The birds and the bees

Dance with me?

“When you spot your flower, you can’t let anything get in your way.” Photo by Grace Hassler. 

Life asks something of all of its children: that we both give and receive. I have my own question for you as well, but we’ll get to that in a moment. 

Consider pollination. From a plant’s perspective, giving a bee something to eat means getting what it needs to make seeds. From a bee’s, moving pollen from one flower to another comes with the gift of a meal.

There’s no contract, nor a spoken promise. Just two living creatures doing their thing, breathing life into one another in the process. 

Downstream of the plant and the bee, a bird makes a nest on a tree branch and, the next morning, fertilizes a crop as it flies over. The crop grows tall and its fruit makes its way to the grocery store, where a cashier goes home with a few dollars in exchange for our dinner ingredients. 

Give, receive. Give, receive. This holy dance of gift and reciprocity is what holds creation together. Give so as to sustain those who sustain you. Receive so as to be able to give again. 

What is mine to give?

A week ago, I worked my last day at a job that I held for five and a half years. When the day was over, I packed my proverbial office into a proverbial box, sent a few farewell emails, and filed my final timesheet. All I’m waiting on now are some tax documents and a shipping box for returning my laptop. 

Just as the bee knows where to fly, it has become clear to me what I’m here to do: write my story, share it, and make space for others to do their version of the same. 

Here’s what that work will look like moving forward:

• Write and publish my writing (mostly here in this newsletter, but also with the goal of producing a book manuscript).

• Teach writing, through my You Have a Story groups and at a local school.

• Host workshops and small groups geared toward building emotional intelligence and strengthening relationships, like this one and this one.

The universe has gifted me a set of interests, talents, and experiences–both joyful and full of sorrow–and they are all taking shape as my contribution to a more beautiful world. It’s time to put my full self behind this calling.

 Writing is my part to play in the ecosystem. My words are my gift, and I am here to give them.

Announcing a change

As of today, you have the option to change your free subscription to this newsletter into a paid one. This is a great way to reciprocate the gift that I offer you. 

A paid subscription costs $7 per month or $75 for the year. When you sign up for one, you’ll be giving me something that I need. Every now and then, you’ll also receive writing that’s just for paid subscribers. 

To upgrade to a paid subscription, click the button below:

Give, receive. Give, receive.

Thanks to the bee and the plant, you and I have honey to drizzle in our tea (and a sugar substitute for baked goods, if you’re into that kind of thing). The fields are teeming with beautiful flowers, and the whole world is filled with oxygen.

What I’m getting at is that these creatures aren’t just passing out random knick knacks. They’re giving the world something very valuable. 

Are my words valuable? What kind of value do they provide?

My highest goal is that I make you feel something, and that when that happens, you pause for a moment to consider the sensation. We are all carrying hurt, and there is great healing in bearing witness to ourselves. 

I’ll also share a few notes that readers have sent my way. They echo themes of other compliments I’ve received, all of which mean a tremendous amount:

“I appreciate how open your writing is, especially the reflections on your life at home as a kid. Reading your stuff is helpful in sorting out feelings of my own memories, even if they’re completely different experiences.”

“I read your work because you’re a beautiful writer! I can relate to a lot of what you talk about, but I also just like to read because you write poignantly and expressively.”

“Your newsletter is one of my favorite things to read.”

Really though, I don’t think I’m the one to answer the value question. It’s you, not me, who knows what you get out of being here. The truest statement I can make is that your time is precious. If you’re spending it here, these pages must benefit you in some way.

If I’m correct– if you do receive my words as the gift that I intend them to be– please remember that in order to give them, I must also receive. That’s the way that the world goes ‘round.

As I share the paid subscription option with you, I ask: 

Is this yours to do?

If it is, I would absolutely love it if you signed up for one.

A few more notes

First, if you’re new to my work, you may want more time to discern its value. That’s a very understandable position to be in, and if it’s where you are, I invite you to stay a while and see what you think.

Also, if you’d like to give but would prefer not to do a paid subscription– maybe you want to give more or less than the $7/month figure, or maybe you just don’t want another account on the internet– please use the info below. 

• @Jonathan-Neeley-2 (Venmo) 

• neeley87@gmail.com (PayPal)

• If those don’t work, just shoot me an email.

Finally, if you’d like a paid subscription but money is a prohibiting factor, let me know. I’ll be happy to give you one. 

Much love,

Jonathan