Apr 20, 2023·edited Apr 20, 2023Liked by Michelle Elisabeth Varghese
Love this edition! I love that you brought us into the scene at the start and I relate to the bittersweetness of leaving one city for another having bounced from Montreal to London and back, and then to Sydney and Paris before eventually finding my way back to Montreal. I also blasted ‘unwritten’ many times over the years. :)
I also love the personal touch of the photos. I have yet to visit SF and much of California so it’s cool to get little glimpses—it’s absolutely stunning.
And I love the takeaway about how eventually we need to stop studying and consuming info, and just get started to learn how to do something. That’s where fulfillment comes from.
Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment Alexandra! I remember reading about your own moves, across the world no less. Your stories resonated with me as well, transitions like moving tell you a lot about yourself and I think there's no way to prepare for them. Like you said in your one of your recent essays, if you knew how things would play out, it would sound discouraging! But there's so much growth that happens in those moments too. Also, stop studying / consuming and simply starting instead is a lesson I keep finding myself having to learn haha.
Oh San Francisco is very beautiful! My photos don't do it justice, there's so many pockets of beauty in the Bay Area.
So much beautiful imagery Michelle - particularly the balloon escaping to the sky. Maybe it's because spring is blooming here, but this piece felt particularly poignant to read! Bravo!
Ah thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear that line stood out, it was a last minute change so fun to see that people enjoyed it. I appreciate the comment Ranjit!
I'm so happy to hear that Angie! The future is so uncertain, sometimes I forget we just recently went through a crazy unexpected world event which always puts things in perspective for me. Thank you for your thoughtful comment and for your decades long support! I know I'll be your fan in ten years too ♥️
Apr 21, 2023·edited Apr 21, 2023Liked by Michelle Elisabeth Varghese
Dear Michelle,
There is so much achievable hope in your essays.
Your writing is also sprinkled with beautiful phrases that are comforting, wise quotes to wrap around my soul. Here are few of my favorites in case you want to put them in Canva and tweet them or share them in an Instagram image (I know you love IG :) ):
“Part of manifesting a good life is letting go of the details, letting go of the need to control the outcome.” – Michelle Varghoose
“The art of writing itself has changed so much over time, how can I know what the future holds?” - Michelle Varghoose
“All I know is that today I like writing. If I write an essay every week, I’m hoping something good will happen. Something that makes me happy and lets me keep doing what I enjoy doing. As far as I’m concerned, everything else is still unwritten.” - Michelle Varghoose
Thank you so so much for not only the kind comment, but also highlighting some quotes I can pull from this piece. I really should convert them into images, that would be such a fun way to sharing my writing. I appreciate always appreciate you and your support!
Love this essay!!! Your story about leaning into new experiences and writing is really inspiring.
“I think back on this phrase often, usually right when my life plans escape my tight grip, slipping through my fingers like a rogue balloon escaping into the sky….Part of manifesting a good life is letting go of the details, letting go of the need to control the outcome.” I love these lines.
Also, I hope that one day I can experience your writing by asking my lil robot to project a lil movie on my ceiling while you narrate it. That sounds magical.
Thank you thank you Liz!! I'm so happy to hear it was inspiring. Haha, I would love if a little movie robot existed! I would have it "play" your essay too, then I could have all the companion art as well. I appreciate you and your comment!
"Or maybe I will be feeding my essays into a human shaped robot that translates my stories into little movies that it projects onto the ceiling." - I really hope someone is inventing that.
Hahaha I hope so too! Writing it out, I was asking myself what would future tech look like if it was fun. It seems doable to me too. Thank you for the comment!
Jonathan, this means so much to me! Also, I'm glad the essay popped up and it was a good reminder for me too. Very crazy too to see what can happen in a year. I'm so happy you are doing well!
Eloquently put and so much verve and optimism! And so perfectly attuned to your themes and styles, and the reflections you share. On to further and the yet unknown and unwritten future!
Loved this essay Michelle! It truly resonated and was a valuable dose of encouragement on this uncertain path, breaking free from past expectations. Excited to continue following your journey.
Thank you so much Mafe, I appreciate the comment! I'm excited for your journey as well, I think we all have so much potential and so much is still left unexplored.
"I’m leaning into new experiences, joining different online communities and turning strangers into friends. I’m cultivating an openness for a future that I may enjoy, but don’t know exactly what that looks like yet."
