Sofie Couwenbergh

You don't want to dance with everyone, so you can't expect everyone to want to dance with you. ... and that goes for more than just dancing.

OK, this is wild. In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them. It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*. What the HELL? 1/

Today I realized, I'm not too much. Their arms simply weren't strong enough to hold me.

Writing is digesting. You take in something raw or well-cooked. To make it your own, you need to swallow, even when that's hard. As the experience moves through your system, what's nourishing gets absorbed, what's not passes through, and in the end, you just hope that what comes out is solid.

About how Portuguese helps us differentiate between how we define ourselves and the temporary states we move through. open.substack.com/pub/sofiecou...

When you crave something deeply and then get a drop of it - but just one - your need isn’t met; you’re just reminded of it fiercely. And so with gratitude for each drop, comes grief for the lack of a stream.

There is no applause for choosing to create light amidst the pain and sadness, but it's the only way to not let the darkness win.

This ad made me chuckle :)

"Less normalized (...) is the grief we experience when losing ourselves. Sometimes, we consciously upgrade who we are, yet in the process, we ignore that not everything about the old us was that bad. We throw away the baby with the bathwater and then wonder why we miss something to care for." >>>

“When we feel our heart leap at the thought of one option before us, and our heart sink at the mention of another, what does that portend for the choice we ultimately make?” - 'The Extended Mind' by Annie Murphy Paul

Women’s Health Startups File EU Complaints Against Tech Giants Over Content Censorship buff.ly/ESa6ERz

@pmillerd.com Just wanted to let you know there's a little typo in the link to your membership in your bio :) Have a lovely rest of your day.

What if it’s not a matter of choosing how much we focus on building our future and how much we enjoy the now, but a matter of building our future in a way that is joyful, purposeful, and gratifying as we go about it? sofiecouwenbergh.substack.com/p/entreprene...

Contentment is just as much about accepting who we are not, as it is about being true to who we are.

Would you rather reach the end of your life and regret all the growth you avoided out of fear of discomfort, or be uncomfortable now with a good chance of more joy and calm in the long run?

1/8 of my Weekly Cafe Working Sessions Challenge (I really need a better name for it): done! I was so much more focused than I usually I am at home yet at the same time it felt a little too intense, maybe. I'm excited to see how I'll feel next week.

Developer friends:

Friends want to be there for you. If you're struggling with something right now, reach out to them. You're not bothering them. You're offering them a chance to show up as friends.

@amykey.bsky.social I'm taking your workshop at Salted Books in a few weeks and I *think* we could leave a question for you upon signing up but I didn't at the time. I do have one now, though. If I'm not misremembering, would you mind if I shared it here? Thanks!

I'm challenging myself to work at a cafe for at least 1 hour a week for 8 weeks straight. Not much of a challenge? It is to me, for the reasons listed in this post. I also share why I'm doing this, and how I'll use public accountability to stay on track. sofiecouwenbergh.substack.com/p/challenges

When you're dealing with something invisible, "How are you" can be one of the hardest questions to answer. You want to be honest but positive, open but protective. If you’ve ever struggled with deciding what or how much to share, this might resonate. sofiecouwenbergh.substack.com/p/invisible-...

The hidden cost of chronic conditions is time. They're not just draining and require you to rest more. You spend so much time on research, doctors, figuring out which supplements to get where, and nervous system regulation instead of just living. You are a constant caretaker, of yourself.

If only we'd learn about nervous system regulation, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness in school – the world would look so different.

I signed up for a writing workshop at a local bookstore and I'm so excited! I've been writing professionally since 2010 but this workshop will be dedicated to developing my personal writing. If you've ever done a writing workshop or retreat that you loved, please do share 🤗

Writers, where do you keep and organize your thoughts, book notes, quotes, all the things you might later use for an article so that they're easily findable and accessible?