Hello there friend,
Welcome to How to be Here, a chronicle for the curiously minded seeker of truth and compassion in a sometimes unforgiving, unyielding world of chaos.
Here is where I write about the shadowy side of life, exploring past the dirt and despair, digging deeper than you might not want to go, unless you’re curious to find a bit of light and love underneath all the suffering life hurls at us, sometimes at breakneck speed. Here is where I write about grief and loss and its murky waters of drowning, resuscitation and recovery. Here is where I encourage my fellow writers and humans to write it all down. In a journal, in a book, in a blog. Let your creativity be the means to healing your deepest wounds, not to erase the past but to re-tell your story in a way that liberates you and brings you closer to your whole and highest self.
Whether you are a writer or a reader, I welcome you to join me on the biggest discovery of compassionate truth-telling I could never have imagined I’d be taking. Here I aim to be vulnerable, while showing grace to myself as well as the world.
If you’d like to continue learning How to be Here with me and my stories and essays, please click the button below and never miss a message. Be sure to add my Substack email to your contacts list, to never miss an email. It is my privilege that you are here and it humbles me to know you care about the questions I bring up about life.
OUT OF ALL THE SUBSTACK NEWSLETTERS OUT THERE, WHY MUST I SUBSCRIBE TO How to Be Here?
Because we both care about truth. And we want to believe that the world is happening for us, not to us. Because we want to make sense of it together. And when we cannot, we have a place to collaborate on how to live with and through it. Because it is my mission to educate my readers about the messiness and multiplicity of life. Because I am a big believer in the power of connection, we - you and I - are creating a community of sharing these truths in order to create ripples of courage and change. Because I believe the truth may not always be comfortable, but it will set you free - and by free, I mean showing up as your courageous and highest self, living a life that resonates in integrity with who you are and your own personalized manifestation of How to be Here.
If you want to know what others think, here are a few words from some of my subscribers.
Great piece you wrote on the topic of the secret hope to be recognized! And yes, sometimes our egos get in the way, but it’s also a legitimate human need to be noticed, to be validated. So much learning along the way for you, and your readers are blessed when your well crafted stories resonate with them!
—Memoir Author Mary G.
Yet again you have brought me to tears. Your writing is so detailed and raw I feel like I am right there with you. Thank you for sharing with your whole heart ♥️
—Cookbook author Jamie L.
We have to practice knowing our worth in these spaces where so often it is aimlessly taken away so subjectively. And sharing 'failures’ makes these spaces all the more safe, 'normalized', rich, and encouraging to keep doing the work, even when it’s hard - maybe especially when it’s hard.
—Author Jacquie D.
I’m sitting on the edge of my seat. The hopes and dreams wrapped up in it, the understated trauma. I love it. I want to say keep writing…
—Author and writing coach Vicki P.
Jaclyn, your writing echoes that art and craft of writing powerful emotions. This is a superbly written picturesque description with private sentiment. I can see it as a chapter of a bestseller book. Congrats.
—Journalist Y.Y.
Your words are so eloquent and perfect.
—Artist Jaclyn. S
