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Kate Brook's avatar

Good for you! This really inspires me.

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Emily Wick's avatar

Thank you for reading, Kate!

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Leanna Julius's avatar

I loved reading this! I recently lost my job and no longer having the stress of my previous job gave me so much relief. Yet now I have the stress of finding a new job, I am hopefully and actually looking forward to what the next day brings!

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Emily Wick's avatar

Thank you so much for reading, Leanna. I'm sorry about the job loss, but I love the attitude you are able to approach it with. I hope you find the right next thing soon, that has you excited for what the next day brings and let's your creativity flow!

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Adrianna's avatar

I loved this, Emily! The pressure to create a career instead of simply working a job is so prevalent these days, but the former often sucks so much energy out of us that we have little left for creativity. It’s so cool that you made a decision that served your creativity even though it was scary.

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Emily Wick's avatar

Thank you for reading, Adrianna. It sounds like this idea is really aligned with what you're writing about! I just subscribed and look forward to reading your work!

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Petya K. Grady's avatar

I left a job at a startup because it was killing my creative energy. I still work a "career" job but i'm a much less demanding environment and, like you, recently completed my manuscript after 10 years of trying. What a gift to finally be listening to our own hearts, right?

P.S. So glad to have come across your substack!

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Emily Wick's avatar

Thank you so much Petya! It really is such a gift. Big, BIG congratulations on finishing your manuscript!!! That is incredible. Your substack looks amazing, I just subscribed. Thanks for saying hi!

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Janet Hulstrand's avatar

Emily, I love the way you have described your job. There is dignity in such work. And, as you point out, for an artist having "mindless" work can have its benefits--leaving the mind free to work on other things while the hands perform mundane--but necessary, and helpful--duties.

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Emily Brooke Felt's avatar

This story is such a lovely counterpart to the many articles I see about people leaving a big corporate job and salary to finally do something creative, which can be somewhat diminishing to those who never had a corporate job to begin with. I agree with you that there is something special about manual labor that preserves or even enhances creative energy. In my next step or phase in life I’m considering finding work outdoors or using my hands. I think it will do wonders for my mental well-being. Thank you for sharing your story.

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