares her journey with authenticity, courage, and grace, creating a space where readers feel both welcomed and understood.

I loved reading Courtney’s thoughtful responses to the questions below and learning more about the heart behind her work.

I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I have. 💖

Conversation with Courtney Cunningham

What is the heart of your Substack, and what do you hope readers experience when they spend time there?

My Substack is called Not a Niche because it’s about life– all of life. I share the stories I’ve lived and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I’ve learned lessons through relationships, jobs, nature, family, and so much more. When I share these stories my intent is to provide comfort, connection and hope. I want others to see that they too can overcome challenges and learn from them. Some of my biggest lessons have involved counting my blessings, staying patient, being true to me, and keeping the faith. These themes reoccur throughout my writing.

What inspired you to begin writing or creating on Substack?

I’ve been on Substack for almost a year and a half. I discovered it because a friend said they had started one. At that point, I’d heard of Substack before but had no idea what it was. I followed the link to hers and started exploring. It was love at first sight.

I had no idea there was a writing focused platform like this. I’d been wanting to write for some time but didn’t have a place to do so. That changed the moment I found Substack. I had so much to say that had been inside me for years. I started writing immediately and haven’t looked back. It’s my therapy. I process through writing. So, it was a place to write at first but then I stayed because the community is so incredible. I’m constantly inspired by everyone here. Their words, images, ideas, art– it’s all a reminder to do what you love.

Is there a topic, question, or idea that continually calls you back in your work? If so, what is it and why does it matter to you?

I get called back every time I realize a lesson I’ve learned, which is a lot. I view challenges as lessons. Whenever life presents me with obstacles, I know they’re going to result in growth. When the lessons appear clearly, I feel called to write. I’d say this is the #1 thing that calls me back. Other times, I’m working through the lesson and writing helps me realize it. It matters to me because I want to help others. If life taught me something through a challenge, maybe someone else has faced a similar situation and my lesson will help them. It all comes back to providing a space of comfort, connection, and hope.

If your writing or creative work could make one meaningful difference in someone’s life, what would you hope that difference would be?

If I can make just one person realize that they are perfect just the way they are, that would be the difference I hope to make. My biggest lesson has been that staying true to me and my heart’s call– living in complete alignment– has led me to be my happiest self and once that happened, opportunities started flowing to me. The truer we are to ourselves the more life opens up for us.

A Favorite Photo

This photo was taken at the top of Cutthroat Pass in Washington. It’s not that the picture is necessarily a favorite but the day was monumental. I had been struggling for a couple of years– I wanted to move back to North Carolina but my husband didn’t. It had become a major issue in our relationship. When we rode the trail on this day, I saw Golden Larches at their peak for the first time in my life. I’d dreamed of witnessing this natural occurrence. I had no idea that they were peaking when we started the ride that day. My head was filled with worry and concern about what I wanted versus my husband and how we weren’t seeing eye to eye. When I rounded the corner to see those Golden Larches, I knew in an instant that everything would work out. Seeing something in person that I’d dreamed of seeing for so long made me realize that all things come at the right time.

The next day, we were visiting a dear friend who lives in Washington but owns a home in North Carolina. While we were visiting, they learned that the man renting their property in N.C. had unexpectedly passed away. We also learned that the rent on the house which sits on 20 acres was $500. Long story short, we now live in that house. I’m back in North Carolina and couldn’t be happier.

This photo fully captures me feeling and knowing that everything would work out in time.

I chose it to remind others that your dreams will come true when the time is right. Be true to you, keep the faith, and stay patient. It’s all coming.

Featured Article

I’d like to share a link to my article focused on a goal setting model I created, The HEART Guide. Here is the article. This guide was born when I’d had enough with writing SMART goals and needed something more focused on following my heart. It’s helped me so much and I hope it helps some of you.

My name is Courtney Cunningham and my Substack is Not a Niche. Link to it here.

As always, sending love.

If This Resonates With You

One of the most meaningful ways to support a creator is simply to read their work and stay connected to it.

If something here speaks to you, I encourage you to take a moment to explore Courtney’s Substack.

You can also support their work in small but powerful ways:

• Subscribe to their publication so you don’t miss new writing

• Leave a comment to let them know what resonated

• Restack or share a piece you loved

• Pass their work along to someone who might need it

These small actions are what help independent writers continue creating and what make spaces like Substack feel alive.

Interested in Being Featured?

