Kristen Wiig pulls out all the stops to get over her imposter syndrome, even with people who can't stand her 😂 but when it's Carol Burnett? Whoa, Nelly.
I am SO excited to watch this show. Carol Burnett? Sign me up.
It's been awhile since I felt like I truly belonged anywhere. I've given up trying to belong. At least I think I have? I'm looking to re-enter the working world, so perhaps my skills of trying to belong will resurface. Actually, they likely have already as I try to think of how my 'online' presence, or lack thereof will be perceived. Jury is still out, but I'll see how it goes over the coming weeks. This will be an experiment for me. Let's see if I can belong in the workforce again? Hmmmmm. I hope so. I really did love working when it wasn't killing me.
This introvert spent the better part of her life trying to fit-in and belong, only to (finally) relax into my quite solitary existence. Not trying to get all poetic here, but there’s a belonging I feel living in the middle of nowhere with no one but my husband, animals and big big trees that I never felt in a tribe of humans. That said, I do have a warm sense of belonging with all the misfits over here on Substack and also my expanding community of unfixed film subjects over the years but that feels less like belonging and more like synchronized swimming. 💕
As a teen I was OBSESSED with style and how people dressed. I felt that clothes were the only reliable way to slip into a social group, and I thought if I could crack the code it would make me welcomed anywhere. Sometimes I changed my outfit three times a day (which seems to me now like yet another manifestation of untreated anxiety). I still think that fashion is boring and style is compelling, but belonging doesn't matter as much, because I have a dedicated group of friends that have been through some shit together and come out the other side, and I know that I belong with them, so I don't have a huge need to find it anywhere else. In any case, belonging is about feeling at ease. Even though my job takes me into a certain kind of environment, I still hope to be able to feel at ease anywhere. I love the french expression, "bien dans ca peau," which means comfortable in your own skin. This quality seems to be powerful social currency, one that I still aspire to.
I think the last time it was so utterly necessary was in high school. I thouoght being a cheerleader, which I never became, was the fastest and best road to popularity and the cool people, but this white girl couldn't jump. I practiced endlessly to no avail. I was a high school peripherally popular girl, which was ok but not great. I was too insecure. I gained my footing in college and unless my memory has failed me which is entirely possible I have always found a way since to get attention. Starting my own art consulting/advising business really empowered me. It's so fun to say you have your own business. And showing horses was great and empowering. I will say NOW is the hardest part of my life: age, the mirror, and death of parents and giving up riding suck and reeling. Oh btw I was in therapy most of my adult life!! I loved doing stand-up and studying it at Second City, that's an attention getter. Trying to launch Dear Gail has been a challenge. And writing a funny book about menopause at a time when women denied it existed was discouraging. I'm rambling - adios
I felt like I belonged when I joined London Writers Salon September 2023. I had 165 zoom writer friends from all over the world sing happy birthday to me.
Really, an Actuarialist? That is so interesting. I don't mean to pry but I'd love to hear about the sorts of projects have you been working on recently? Has the COVID pandemic affected your work?
I am SO excited to watch this show. Carol Burnett? Sign me up.
It's been awhile since I felt like I truly belonged anywhere. I've given up trying to belong. At least I think I have? I'm looking to re-enter the working world, so perhaps my skills of trying to belong will resurface. Actually, they likely have already as I try to think of how my 'online' presence, or lack thereof will be perceived. Jury is still out, but I'll see how it goes over the coming weeks. This will be an experiment for me. Let's see if I can belong in the workforce again? Hmmmmm. I hope so. I really did love working when it wasn't killing me.
This introvert spent the better part of her life trying to fit-in and belong, only to (finally) relax into my quite solitary existence. Not trying to get all poetic here, but there’s a belonging I feel living in the middle of nowhere with no one but my husband, animals and big big trees that I never felt in a tribe of humans. That said, I do have a warm sense of belonging with all the misfits over here on Substack and also my expanding community of unfixed film subjects over the years but that feels less like belonging and more like synchronized swimming. 💕
As a teen I was OBSESSED with style and how people dressed. I felt that clothes were the only reliable way to slip into a social group, and I thought if I could crack the code it would make me welcomed anywhere. Sometimes I changed my outfit three times a day (which seems to me now like yet another manifestation of untreated anxiety). I still think that fashion is boring and style is compelling, but belonging doesn't matter as much, because I have a dedicated group of friends that have been through some shit together and come out the other side, and I know that I belong with them, so I don't have a huge need to find it anywhere else. In any case, belonging is about feeling at ease. Even though my job takes me into a certain kind of environment, I still hope to be able to feel at ease anywhere. I love the french expression, "bien dans ca peau," which means comfortable in your own skin. This quality seems to be powerful social currency, one that I still aspire to.
I think the last time it was so utterly necessary was in high school. I thouoght being a cheerleader, which I never became, was the fastest and best road to popularity and the cool people, but this white girl couldn't jump. I practiced endlessly to no avail. I was a high school peripherally popular girl, which was ok but not great. I was too insecure. I gained my footing in college and unless my memory has failed me which is entirely possible I have always found a way since to get attention. Starting my own art consulting/advising business really empowered me. It's so fun to say you have your own business. And showing horses was great and empowering. I will say NOW is the hardest part of my life: age, the mirror, and death of parents and giving up riding suck and reeling. Oh btw I was in therapy most of my adult life!! I loved doing stand-up and studying it at Second City, that's an attention getter. Trying to launch Dear Gail has been a challenge. And writing a funny book about menopause at a time when women denied it existed was discouraging. I'm rambling - adios
I felt like I belonged when I joined London Writers Salon September 2023. I had 165 zoom writer friends from all over the world sing happy birthday to me.
Really, an Actuarialist? That is so interesting. I don't mean to pry but I'd love to hear about the sorts of projects have you been working on recently? Has the COVID pandemic affected your work?