Hallo everyone, I'm Laura and I am still thinking hard about what I am proud of this year...I wonder if the word is just too strong for me, or whether I really think I did not accomplished anything this year.
I did stuff, for sure. I had small successes, but nothing comes to my mind which fills my being with proud. Maybe I am just tired and a little overstimulated, by my job, my studies, by Substack, I feel I lived 3 years in one!!
But if I have to mention something I can possibly proud of, is that I always do my best and try to adjust when something does not work, including adjusting my pace when I am too tired and accept that things won't come as fast as I wish.
Glad to have found this community and looking forward to reading more and discover new connections.
Haha it's a hard question to answer sometimes, but I'm proud of you for doing so, Lauca! And your answer is definitely something you should be proud of. I'm still working on that myself, and it's really difficult to know when I need to adjust myself. You sound like you're juggling a lot at once, so that takes extra work balancing everything.
I'm glad you're here, too. Looking forward to seeing more of you.
Hi I’m Heidi! I’m proud that I broke my writing hiatus and persevered with my monthly posting schedule since launching my Substack.
I’m proud of the December tribute I wrote for my father in law who passed last month, and that despite my exhaustion and grief, I could honour his life and legacy with my words.
I’m proud that even though my book proposal was rejected by a publisher last week, I didn’t let the experience crush me, and I’m going to keep trying. Meeting so many writers here on Substack who are persevering despite setbacks has been an invaluable gift and inspired me to be more resilient!
Aw Heidi, thank you for sharing so honestly. I'm sorry you've been going through hard times the past few months with your father-in-law's death and the book proposal rejection. Both experiences are crushing on different levels. I'm proud of you, too, for carrying on.
Hi everyone, I'm Sarah. This year I'm proud of stepping into more of myself, especially the Chinese parts that often feel under-developed or fraudulent. And for starting to use (and own) 'both' instead of 'half' when describing my background.
Hello y'all. The name's Walyullah. It's my nickname so I'm only half-hiding behind a penname haha.
I've never been consistent at something other than not being consistent lol, and thanks to all the lovely people who keep showing up to read my work, I've been posting consistently every week, sometimes even multiple times a week!
Also got my first pledge this week, which I did NOT expect. But sadly Stripe is being a bad company so I won't enable payments right now. I hope Substack offers us other payment processor options. Plus, Stripe is only available in 46 countries. What happened to equal access?
Glad to be on Substack and hope Substack only gets better!
So cool that you got your first pledge! It reflects your hard work, despite you saying you’re bad at being consistent. I think it says a lot that you’ve been able to publish here week after week, and people are finding it worthwhile. Keep going!
(Substack life) Growing from 28 subscribers on January 1 to 276 subscribers as of this comment!
(The rest of life) Managing as a breadwinner since my cancer patient mom retired, coping with chores and house repairs and even investing in dog training, keeping the spark alive in my 9-year relationship with my boyfriend, staying in therapy
That's incredible, Regina! You're doing such important work, both in your writing life and in the rest of life. Are you dog training as a profession or training your own dog?
Thank you, Tiffany! I signed up with a positive reinforcement trainer back in October and worked with her and Auro, my dog, for 6 weeks. :) But just like with us humans, it’s lifelong learning for the dog so we try to do drills daily. 💜
Wow, so many great comments here. LOVE how we are disrobing ourselves of the old and grasping what is new and healthy. I am proud of starting something that is actually to FINISH something I started years ago: on my second of four classes to become certified to teach English in high school. Prepped to teach college and taught a poetry class to undergrads for a short while-AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN--but it never panned out into a full-time job. Working with high school kiddos now and there are many opportunities there, so decided to land there. Proud of myself for that. (I thank God also as faith is part of my journey, especially as it concerns vocation, ANOTHER long story for another time.) Also proud that I was able to set some goals for the new year. Thanks again for this awesome space!
Yes!! I'm seeing that theme come up in a lot of the comments, and loving it. We absorb so much pain from our history, but I'm hopeful our generation and the ones to come will continue to break harmful cycles.
What sync, Tiffany! I've been working on a Substack draft as an end-of-year post to acknowledge my little wins and look what you started here :)
So, I'm proud of finding my voice through my writing and honoring it by regularly showing up for myself - whether it is being published in dorm magazines or bigger names. Despite facing multiple rejections, I have continued to show up. Thank you for doing this, Tiffany. I love what AWC is doing for the community!
Hi, I’m Sadia Kalam. I’m proud of myself for using my name (finally) and writing my reality. I’m also shedding the script of “hyper productivity” and being an over-achiever. I love connecting with new writers and cheering people on in their Substack journey
Thank you so much for this community. I had to do a lot of healing on myself in my year of writing 110 essays before I’m finally looking at myself in the mirror. God, I am a model minority trope in every dimension. 😂😅
Proud that I started this Substack, even when I was/am not writing well. Grateful I did not wait to be ready. I'm learning more this way and enjoying being part of this community.