Creator Spotlight exists to celebrate writers, artists, and creators whose work brings meaning, reflection, creativity, and connection to the Substack community.

If you’d like to be considered for a future feature, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to discovering new voices and sharing work that deserves to be seen.

You may also enjoy this earlier reflection on lifting voices and supporting one another within the Substack community:

Lifting Others Lights the Way

Want More Discoveries Like This?

If you’re enjoying Creator Spotlight, I invite you to subscribe to Savor Life Studio.

Subscribe now

Each week, I feature a creator whose work brings insight, creativity, encouragement, and heart into the world.

If you'd like these discoveries delivered straight to your inbox, I'd love to have you join us at Savor Life Studio.

Thank you for being part of a space where creators support creators and thoughtful work is shared and celebrated. Your presence here means the world to me.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

More from Savor Life Studio

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

Subscribe now

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days

Subscribe now

What Feels Meaningful Here

There are moments in writing when something begins to shift quietly, before you even fully name it.

I have been noticing that here.

For a long time, Savor Life Studio has been a place where I share personal reflections about life, creativity, and the process of slowing down enough to notice what matters.

And I still love that deeply.

My daily flower and nature posts, along with wishes and reflections, bring deep and soul-filling joy into my daily rhythms.

But lately, I have been thinking more about what it means to not only share my own reflections, but to also hold space for other voices.

Because something I have come to realize is this:

Some of the most meaningful parts of writing are not just the moments when we express ourselves, but the moments when we recognize ourselves in someone else.

A sentence that feels familiar.

A story that echoes something unspoken.

A voice that makes us feel less alone.

That is what I want to deepen here.

This has been a constant theme throughout my time here on Substack, and I find my joy expanding when I’m:

• Discovering new creators

• Lifting and sharing voices

• Building a sense of community

Long before Creator Spotlight, I was thinking about how powerful it is when we choose to lift each other’s voices. I shared some of those thoughts here:

Lifting Others Lights the Way

Introducing Creator Spotlight

So beginning this week, I’m introducing something new alongside my Tuesday reflections.

On Fridays, I will be introducing a Creator Spotlight, where I feature writers and creators from Substack and share their work in their own voices.

I’m especially excited about this week’s very first Creator Spotlight and can’t wait to introduce you to a wonderful writer on Friday. 💖

There is something deeply meaningful to me about not only writing, but also helping other writers be seen.

Tuesdays will remain my space for personal reflections, stories, and thoughts from my own creative journey.

Fridays will become a space to celebrate and highlight the work of others.

And together, these two rhythms feel like a more complete expression of what Savor Life Studio is becoming.

Not just a place where I write, reflect, and share my experiences in life and nature.

But a place where creative voices are celebrated, shared, and discovered.

Treasured Connections

What makes this especially meaningful to me are the connections that have formed along the way.

Some of my most treasured moments on Substack have come through the kindness, encouragement, and thoughtful conversations shared within this community.

Those connections continue to inspire what Savor Life Studio is becoming.

This desire to build community has been quietly present since my first day on Substack.

Again and again, I find myself drawn to the writers who encourage, inspire, and generously share their creativity with others.

Creator Spotlight feels like a natural extension of that joy.

A way to celebrate the people who make this community such a meaningful place to spend time.

If you are here reading this, thank you for being part of this unfolding space. I am deeply grateful for you as Savor Life Studio continues to grow and evolve.

With so much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖

________________________

Recently published

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection
Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight
Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table
Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

☕️ Coffee 💖

If you enjoyed this post, I’d be truly honored if you’d consider buying me a cup of coffee. Your support means the world to me and helps keep this creative space alive. Wishing you a day full of peace and beautiful moments.

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days

.

Subscribe now

If the word “Retirement” is pounding a rhythm in your mind 24/7, you have landed yourself in exactly the right place.

When I retired 14 months ago, I reveled in the fact that alarm clocks were no longer jolting me from a deep sleep, and morning coffee instantly became a cherished ritual.

What surprised me most, however, was the immediate stripping away of roles, responsibilities, and routines that had defined my life for more than three decades.

And what remains is you, looking at yourself in the mirror and wondering:

What now?

And for many people:

Who am I?

Retirement is far more than a financial decision.
It is a profound life transition that affects your routines, relationships, identity, and sense of purpose.

To help prepare for this monumental shift, here are five important questions worth asking before you retire.

Question #1: How Much Money Is Enough?

Looking Beyond the Numbers

Let’s begin with the question that drives most retirement decisions.

