Friends! We hit 200 subscribers! š„³
And other updates and light reading written to you from the side of the pool in Tuscany, Italy.
Hi Friends,
A very exciting thing happened while none of us were lookingāThe Diary of a Dispatched DivorcĆ©e hit 200 subscribers!!! <ahhhh!!!!!!!> THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!!
Newsletters arenāt āsupposed to beā a medium for an author to navel-gaze. This is supposed to be a platform for you. Which is cool, but why else are you subscribing to my diary if not to peep into things that you probably wonāt hear about elsewhere? <hah>
Thereās a movement going around the internet that wants people to celebrate themselves more often. Iām exceptionally good at being critical of myself, but being self-congratulatory? Evenā¦bragging???
Iām trying it on for size by saying something like this to my friends: āI was so smart when I decided to doā¦ā especially if itās an idea related to my business.
Itās kind of like Iām arming myself in case my friend interrupts me and says: āHey, Laura, youāre kind of full of yourself these daysāā and the conversation is no longer about my great idea, but confirming my greatest fear that everyone around me is judging me.
This is, of course, a worst-case scenario that plays out in my head. Ruled by that internal part that is committed to protecting me from failure, humiliation, and criticism so that I can go back to fantasizing about my dreams instead of making them happen (itās a lot safer, it believes, to stay inside my head than do things and fail out loud).
(Maybe you can relate?)
Since Iām working on this new muscle, Iām trying to come up with a new answer to my friendāwho I trust, deeplyāand will say, āYes, and?ā without skipping a beat. Trying to challenge and reprogram myself to be open to the brag, the congratulations, and keep going. Let my friend tell me to calm down. Let them tell me that Iām being too much.
But you know what, dear subscriber, none of those friends have. And I doubt they will. And I doubt anyone will anytime soon.
Iām going to keep saying things like, āI was so smart when I thoughtā¦ā etc. until I get tired of it.
But I probably wonāt. Because itās really fun to say things like that.
Youāre welcome to borrow this exercise in building yourself up too.
If you need a space to practice, tell me what you did recently that you thought was really smart in the comments. Or reply to this email. I would be thrilled to know what youāve been up to too.
And if you feel like it, you can credit āthe most amazing wonderful newsletter that you subscribe to and read all of her issues religiouslyā when you tell your friends who encouraged you to do the same. šš
Right now, Iām sitting beside the pool of my favorite villa in the hills of Tuscany in a village about 45 minutes outside of Firenze, Italy. Itās late May. Moderate temperature, strong winds. Not quite warm enough to go for a dip in the pool, but warm enough to finish this email while my mom finishes her tatted lace project and my dad keeps his streak on Duolingo. Later, weāll head to a village in the area for a self-guided walking and tasting tour of all the small enotecas. walk and wine tour of the regionās best fares.
I was living in Switzerland during the pandemic and while international borders were closed, being a resident of Switzerland meant I had mobility within Europe.
In the summer of 2020, my friend, Kate, and I took our first āVia Italiaā road trip and drove from Switzerland through Italy down to the Almalfi coast and the gem that is Positano. We recreated that itinerary with more friends in the summer of 2021.
For the past few years, Iāve been dreaming about showing my parents around Italy ā I grew up watching my dad order the Tour of Italy at Olive Garden. And while my parentsā palates have outgrown that fine dining establishment, itās time to ruin their taste for all Italian food in the US by taking them directly to the source!
When Iām not chauffeuring my folks around Italy, Iām posting stories about our trip on Instagram. Will there be a follow-up newsletter of everything we see in here? Only if the popular demands itā¦
Did you take the World Tour Reader Survey?
If you havenāt cast your vote in the reader surveyāthe survey is still open, so cast your vote now:
I want to know what stories youād like to hear about from my trip around the world last winter.
Did you hear that Switzerland won Eurovision??!
Nemo put on one hell of a show and WON Eurovision for Switzerland! Thatās right, friends, and on my birthday too.
Are these two events connected? Only in that it provided a lovely reason to throw myself a birthday party, decorate the entire apartment, and require my friends to wear costumes. (Tell me a better gift to give yourself; Iāll wait.)
And eat cake.
I came to my party as Celine Dion in 1988, the year she won Eurovision for Switzerland.1 Fun fact: the year after, Lausanne hosted Eurovision! Thatās some cool trivia!
AND THEN the year that I was dressed as her, Switzerland won again! Coincidence or the best birthday present ever? (Thank you, Europe.)
Since Switzerland won, Switzerland will host Eurovision in May 2025. Lausanne has already bowed out from hosting,2 but the city of Geneva is campaigning hard.
Donāt know what Eurovision is? Watch this movie then let me know if youāre a fan of Baby Lasagna too.
Something for the writers
As Iāve been hustling towards the launch of Dispatched DivorcĆ©e, my book has been on hold (again, more on that later). Or a simmer. Which is sometimes exactly what a creative project needs.
I read this essay by
which gives me confidence that, yes, I am still a writer, especially in the stages between creative spurts:Maybe youāre a writer whoās on a bit of a hiatus too?
If you have a project youāre looking to get back into or one youāre looking to start,
is kicking off another round of #1000daysofsummer on June 1st. Hereās what itās all about:I love this concept. Itās a great way to get words down on the page with the accountability and support of a community.
Or if youāre a writer who needs more structure, Writing Co-Labās summer camp kicks off in mid-July.
Okay, time to get back to the Italian countryside.
Thank you for being here š
Until next time,
Still have yet to figure out how a Canadian citizen was able to represent Switzerland, like Flo Rida singing for San Marino in 2021, but I have better things to Google.
Apparently, hockey finals take priority? #lame #butok
I am usually not a newsletter subscriber, but I just love yours š«¶