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I’m curious to know: Where in your life right now is someone else’s ideal departing from your actual, lived reality?

US-based subscribers, don’t forget to enter the book giveaway by dropping an emoji alongside a comment: 🚀 for Bruce’s book, ⛰️ for Cait’s, or 💰 for Myra and Abby’s!

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Apr 12Liked by Maddie Burton

🚀 currently one year out of undergrad and applying to graduate school. And in the next week I have to make the hard decision to turn down all the ones that I have gotten into because none of them are right for me this moment. So, I’m looking towards the future and figuring out what comes next. A book about transitions might just be perfect.

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This is all VERY validating, and don’t we all crave more reality and less illusion? (Makes me think of the woman spending five minutes crafting her perfect selfie at my Pilates class this week, followed by a complete half-ass, phone-it-in job at the class itself. Who’s the Pilates for??)

I tried the publishing calendar for my website blog once upon a time—it’s now one of several idea repositories I keep adding to depending on my physical location. I used to feel badly, but by giving up on what I thought it should be or do, I ended up giving in to finding what actually works. Hard to check those shoulds!

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Apr 12Liked by Maddie Burton

Love this behind-the-scenes! I'm actually in one of my default writing modes right now: nestled into the couch, wrapped up in two blankets, with my coffee perched precariously on the side of the couch (I've been doing this for months and will probably only stop when the cup gets knocked over and spills... which is inevitable.) It's not ergonomic, glamorous, or even particularly comfortable. But it works.

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Thank you so much for mentioning my post on a year of enoughness! It’s exhilarating to find one’s own way sometimes. AND give ourselves permission to drop the “shoulds” and “best practices” that aren’t “best” for us!

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This is gold. It is so encouraging to know that your writing process is also a hot mess. (I mean that in the best way possible.) I always feel like it's just me! And yet, the finished product you produce every week is always elegant and insightful.

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Apr 13Liked by Maddie Burton

🚀 Every book sounds awesome, but Bruce’s is the one I think I most need to read right now. Thanks for sharing information about all of them an offering the chance to get one free!

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Ripe vs. unripe is delightful to think about. Thanks for this.

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🚀 Loving the behind the scenes! Honestly, the reality of this moment for me is I desperately want to travel more and even be nomadic for a while, but I have my family's needs to take into consideration. Sure, we can all work out the logistics, but I can't ignore the emotional aspect and working out a solution everyone is happy with. It's a balance between seeing what's in front of me and trying to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and really needing to stay in this transition period for longer.

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Apr 19Liked by Maddie Burton

💰I always ”wanted” money and love to be completely separate entities, but the older I get the more I see how intertwined they are. If I’m struggling in one I’m often blocked in the other. Thanks for the book recs, I added all 3 to my hot mess google doc of all the books I want to read, quotes, links, etc. I really should organize it. 🤷‍♀️ 😁

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Congrats on your stackiversary, Maddie! You are wonderful. So happy you're here! xo

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Apr 15Liked by Maddie Burton

I LOVED this! This was so fun to read. I've never had a calendar. I'm just out here creating newsletters on pure ✨vibes✨ and chaos. 😂 I let my emotions lead me most of the time because if my heart isn't in it, it's not happening. I also want this space to be fun and relaxed. I have a day job and I get enough structure from it. I need freedom here. Substack is my playground.

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You got me at Second Brain hahaha ! I say DO fall into the rabbit hole and, while you’re there, maybe check out the Second Brain notebooks I have created? https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CNLVHRMM

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Apr 13·edited Apr 13Liked by Maddie Burton

🚀 I really enjoyed Bruce’s book The Search. Thanks for giving us a peek into your process!

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it's a very helpful thing to realize that everyone's work style - particularly when it comes to creative endeavors - is different. SO many people - especially adults pivoting to a creative career - get stuck in the "shoulds" about writing every day / writing a certain number of words, etc. when really it's all about figuring out how YOU work best and most productively.

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⛰️I have a hot mess notebook (or 2…or 3 😆) and often I find getting it all out of my head makes room for something legit!

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