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Anna Brown's avatar

Katy how do you do it? You write the most human, relatable, encouraging posts whilst being completely real and not ignoring the urghhh bits. I read this poem earlier this morning (yes I’m an enjoy the new year early in the morning while everyone else is still hung over or asleep, it’s my secret get the world to myself moment). It so links up with what you wrote I thought you might like it too.

Life is short,

though I keep this from my children.

Life is short,

and I’ve shortened mine in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,

a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways

I’ll keep from my children.

The world is at least

fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative

estimate, though I keep this from my children.

For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.

For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,

sunk in a lake.

Life is short and the world

is at least half terrible, and for every kind

stranger, there is one who would break you,

though I keep this from my children.

I am trying to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,

walking you through a real shithole, chirps on

about good bones: This place could be beautiful,

right? You could make this place beautiful.

+ Maggie Smith https://www.saltproject.org/progressive-christian-blog/2024/12/30/good-bones-by-maggie-smith

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Sam's avatar

Ahh well done - I gave my self December off drawing and ended up drawing anyway, but it felt more like play, must remember this trick!

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Susannah Elizabeth's avatar

Love your posts! I so relate to those weird little things being a huge sign that something is OFF…

I had a similar ‘naked lunch’ moment this week in a very gentle local shop, staring at Jelly babies…

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Susanne Vosgerau's avatar

Katie, i really love your writing! Sometimes i am doomscrolling substack like i did with other social media (which i lately left bc of addiction and feeling shitty) - but your posts always lift me up, and i never just scan them in a hurry, but read them thoroughly 'til the end, with a smile on my face.

You really have the gift of writing like you would just chat with someone over a cuppa. At least for me it feels like that. Strangely close, despite not knowing each other.

Love The Good Ship - especially Art Club!

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Chris Koch's avatar

Thank you so much for sharing, Katie. This is huge. Means much. I see that mural painting of yours in some place... a city ...people passing by in thoughts ,with their phones or chatting ,people in cars stopping at the red traffic light and then.... looking at your mural .. and carrying on with a bit more optimism in their universes. At least I do, with every post you write.

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Lauren S.'s avatar

Selling bath bombs at lush was one of my favorite jobs.

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Elspeth Avocado's avatar

Taking December off is THE BEST. I've been doing it for a few years - along with July and August! - and people get used to it. And you're spreading the idea of other people doing it too, which is a good thing. I love your writings xxx

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Katie Chappell's avatar

Yessss so good!! The two chunky times off make the world go round (and thank you for your kind words :) xx

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The Blank Canvas's avatar

You made the best choice spending time with your little one. I really don’t know where time has gone - I have a 29 and 15 year old. Those tough moments really do pull us up and make us think about what’s important and not wasting time on what we don’t enjoy. I took a year out (grateful to my husband) so I could do your amazing Good Ship courses and hope to do the Business course this year. Loving your podcasts - hearing you 3 laughing and joking brings a smile to my face. Keep doing your good things Katie.

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