I’ve been writing what I considered a blog series for a few months now. We dubbed it a cutesy-ish name “Shower Thoughts” based on the idea that I typically get my big ideas while taking a shower (and forgetting to shampoo) - I’d come into the office with my hair soaking wet and furiously type out marketing ideas, new product ideas, thoughts on life I want to share with my daughter one day, nonsense that comes into my brain in the form of lists on scraps of paper that inevitably end up in a pile I’ll never get around to sorting… But now, I’m giving this thing legs and hoping it can stand on its own two feet. It is freaking terrifying.
A couple of weeks ago (maybe a month? who knows, time is nuts in this end of year Maycember period), I was super into these Shower Thoughts posts. I had a running note on my phone of topics I could cover that I felt like I had some words and thoughts to share. I pitched turning the blog series into a Substack to my marketing team, and they loved it. Ranna got to work on planning the promotion of “now Shower Thoughts is a Substack - rate and subscribe!” (lol, jk, I would never utter those words seriously) And then… the ideas… totally vanished. I think the thought of turning this thing into something real - sending it out via email to people who - gasp - might actually read it, it froze me in my boots, per se. I lost motivation - or rather, fear took the motivation. The ideas stopped flowing. I stopped writing in my on-going notes app. My mind during showers was… blank.
But here I am, up against a deadline, so I’m doing the thing I told myself I wouldn’t do - I’m writing my thoughts willy freaking nilly right into the Substack platform. I’m not carefully writing it on a pages doc to be edited and screened by Ranna (who is not in the office this week btw and I literally forgot how to work properly). I’m just flying by the dang seat of my pants because I have a deadline looming. Ranna planned an email to go out this morning announcing that Shower Thoughts now exists on Substack! And thus, Shower Thoughts must exist on Substack. Like, I can’t have a broken link, right?
I don’t know what will come of this lil side project, but I will say the joy of writing has come back a little since deciding to do this for real. My notes app is still in tact, and I plan to reference it to hopefully spark some creativity in writing more about things I deeply care about. If you’re just joining us on Substack and never saw the blog series, might I point you to a post I enjoyed writing? I’m attempting to live it out - I went to dinner with a few new girlfriends last night (a group of moms from my daughter’s school), and damn if it didn’t feel good to just sit and chat uninterrupted with women in a similar life stage. Also, I certainly felt like an odd man out because all of them are in scientific professions making big differences in the world, and I was like well I make jewelry? (she says head in hands) - But NO! In reference to this post - I am a Cool Girl ™ and my contributions to the world matter. So do yours. (in case you need a reminder!!)
I don’t have a pretty bow to tie up this post - I’m not even sure a bow would do it justice. It’d be like putting lipstick on a very chaotic pig. But perhaps, this post is actually the best kind of post to welcome you to this new lil project of mine. A bit of everything here and there - some relatable, some not, but all said with good intentions. So, here it is - the Shower Thoughts Substack. Like and Subscribe!
Thanks for joining the chaos! More to come 🙃
Mary Frances
A post-script: I grew up with music blaring in every corner of our home for most hours of the day. It’s a big part of who I am as a person and how I move through the world. This morning on the way to school, my daughter requested windows down and music we could dance to - she’s def my daughter. So, I thought it would be fitting and fun to share a song I’ve been listening to on repeat to close out each of these posts. If you also have a toddler or need family friendly-ish music (there are a few cuss words, sry) to “dance in the kitchen” to, you can check out my Dancing in the Kitchen playlist on Spotify. Or, if you’re just looking for a single fun song to get you in a good mood…
This is what’s in my ears lately: Dance with Everybody
A post-post-script: I have no clue what kind of photos to use on these things yet so please enjoy baby MF w her signature banana smile! This awkwardness is how I currently feel pressing send.
Love love love! Welcome to cozy wild corner of the internet 🫶
So proud of you Fran!