Let’s Lift Each Other Up

New writers and old — I celebrate you!

We all win when we lift up one another, when we amplify each other, or so I’ve come to believe. I realize we live in a dog-eat-dog world, yet I have never subscribed to this mentality, and it doesn’t have to be this way. (I’m guessing this is why I haven’t fared well in Corporate America, but I digress).

As human beings, we are hard-wired to connect; wired to engage in relationships with others, yet society continually invites us into individualistic thinking, causing internal conflict and confusion as to how to be with people in work and life.

Am I for myself or am I for others? Am I a team player or a one-woman show? How should I be? What is the right way? If I cheer for others — what about me, will I lose steam or focus or recognition?

At the end of the day, it’s up to each of us to find our own balance when it comes to how we view the world and our place in it with others.

In my world, I lose nothing by showing kindness, by cheering for others, and maybe I even gain some energy in my soul and my heart as a result of making a difference. In my world, we all win when we lift each other up.

So how do we do that? How do we, as writers, lift each other up? How do we lift the profession up? How do we lift the platform up?

We do so by being team players.

We lift each other up by cheering for one another, amplifying one another’s writing without agenda or expectation, and celebrating one another’s successes —just because.

Because we get it, because we want it, because we’re inspired, and because in some ways — we’re all in this writing thing together, one interconnected breed of people, a worldwide team of sorts.

We all measure ourselves, and define ourselves, against some ideal, and that ideal is different for each of us. To the new writer, working towards 100+ followers on the platform, I might be the ideal with 1,700+ followers, whereas to me, the writer with 2,000 or 3,000+ followers is the ideal, along with the writer on Twitter who has 20K followers, and a published book.

So in some ways, we are all still beginners, each on our own journey toward some ideal.

As we near the end of the year, reflecting on past journeys and those yet to come, I’d like to practice what I preach and lift up some writers that inspire me. I hope you will do the same.

Let’s cheer for one another

We were all beginners here once, and if you’ve been here even a couple of years, you know that things change often here. In my opinion, it was once easier to grow and easier to earn a few dollars too. The platform often changes its pay structure as we go along for the ride!

When I first joined in May 2020, you didn’t need 100+ followers to apply for the Partner Program, whereas now you do. We simply paid our dues, and voila! Since I’ve been here many beloved publications have shuttered, along with their tight communities and high visibility facebook groups where many of us became friends. It’s harder to make friends, to grow, and to be known here today — at least as I see it.

So let me introduce you to a few writers that I have come to know and love and whose writing deserves more eyes. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do.

Jennifer Cross is a mom, a podcast host, and a strong woman with a powerful voice on mental health, relationships, and living an empowered life to name a few. Her writing always resonates with me and gives me something to think about! She also happens to live down the street from me and we randomly (or serendipitously) met on the platform — thanks Universe! Follow her — you won’t regret it!

Karen Oliver, PhD is a clinical psychologist, a mother, and a writer of mental health, life, parenting, and thriving through midlife. She’s also an old friend (we grew up together), that I recently reconnected with through our writing. (Another win for writing!) She has her own blog and is a fabulous writer. I was immediately drawn to the way she writes from the heart and invited her to the platform, and naturally — to Being Known. I’m delighted she’s here and excited to amplify her work. Follow her — you’ll be glad you did!

Alison Jacobson is living her best life in midlife and helping other women do the same through her coaching practice. She writes beautifully about life and love, relationships, and enduring and thriving through the seemingly impossible! Each of her pieces will tug at your soul and leave you feeling more grateful and empowered in your own life. Follow her too — I promise you’ll love her!

Let’s amplify one another’s writing

Carolyn Riker is a therapist, a single mother, and a brilliant writer (I know I use that word often but intentionally every time). She is a masterful poet, weaving a beautiful tapestry of words with each and every single poem — trust me. The way she puts words together will move your soul. She has 3 published poetry books and is my fearless co-editor at Being Known; I would’ve shuttered without her stepping in to save me from drowning in submissions. Carolyn — I am grateful for your words and your friendship. (Writing for the win again!) Here is a glimpse into Carolyn’s world of words:

Sarah L. Harvey is another writer, poet, and therapist whose words will move you each time. She writes real, raw, and tender straight from her heart to ours. Gentle and vulnerable, yet powerful and empowering, her words always move me. Each and every one of her poems stuns me each and every time. Here is a taste of Sarah’s mastery:

Randy Shingler is a father, husband, poet, and someone who practices mindfulness each and every day and shares it with us. I feel transported into calm and present clarity with each of his poems as if they are my pathway into my own moment of mindfulness. Thank you Randy for sharing this with us and for inviting us all to step into that moment of stillness with you.

Skye (Vixen Lea) Nicholson is a mother, wife, coach, and as of yesterday — a published author who courageously and beautifully shares her lived experiences of addiction and recovery through her brilliant poetry. I am grateful to have met her here and am excited to read her new poetry collection (my book is on its way!) Skye — you inspire me!

Let’s celebrate others’ success

I’ve been on the platform for almost two years and though many of my pieces are chosen for further distribution, being featured remains an elusive dream to date. In fact, many writers I know and love, admire, and look up to — are also still waiting, dreaming, and all but panting for this day. Today I celebrate the following writers whom I’ve had the pleasure to see soar as their pieces at Being Known were both distributed and featured. I am in awe of their writing!

Heather Jauquet is a mother, wife, runner, and breast cancer warrior who writes deep from within and shares her lived experience of pain and fear, beauty, life, and parenting as she faces issues of her own mortality with us. Brace yourself for each of her pieces will touch you and move you — to tears if you let them. This piece was both distributed and FEATURED, reaching 4.3K views! CONGRATULATIONS Heather! As you already know (because I always tell you), your writing moves me every single time.

Nathan L. Senter is a husband, father, and coach, and another writer who WOWs me with his writing! It’s been a while since he wrote for us at Being Known but this piece below went VIRAL with 14.2K views — OMG! It is an incredible read and following this brilliant writer will not disappoint! Nathan — your writing inspires me as a writer. I hope to see more from you soon!

Mindy Stern is no novice on the platform, but new to me. I don’t know much about her (but want to), yet I am delighted to have come across her. She is another brilliant writer whose piece below was also distributed and featured, and I’m guessing from looking at her work and her following, that it wasn’t her first. I am inspired and empowered and have a lot to learn from her — I can feel it. If you don’t know Mindy, do yourself a favor and get acquainted!

In conclusion

Thank you for being here on this writing journey with me, with us, and I hope I have opened some new doors for you into new worlds of new (and old) writers. We all have unique stories to tell in our own unique ways. Celebrating one another helps us grow and it helps our profession grow as we amplify one another.

In a pursuit that can often feel lonely, it helps to remember that there’s a whole team of us out there on the road together.

If we dare, we can even hold hands and cheer each other to the finish line from wherever we are in the world, or in our own journeys. Twitter is a great place for that, with its massive, tight, and supportive #WritingCommunity — we can learn much from it.

The beautiful thing about writing, about words, is that they can connect us wherever we are and whoever we are, transcending barriers of space and time, as we dare to both share and to enter one another’s worlds.

Happy Writing and Go Team!

More for new writers:

Galit Birk, PhD is a life coach and a soon-to-be-therapist. She is a deep-feeler who is passionate about people having it all, and living a life they love! Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.