How much money is enough?

If I paid attention to retirement predictions and financial gurus, I would most likely be advised to retire at the ripe age of 95 and not one day sooner.

Thankfully, I listened to the rhythms of my heart, ran the numbers, and stepped away when I realized I had enough of systems that no longer nourished my spirit.

Financial Calculators Are Only Part of the Story

If you type “retirement calculator” into Google, you’ll find no shortage of tools designed to estimate financial readiness.

No matter which one I tried, the message often felt the same:

“Please, please don’t retire. You are clearly not prepared at this time.”

But calculators cannot account for lifestyle choices.

• When you travel, do you prefer a tent campsite or a luxury hotel?

• Do you shop at thrift stores or designer boutiques?

• Do you enjoy eating out regularly, or are you happiest preparing meals at home?

Financial tools can estimate costs and expenses, but only you can determine what truly matters in the daily workings of your heart and soul.

On paper, I never should have retired at age 58.
In real life, I couldn’t be happier with the decision.

Three Changes That Helped Us Thrive

After making the decision to retire, we adjusted a few areas of our lifestyle to reduce financial stress.

1. Set a travel budget and stick to it.
My husband and I now enjoy one overnight getaway each month instead of several longer trips. We still enjoy time away together while saving for larger adventures down the road.

2. Pay close attention to date budgets.
Each weekend, we set aside $50 for dates.

One of our favorites is grabbing a slice of our famous local pizza, ordering a side salad, and watching ferries and ships pass through the inlet.

Total cost: about $30.

That still leaves room for ice cream, gelato, or another small treat.

3. Make sure the money is already in the bank.
This one is simple.

If you don’t have the money for a purchase, wait.

It’s easy for credit card spending to gradually stretch beyond what feels comfortable in retirement.

Anything worth having is worth waiting for until it can be paid for in full.

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So, How Much Money Is Enough?

At a minimum, you’ll want to comfortably cover:

• Housing expenses
• Utilities
• Food
• Transportation
• Medical expenses
• Travel and recreation
• Taxes and insurance

Having emergency savings available can also provide peace of mind.

And if you plan to work part-time during retirement, that can significantly change the financial equation.

Ultimately, your retirement portfolio is just that, yours.

Only you can decide when the numbers, your lifestyle, and your heart align.

For me, that moment arrived much sooner than the experts recommended.

It remains one of the most satisfying decisions I’ve ever made.

(The experiences shared here are my own and are not intended as financial advice or a sole guide to retirement decisions.)

Question #2: What Do You Value Most: Time, Energy, Health, or Money?

Before you decide to retire, ask yourself this simple question:

What is more important to me:

• my time
• my energy
• my health
• or my financial security

This question alone can help clarify whether you are ready to step into retirement.

There is no correct answer. I know several people who absolutely love their work and have no desire to retire. My Dad worked until he was 80 years old and passed away at 87. He found deep purpose and meaning in his work throughout his life.

In my own life, age 58 became the point where time with loved ones, exploring new paths, and following shared dreams and passions outweighed all other factors.

Question #3: What Brings You Joy Within Your Daily Rhythms?

This question deserves careful consideration when creating new daily rhythms after work.

Ask yourself:

What are three things I enjoy most in my daily life?

Friendships? Social circles? Exercise? Travel? Hobbies? Quiet moments?

Your answer will help shape your retirement experience.

If you are highly social, have you made plans for maintaining friendships after leaving the workplace? Many people find that work relationships naturally fade over time.

If you enjoy traveling, have you budgeted for it? Will you travel alone, with a partner, or with friends?

How you choose to spend your days will shape your sense of joy, peace, and fulfillment.

Consider creating a list of 20 things that bring you joy.

Keep it close before and after retirement.

It can serve as a daily reminder of what matters most.

Question #4: Have You Made a Bucket List? If So, Is It Realistic?

Do you have things you have dreamed of doing in retirement?

Take a few minutes and write down three things you hope to accomplish in your first year.

Then ask yourself:

• Have I budgeted for these activities?

• Do I have the health to enjoy them fully?

Dreams can be an essential part of a fulfilling retirement, but timing matters.

Some experiences are best enjoyed when your energy and health are at their strongest.

My husband and I created one-year, three-year, and five-year goals based on one significant factor: health.

As the years pass, energy levels naturally shift.

Planning this way helps ensure that dreams are not only imagined, but actually lived.

Small goals and steady planning can lead to some of the most meaningful experiences of your life.

