45 Comments
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Kristen's avatar

I was just journaling earlier about how we all cock block the shit out of ourselves from doing what we really want and I couldn’t have read this post at a better time. That Rumi quote hit me hard like oooff. So glad to see you in my inbox again and you pushed past the blockage :)

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

hahaha "cock block" is the most accurate way to describe this. thank you so much <3 we BOTH will keep pushing past the blockage!! Rooting for you.

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Melinda Yeoh's avatar

Hey T, it's so weirdddddd. I haven't checked in to your newsletter for yonks. Coz, you've taken a hiatus for yonks. Which is totally ok. Anyway, somehow I decided to pop in today to have a look. I did a double-take. Like, wait, is that May 14, 2023 or 2024?? And yay! You are back. I'm happy you took the time to not do. And now, you're here, doing, creating. It's so necessary.

Anyway, your Rumi quote on self-imposed prison immediately reminded me of this doodle I did: https://hopemail.substack.com/p/the-possibilities-of-a-fresh-slate. I wanted to just share the doodle but there's no way to reply with an image in the comment, so.

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

Omg Melinda.. that drawing. I absolutely adore it. Something must be in the air — yesterday in the book I'm reading the author mentioned this quote too: "Every wall is a door" - Emerson.

I'm so happy to be back. And to see your name! It had been yonks and yonks, until I finally had enough. I hope you're creating lots of magic <3

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Melinda Yeoh's avatar

Right back at ya! 💖 Yes, creating lots of magic, but currently under self-imposed fasting, or rather, incubation. Not sharing, not posting. Let's see where this goes until end of May.

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Jose Fernandez's avatar

So glad you’re back. The mind can be such a greedy jailer. Taking Action - yes! “Find someone who’s turning, and you will come around” - Neil Young. Just thought I’d toss that in. I’ve found an unexpected spark from something or someone can open things up

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

Love, love, love this Neil Young quote. Thank you for sharing this. The mind has had me jailed, but luckily we can always choose to break free!!!

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Liz McCrocklin's avatar

There’s seasons for everything, I’m realizing. Substack and I are also taking a bit of a break. But it’s fun to see you back in my inbox.

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

Liz! So lovely to see your face/read your name as well. "There’s seasons for everything" is such a truth bomb – and I'm not just talking about seasons of writing breaks. I appreciate your sharp insight as always. And I'm sending you a big, big hug!

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Jillian Anthony's avatar

So great to see you here again!!!

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

Thanks, Jillian!!

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em marin's avatar

welcome back, I love this shit

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

LOL. Can we all please continue letting all the body humor out?

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Elizabeth Stone's avatar

if you’re ever inclined to explore a merch sideline, “give fear the finger “is a terrific place to start!

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

Hahaha I'm happy you liked that line. You're on to something though... that could be a great tagline.

Thanks for the tip!!

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Ryan Rose Weaver (she/hers)'s avatar

The most relatable. And screen-shot-able! Can’t argue with a “Rumi quote” fist straight to the creative face.

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

Ryan! This comment. Thank you so much for the support

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Brenna's avatar

Yay welcome back !!

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

Thanks so much, Brenna! :)

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Jade Stephens's avatar

Absolutely loved this Tati!

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

Thank you so much, my friend! 🫂

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Sheila's avatar

Thank you ... this was inspirational ... So, I'm working on it ... Never too late to reboot ... thanks !!

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

Never too late ever!! I'm rooting for you while you take whatever's next on, Sheila! Thank you for your kind words ❤️

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Wabi Sabi's avatar

Excellent, timely and very inspiring! Thanks so much Tatiana. I'm an 'all of the above' too, and let's throw perfectionism in there as well (though that's really just a subset of fear). I have a theory that if you suffer too much from this sort of emotional blockage it can actually cause the physical kind...

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

You're so, so right. Perfectionism is probably the biggest poison of them all... I had to fight with the inner perfectionist and finally hit "publish" on this piece.

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Wabi Sabi's avatar

Glad you won the battle 😁

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Wabi Sabi's avatar

Like you I never get writer's block in the sense of having no ideas, only the fear of releasing my billions of constantly tormenting ideas into the wild. I wonder how much "writer's block" is really the fear you're describing, but so ingrained you imagine you're not having your ideas in the first place - they're censored before you even get conscious of them

Btw very meta of you to end your blockage by writing about your blockage

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

I'm realizing that the ideas hit me in chunks, even when I'm not actively "writing," but they don't get juicy or exciting or interesting until I start letting them out. Which makes me wonder how many good ideas I'm not even capturing in those states of "self-imposed blockage" because I'm holding out from getting the wheels turning, you know what I mean?

Regardless, thank you for the very thoughtful and thought-provoking comments!

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alex's avatar

It's good to read you back !

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

Thank you, Alex!! It's good to be back

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Andrea Pavon's avatar

So happy you are back! We missed you🫶🫶🫶

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

Thank you!! ❤️ 🫂

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Natalie Love Cruz's avatar

Happy to see you back Tatiana!! ❤️✨

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

Aww thank you, Natalie!! ❤️

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Israel Sanchez's avatar

Glad you're back, Tati! It's been too long.

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Tatiana Gallardo's avatar

Gracias! It really has been way too long. But it's weird because it also feels like it hasn't almost been a year? Like it's only been a few months? I guess that's time though. The weirdest thing lol.

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Israel Sanchez's avatar

Wow! It's been that long? Time is the weirdest thing for sure!

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