Thank you! After attempting that walk, I read COVID-having folks should not exert themselves for 4-6 weeks after. Whoops. But at least that benchmark timeline made me feel less scared. I had expected too much of myself, and can back up now and build my strength and lungs back up more slowly.
It is, in my experience, the only way. I kept blowing my recovery this summer by pushing myself, thinking I’d get better faster that way. Had to stop everything and start back sloooow. It is working. If I do not break a sweat I can do a fair amount a day now. Not exerting myself was the ticket.
But it’s challenging to go as slow as needed, particularly when you are accustomed to go-go-go. Just try to trust that you’ll get back to where you were, and stay there once you do, in time. 💕
We live on a perpetual teeter-totter. The ups the downs. Looking forward to reading Montgomery's essay. So happy to hear Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary is being recognized! Love that novel. Sending you a squeeze from across the neighborhood. xoxo
Yes--I love that image of a teeter-totter. So true to the human condition. You'll know where I was walking--the park that used to have a name and is now awaiting a new name. There's a great nature trail through there, and I was enjoying the outing so much until I couldn't breathe. SIGH.
I love that park, (now called A Park on the maps) and the neighborhoods near it. There is that cool little cut through path between 25 th and 26th down by Texas Ct. I happened upon it by accident a few months ago. Do you know it? I love that after 23 yrs in SW Portland I’m still finding new places in the larger hood. Take care, rest, and next walk will be better. 💕
A Park: exactly! I don't think I know that cut-through. We went from the nature area up a trail and met up with the trail by the frisbee golf course. Then I realized I was really Not Okay.
Oh Laura, What a DRAG. I know so many people with all sorts of rebound symptoms from the dreaded COVID. Sending you all the healing vibes. Meanwhile, brava on the accolades for Stylish Canary!
Thank you, Alice! It's so hard to sift through symptoms and figure out which are rebound (if any) and which are because my immune system is on high alert. And also, apparently to figure out what I can do and can't do yet. I'll get there. It's just reinforced my decision to be as careful and strategic as possible about engaging with the world.
Do you know Maureen Langloss? She's the Flash Editor of Split Lip Mag? She's been having a hell of a time because of her underlying autoimmune issues and COVID recovery. I feel like you guys should commiserate. She's trying to be a mom, a writer, and a literary citizen all at the same time and managing, but don't know how she, and you do it! I'd be a wreck.
Nov 21, 2022·edited Nov 21, 2022Liked by Laura Stanfill
Hi Laura. I appreciated your post. Accepting what is, including my physical and other limitations, is a daily spiritual practice. Sending best wishes for you and your lungs to return to capacity. ☮️➕💜
I love that--a spiritual practice. And it's a good reminder that all THIS is practice. I'm definitely acknowledging how tuned in to my body I need to be right now. Thanks for the comment!
So sorry you're going through all that, Laura. Wishing you recovery, and time to move slowly. Take what you need to be healthy.
I actually was planning to follow up with you about indie publisher consulting! I have a feel others would also benefit from and be willing to pay for your expertise. For myself, I know basic info already, but my questions are a bunch of fiddly details around metadata, distribution, contracts, sales outreach, etc.
I would guess that for people wanting to become publishers, an overview of what being a publisher means, and recommendations for further resources/learning would be helpful. As a product, could be hourly consultation, a pre-recorded webinar, or pdf guidebook. More established folks might want coaching or a class.
These are great ideas and specifics. I adore you. Thank you. And yes: let's work out a plan to connect. Metadata is my favorite subject! (Well, that and distribution.) Especially with my hands in terrible shape, I need to decide what's feasible and set boundaries around everything else.
Thanks so much, Laura, for your honesty and vulnerability. Plus congratulations on recognition so well deserved. You inspire me to list all the ways you’ve helped my debut novel; I’ll share it with you, then others. 🙏
I’m so sorry to hear what you’re going through. I truly hope that your body and lungs heal fully in the coming months. I will be curious to learn how you are able to shift your work to suit your body’s abilities, too. I struggle with that too.