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Question #5: How Open Are You to Change?

I’m here to say it plainly:

Everything will change once you retire.

And yes, I mean everything.

Once you are no longer bound by the rhythms of daily work, life takes on an entirely different shape.

Time stretches. Decisions shift. Identity begins to reorganize.

Sometimes this feels like freedom.

Other times, it can bring uncertainty or discomfort as you adjust to the unknown.

It’s important to give yourself three essential things:

• Time
• Patience
• Presence

Retirement is not learned in a moment.

It takes time to feel at ease in this new way of living.

Like many people, I began working in my teens and continued for more than four decades.

That is a long time to shape your daily rhythms and often define yourself through work.

It takes time to redefine who you are outside of it.

I’ve read that it can take months, even years, to adjust to retirement fully.

Whatever the timeline, the transition deserves patience and care.

To ease the shift:

1. Begin small daily rituals that nourish you
   such as walking, being in nature, or enjoying a hobby

2. Spend time journaling about your experience
   What feels good? What feels challenging?

3. Try something new that interests you
   Creating something new can refresh your sense of identity

Most importantly, allow yourself to feel everything that comes with change.

You have made a major life transition, and it deserves compassion.

Here is a free Retirement Readiness Assessment to further support your decision-making:
FREE Retirement Readiness Assessment

Final Thoughts

Retirement is not simply the end of a career.

For many people, it is the beginning of something entirely new.

It offers opportunities to redefine what you value most and decide how you wish to spend your time, energy, and attention.

In the words of Joseph Campbell:
“We must be willing to let go of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

How you choose to live each stage of your life is your decision and yours alone.

I would love to know which of these five questions resonates most deeply with you.

May your journey unfold with grace and beauty every step of the way.

With much love and gratitude,
Lis 💖

__________________

Recently published

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

Savor Life Studio ~ Create, Connect, and Grow in Peace
is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts
and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Subscribe now

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

☕️ Coffee 💖
If you enjoyed this post, I’d be truly honored if you’d consider buying me a cup of coffee. Your support means the world to me and helps keep this creative space alive. Wishing you a day full of peace and beautiful moments.

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?
Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

Subscribe now

Have you ever poured your heart into a Substack post, hit “publish,” and wondered if anyone even saw it?

You are not alone and it is not your writing. Substack does not reward posting alone. It rewards connection: real people reading your words, real engagement, real visibility.

That is exactly why I created Spotlight Circle.

A small, intentional group of creators supporting each other each week can transform how your work is seen:

✨ Your posts will be read
✨ Your voice will be heard
✨ You will never wonder if your work is being seen again

Plus, as a member, you will receive exclusive bonuses:

🎁 Weekly Notes Boosts to help your posts gain visibility
🎁 Regular connection in a small, supportive cohort
🎁 Spotlight opportunities to share your work and expand your reach
🎁 Membership bonus: Receive my 45-page Substack Success Blueprint ebook ($12.99 value) — included for all members!
🎁 Special Early-Bird Bonus: The first 10 members also get my Savoring Substack: What Matters Most ~ Celebrating 29 Inspiring Voices ebook ($12.99 value)
🎁 Exclusive freebies focused on creative growth, community, and gratitude

All of this for just $5 per month—less than the cost of a latte and a small step to get your work truly seen and celebrated. 😊

The first circle begins Tuesday, April 7.

If this resonates, I would love for you join Spotlight Circle.

💖 → Join Spotlight Circle

Wishing you countless moments of being seen, heard, and celebrated today.

With much love and gratitude,
Lis

________________________

Recently published

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Post
Personal reflections + life at 60

Fridays – Shout-Outs
Highlighting inspiring Substack voices

Sundays – Freebie Post
Calm & creative gifts for your week ahead

________________________

Savor Life Studio ~ Create, Connect, and Grow in Peace
is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts
and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Subscribe now

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

☕️ Coffee 💖
If you enjoyed this post, I’d be truly honored if you’d consider buying me a cup of coffee. Your support means the world to me and helps keep this creative space alive. Wishing you a day full of peace and beautiful moments.

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?
Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

Have you ever poured your heart into a Substack post only to feel like no one noticed?

You spend hours carefully crafting your words, sharing your story, and hoping your message will resonate. And sometimes, it feels like your work quietly disappears into the void.

You are not alone. Many creators experience this. They write, publish, and wait for connection that doesn’t always come.