To doubling down on enjoyment, and assuming success along the unwritten way.
P.S. I will NEVER be able to listen to Unwritten without thinking of you now!
I'm so happy to hear that <3 Yes to this 100000% "To doubling down on enjoyment, and assuming success along the unwritten way." I think our future is bright!
hahaha yes! I love that song so I don't mind it at all.
Have you explored Taoism / the Tao Te Ching? think some of the core teachings would resonate. it's all about going with the flow, accepting, not forcing anything
I have "adaptability > planning" as a potential blog topic, but it's just a seed right now. Something about adaptation, charles darwin, being relaxed and loose enough to be able to jump on opportunities, stuff along those lines
I haven't, but I really should! I know almost nothing about it but hear it referenced enough that I know the things I do consume are probably influenced by it. Actually, I was thinking about picking up Rick Rubin's book and I think you may have tweeted there's some Taoism influence? Maybe I should start with Tao Te Ching, sounds like exactly what I've been thinking about these past few years.
I like this idea of adaptability vs planning and am eager to see what you land on if you do write about it. The word adaptability sounds right to me. It's impossible to predict tomorrow, adaptability will serve us so much more than trying to over plan.
Such a moving, honest, and insightful piece, Michelle. Your article made me think about the act of writing in the present to create a future versus writing a future for the future. Also, this is an incredible example of playful language :) "I think back on this phrase often, usually right when my life plans escape my tight grip, slipping through my fingers like a rogue balloon escaping into the sky."
Thank you so much for reading and for your kind comment Jared! I love this idea of writing in the present to create a future. I find it so nice to write in the present and see how things play out.
Haha I'm not going to lie, I think being back in Write of Passage inspired some more playfulness in this essay. I went back to that line and challenged myself to find a better metaphor, so I'm pleased so many people enjoyed it!
Your statement "I will never leave San Francisco" made me giggle out loud & everything that came after proved it right. You are such a beautiful writer Michelle, Im so grateful you listened to the advise of the masterclasses teachers & started writing! Reading how positively uncertain you are makes me feel normal.
It's still funny to me to look back at that moment and think about how sure I was. As if there was no way I'd change my mind. Thank you so much for your sweet words Sri! I'm also happy to hear the uncertainty part resonates because sometimes I feel as though I'm the crazy one for leaning into the unpredictability of life. It does ebb and flow. Sometimes I do still try to over plan and that's usually when the anxiety kicks in haha.
I felt like you were speaking to me and my question about expectations that I asked earlier this week. Thank you for writing this!
I felt this bit 100%: “People, though, have been curious to know what my plans for the future are. What are my goals? The subtext is often, “how do you plan on making money?”
I understand that, “I don’t know” can seem like a flippant, unfocused answer. It’s not specific, measurable, achievable, relevant or time bound. There is nothing S.M.A.R.T. about how I envision my future.”
Ah Camilo, I'm sure you influenced this! I was trying to write a piece on manifestations actually and it wasn't coming together, so I'm sure there are bits of that sentiment here. Thank you for the comment, I'm so happy to hear those lines resonated! I'm sure it's something you are coming across in your own journey.
I think the universe especially laughs when we say we will "NEVER" do something.
Five years ago this week, my boss and I were riding back to the office in his truck after a meeting. We were lamenting the problems dating at work was causing for someone else in our department. I said it was ridiculous that someone couldn't find another person to date outside of work in a metro area of millions. I said I would NEVER do this.
That night, at a work event, I met my now husband. 🙃
I love this story, and that you are writing. Please keep writing!
Yes, oh my gosh Claire, I agree. These days I'm almost nervous to say "never." I love that story about meeting your husband! The universe really does have a sense of humor and can honestly write a better story than we can plan for ourselves. Thank you for the kind comment and encouragement!!
Love this edition! I love that you brought us into the scene at the start and I relate to the bittersweetness of leaving one city for another having bounced from Montreal to London and back, and then to Sydney and Paris before eventually finding my way back to Montreal. I also blasted ‘unwritten’ many times over the years. :)
I also love the personal touch of the photos. I have yet to visit SF and much of California so it’s cool to get little glimpses—it’s absolutely stunning.
And I love the takeaway about how eventually we need to stop studying and consuming info, and just get started to learn how to do something. That’s where fulfillment comes from.
Great writing as always!
Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment Alexandra! I remember reading about your own moves, across the world no less. Your stories resonated with me as well, transitions like moving tell you a lot about yourself and I think there's no way to prepare for them. Like you said in your one of your recent essays, if you knew how things would play out, it would sound discouraging! But there's so much growth that happens in those moments too. Also, stop studying / consuming and simply starting instead is a lesson I keep finding myself having to learn haha.
Oh San Francisco is very beautiful! My photos don't do it justice, there's so many pockets of beauty in the Bay Area.
So much beautiful imagery Michelle - particularly the balloon escaping to the sky. Maybe it's because spring is blooming here, but this piece felt particularly poignant to read! Bravo!
Agreed!
Ah thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear that line stood out, it was a last minute change so fun to see that people enjoyed it. I appreciate the comment Ranjit!
Thank you for sharing this essay, Michelle! Your writing makes me feel so much more at peace with what is now and what is coming.
I also don’t know what the future will look like in 10 years. But I know one thing for sure- I will still be your big fan ♥️
I'm so happy to hear that Angie! The future is so uncertain, sometimes I forget we just recently went through a crazy unexpected world event which always puts things in perspective for me. Thank you for your thoughtful comment and for your decades long support! I know I'll be your fan in ten years too ♥️
Dear Michelle,
There is so much achievable hope in your essays.
Your writing is also sprinkled with beautiful phrases that are comforting, wise quotes to wrap around my soul. Here are few of my favorites in case you want to put them in Canva and tweet them or share them in an Instagram image (I know you love IG :) ):
“Part of manifesting a good life is letting go of the details, letting go of the need to control the outcome.” – Michelle Varghoose
“The art of writing itself has changed so much over time, how can I know what the future holds?” - Michelle Varghoose
“All I know is that today I like writing. If I write an essay every week, I’m hoping something good will happen. Something that makes me happy and lets me keep doing what I enjoy doing. As far as I’m concerned, everything else is still unwritten.” - Michelle Varghoose
Love, Jenny :) :) :)
Dear Jenny,
Thank you so so much for not only the kind comment, but also highlighting some quotes I can pull from this piece. I really should convert them into images, that would be such a fun way to sharing my writing. I appreciate always appreciate you and your support!
Love this essay!!! Your story about leaning into new experiences and writing is really inspiring.
“I think back on this phrase often, usually right when my life plans escape my tight grip, slipping through my fingers like a rogue balloon escaping into the sky….Part of manifesting a good life is letting go of the details, letting go of the need to control the outcome.” I love these lines.
Also, I hope that one day I can experience your writing by asking my lil robot to project a lil movie on my ceiling while you narrate it. That sounds magical.
Thanks for sharing this lovely essay <3
Thank you thank you Liz!! I'm so happy to hear it was inspiring. Haha, I would love if a little movie robot existed! I would have it "play" your essay too, then I could have all the companion art as well. I appreciate you and your comment!
"Or maybe I will be feeding my essays into a human shaped robot that translates my stories into little movies that it projects onto the ceiling." - I really hope someone is inventing that.
Hahaha I hope so too! Writing it out, I was asking myself what would future tech look like if it was fun. It seems doable to me too. Thank you for the comment!
Was scrolling through my shared notes here on Substack and I reread this again - a year later! Still very resonating!
Jonathan, this means so much to me! Also, I'm glad the essay popped up and it was a good reminder for me too. Very crazy too to see what can happen in a year. I'm so happy you are doing well!
So encouraging and true! Really resonated. And very happy to have "Unwritten" in my head for the rest of the day :)
Ah thank you so much Alexa! I hope it has left your head by now, or maybe not, the song does always make me feel very optimistic :)
such a good one :)
Eloquently put and so much verve and optimism! And so perfectly attuned to your themes and styles, and the reflections you share. On to further and the yet unknown and unwritten future!
Thank you so much Helen 💛 Looking forward to seeing what be both do in our unwritten futures!
Loved this essay Michelle! It truly resonated and was a valuable dose of encouragement on this uncertain path, breaking free from past expectations. Excited to continue following your journey.
Thank you so much Mafe, I appreciate the comment! I'm excited for your journey as well, I think we all have so much potential and so much is still left unexplored.
Ahhhhhhh, I resonate with this so much.
