An Update & Moving Forward

Engaged and consistent

Hey there, Hope & Coffee Buddies.

I’m dropping this hopeletter as a means of an update and to relay how I’ll be showing up here moving forward. First of all, this keyboard feels so good under my hands right now simply because of this shift in deciding how I’m going to continue. Second, you may possibly get tired of my randomness and post frequency about whatever. 🤭

I’ve made the decision to not think so hard about what I want to share. To not wait for insight to find me. To not wrestle with that insight so long I forget what it is or pore over it until it’s just right. To not format this hopeletter.

I’ve decided to do what I tell all my editing clients:

Just write!

What that means is that sometimes there may be inspiration. Sometimes, there may be rambling. Sometimes, it might be a paragraph. Sometimes, it might be more words than you’d care to read.

What led to this you might ask? Well…I’ve been doing some thinking (Dangerous I know.) about consistency. Everywhere I turn there’s some social media influencer talking about how to increase your following or poke at the algorithm. And every single time it boils down to one thing: consistency (and usually in front of a camera). I’m uncomfortable “in front of the camera.” Therefore, I’ve been grappling with this implementation of consistency for quite some time now.

Standard social media platforms-for me-are more about lurking, liking, and sharing with friends. Although I can do “in front of the camera” and engage with an audience, it’s not my preferred method. I simply don’t want to, which means I overthink it. Also, the level of engagement with people, who I don’t feel like I know, seems weird and impossible to keep up with. I promise it’s a struggle to try and like or respond to everybody’s comment or gif. 🙄

On the flip side, this writing off-the-cuff behind the laptop feels natural and doable. Here, on Substack, it’s mostly about reading and thought. I know some accounts have strong leanings toward presenting like they do on other platforms that are camera-heavy, but I have more opportunity here to engage with people who like to write, read, and think before they post. So, here we go I guess. Let the engagement and consistency begin.

You’ll see more of me here and randomly. It may not always be in a post like this. I might be dropping a note or two here or there. I might be restacking more. So, if you’re not on Substack and only engage by receiving these hopeletters via email, you’ll miss those. Either way, you get to walk with me in whatever way you choose, because it’s all about comfortability and ability at this point. That’s the path I’m choosing.

And I love y’all but, this is not the time to tell me that “growth doesn’t exist inside your comfort zone.” 😒 These engagements will exist inside my comfort zone.

And when it’s time to grow beyond that, I’m not opposed. For now though, y’all gon’ get this comfort-zone writing and sharing. 😆 You’re just going to get it more often and with less initial thought, because that’s what I have the capacity for right now. Also, because it releases me from others’ expectations. As I’m fond of saying, it is what it is, and it’s gon’ be what it’s gon’ be.

As usual, I’m interested in your thoughts on the matter or anything else you’d like to share, so the comment section is open.

Let’s move forward together.

With love 💛🤎,

Parthenia

Today’s Pour: Exploradora Mexico - Women Grown, Women Owned

This content is free to consume, but I’m not opposed to you buying me a cup of coffee. ☕️😉👇🏾