It is you against yourself

If an artistic life speaks to you, that’s great, but know that you’re probably not very good at it yet. ( And that’s okay.)

But Catherine, what if I’m a genius? Then be one. But you can also spend your 20s exploring things, trying stuff out, figuring out your talents, and discerning your vocation. You probably aren’t that interesting yet (sorry),

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Maybe this is all taking me back to Annie Dillard, my first writing teacher, whose influence on me abides, and who famously and reassuringly once wrote, “You don’t run down the present, pursue it with baited hooks and nets. You wait for it, empty-handed, and you are filled. You’ll have fish left over.” In other words, the empty-handedness is import... See more

Of course the thing about beginning again — about starting over midway through is that you have to be willing to watch yourself die.

I learned that from writing this newsletter.

Next week, it will be three years since I launched the cereal aisle, and I think the most important thing I have learned in the time since is that rebirth is on the other sid... See more