Thank you, Shari. It's discouraging to feel so awful STILL. But if I can shift and think about taking care of myself as a deepening practice, one I need to focus on, then this feels more like part of the journey of having the body I do.
Dear Laura: I feel for you in that Covid fog (three weeks out, here, and still exhausted!). Reading through a lens of knowing our collective vulnerability, this entry helps me understand the challenges of your body better. The balancing of work, family, and your physical self. You will figure this out. All the love to you as you mull things over. AND CONGRATS ON THE ACCOLADES!!
Oh friend! I have appreciated our confabs about fatigue and other symptoms. The inflammation has been really hard on top of the other COVID related things. I've also stalled at getting "better." And I'm restless.
Inflammation would definitely be an extra burden. And restlessness, yes! Particularly for you of so many hats! It's hard to feel less productive, less functional than "normal." But soon the "better" will happen!
Nov 20, 2022·edited Nov 20, 2022Liked by Laura Stanfill
Sorry to hear of your health challenges, Laura, but happy to hear of notable recognition for your book and your presses’ books. Always enlightening to follow your journey.
This is a big shift, friend. As you know, I’ve had to radically shift my ideas about what I’m physically and mentally capable of over the last 10 years. It doesn’t happen all at once, but in phases, and it’s not like you move onto one phase of acceptance and understanding and never have to revisit it again. There’s a lot of circling back, a lot of needing to be reminded that this is not a matter of “willpower” or “all in my head,” but the reality of my body. xoxoxo
Reframing it as shifts is super helpful to me. Thank you for that--and for all our health conversations, which have helped me say things like this out loud. For a long time, I definitely downplayed my health, including to myself, wanting to act "normal." But I can't keep up--nor do I want to.
Thank you! My parents are in town so I'm unfortunately staying away from them for at least a few more days. I'm grateful I had all the vaccines in my system and Paxlovid too.
Sending you hugs and best wishes for full healing. Being patient with your body, without exertion, will get you through with best possible outcomes. 💕
Thank you! After attempting that walk, I read COVID-having folks should not exert themselves for 4-6 weeks after. Whoops. But at least that benchmark timeline made me feel less scared. I had expected too much of myself, and can back up now and build my strength and lungs back up more slowly.
It is, in my experience, the only way. I kept blowing my recovery this summer by pushing myself, thinking I’d get better faster that way. Had to stop everything and start back sloooow. It is working. If I do not break a sweat I can do a fair amount a day now. Not exerting myself was the ticket.
But it’s challenging to go as slow as needed, particularly when you are accustomed to go-go-go. Just try to trust that you’ll get back to where you were, and stay there once you do, in time. 💕
This is super helpful. Said while sitting down, resting!
We live on a perpetual teeter-totter. The ups the downs. Looking forward to reading Montgomery's essay. So happy to hear Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary is being recognized! Love that novel. Sending you a squeeze from across the neighborhood. xoxo
Yes--I love that image of a teeter-totter. So true to the human condition. You'll know where I was walking--the park that used to have a name and is now awaiting a new name. There's a great nature trail through there, and I was enjoying the outing so much until I couldn't breathe. SIGH.
I love that park, (now called A Park on the maps) and the neighborhoods near it. There is that cool little cut through path between 25 th and 26th down by Texas Ct. I happened upon it by accident a few months ago. Do you know it? I love that after 23 yrs in SW Portland I’m still finding new places in the larger hood. Take care, rest, and next walk will be better. 💕
A Park: exactly! I don't think I know that cut-through. We went from the nature area up a trail and met up with the trail by the frisbee golf course. Then I realized I was really Not Okay.
Oh Laura, What a DRAG. I know so many people with all sorts of rebound symptoms from the dreaded COVID. Sending you all the healing vibes. Meanwhile, brava on the accolades for Stylish Canary!
Thank you, Alice! It's so hard to sift through symptoms and figure out which are rebound (if any) and which are because my immune system is on high alert. And also, apparently to figure out what I can do and can't do yet. I'll get there. It's just reinforced my decision to be as careful and strategic as possible about engaging with the world.