Throughout my first year on Substack, one question kept returning:
How can more creative works and voices be lifted and seen within a community?

What if there were a way to move beyond the silence, connect with other creators, and have your work genuinely seen, heard, and celebrated?

Why this matters

As creators, we all want to feel that our work matters, that our voices are reaching someone, and that our efforts are not going unnoticed. Yet so often, our posts get lost beneath good intentions and overflowing inboxes.

After a full year on Substack, one truth has stayed with me: we do not just need more content. We need more connection. When we grow together, overwhelm takes a back seat to connection and collaboration.

Introducing Spotlight Circle

A small, intentional, paid community designed to help your work be seen, shared, and supported consistently.

How it works

• Every week, you’ll join a small cohort of 10 creators
• You’ll read and comment on just 3 posts—your only commitment
• By supporting one another, creators naturally expand their reach and grow their audiences together

What you receive

• Weekly spotlight opportunities to share your work and expand your reach
• Weekly Notes Boosts to help your posts gain visibility and engagement
• Your work noticed and celebrated by fellow creators each week
• A supportive, uplifting creative community where members inspire and lift each other up
• Simple tools and guidance to help you share, grow, and attract meaningful engagement
• Exclusive freebies focused on gratitude, mindfulness, and inspiration
• A welcoming, collaborative space to connect, flourish, and grow organically

A special bonus

You will also receive my 45-page Substack Success Blueprint Ebook, a $12.99 value, included with your membership.

Why join now

Spotlight Circle is designed to foster connection, quality, and real engagement. It’s about your work being seen, supported, and celebrated.

When we begin

The first Spotlight Circle will commence on Tuesday, April 7th, 2026. I would love for you to be part of it.

Special Early-Bird Bonus

The first 10 creators to upgrade to a paid membership will receive my exclusive ebook: Savoring Substack: Celebrating 29 Inspiring Voices—a collection to uplift, inspire, and fuel your creative journey.

This is my way of saying thank you for joining early and helping the Spotlight Circle community thrive.

How to join

If you have been wanting more eyes on your work, deeper connection, and a way to grow alongside other creators, this is for you.

Join for only $5/month — less than a latte, and your work gets seen! 😊

Click here to join Spotlight Circle

Let’s lift each other up

Together, we can create a space where every voice is seen, heard, and celebrated. I could not be more excited to watch the Spotlight Circle grow and see your creativity thrive.

With much love and gratitude,
Lis 💖

________________________

Recently published

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Post
Personal reflections + life at 60

Fridays – Shout-Outs
Highlighting inspiring Substack voices

Sundays – Freebie Post
Calm & creative gifts for your week ahead

Your Spotlight Circle Welcome Gift

Join Spotlight Circle, my intentional paid community for creators, and receive my exclusive Substack Success Blueprint.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:
• Establish a daily routine for succesTire
• Define what success means to you
• Choose content themes
• Outline goals and aspirations
• Identify your unique strengths

This ebook complements your membership, helping you grow your audience and share your work with a supportive circle of fellow creators.

________________________

Savor Life Studio ~ Create, Connect, and Grow in Peace
is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts
and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Subscribe now

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

☕️ Coffee 💖
If you enjoyed this post, I’d be truly honored if you’d consider buying me a cup of coffee. Your support means the world to me and helps keep this creative space alive. Wishing you a day full of peace and beautiful moments.

________________________

Savor Life Studio Group ~ Pause, Reflect, Enjoy

✨ Looking for a space to pause, share, and celebrate the little joys in life? ✨

I’ve just reopened my Facebook group, now with 60 members! Savor Life Studio is a friendly, supportive space to share the little things that bring gratitude, like music, art, pets, nature, cooking, and photographs or quotes.

I would love to have you join us, connect with others, explore gentle mindfulness tools, and enjoy meaningful conversations.

Lis 💖

Join → Savor Life Studio

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?
Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

Subscribe now

The night before I leave on vacation plays out like a scene in the movie Groundhog Day.

The same question swirls around in my brain, and a small panic settles in the pit of my stomach.

What if something happens to us and we don’t return from vacation?

And then all the other turbo-charged thoughts arrive in full armor, clamoring for one-on-one time with my overwhelmed amygdala, while the same incessant thought pounds a syncopated rhythm into my brain.

Not one relative or close friend knows where we keep the following information:

• Passwords

• Insurance policies

• Mortgage and property information

Not to mention:

• Credit card info

• Bank account info

• Trust documents

• Important contacts

And I’m quick to remind myself that no one even knows the password to my friendly iMac, nor how to get into the house if they need to.

