Creator Spotlight: John Rinaldo
Meet one of Substack’s most inspiring and courageous voices whose writing and conversations stay with you long after you’ve experienced them.
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.
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
The Positive Pen – Stories of resilience, personal growth, and the soul work of a life lived.
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:
Want More Discoveries Like This?
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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 💖
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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
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Beautiful work, Lis. What I see isn’t simply a spotlight on a creator—I see someone quietly practicing the art of remembrance. Every time we genuinely see another person’s work, we remind them that what they created mattered. In doing so, we strengthen the invisible thread that connects us all. Thank you for creating a space where generosity, beauty, and encouragement can breathe. May your light continue to illuminate many more voices. ✨
What struck me most reading this was how consistent John's answer is with the way he shows up on Substack.
There are people who write about resilience, and then there are people who quietly embody it through their words, their encouragement, and the way they engage with others. John has always seemed to fall into that second category.
I also appreciate something Lis does so well in these spotlights. They remind us that behind every publication is a real human being carrying a lifetime of experiences, struggles, victories, and lessons into their work. It helps turn creators back into people.
A wonderful feature on a genuinely kind and thoughtful member of this community. Thank you both for sharing this.
Stay entangled, my friend.
—Robes