After a buttload of rejections, I found an agent and sold my first book this year. More importantly, I started working with a great therapist who has been helping me so much. 🥲
Congratulations! Therapy is an act of love and care for your soul. I’ve tried a few different people until I found the one. Also amazing to hear about your agent and selling your book! Here’s to more wins in 2025.
I'm Megan, and I am proud of myself for applying to and participating in a couple of craft shows to share my visual art. First time I have really put myself out there like that. (OK, I know this is Asian WRITERS' Collective, and I have been keeping at my Substack and blog, but those don't feel as far out of my comfort zone.)
Nothing better and more gratifying than crushing the fear that holds us back. Taking that first step across the threshold of releasing the authentic and genuine to the world. Good on you!!! 👏❤️🙏🏼
I'm proud of writing an outline for my memoir. It feels so much more doable now that I have this. I also have a new writing partner, and I'm so excited for us to support each other. I'm also proud that I'm stepping into really being a healer. I've been a life coach for a few years, and I've always said "I don't heal others" because it's a co-creative process, and while this is true, I know I have healer energy that I've been sidestepping instead of really claiming it. So I'm claiming it!
I love that for you, Nisha. Wishing you the best of luck on your memoir. That is hard, internal work. You will touch many others with your words and your ability to heal.
I eschew labels of identity anymore though, If I were to describe myself prior to 2021 I would say I am a self described Asian American Maximalist in Freedom & BTC. Wearing well this year. I am most proud of the process of letting go of all the conditionings of culture and society and my upbringing to be always needing to be "right" and "perfect" ( not an Asian thing is it?) that hid itself in "knowing what is best for others"( by my profession in health care). I quit a long career in the largest HMO in America( West Coast esp) in the Summer of 2021 before I was to be fired for choosing Medical freedom-Freedom to choose, following the guiding principles of what physicians use as guiding principles in the Hippocratic oath-- to do no harm. I also left social relationships and communities that no longer served the heart and soul of humanity. I left the world I was uncomfortably-comfortable in. My health returned and the stressful related symptoms l treated daily left my body...Lastly and even more importantly, I am most proud of having my Time to which I can do what I want, when I want, with whom I want, how I want and where I want...completely on my terms. Took a leap of faith to jump over the hurdles of fears basic programming of never being enough. Blessings and Namaste, t
My addendum: is following Nisha and this posting caught my eye.
I appreciate the reflection Tiffany. One other addition is in undoing the unkindly manner of the Asian Mythos that was considered back in the 60's.... is to be unconcerned by it and not to identify with this notion which pigeon holes and supports a codification of us vs them, rulers to serfs mentality. Freedom in its maximum form is letting go of the notion of who "I" am as not to be identified by what other consider me to be. It is a huge unlearning and undertaking, particularly if one has been subjected to the ignorance of hate basted in fear and its only reason, race/ism is to separate-divide and conquer. This is another aspect of proudly seeing the truth through the false narratives at the root of separation.
What am I proud of this year? I'm a picture book writer and signed with a literary agent! Also proud of launching my weekly newsletter, A Perpetual Work in Progress, which highlights a review of a picture book by/about Asians/Asian Americans in each issue.
Susan, that's huge!! Congratulations! You have to tell us when your book gets published. Wonderful news about your agent and your newsletter. I'm excited to hear more about it.
Hallo everyone, I'm Laura and I am still thinking hard about what I am proud of this year...I wonder if the word is just too strong for me, or whether I really think I did not accomplished anything this year.
I did stuff, for sure. I had small successes, but nothing comes to my mind which fills my being with proud. Maybe I am just tired and a little overstimulated, by my job, my studies, by Substack, I feel I lived 3 years in one!!
But if I have to mention something I can possibly proud of, is that I always do my best and try to adjust when something does not work, including adjusting my pace when I am too tired and accept that things won't come as fast as I wish.
Glad to have found this community and looking forward to reading more and discover new connections.
Haha it's a hard question to answer sometimes, but I'm proud of you for doing so, Lauca! And your answer is definitely something you should be proud of. I'm still working on that myself, and it's really difficult to know when I need to adjust myself. You sound like you're juggling a lot at once, so that takes extra work balancing everything.
I'm glad you're here, too. Looking forward to seeing more of you.
Indeed...I think I need more levity!
Hi I’m Heidi! I’m proud that I broke my writing hiatus and persevered with my monthly posting schedule since launching my Substack.
I’m proud of the December tribute I wrote for my father in law who passed last month, and that despite my exhaustion and grief, I could honour his life and legacy with my words.