These repetitive thoughts are a recent phenomenon. A few short years ago (seven, to be exact), I would breeze out of town and rarely give one tiny thought to any of the above concerns.

Not. One. Thought.

As with most things in life, we don’t see monumental change on the horizon. It often arrives without thunderous applause and leaves us quaking within the folds of grief, doubt, sadness, despair, and a myriad of other unwelcome emotions.

Well, that was my experience one early September afternoon, when I received the shocking news that my eldest brother had passed suddenly. Within the first few moments of hearing this news, I began to wonder if I would ever be able to catch my breath again in this lifetime.

What Loss and Grief Dialed High Taught Me

Losing my brother was the beginning of a lengthy journey through grief and loss. Four more elders passed within the following six years, each one etching a permanent piece within my stained-glass tapestry of grief.

And what did I learn?

Grief arrives in an infinite number of forms and carries its own weight and personality.

It can feel like 10,000 pounds pressing down on your chest, or it can simply render you helpless, bedridden, and completely exhausted.

And these are only two of the many ways it may show up in real time, demanding your full attention.

No matter how it arrives, no one escapes the loss of a loved one and the feelings it deposits in its wake, which often include:

Sadness dialed high

Fog-ridden hours, or days, or months

Frustration

Anger

Exhaustion

Inability to cope

When you are in the throes of intense grief, you do not have the bandwidth to deal with wonderings and worries around where Mom placed her important documents, or how to locate Dad’s bank accounts.

I wish to repeat that statement. You do not have the bandwidth.

When I looked back upon these stressful days of loss within my own life, two repetitive themes rose to the top:

1. Do not burden your loved ones with the worry of how best to honor your end-of-life wishes.

2. Give your loved ones the information they need, in the easiest format possible.

One of the kindest gifts you can leave behind for loved ones is the clarity of knowing how to honor your wishes, without wading through landfills of stress and worry.

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A Gift for When I’m Gone

That is why I created something simple… something gentle… something that could truly help.

The call to create a quick, easy format for sharing important documents and end-of-life wishes became a quiet but steady pull I could not ignore.

I was not interested in creating a complicated 50+ page document that would most likely end up at the very bottom of someone’s “To Do When I’m Completely Bored” pile of excess paperwork.

Instead, I wondered…

Can I create a document that someone can complete in one afternoon?

Bingo. That felt 110% helpful and could bring immense relief to both the organizer and the people who would share the document.

Two wins in one.

And so began the creation of A Gift for When I’m Gone.

This digital download can be completed in one quiet afternoon and may become one of the most thoughtful gifts you leave behind.

Not only did I have wonderful fun creating these documents, but they also gently erased the incessant voices of worry every time I head out the door on vacation.

A Gift for When I’m Gone includes the following pages:

1. How to Complete this Kit in One Afternoon

2. Important People to Contact

3. Important Accounts (bank, insurance, retirement)

4. Passwords and Digital Accounts

5. Important Document Locations

• Will

• Insurance papers

• Property deeds

• Birth certificates

• Safe deposit box

• Password Manager location

6. Your End-of-Life Wishes

• Memorial or Celebration of Life

• Music or readings you love

• Burial or cremation

• Anything important you wish to be remembered

7. Notes for the People You Love (this is my most treasured section)

8. Notes & Reflections

Four Bonus Pages

• Where to Find This Guide

• A Few Final Thoughts

• A Final Note of Love

• Blank-lined page

The Greatest Gift You Can Leave Behind

When we are breezing through life’s daily rhythms, it’s challenging to stop, pause, and think about what life will be like for our loved ones when we depart this earthly realm.

I am no expert on grief, but I have experienced firsthand the stress, chaos, frustration, and confusion borne out of not knowing or understanding a loved one’s final wishes.

Grief and loss are universal, and we all can ease our loved ones’ pain once we have departed this earthly realm by gifting them an organized framework from which to navigate the days, weeks, and months that follow.

If this touches your heart, you’re warmly invited to download A Gift for When I’m Gone. The price has been kept intentionally gentle so that anyone who wishes to benefit from it can do so easily.

CLICK HERE → A Gift for When I’m Gone $14.99

Bonus Included with Every Purchase

As a small token of gratitude, I’ve also included Savor the Moment: A Simple Guide to Mindful Living with your purchase. It’s a gentle companion to this guide, created to bring more presence and calm into your daily life.