"I’m leaning into new experiences, joining different online communities and turning strangers into friends. I’m cultivating an openness for a future that I may enjoy, but don’t know exactly what that looks like yet."
To doubling down on enjoyment, and assuming success along the unwritten way.
P.S. I will NEVER be able to listen to Unwritten without thinking of you now!
I'm so happy to hear that <3 Yes to this 100000% "To doubling down on enjoyment, and assuming success along the unwritten way." I think our future is bright!
hahaha yes! I love that song so I don't mind it at all.
Have you explored Taoism / the Tao Te Ching? think some of the core teachings would resonate. it's all about going with the flow, accepting, not forcing anything
I have "adaptability > planning" as a potential blog topic, but it's just a seed right now. Something about adaptation, charles darwin, being relaxed and loose enough to be able to jump on opportunities, stuff along those lines
Life is dynamic and fluid, so should we
I haven't, but I really should! I know almost nothing about it but hear it referenced enough that I know the things I do consume are probably influenced by it. Actually, I was thinking about picking up Rick Rubin's book and I think you may have tweeted there's some Taoism influence? Maybe I should start with Tao Te Ching, sounds like exactly what I've been thinking about these past few years.
I like this idea of adaptability vs planning and am eager to see what you land on if you do write about it. The word adaptability sounds right to me. It's impossible to predict tomorrow, adaptability will serve us so much more than trying to over plan.
yeah The Creative Act is full of Taoism if you can spot it. The Tao Te Ching has been translated in quite a few ways and I've read it in multiple translations. The more poetic versions are also harder to understand. This is the one I see most commonly recommended that's also a bit easier to parse: https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/u.osu.edu/dist/5/25851/files/2016/02/taoteching-Stephen-Mitchell-translation-v9deoq.pdf
Highly recommend reading The Creative Act too!
Such a moving, honest, and insightful piece, Michelle. Your article made me think about the act of writing in the present to create a future versus writing a future for the future. Also, this is an incredible example of playful language :) "I think back on this phrase often, usually right when my life plans escape my tight grip, slipping through my fingers like a rogue balloon escaping into the sky."
Thank you so much for reading and for your kind comment Jared! I love this idea of writing in the present to create a future. I find it so nice to write in the present and see how things play out.
Haha I'm not going to lie, I think being back in Write of Passage inspired some more playfulness in this essay. I went back to that line and challenged myself to find a better metaphor, so I'm pleased so many people enjoyed it!
Your statement "I will never leave San Francisco" made me giggle out loud & everything that came after proved it right. You are such a beautiful writer Michelle, Im so grateful you listened to the advise of the masterclasses teachers & started writing! Reading how positively uncertain you are makes me feel normal.
It's still funny to me to look back at that moment and think about how sure I was. As if there was no way I'd change my mind. Thank you so much for your sweet words Sri! I'm also happy to hear the uncertainty part resonates because sometimes I feel as though I'm the crazy one for leaning into the unpredictability of life. It does ebb and flow. Sometimes I do still try to over plan and that's usually when the anxiety kicks in haha.
I felt like you were speaking to me and my question about expectations that I asked earlier this week. Thank you for writing this!
I felt this bit 100%: “People, though, have been curious to know what my plans for the future are. What are my goals? The subtext is often, “how do you plan on making money?”
I understand that, “I don’t know” can seem like a flippant, unfocused answer. It’s not specific, measurable, achievable, relevant or time bound. There is nothing S.M.A.R.T. about how I envision my future.”
Ah Camilo, I'm sure you influenced this! I was trying to write a piece on manifestations actually and it wasn't coming together, so I'm sure there are bits of that sentiment here. Thank you for the comment, I'm so happy to hear those lines resonated! I'm sure it's something you are coming across in your own journey.
I think the universe especially laughs when we say we will "NEVER" do something.
Five years ago this week, my boss and I were riding back to the office in his truck after a meeting. We were lamenting the problems dating at work was causing for someone else in our department. I said it was ridiculous that someone couldn't find another person to date outside of work in a metro area of millions. I said I would NEVER do this.
That night, at a work event, I met my now husband. 🙃
I love this story, and that you are writing. Please keep writing!
Yes, oh my gosh Claire, I agree. These days I'm almost nervous to say "never." I love that story about meeting your husband! The universe really does have a sense of humor and can honestly write a better story than we can plan for ourselves. Thank you for the kind comment and encouragement!!