Hi Pretty Human,
Wowza, I’m so glad you’re here. The funny thing about existing is that without the reflection of someone else, we can’t be completely sure we’re real. The same goes for my writing—I can write all I want, but without you, dear reader, my writing doesn’t really exist. You complete the circle, and I’m eternally grateful to have you in the loop.
Teensy Bit About Rach
My name is Rachel Havekost, and I feel like I’m writing a back-to-school intro bio (was that a thing, or am I making that up?) Vocationally, I’m an author and mental health blogger in a situationship with social media (ask me how I feel about instagram). Emotionally, I’m socially anxious, prone to depressive episodes, yet wildly hopeful about living. Physically, I move this body to any country I can afford, enjoy shutting the world out for an hour while lifting tiny weights, and am covered in sticker-tats. But mostly, I’m a full-time human.
After several years of using Instagram and TikTok (I’ll link my socials at the end), I’ve found myself longing more and more for ways to connect with you outside of social media. Free of the constant comparison, free of everything that’s wrong with me (and all the paid solutions to fix it), and free of ads.
Then I stumbled on Substack. Voila.
About The Messy Middle
Starting on January 8th, 2023, The Messy Middle will exist in seasons. Somewhat like a television show. Together we will follow three-month seasons with one-week breaks in between.
I get a vacation, you get a vacation, everybody gets a vacation! [insert Oprah GIF here].
Each season will have a different theme. There will be four consistent components of each season that will maintain their unique purpose (like tips, stories, or journaling prompts), but the content of each component will change to reflect the season’s theme.
Each season of The Messy Middle will include:
The Monday Messy (a weekly newsletter with tips/tools, Rach’s recommendations of the week, & one or two journaling prompts)
Mess Hall (chat forum & community connection)
Monthly Journaling Prompts (end-of month prompts for reflection/intention around the season’s theme)
We Met in the Middle (stories of human connection, heartfelt conversations, and the mystical phenomenon of opening up to strangers)
Paid subscribers will have FULL access to ALL components of The Messy Middle. Free subscribers will have access to one newsletter/month, one story/month, and the chat.
Subscriptions are only $5/month (literally one coffee!) or $50/year (two months free!). It might not seem like much, but you becoming a paid subscriber makes a massive difference to me, my work, and my ability to keep pumping out free/low cost support.
If you’re not sure The Messy Middle is for you, you can do a free trial of the paid version for 7 days! Just click the button below to give this community a test drive.
Again, I am SO glad you are here. I love your mess, and this mess loves you.
XX
Rachel
P.S. if you’d like to connect on the socialz, here are all the deets:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rachel_havekost
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/rachelhavekost
Twitter: www.twitter.com/rachel_havekost
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rachelhavekost
Spotify: my dance playlists!
