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Mesa!!!! So excited for you!! small joys and joy as practice comes from Glimmer theory and Suleika and Jon and The Isolation Journals Friday practice of name a little joy. During pandemic I rediscovered play and joy in efforts to maintain well being. I’ve always been in awe of your courage and vulnerability. And of course, your voice! So glad you are being seen for your efforts and am here to celebrate you today!! Cheers!!

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Oh, I love that!! And, yes, it's wonderful to celebrate, Mesa! She lifts up so many people! Glad you enjoyed the interview!

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Yes she does and has since I first met her! Thank you for the space you’ve created here. 💛

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I'm so grateful for you sister friend! Thank you for your wisdom and sisterhood! Love you so xoxo

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Love you too!! Super grateful. Xoxo 💛

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Sep 16Liked by Jane Ratcliffe

"Mesa Fama is a writer, mental health advocate, lover of all psychology related things, and connection creator through words." Absolutely love that introduction. Fascinating to learn more about her work. Thank you

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I know! I love that, too! Mesa is wonderful!

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Awww Jane!! Thank you so much <3

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Hi Tom!! 😊

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Hi Mesa, I love Big Magic. I wrote a pocket on it here long ago. https://open.substack.com/pub/pocketfulofprose/p/taking-a-creative-leap?r=qqbxq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web It’s one of my favorites as it includes a short video of a baby bird leaving the nest for the first time. Isn’t that what we are doing in writing our memoirs? I’m working on my first memoir as well. I second everything you said about the opportunity offered in Substack space and also about how things will be okay. Right now, there’s a lot of noise and it’s easy to forget that. I would love to connect with you about memoir writing and also just talk about books. 🥰

Jane, thank you as always for sharing beautiful conversations and also for featuring someone on the cusp of writing their book. (You are the coolest.)

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Aw, thanks, Mary!! You and Mesa sound like kindred spirits!! I'm so glad! ❤️

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Big Magic is my go to so often when I need a lift of inspiration or take me back to my creative heart!! Also, the Midnight Library!! Mary, I feel I know you from the Isolation Journals and Mesa so glad to be in your orbit!! Beautiful interview Jane!!!

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I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Karen!! And, yes, that's the perfect go-to book!

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Yes! I live the isolation journals. I also love Letters from Love. I’m also a teacher. 🥰

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Hi Karen! Happy to see you :) Fellow Isolation Journals lover :) Suleika is one of my favorites too!! :)

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Love the threads woven through these creative spaces.

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Hi Mary!!! So happy to meet you 😍 Kindred spirits indeed 😊 I’d be glad to connect with you about all the things!!

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That would be great. I will dm you, if that’s okay, and we can start from there. 🥰

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Sure!! Feel free to reach out anytime :)

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I just read The Midnight Library a couple months ago and it was one of the best books I’ve read in years! I’ve even recommended to therapy clients because I think it is so powerful.

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This makes me so happy to hear!! It really is one of the most powerful books I’ve read ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

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I also revisit Big Magic often… Such a beautiful and important book for writers and artists! I have never read The Midnight Library but it sounds great. I am fascinated by all the different lives we all could lead. Congrats on your success here Mesa and thanks for the interview Jane!

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I'm so glad you enjoyed the interview, Joy! Lots of Big Magic Love here!

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Hi Joy! Thank you so much :) I hope you love The Midnight Library :)

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Sep 19Liked by Jane Ratcliffe

Thank you both for the thoughtful questions and answers. I’m glad to get to know you better, Mesa, and the book recommendation of Matt H. I’ve read several of his but not that one. Big Magic is important to me too, it’s the how and why I began writing here. I picked up again just recently to help me take another creative leap. ✨🙏💛

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So glad you enjoyed it, Susan! ❤️

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Love that you re-read Big Magic too, Susan!! :) And yay for another Matt H fan!! That makes me so happy :)

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Sep 19Liked by Jane Ratcliffe

Awesome Mesa! I love your story of the last year on substack. It's inspiring me.

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I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Mary Beth!

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Thanks so much Mary Beth!! :) :)

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Magical Mesa! This was so captivating to read- thank you Jane for spotlighting such a gem!

I loved reading about Pudge's litter, I know you hold us in the same way you held her little-ist.

Brilliant as always!

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I’m so glad you enjoyed it, K! I agree, Mesa is magical! 🌸

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Thank you, K! I love you so 😍😍😍 and I do, I really do care about each of you so very much!! ♥️♥️

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Yep...loved it.

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I’m so glad!

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Thanks so much Ian! :)

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Awww, I loved getting a chance to know Mesa better through this questionnaire. It's so wonderful when two of my favorite Substackers cross paths.

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Oh, that’s lovely to hear! Thanks, Evelyn! ❤️

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Hi Evelyn!! :) This was such a fun questionnaire!! I love little big things like this :)

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Sep 17Liked by Jane Ratcliffe

Love your book recommendations. I've just read The midnight library by Matt Haig and reasons to stay alive. Really keen to get his new book. Your chosen Sister sounds lovely to have that in your life . I read eat prey Love every few years when I need to hear a new message I'm not hearing. ❣️⭐

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Hi Phoenix!!

I love that you’re reading Matt Haig!! He’s one of my favorites!!

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Sep 17Liked by Jane Ratcliffe

I'm definitely going to get his new 1. The midnight library was so moving I remember reading it so quickly and praying for a good ending it gave me so much hope . I hadn't heard of him before.

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I love all of his stuff, plus he’s just a really great person. I’ve interacted with him a few times on Instagram and he’s always been so kind. I’m reading his new one - highly recommend :)

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Sep 17Liked by Jane Ratcliffe

I've heard him on podcasts as well he sounds kind and down to earth and a decent bloke. Yeah I wanna get that one. I went with the intention of getting that one and was draw to this author called Annie Ernaux " I will write to avenge my people" I like her books they are only short stories apparently she's a noble prize winner I hadn't heard of her. I'm going to go into the book shop tomorrow who knows what I'll end up getting I always get something different . My intuition is guides me to what I need at the time . X ❣️

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Oh, I love that! I think we'd all be in better shape if we followed our intuition!

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I wish I listened to it more ⭐

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Love that!! I also love wandering bookshelves for that reason, just go in and see what jumps out to be taken home :)

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Sep 17Liked by Jane Ratcliffe

It's like a nice surprise every time . I love there's a cafe in Waterstones can have a pot of tea and cake and soak up the books. It feeds my soul I'm such an introvert ⭐

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Lovely interview, but I want to hear more about defunkifying 😀

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Haha. Yes!

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My dear friend @Constellations in her bones is the one who gave me that wisdom and I liken it to shaking off the stress - have a dance party with yourself and shimmy shake out all the funkiness of the times! It works! :)

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Such good questions! Thank you for this Jane.

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So glad you enjoyed it, Ian!

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Sep 16Liked by Jane Ratcliffe

Thank you so much for your fabulous questions! They are of a quality I’ve not read before, and they are inspiring. And for introducing me to Mesa. ❤️

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Thank you, Teyani! I’m glad you enjoyed it! ❤️

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Hi Teyani!! :) Happy to meet you! :)

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Huzza!!!

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Yes!

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Hi Emily!!! :) :) :)

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Mesa, you are amazing! I am so thrilled you are being highlighted this way. So many people will benefit from your wisdom and compassion. Your readers will thank you Jane Ratcliffe for introducing Mesa to them. 🥰🥰🥰🥰

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I agree! So glad you enjoyed the interview, Amy! ❤️

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I <3 you :) :) :)

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