Thanks so much for this. My grandmother gave me that text to read over fifty years ago, and it stuck, but I needed to read it again. I started my substack with no expectation of many being interested, with the same intention: maybe there are only a few, but it might be very important for them.
How beautifully stated! A medical Remnant - that is EXACTLY what we are! A lovely title for such an ugly and disturbing reality. When fb and twitter were busy censoring all the truth tellers, facilitating mass geriatrocide under the fist of authoritarian corporatism, substack and it’s writers helped me stay grounded and less silo’d. The isolation from colleagues and sane thinking was ostracizing and demeaning except that participating in dark rituals or malfeasance to be part of the “club” (much less negligent homicid) was never worth having a communal sense of belonging and never will be. This venue has been an unexpected meeting place of the extraordinary and sane. It has also been humbling in that it demonstrates how many amazing people that are smarter than I am are “out there”. Not the only one, but not the brightest one either. There is a consolation prize in there somewhere 😂
Wow that's a very different substack origin story to what I'm used to reading. Refreshing, really. I certainly haven't found my precise voice or message yet, but have naturally come to a lot of the same conclusions you lay out here.
I can't focus on what I think people may want to hear, I'm just a slave to the content itself. Trying to express the truest version of it that I can capture.
I come from the holistic world. Till he retired, I saw a Chinese TCM doctor highly skilled in acupuncture and pulse diagnosis, using a minimal number of needles (usually 4 or less) to great(er) effect. He had on his bookshelf a copy of The Traditional Healer's Handbook: A Classic Guide to the Medicine of Avicenna. He was an extremely cheerful and kind man, seemed knowledgeable about so many things. You could tell he was a deep-thinking philosophical person. Whilst I have a small network of people (not in the US as I’m not from there) to recommend to friends/family who’re seeking outside the conventional medicine paradigm, I’m glad someone of your calibre exists for people in the US.
This speaks to me so clearly I wonder if there was divine intervention. It's summer and I have kids over so can't write much right now but felt compelled to reply with something immediately. I used to work in tech and became alienated along with declining health over time.
My story is here, although amended to exclude the political: https://www.adaptivejourney.coach/about. The covid response pushed me over the edge and I experienced something similar as you except my children were older and my husband is amazing and was able to take up the slack financially.
I pivoted to health coaching but have been finding a hard time centering my message, finding my voice, and building the business. Now the road seems clear. I just need more honesty. I don't need to second guess what will build clicks, what "voice" to write in, the right "messaging" to "compel further engagement" etc... everything I was supposed to be doing and not doing well. The business builds from remembering why I started it to begin with. With real conversations. To help those abandoned by the health care system, like myself.
Thank you for your voice during this time. This Remnant heard and followed.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have found you and your insightful writings early on. It appears we were in the same boat, paddling to shore together. Thank you for being a Remnant. We, the other remnants, as elusive as we seem to be, are all out here. Cheering you onward.
Thank you for sharing the story of how you started writing on Substack. I’m glad I found you and that I can call myself part of the Remnant. Your writing informs me and delights me. I’m glad you love what you’re doing. It means so much to us, your Remnant Readers. ❤️
Thanks so much for this. My grandmother gave me that text to read over fifty years ago, and it stuck, but I needed to read it again. I started my substack with no expectation of many being interested, with the same intention: maybe there are only a few, but it might be very important for them.
How beautifully stated! A medical Remnant - that is EXACTLY what we are! A lovely title for such an ugly and disturbing reality. When fb and twitter were busy censoring all the truth tellers, facilitating mass geriatrocide under the fist of authoritarian corporatism, substack and it’s writers helped me stay grounded and less silo’d. The isolation from colleagues and sane thinking was ostracizing and demeaning except that participating in dark rituals or malfeasance to be part of the “club” (much less negligent homicid) was never worth having a communal sense of belonging and never will be. This venue has been an unexpected meeting place of the extraordinary and sane. It has also been humbling in that it demonstrates how many amazing people that are smarter than I am are “out there”. Not the only one, but not the brightest one either. There is a consolation prize in there somewhere 😂
I could not stop thinking about this article over the last day, so had to re-read it. Very very good and relevant.
Ikigai ! 🙌
Wow that's a very different substack origin story to what I'm used to reading. Refreshing, really. I certainly haven't found my precise voice or message yet, but have naturally come to a lot of the same conclusions you lay out here.
I can't focus on what I think people may want to hear, I'm just a slave to the content itself. Trying to express the truest version of it that I can capture.
I come from the holistic world. Till he retired, I saw a Chinese TCM doctor highly skilled in acupuncture and pulse diagnosis, using a minimal number of needles (usually 4 or less) to great(er) effect. He had on his bookshelf a copy of The Traditional Healer's Handbook: A Classic Guide to the Medicine of Avicenna. He was an extremely cheerful and kind man, seemed knowledgeable about so many things. You could tell he was a deep-thinking philosophical person. Whilst I have a small network of people (not in the US as I’m not from there) to recommend to friends/family who’re seeking outside the conventional medicine paradigm, I’m glad someone of your calibre exists for people in the US.
Thank you!
I will have to get a copy of that book.
Thank you, That was very touching and inciteful. One door closes, another opens, in a more meaningful and personal way.
This speaks to me so clearly I wonder if there was divine intervention. It's summer and I have kids over so can't write much right now but felt compelled to reply with something immediately. I used to work in tech and became alienated along with declining health over time.
My story is here, although amended to exclude the political: https://www.adaptivejourney.coach/about. The covid response pushed me over the edge and I experienced something similar as you except my children were older and my husband is amazing and was able to take up the slack financially.
I pivoted to health coaching but have been finding a hard time centering my message, finding my voice, and building the business. Now the road seems clear. I just need more honesty. I don't need to second guess what will build clicks, what "voice" to write in, the right "messaging" to "compel further engagement" etc... everything I was supposed to be doing and not doing well. The business builds from remembering why I started it to begin with. With real conversations. To help those abandoned by the health care system, like myself.
Thank you for your voice during this time. This Remnant heard and followed.
Glad it could be of help, Jen.
Best of luck.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have found you and your insightful writings early on. It appears we were in the same boat, paddling to shore together. Thank you for being a Remnant. We, the other remnants, as elusive as we seem to be, are all out here. Cheering you onward.
Dear Remnant M.D.,
Thank you for sharing the story of how you started writing on Substack. I’m glad I found you and that I can call myself part of the Remnant. Your writing informs me and delights me. I’m glad you love what you’re doing. It means so much to us, your Remnant Readers. ❤️
Thank you, Martha.
Might I offer that you may also aspire to the known number one heart’s desire of most humans…to sense that you are needed.
Thank you. Valuable and needed words...