A quick note: If you’ve ever wondered if you can read this *not* in your email inbox, the answer is yes! You can open up my Substack site or download the Substack app below and read my posts there at any time. (I subscribe to quite a few Substacks and this is my preferred reading method. I don’t love my inbox getting clogged up, so the app solves that for me.)
Okay, that’s all!
Last week I made peace with the transition into fall, and this week I learned that newsletter seasons are a thing. And it got me thinking… Maybe it’s time for a new season of Maryn is Here! To me, it feels natural and right. And fun.
But before I jump into what the new season could entail, it also feels natural and right to honor what this newsletter has meant for me so far. A little reflection.
Season 1 Recap
I published my first post on June 25th! Three months ago! That makes a quarter, right? Q1 of Maryn is Here is complete! (As if I know business lingo.)
In these three months, I wrote about:
My hair journey and how it’s connected to my journey of understanding myself
What depression is like for me and how I attempt to work through it
The Lahaina fires and making peace with my time as a Mormon missionary there
A grounding practice for when I get stuck in an overthinking vortex
And much more (which you can always reread here at your leisure)
Plus, in these three months:
I’ve grown more confident in my voice and what I have to offer (!).
I passed 100 subscribers (which I realize is small potatoes in almost any media setting, but it feels big to me).
I learned that expecting myself to post something deep and insightful every week is probably not sustainable, and I’m working on finding ways to keep this a restorative endeavor.
I got back into drawing (a major hobby of my young self) which has been a very welcome surprise — I especially loved making my Things Maryn Learned This Summer comic.
I’ve connected with some extremely talented writers who are now sharing their work here on Substack, and it has been a pure JOY to see them put themselves out there (shout-out
and ). If starting a Substack has been on your mind but you’re nervous, reach out, and let’s chat — I would love to be your cheerleader.
So why Season 2?
I started this newsletter because I missed having a space to write, share, and connect… but mostly because there were certain things that have happened over the past few years that felt like maybe I could really only process them through writing, or at least some form of creative expression.
I’ve scratched the surface on a few of those things here so far, but for the most part, I’ve been scared to dive into them. I’ve been tiptoeing. I want to have more courage to write the things I really need to write — while still protecting myself (and others) from oversharing and burnout.
Here’s a sneak peek of topics on my mind for Season 2 (and beyond):
My experience with religious/moral OCD and how it, in part, led me to deconstruct my belief system
What life looks like during this deconstruction, particularly in attempting to rebuild my sense of identity and belief system in a way that prioritizes my wellbeing
Learning to love my body and allowing myself to dress in a way that feels good without shame (thanks to the aforementioned deconstruction)
Exploring creativity and connecting with my inner self as forms of spirituality
Plus other things tangentially related to my becoming a radically different human than I was five years ago
In this new season, I’m hoping to dig deeper into the stuff that matters. I also want to keep exploring things like making comics, and embracing my weird self! Maybe I’ll experiment a little with audio and/or video too. Through it all, I’m going to try to strike a balance of finding meaning and depth while also creating space for fun and lightness.
I’d love to know: What have you enjoyed from my newsletter so far? What would you like to see more of?
I’m hoping to create more of a pattern and schedule for the type of posts I share, so your feedback helps me as I work that out! Ultimately, I should do whatever I want, but I want this to be worth your time too. You know?
Thanks, as always, for being here. Your support means more than you know.
Until next time,
Maryn (is here)
I have loved witnessing Season 1 - really looking forward to Season 2!
Maryn! Such kind words, thank you!! My newsletter really wouldn't have been resurrected if it hadn't been for you — truly forever grateful. Having loved Season 1 of this newsletter, I absolutely can't wait for Season 2 (and incredibly excited for your discussion of OCD in particular!!) The season of expansion, particularly creative, definitely seems to be upon us 😊