Substack: The Nuts and Bolts

Everything you ever wanted to know about the most uniquely intelligent, user-friendly social media platform ever created. WELCOME to all you smart, discerning people!

Substack has been a virtual godsend to me and I’m sure others, who love to write and share the wealth of their knowledge, wisdom and life experiences. For me, it’s felt like coming Home.

For writers like myself, we feel an irrepressible need for self-expression. It’s a creative outlet that keeps our mind and spirit well-lubricated, while feeding our soul. In truth, any creative endeavor has the capacity to do this for us humans, because creativity springs from the body’s second chakra or our pelvic area, which also houses reproductivity and sexuality.

In short, when we create (and it doesn’t matter how ya do it, or what form it takes when ya do), you are celebrating your uniqueness and affirming your innate talents, strengths and abilities! This is crucially important, as so few of us ever got the positive mirroring, nurturing or encouragement we needed, to pursue developing these splendid aspects within ourselves when we were young~ which (for millions) was a serious parental failing.

Cultivating our creativity or (more accurately) excavating it, is a marvelous, incomparable tool for fostering self-discovery. We take far too much for granted about our Self, because if our natural abilities as small children weren’t recognized and lauded by our parental units, we never learned to regard them as unique or special.

When we have no opportunity to discover and acknowledge our strengths and talents, the presumption we make, is that “everybody” can do it~ and I’m here to tell ya, they can’t. People with ADD traits are notorious for thinking this way. If something they create comes easy for ‘em, they assume it comes easy for everyone else~ whether it’s a natural aptitude for artistic or musical expression, or working with numbers, math or electronics.

I write because I can’t NOT write. It’s been a flourishing, irrepressible part of who I am since my 20’s. I just had no idea in those early days, how much I could emotionally educate and assist other humans in better navigating their life experiences, with this skill. Did I ever receive support or encouragement for my writing? Not really.

My uncle (father’s middle brother) whom I was emotionally close to for many years, because we both naturally thought in psychoanalytic terms and had marvelous discussions about the intricacies of the human psyche, once said to me, “you express yourself very well on paper.” Perhaps that stuck with me, and turned out to be just enough wind beneath my wings, to grow my confidence in this arena of endeavor.

Okay, enough background… let’s move on to the punchline of this “newsletter.” Did you know that whenever my newsletter hits your inbox, there’s an opportunity at the very top and bottom of that post, that you can click on, and it takes you to my online page and post? So, if you hit the ‘like’ icon, the ‘comment’ icon or the ‘restack’ icon, you’ll be instantly on my Substack post, and can leave your impressions (or thank you’s) there. You can also read comments (if any) that are offered from others.

Some of you send me direct feedback on my posts, which land in my inbox. I adore getting your comments, but they don’t necessarily alert others on the Substack platform that this particular offering might be worthy of their time and attention. So I hope ya don’t mind me asking you to comment or like my post within Substack, IF it feels comfortable for you to do so. It’s not more work for ya, and I’d appreciate it.

Another thing I’ve been contemplating is, instituting Substack’s “tip jar.” This is a feature (if my techno-bimbo nature can figure out how to make it available to ya, and so far, I haven’t) where you can send a little ‘thank you’ to me for a post of mine that’s helped clarify something you been confused about, or that lands in a place of special meaning and value for ya, without feeling like you’re signing up for a recurring charge, which is how “paid subscriptions” work.

During the course of my lengthy existence, there’ve been many times I felt compelled to contribute to a charity or cause, but knew I’d continually be hounded for more “donations” once I did. This awareness has caused me to resist those temptations, and if you’re wired similarly, I don’t blame you!

The “Tip Jar” is a one-time offering, that conveys your appreciation or gratitude for a particular post. There’s no obligation to give more than once, and (based on my understanding of this feature) it can be in the form of as little or much as you feel inclined to contribute. As I understand it, the system walks you thru setting up your payment, and your data is totally safe and secure.

It’s just another way of saying, “Thank You~ this offering was very meaningful or clarifying for me.” Still folks, no obligation here! I am, and always have been utterly delighted that my website materials and (now) my newsletters enhance your life even just one tiny bit~ so please know I feel grateful that this innate writing talent of mine continues to touch, guide and help you navigate this thing we call, “LIFE” a little better than you did before you ever even heard of Shari Schreiber. :~)

Merry Christmas to all. I hope this day is both joyful and restorative, to you and yours.