I’m proud that even though my book proposal was rejected by a publisher last week, I didn’t let the experience crush me, and I’m going to keep trying. Meeting so many writers here on Substack who are persevering despite setbacks has been an invaluable gift and inspired me to be more resilient!
Aw Heidi, thank you for sharing so honestly. I'm sorry you've been going through hard times the past few months with your father-in-law's death and the book proposal rejection. Both experiences are crushing on different levels. I'm proud of you, too, for carrying on.
Hi everyone, I'm Sarah. This year I'm proud of stepping into more of myself, especially the Chinese parts that often feel under-developed or fraudulent. And for starting to use (and own) 'both' instead of 'half' when describing my background.
Hi Sarah,
how are the Chinese parts underdeveloped or fraudelent? Just curious...:)
That’s a great way of describing yourself, Sarah. You’re wholly both, and I love that.
Thanks for saying that Tiffany, and in such a brilliant way. Wholly both. I love this!
Hello y'all. The name's Walyullah. It's my nickname so I'm only half-hiding behind a penname haha.
I've never been consistent at something other than not being consistent lol, and thanks to all the lovely people who keep showing up to read my work, I've been posting consistently every week, sometimes even multiple times a week!
Also got my first pledge this week, which I did NOT expect. But sadly Stripe is being a bad company so I won't enable payments right now. I hope Substack offers us other payment processor options. Plus, Stripe is only available in 46 countries. What happened to equal access?
Glad to be on Substack and hope Substack only gets better!
So cool that you got your first pledge! It reflects your hard work, despite you saying you’re bad at being consistent. I think it says a lot that you’ve been able to publish here week after week, and people are finding it worthwhile. Keep going!
Thanks! Appreciate the encouragement.
This year, I'm proud of:
(Substack life) Growing from 28 subscribers on January 1 to 276 subscribers as of this comment!
(The rest of life) Managing as a breadwinner since my cancer patient mom retired, coping with chores and house repairs and even investing in dog training, keeping the spark alive in my 9-year relationship with my boyfriend, staying in therapy
Thank you, AWC team, for doing what you do 🫶🏽
That's incredible, Regina! You're doing such important work, both in your writing life and in the rest of life. Are you dog training as a profession or training your own dog?
Thank you, Tiffany! I signed up with a positive reinforcement trainer back in October and worked with her and Auro, my dog, for 6 weeks. :) But just like with us humans, it’s lifelong learning for the dog so we try to do drills daily. 💜
So cool. I worked with a trainer for my service dog and it was a great experience.
Persevering. Plodding. 1 year on Substack. Growing. Challenging. Deciding. Learning. Feedback.
I sense a lot of growth, Tohru. Proud.
I love the growth opportunities Substack offers new writers :)
Wow, so many great comments here. LOVE how we are disrobing ourselves of the old and grasping what is new and healthy. I am proud of starting something that is actually to FINISH something I started years ago: on my second of four classes to become certified to teach English in high school. Prepped to teach college and taught a poetry class to undergrads for a short while-AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN--but it never panned out into a full-time job. Working with high school kiddos now and there are many opportunities there, so decided to land there. Proud of myself for that. (I thank God also as faith is part of my journey, especially as it concerns vocation, ANOTHER long story for another time.) Also proud that I was able to set some goals for the new year. Thanks again for this awesome space!
Yes!! I'm seeing that theme come up in a lot of the comments, and loving it. We absorb so much pain from our history, but I'm hopeful our generation and the ones to come will continue to break harmful cycles.
What sync, Tiffany! I've been working on a Substack draft as an end-of-year post to acknowledge my little wins and look what you started here :)
So, I'm proud of finding my voice through my writing and honoring it by regularly showing up for myself - whether it is being published in dorm magazines or bigger names. Despite facing multiple rejections, I have continued to show up. Thank you for doing this, Tiffany. I love what AWC is doing for the community!
Hehe I'm proud to be on the same wavelength as you, Sanobar. Love that you're honouring your voice.
Keep going, going, going.
Hi, I’m Sadia Kalam. I’m proud of myself for using my name (finally) and writing my reality. I’m also shedding the script of “hyper productivity” and being an over-achiever. I love connecting with new writers and cheering people on in their Substack journey
Love this!
This resonates with me as someone who also started using her real name only in the past couple years, too. Cheering for you, Sadia!
Thank you so much for this community. I had to do a lot of healing on myself in my year of writing 110 essays before I’m finally looking at myself in the mirror. God, I am a model minority trope in every dimension. 😂😅
Yess! I'm so guilty of that. But I'm also just a workaholic lol.
Any step that helps us get away from the go-go-go is a huge win!
I want to write one good essay a month. Maybe🙂 instead of churning them out weekly like a bread factory.
That's one of my goals for next year, too.
Proud that I started this Substack, even when I was/am not writing well. Grateful I did not wait to be ready. I'm learning more this way and enjoying being part of this community.
