75 Comments
Sep 6Liked by Marie Vandoorne

Thanks for reminding us those words from Tiago. I needed this. Every time I post something about my journey, good or weird ones I’m scared. But it’s good to remember that I can be an escapism for someone. I hit publish with the hope that this post of mine will find the right people.

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That's the mindset 🧡

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You got this, Shanjitha 🧡

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This is one of the reasons I love Substack. It feels real compared to anything on Meta. Instead of bloating an article with keywords and salesy bullet lists filled with emojis, people simply show up as themselves. Maybe it's the writer in all of us. Our attention span is longer than a 30 second video clip. I thought readers were becoming a dying breed until I came back to Substack.

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I thought the same!! But Substack gives me hope, more and more people seem to find their way here 🧡🧡

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New here, hi! I love this reminder that we don’t have to wrap it up pretty or offer solutions. I’d add as a reason: sometimes all we need is to know that we are not alone.

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Hi Hanna!! 🧡 Welcome to TBM, so happy you found this place. The reason you add is so true, it gives a form of comfort!

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I feel like you're in my own overthinking brain! Everytime I write a post here or on other platforms, I try and offer a ‘solution’ or ‘value’… ultimately overthinking it! When sometimes you just need to share your journey and voice and help others feel less alone. These are also the posts that get the most traction but I still resist it! The unfiltered, more raw version of self.

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I guess that’s kind of what every writer who tells their story is struggling with from time to time.

I feel I want to pin these Tiago words to a wall 🤍

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It's harder to share that unfiltered self, because it's way more personal and you share something about yourself you would otherwise just keep to yourself or just share with the closest people around you. But it's also the most rewarding kind of writing 😊 take your time, try some small things out first!! It took me 2 years to be able to write like this! But makes me happy you could relate 🧡

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Man that Tiago quote resonates. One of the most surprising (and wonderful) parts of writing for me has been the random old friends and colleagues who've reached back out - and the vulnerable, meaningful conversations we've had as a result. And it's always because some sentence or paragraph has hit them in a certain way, struck some chord that's been silent for a long time. Thank you for this!

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Oh hey Patrick, nice to see you here :)

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Sep 7·edited Sep 7Liked by Marie Vandoorne

Both of us finding our way to a post about vulnerability & authenticity? SHOCKED. :)

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Haha! Exactly!

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I know, that Tiago quote is deep. I still remember reading it for the first time, it opened my eyes and stayed with me ever since!

I love the effects writing can have on other people 🧡 Thank you for reading!!

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People “buy’ from people they trust. Every post we read goes through our mind’s bullshit filter. We’re pretty good at sniffing out inauthenticity. When we do, even unconsciously, we can’t trust or indeed love. We find reasons to back away and not buy into people or the stuff companies peddle.

We “buy” when we fall in love a little, or a lot. The closer we are to our true selves the more people relax in our company, listen and accept us for who we are.

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So true, it's like we have this subconscious filter saying: nope.

Thank you for your beautiful words and for reading, Gary!

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Sep 12Liked by Marie Vandoorne

Just two words I could say, 'loved it", and rest is hidden in these words, heart emoji!

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🧡🧡🧡 thank you Anvesha!!

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Marie, I can’t express how thankful I am to have read this today. I just got back from my hometown, and I’ve been disconnected from Substack. The struggle of trying to reconnect with my routine and face the reality of being far from family and friends is real. I was searching for some light, some kind of motivation to get back into writing, or wherever this journey takes me.

Thank you for sharing your experience—it’s such a perfect example of what you wrote. I’ve been worrying about the purpose of my own writing, but reading how much I resonate with everything you said, coming from such an honest place, is truly uplifting. I’m so glad to be back and reading your content again.

P.S. Beautiful pictures!

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Karina, thank you so much for your kind words 🧡 I'm so happy you read this piece just when you needed it. I get you completely on reconnecting with the routine, it's been a struggle for me too, but I'm giving myself the time I need to do so.

Keep writing, for yourself 🧡🧡

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Thank you, Marie. 🙏🏻

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I feel you and Marie so much! It’s a major transition time for me right now and as much as I long for building a new routine, I am also worried about how to integrate everything in a meaningful way.

But I guess that’s the beauty of a process 🤍

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Good to know I’m not alone. Let’s embrace the process. 🙏🏻❤️

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Sep 8Liked by Marie Vandoorne

So many delicious elements in this post. From the moral support to the beautiful vacation pics. Thanks for sharing

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Thank you for reading Isaiah 🧡

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Sep 8Liked by Marie Vandoorne

That's a beautiful quote from Tiago Forte! I hope to be that person for someone today, it's why we all write I guess. A beautiful reminder 😊

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You already are that person for more than 1 person Sophie 🧡 For the people who read, like comment on your publication!

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This is exactly what I did today haha! You're right. We are all just a bunch of weirdos looking for other weirdos to connect with. And the best way to find your fellow weirdos is by being your authentic weirdo self 😉

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Omg are we 2 in sync weirdos together? 🤣🤣 I saw your comment on my latest post as well, seems like our minds are always in the same place 🤩

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Hahaha yep! That Belgian wavelength is powerful (?)

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Sep 7Liked by Marie Vandoorne

The clouds are parting and the sun will start shining again. Appreciate you writing, even when times are tough. Cheering you on. xx

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🧡🧡🧡 thank you Mika!!

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Sep 7Liked by Marie Vandoorne

Wow this was awesome and just what I needed this morning, thank you. Thank you for sharing that quote from Tiago as well, I remember reading it somewhere before and not saving it. It hit just as good today as it did then. I definitely question a lot of what I share from time to time and like you said, feel this pressure to polish it up or whatever, but then it wouldn’t be me, so I just release it like a wild ferret into the woods.

Your vacation looked amazing and I would have sobbed leaving blue waters and 10 hours of sleep a night too. Looking forward to the next one 🤗

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Release that wild ferret into the woods 🤣 haha love that sentence and visual!!

Omg I sobbed so hard, hahahah

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Sep 6Liked by Marie Vandoorne

Your writing is so beautiful, Marie. I'm happy to hear that you (too!) had an amazing summer month off and are ready to get back to it! Thank you for your kind words ❤️🥹

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Thank you Carly 🧡 for your super kind words and for your support! Means so much to me!

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Sep 17Liked by Marie Vandoorne

Thank you for this reminder. If it helps only one person, even if it's me, it's worth it.

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It's absolutely worth it 🧡 and indeed, it starts with helping yourself in the first place. I feel like I always write for myself.

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Beautifully written, Marie! And I love these lines from Tiago.

I feel like especially as writers who share our own stories as the main content, it’s important to remind ourselves about the value that escapism can bring to others 🤍

I hope you have started to create a little routine for Lola and yourself by now! Big hug!

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I got a lot of inspiration for this one from one of our conversations in Karlsruhe 🧡 thank you 🙏🏻 big hug back!!

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Ohhh, that's so nice to hear! 🤍

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