Do you know Maureen Langloss? She's the Flash Editor of Split Lip Mag? She's been having a hell of a time because of her underlying autoimmune issues and COVID recovery. I feel like you guys should commiserate. She's trying to be a mom, a writer, and a literary citizen all at the same time and managing, but don't know how she, and you do it! I'd be a wreck.
I do not know her! Sounds like she's someone I should get to know, though. Thanks for the suggestion and congrats on your latest book!
Hi Laura. I appreciated your post. Accepting what is, including my physical and other limitations, is a daily spiritual practice. Sending best wishes for you and your lungs to return to capacity. ☮️➕💜
I love that--a spiritual practice. And it's a good reminder that all THIS is practice. I'm definitely acknowledging how tuned in to my body I need to be right now. Thanks for the comment!
So sorry you're going through all that, Laura. Wishing you recovery, and time to move slowly. Take what you need to be healthy.
I actually was planning to follow up with you about indie publisher consulting! I have a feel others would also benefit from and be willing to pay for your expertise. For myself, I know basic info already, but my questions are a bunch of fiddly details around metadata, distribution, contracts, sales outreach, etc.
I would guess that for people wanting to become publishers, an overview of what being a publisher means, and recommendations for further resources/learning would be helpful. As a product, could be hourly consultation, a pre-recorded webinar, or pdf guidebook. More established folks might want coaching or a class.
These are great ideas and specifics. I adore you. Thank you. And yes: let's work out a plan to connect. Metadata is my favorite subject! (Well, that and distribution.) Especially with my hands in terrible shape, I need to decide what's feasible and set boundaries around everything else.
Thanks so much, Laura, for your honesty and vulnerability. Plus congratulations on recognition so well deserved. You inspire me to list all the ways you’ve helped my debut novel; I’ll share it with you, then others. 🙏
Thank you, dear Dian! I'm so thrilled to be on your team for this debut of yours.
I’m so sorry to hear what you’re going through. I truly hope that your body and lungs heal fully in the coming months. I will be curious to learn how you are able to shift your work to suit your body’s abilities, too. I struggle with that too.
Thank you, Shari. It's discouraging to feel so awful STILL. But if I can shift and think about taking care of myself as a deepening practice, one I need to focus on, then this feels more like part of the journey of having the body I do.
Dear Laura: I feel for you in that Covid fog (three weeks out, here, and still exhausted!). Reading through a lens of knowing our collective vulnerability, this entry helps me understand the challenges of your body better. The balancing of work, family, and your physical self. You will figure this out. All the love to you as you mull things over. AND CONGRATS ON THE ACCOLADES!!
Oh friend! I have appreciated our confabs about fatigue and other symptoms. The inflammation has been really hard on top of the other COVID related things. I've also stalled at getting "better." And I'm restless.
Inflammation would definitely be an extra burden. And restlessness, yes! Particularly for you of so many hats! It's hard to feel less productive, less functional than "normal." But soon the "better" will happen!
Sorry to hear of your health challenges, Laura, but happy to hear of notable recognition for your book and your presses’ books. Always enlightening to follow your journey.
Thank you so much, Gail!
This is a big shift, friend. As you know, I’ve had to radically shift my ideas about what I’m physically and mentally capable of over the last 10 years. It doesn’t happen all at once, but in phases, and it’s not like you move onto one phase of acceptance and understanding and never have to revisit it again. There’s a lot of circling back, a lot of needing to be reminded that this is not a matter of “willpower” or “all in my head,” but the reality of my body. xoxoxo
Reframing it as shifts is super helpful to me. Thank you for that--and for all our health conversations, which have helped me say things like this out loud. For a long time, I definitely downplayed my health, including to myself, wanting to act "normal." But I can't keep up--nor do I want to.
Sorry to hear about your condition. Hang in there and hope you feel better soon. 🙏
Thank you! My parents are in town so I'm unfortunately staying away from them for at least a few more days. I'm grateful I had all the vaccines in my system and Paxlovid too.
Laura, thank you for writing this in a season of sniffles, aches, and limitations. So many people can relate. Sending all love for a full recovery.