I'm proud of you for that, too. Jumping in and learning as you go is a great way to grow.
After a buttload of rejections, I found an agent and sold my first book this year. More importantly, I started working with a great therapist who has been helping me so much. 🥲
Congrats!
Those rejections can be hard. So big big congrats on sticking to it!! And glad to hear you've found someone good to work with.
Congratulations! Therapy is an act of love and care for your soul. I’ve tried a few different people until I found the one. Also amazing to hear about your agent and selling your book! Here’s to more wins in 2025.
Congratulations on both counts, LS!
Congrats!
Congratulations!!
I'm proud of my first year writing on Substack! Thanks, Tiffany!
Congrats on one year, Lani!
😊 Thanks, Heidi 😊
It's amazing how many of us have gotten through our first year and still loving it. I'm grateful you're here, Lani.
Cheers, Tiffany! 😊
I could say the same. Sticking with it is no easy feat…
I love your humor and style, Lani. Sometimes in our move forward, it's okay to laugh at ourselves or our culture.
Thanks, Michelle! 🙏
I'm Megan, and I am proud of myself for applying to and participating in a couple of craft shows to share my visual art. First time I have really put myself out there like that. (OK, I know this is Asian WRITERS' Collective, and I have been keeping at my Substack and blog, but those don't feel as far out of my comfort zone.)
Thank you Tiffany for holding this space for us!
That's awesome, Megan! It's huge to share your work like that.
Nothing better and more gratifying than crushing the fear that holds us back. Taking that first step across the threshold of releasing the authentic and genuine to the world. Good on you!!! 👏❤️🙏🏼
It was educational to learn on your About page what a wrack line is! And to find another Sari Botton fan. Thanks!
I'm proud of writing an outline for my memoir. It feels so much more doable now that I have this. I also have a new writing partner, and I'm so excited for us to support each other. I'm also proud that I'm stepping into really being a healer. I've been a life coach for a few years, and I've always said "I don't heal others" because it's a co-creative process, and while this is true, I know I have healer energy that I've been sidestepping instead of really claiming it. So I'm claiming it!
Yes to claiming it, Nisha!
Thank you 🥰
Yes!! A conduit n witness to the realm of healing
A conduit…love this 🥹
I love that for you, Nisha. Wishing you the best of luck on your memoir. That is hard, internal work. You will touch many others with your words and your ability to heal.
Thank you Tiffany! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
I eschew labels of identity anymore though, If I were to describe myself prior to 2021 I would say I am a self described Asian American Maximalist in Freedom & BTC. Wearing well this year. I am most proud of the process of letting go of all the conditionings of culture and society and my upbringing to be always needing to be "right" and "perfect" ( not an Asian thing is it?) that hid itself in "knowing what is best for others"( by my profession in health care). I quit a long career in the largest HMO in America( West Coast esp) in the Summer of 2021 before I was to be fired for choosing Medical freedom-Freedom to choose, following the guiding principles of what physicians use as guiding principles in the Hippocratic oath-- to do no harm. I also left social relationships and communities that no longer served the heart and soul of humanity. I left the world I was uncomfortably-comfortable in. My health returned and the stressful related symptoms l treated daily left my body...Lastly and even more importantly, I am most proud of having my Time to which I can do what I want, when I want, with whom I want, how I want and where I want...completely on my terms. Took a leap of faith to jump over the hurdles of fears basic programming of never being enough. Blessings and Namaste, t
My addendum: is following Nisha and this posting caught my eye.
https://substack.com/@nisha/note/c-80673808?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=qtqv0
I appreciate the reflection Tiffany. One other addition is in undoing the unkindly manner of the Asian Mythos that was considered back in the 60's.... is to be unconcerned by it and not to identify with this notion which pigeon holes and supports a codification of us vs them, rulers to serfs mentality. Freedom in its maximum form is letting go of the notion of who "I" am as not to be identified by what other consider me to be. It is a huge unlearning and undertaking, particularly if one has been subjected to the ignorance of hate basted in fear and its only reason, race/ism is to separate-divide and conquer. This is another aspect of proudly seeing the truth through the false narratives at the root of separation.
Inspiring story, Terrence. Thanks for sharing and giving the rest of us courage to reject labels.
What am I proud of this year? I'm a picture book writer and signed with a literary agent! Also proud of launching my weekly newsletter, A Perpetual Work in Progress, which highlights a review of a picture book by/about Asians/Asian Americans in each issue.
https://susancabael.substack.com/
Congratulations, Susan! That's amazing!
Congratulations, Susan! ✨
Thank you, Lani!
Susan, that's huge!! Congratulations! You have to tell us when your book gets published. Wonderful news about your agent and your newsletter. I'm excited to hear more about it.
Thank you, Tiffany! Fingers crossed that something sells in 2025.