If we take the time to wrap our end-of-life wishes and personal information in calm, clear terms, we can ease our loved ones’ hearts while also bringing lasting peace to our own.

When our final act is one of love, kindness, and care, I can think of no better way to honor those who hold a sacred and cherished place within our hearts.

If you feel called to share this with someone who may benefit, please feel free to pass it along or restack.

Questions

• Have you ever had to help organize someone’s affairs after they passed?

• What was the most difficult part?

Steady on, and may you be the light that ignites countless flames soaring toward their highest and most profound destiny.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖💖💖

________________________

Recently published

A five-month Substack conversation and the moment trust was lost

This Connection Seemed Real Until It Wasn’t

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Post
Personal reflections + life at 60

Fridays – Shout-Outs
Highlighting inspiring Substack voices

Sundays – Freebie Post
Calm & creative gifts for your week ahead

Savor Life Studio ~ Create, Connect, and Grow in Peace
is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts
and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Subscribe now

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

☕️ Coffee 💖
If you enjoyed this post, I’d be truly honored if you’d consider buying me a cup of coffee. Your support means the world to me and helps keep this creative space alive. Wishing you a day full of peace and beautiful moments.

________________________

Savor Life Studio Group ~ Pause, Reflect, Enjoy

✨ Looking for a space to pause, share, and celebrate the little joys in life? ✨

I’ve just reopened my Facebook group, now with 60 members! Savor Life Studio is a friendly, supportive space to share the little things that bring gratitude, like music, art, pets, nature, cooking, and photographs or quotes.

I would love to have you join us, connect with others, explore gentle mindfulness tools, and enjoy meaningful conversations.

Lis 💖

Join → Savor Life Studio

________________________

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?
Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

Subscribe now

It all began with such innocence. A quiet direct message filled with gracious light, which I promptly ignored. My general rule within cyber security is to blissfully ignore private direct messages from unknown senders.

And so I did. Ignore. Over the course of several days (perhaps weeks) three more kind, heart-filled direct messages landed in my inbox. And eventually the hook landed, I swallowed the bait, and the dance was on.

The Long Game ~ Patience and Empathy Lead the Way

Over the next five months (Yes, five!), a gentle, interesting, and heartwarming conversation ensued with Substacker X.

Questions were intermingled with good wishes, and over time, I learned:

• X worked in the medical field

• Has a relative with a very serious health condition

• Is trying hard to find more peace within work/life balance

And on and on…

Every step of the way, there were thin, tender strands of doubt watching from afar, begging to be fed and nurtured along the way.

Is he really who he says he is?

How come he rarely talks about himself?

Why does he never talk about his profession?

The correspondence lit up with mountains of grace and soul-filling wishes. Substack “Likes” were handed out like Halloween candy, and the bond was secured.

When Doubt Comes Knocking

Somewhere along the way, doubts crept into the cracks of our correspondence, and I went seeking answers.

I crossed over to Facebook and discovered that X was using his last name as his first name, and he was cross-posting the very same messages on both platforms. Not unusual, but it let me know I had found the same person.

On both Facebook and Substack, there were no photographs of X, only restacked photos of art, flowers, and the occasional small nod to something medical.

It all seemed legitimate, but something was missing. Actually, everything was missing.

*No personal photos
*No real-life experiences
*Nothing that screamed, this is who I am!

When AI Sneaks in the Back Door

I began to notice that X’s messages sounded quite a bit like my voice. With over three decades in the literary realm, I noticed his word patterns were much like my own.

Similar phrasing
No mistakes within his messages, ever!
Always rephrasing and parroting back with deep and soul-filling empathy.

I could almost feel his fingers typing out the prompt to ChatGPT:

“Respond to the following message (copy and pasted my words) with empathy, compassion, and grace, and add in that I enjoy piano, need more time for rest, and hope to work less over the next couple of months.”

And then hitting “Send.”

What makes this scenario so frightening is that technological advances have amplified and enabled the hack.

Now, it is easier than ever to impersonate, imitate, and emulate our fellow human creators.

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Here’s What You Need to Know

We have entered a new era in which time is no longer of the essence. This is not like the days of yore when someone would receive an urgent phone call asking for cash to bail out a distant relative.

This scam arrives in soft, gentle hues, walking along a sandy shore, with patience dialed high.

No rush
No fury
No fire

Just simple, grace-filled moments of peace, light, and love carried on wings of tender compassion, in the form of caring words and sentences. And then one day, it arrives, and your entire being freezes.

When the Big Ask FINALLY Arrives

In my most recent correspondence, I had mentioned to X that I would be leaving town to meet with my dear friend.

When his message arrived, and my eyes scanned his mammoth-sized betrayal, my entire being tensed, and dread and disappointment seeped into every crevice.

I was in my studio loft and called out to my husband:

“How disappointing! There goes a Substack relationship down the tubes.”

X told me there was something he needed to ask, but didn’t feel entirely comfortable doing so, along with the following information:

*Finances were stretched thin
*Hoping I might be able to offer a bit of support
*No expectations or pressure

And there it was. X’s words, in black-and-white print, sliding off the page and into my heart, carrying enormous doses of empathy and compassion.

Yet, the only thing pulsating through my overwhelmed brain was the words:

Misled
Misguided
Misaligned
Misunderstanding
and ultimately, MISTRUST.

I kept thinking to myself, “WHO DOES THAT?”

Inner Turmoil, and Listening to Gentle Intuition

Every ounce of my being told me his gentle ask for funds was not okay, today, tomorrow, ever. And so, I gave myself a time-out to think about next steps.

When you are a person who shares light and love with the world and believes in the goodness within every single human being, a situation such as this requires careful consideration.

When Clarity Comes Knocking

Once settled into my hotel room, it became clear that I had one of three options:

1. Explain my feelings of discomfort and disappointment to X, and continue corresponding.

2. Explain my feelings of discomfort and disappointment to X, and say, “Farewell.”

3. Block X forever and cut off all communication.

In recent years, I found myself in situations where I felt compelled to explain myself to loved ones when I was not behaving in ways they found acceptable.

These situations led me down a long, harrowing path that eventually brought clarity, freedom, and light in giant doses to my life. I learned the following:

1. I never have to explain myself to anyone, unless I choose to do so.

2. When someone shows you their true selves, believe every action and word.

3. Without trust, there is no relationship.

And so, it became clear that X was no longer going to be a part of my Substack experience, or my life, and I blocked him that very evening.

In one click of a key, five months of communication was gone, severed and spiraling into the dark cyberspace abyss of nothingness and no return.

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Why Tell the Story

I share this story with you in the most sincere hope that you never, ever find yourself in a similar situation, and if you do, you will see it for what it is before it ever takes flight within your heart.

I’ve spent decades navigating life behind a computer screen, and I’m very comfortable within the technological realm. Yet, this knowledge did not keep me from getting my heartstrings pulled, tangled, and eventually spiraling into a terminal free fall.

As for X, I wish him the very best in life. Most importantly, I hope he finds new and healthier ways to relate to humans and learns that transactional relationships often lack deep emotional intimacy and do not align mind, body, and spirit in ways that are soul-filling and life-sustaining.

Top Security Reminders for Substack Users

Substack often feels like stepping into a garden of decadence, steeped with light, love, knowledge, and beauty dialed high.

I have been reminded:

• Keep a cautious eye toward the unknown
  Pay attention to anything that feels off or inconsistent.

• Protect your inbox and trust your instincts
  Avoid engaging immediately with unsolicited messages.

• Verify identities across platforms
  Check profiles and content for consistency across different sites.

• Be wary of financial or personal requests
  Never send money or sensitive information to someone you only know online.

I will never know if X’s words were all true, partially true, or completely fabricated. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter.

For I will always remember how his final missive made me feel, and that, in the end, carried more weight than 10,000 shared pathways.

Steady on, and may you be the light that ignites countless flames soaring toward their highest and most profound destiny.

With much love and gratitude,

Lis 💖💖💖

Photo Credits:
Cover Image: Daniel Stanitzki ~ Unsplash

________________________

Recently published

A quick 5-minute routine to start your morning with gratitude and self-care:
Transform Your Day in 5 Minutes: The 3-3-3 Morning Routine

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

Tuesdays – Anchor Reflection

Personal reflections on life, creativity, and living slowly and meaningfully

Fridays – Creator Spotlight

Featuring inspiring voices and creative work across Substack

Sundays – Community Table

Free resources, creative gifts, and shared inspiration

________________________

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say.

Subscribe now

________________________

Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?

Come take a peek behind the scenes and meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

It was pure joy joining John Rinaldo on Stories, Soul Work & Substack.

I would be delighted if you gave it a listen.

Much love and gratitude,
Lis 💖💖💖